Seeking comments on AWD performance

[dcarrb]

There's a slight but noticable difference between my cars when it comes to how aggressively the all-wheel drive engages. For example, one recent rainy day, in the teal, pulling uphill onto a busy 4-lane from an asphalt drive, there was a blink-of-an-eye hesitation before the rear wheels bit. I even remarked to my buddy in the car, also a Suby driver, "Feel that all-wheel hook-up?" (He didn't, so we're talking about a driver's-seat-of-the-pants sensation; nothing obvious or alarming.)

The silver SVX appears opposite: Power to the rear wheels seems to engage more quickly and with a tad more authority. I almost always notice just the slightest hint of rear wheel spin, say, turning onto a hard surface from gravel, in places where this has never happened in the teal.

I'm simply curious about this difference and would appreciate input from you folks who know your stuff. Thanks.

dcb