Hum, I don't know exactly what is in the Element, but I'd guess it is like the AWD Subaru. This is really one wheel drive, but the good news is the one wheel driven is the one that isn't slipping. This works rather well, but not as well as 4WD, which I'd call 3WD. In street machine 4WD that is normally Front Wheel Drive, also called part-time 4WD, when you engage the 4WD you end up locking the rear axel, both wheels to the drive line. Thus both rear wheels drive/push locked together, not good going around corners on dry pavement, that's why they are "part time", use only when the street is slippery. In addition to the two rear wheels driving, you also have the normal front wheel drive, which means if one of the front wheels starts slipping you have no pull/push from the front as all the power goes to the wheel that is slipping, that's why I call it 3WD.

If you're not going off-road, Full time AWD is the best, it is just there, you don't have to think about it.

That the way I understand it.

I agree. Most true 4x4s like 4x4 pickups, Blazers and Explorers are very rarely actually used for true off-roading, and for the reasons Jerry mentioned, the ability to use 4x4 on the street is limited to times when it's actually slippery. So, manufacturers are moving toward other types of systems that are more oriented toward snow, ice, and rain, and less geared for off-roading.

I'd say the Element's system is probably designed for exactly what you're going to want it to do -- help you through snow, ice, etc., while on the road. You wouldn't buy the Element to take off-road much anyhow because it probably does not have enough ground clearance and its suspension is probably not sturdy enough.

Up here in Vermont you don't go out in winter without 4WD or AWD. Both essentially the same. My Expedition has both. I just put it in AWD in November and leave it there until April. When the snow flies I usually can go about my business nicely.
My next door neighbor down the road has an Element. She gets around quite nicely all winter too. But she only goes out after the plow comes through.
Oh well, gotta go cut up some trees to burn this winter.

Thanks all,

very helpful, you are right cowboyind, dont plan on going off road etc, just need it for the snow,,, well ice too, but i gather not much if naything will help under those conditions. the elements real time 4 wheel drive is all automatc, no maula stuff, its adjusts itself automatically.
thanks again

AWD will work great for what you want it to do. You will not even know when it kicks in on slick surfaces.

Doug