AWD or RWD?

[MPD47]

RWD > AWD

Not as much shit to break, less tire wear, less friction, more power to the ground, more fun, better in 99% of race enviornments.

[Justin]

Well at least we all can agree that FWD sucks.

[Turbojettamk4]

i hate all of you. go break your center and rear diffs.

[Daddie]

Not true, it really depends on application. For me it is a really hard decision.

You drive auto AWD, you don’t know how truely fun it is

[markw]

I voted RWD, mainly because 2 of my cars are RWD… . I havn’t had that much seat time in AWD, but this’ll change next year

[Freek]

Your answer sucks.

wasn’t an answer it was an observation. so now you suck

[Blue_Eyed_Devil]

RWD is only better in 1% of applications; Dry conditions with SUPER sticky tires in an under-powered car.
You people need to learn more about physics.
I don’t have time to teach you right now but, QUATTRO has been banned from certain racing series because of the amazing advantage.
I thought this pole was a joke when I first read it.
The laws of physics don’t lie and never change.

[Zong]

Look outside, you’ve got my vote.

Didn’t quattro take something ridiculous like a 30 minute lead when they introduced their first awd car into rallying?

[Bacon]

9 minutes, it was being used as an opening car though.

Questions sucks, but my vote is for AWD because I’m obviously biased.

Though mostly it depends on application, but it’s quite rare that I really miss RWD. It made for SIQQQ burnouts.

[JayS]

I’m going to quote myself from that other thread because I don’t feel like re-typing it all.

http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/nationals/2003/results/Nationals.pdf
How many AWD first places at nationals? That should end the debate about AWD vs RWD. Hell, even the FWD’s had more first places than the AWD’s. Like I said before, AWD is great in less than great conditions, which is why we have WRC. But for good racing in decent conditions, RWD owns.

http://www.scca.com/_FileLibrary/File/Combined Nationals.pdf
Updated results link, same results, different year. Progress was made for the AWD crew in the street touring classes, but considering their street tire requirements and the sandy pavement at Heartland Park that doesn’t really surprise me.

After someone said not many people entered AWD at the solo nationals…

You’re joking right? Did you even look at that link? I see STi’s, EVO’s, WRX’s, Talons and Eclipses and that is just looking at it quickly. Yes, there are more RWD/FWD cars than AWD cars entered. At nationals level that’s because RWD/FWD’s are better autocrossers than AWD. I was reading about nationals in sports car magazine and they said the wrx’s were doing ok the day it rained but started getting stomped as soon as the weather cleared up. Pretty much what I’ve been saying all along… when the weather is bad, awd is great. The rest of the time it’s a waste.
To each his own though. If you like AWD, that’s cool. I just have to disagree when people try to say it’s better for racing, especially autocrossing.

After someone suggested racing a FWD eclipse vs an AWD eclipse. As well as a response to AWDrifter’s post about Quattro and it’s banning…

Yes, more traction > less traction :smash:
But, there is a much more complicated formula going on there that you are ignoring. Your more traction has to be divided by the increased weight, and that lost has to be multiplied by the drivetrain power loss.
Here is what I’d like to see, instead of your proposed awd vs fwd Eclipse, although I don’t think it is very possible. How about a wrx with it’s awd system gutted so it’s just a simple rwd vs a regular wrx. And I don’t mean just disconnect the front driveshafts, I’m talking about a real rwd system with all it’s weight savings. Same engine, same chassis, same suspension. Now that would be a cool comparison. Anyone want to donate their wrx to the mad scientist?
And yes, quattro got banned. It’s not the first time a car was banned because it was winning all the time. I seem to remember Shelby having the same thing done to them with a rwd car.
If awd is “the best way to go” for a fast car, why did Porsche, who has an incredible awd system sitting in the parts department from the 911 Turbo, drop it from their fastest cars the GT2, GT3, and Carrera GT? Even with 600+ hp they choose rwd for their supercar. Cost obviously wasn’t a consideration since the Carrera GT was Porsche’s speed and performance at all costs development.
Come on rwd voters, get in here and help a guy out. I feel like I’ve been abandoned in a snow storm with the my rwd car! :lol:

And finally, someone suggested Porsche may have done RWD on the GT2/3 because of class restrictions, and the GT because they couldn’t make an AWD tranny to hold up to 600 hp…

You guys might be right about the class restrictions for Porsche. I’d have to disagree when you say the awd gearbox couldn’t hold up to 600 hp. With the engineers they have working at Porchse, and the amount of time and money they spent designing and building the Carrera GT, if they wanted awd it would have been awd. Hell, they have the system from the twin turbo Toureg, which while not as much HP it certainly has a lot more weight, which will still put a big load on the internals.

[kingsario]

AWD all day long

[MonteCarloChick]

RWD

[layzie]

NWD…no wheel drive! TRACKS 4 L

[Blue_Eyed_Devil]

In 1981 Hannu Mikola drove the QUATTRO in the first stage of the Monte Carlo Rally and the other drivers were betting on his time on the 14k stage.
One guessed he was tied for first, another guessed he was 10 seconds faster.
He said, “You are correct but, I was ONE MINUTE ten seconds faster!!!”
After 7k he passed the competition that started one minute before him!

[Bacon]

I rather miss my old 2wd ranger, it actually was surprising fun in the snow.

[rskrause]

For a DD or a performance car? I couldn’t answer because you didn’t specify.

[Rx3]

Why do I have to pick? I like both.

[Geoff]

The laws of physics don’t lie and never change.

truth. +1.

[redrum]

I like both. AWD obviously has the advantage and is a lot of fun in low traction conditions, but I really enjoy RWD in all conditions.

[JayS]

The laws of physics don’t lie and never change.

You know, you’re right.

The law of gravity. Aka, all that extra weight for you’re lugging around and only using from a dead stop or in slippery conditions, assuming you have 400hp or less.

The law of friction. Aka, all that extra drivetrain friction, sucking up HP.

The law of balance. Aka, putting more weight in the front, where you don’t want it, ending up with front heavy understeering cars.

And lets not forget Murphy’s law. If it can break it will, and you have a shit load more parts, clutches, and CV’s than a simple RWD.