1997 Mercury Mountaineer Four Wheeling Supplement 1st Printing - Page 5

4WD and AWD systems How your vehicle differs from other vehicles 4WD and AWD vehicles can differ from some other vehicles in a few noticeable ways. Your 4WD or AWD may be: • Higher - to allow it to travel over rough terrain without getting hung up or damaging underbody components, and to accommodate 4WD components. • Shorter - to give it the capability to approach inclines and drive over the crest of a hill without getting hung up or damaging underbody components. A shorter wheelbase may make your vehicle quicker to respond to steering inputs than a vehicle with a longer wheelbase. • Narrower - to provide greater maneuverability in tight spaces, particularly in off-road use. These differences that make your 4WD or AWD so versatile also make it handle differently than an ordinary passenger car. 5