Replying to Topic 'An ideal situation'
QUOTE
Originally posted by MAZDAMAN
AWD is highly overrated. First of all it's more dangerous than FWD because by putting power to all the tires, it makes the car harder to stop. Second of all AWD that is from a FWD car, is not like AWD from a RWD car. The Mazda 6 would be the former. That means only 30 percent power to the rear, and the good handling isn't that good.
AWD also makes cars MUCH heavier. Try at least 500lbs, so if you're going to do that, let's add so more power too. And then it might be better for snow, but you'll probably speed faster than normal, and the AWD is compromised because you think that AWD is that much safer.
Look at it this way, most race cars are RWD. Not AWD. Yes this is a FWD car, but I'll take the lighter weight, and already great handling on snow. [/b]
I'd like to address these points one by one:
1. AWD is more dangerous: I suppose it would make the car marginally harder to stop on an automatic. But with a manual, AWD gives you engine braking to all four wheels. Stopping distances are sometimes higher on AWD just because of the weight factor. Even then they aren't significantly higher.
2. AWD from FWD vs. RWD - well, yes and no. Maybe you're confusing the various part time AWD systems from Toyota and Honda that drive the car like FWD most of the time and only drive the rear wheels after major slip to the front. The whole power split thing is dependent on the center differential. My Subaru Forester is split 50:50 as a default. Automatic models of the same car have a 90:10 split. The automatic WRX, with VTD (another type of differential) gets a 45:55 split. The BMW 330xi (mentioned above by applejax) gets a 30:70 split. These are the defaults and will change depending on conditions.
3. AWD does have a weight penalty. Anywhere from 200 to 600 lbs. depending on the AWD system. As for speeding faster with AWD because it feels safer in snow - well it is safer. But anyone with half a brain should realize that AWD aids in handling, but not in braking. The car will handle like a champ, but if you need to stop in a hurry, forget about it. This is a driver issue, not an AWD issue.
4. Most race cars are RWD. I have two responses to that. First of all driving on a super smooth track is not the same as driving on potholed roads in the rain and snow. Secondly AWD has been BANNED in many race events because of its unfair advantage over RWD and FWD. Audi dominated several GT events until Quattro was banned.
Also, if you look in the November (?) issue of Grass Roots MotorSports, they have a comparo looking at the various drivetrain types in AutoX conditions. They tested an Acura RSX-S (FWD); a BMW 328i (RWD); and a Subaru WRX (AWD). They tested them in both dry and wet conditions. All three cars put out similar power to the wheels. The BMW has a slight advantage there. Guess what. The WRX had the fastest lap times both dry AND wet.
Finally to the power issue. If you want a car with sporting aspirations, and want some power, forget about FWD. Notice that for the MPS 6, Mazda added AWD, so that the additional power from the turbo would be usable. AWD gives you the advantage of putting the power to the ground better than either FWD or RWD. Some of the fastest cars in the world now use AWD: The Porsche 911 Turbo and the Lamborghini Murcielago among them, not to mention the Nissan Skyline GT-R, the Mitsubishi Evolution, the Audi RS series and the WRX STi.
Obviously in the end its a matter of personal preference. If you haven't driven a performance AWD vehicle - TRY IT. Believe me, it's an amazing thing to feel all four wheels clawing at the road and giving you total control as you blast your way out of a turn. It's even more fun when it's wet.
