AWD vs. RWD
Usually rear drive tends to need a little more finesse around a race track than an AWD vehicle. With the 350z, it has great traction and control so during warm/dry conditions it can keep up with an EVO or STi on the track ( stock for stock ), but during the winter it kinda sucks.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Florida - WPB
AWD drive is better for launching and great for all purpose grip.
RWD is great for top end power and drifting around those corners, while taking most corners just as easy but not faster
Period
RWD is great for top end power and drifting around those corners, while taking most corners just as easy but not faster
Period
Originally Posted by clipso 01
rwd =more funexcept for when it is snowing
awd =great launch/grip
awd =great launch/grip
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Originally Posted by furiousZ
AWD drive is better for launching and great for all purpose grip.
RWD is great for top end power and drifting around those corners, while taking most corners just as easy but not faster
Period
RWD is great for top end power and drifting around those corners, while taking most corners just as easy but not faster
Period
Perfect+1
And sideways? haha
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
The current car that I have is the first car I've ever owned with a full-time on-road AWD.
Unlike the STi the which uses a symetrical AWD, my S60R uses a Haldex AWD similar to the Veyron. It varies the power between 90%F/10%R and 20%F/80%R. During regular cruising it has a FWD bias, during performance driving up to 70% more power can be transferred rearward giving the car more RWD characteristics or anything in between. It's fully integrated into the transmission, engine, throttle, stability control and the active suspension which can change up to 500 times a second. The system will even allow the rear end to drift up to 10 degrees either direction with the AWD and stability control still active under hard cornering.
I think my AWD R handles better than my RWD Z in everything except tight low speed turns. All that extra gear on the R doesn't bode well for really tight turns and since the turbo doesn't kick in until almost 2k RPM there isn't as much torque to move that extra weight.
Unlike the STi the which uses a symetrical AWD, my S60R uses a Haldex AWD similar to the Veyron. It varies the power between 90%F/10%R and 20%F/80%R. During regular cruising it has a FWD bias, during performance driving up to 70% more power can be transferred rearward giving the car more RWD characteristics or anything in between. It's fully integrated into the transmission, engine, throttle, stability control and the active suspension which can change up to 500 times a second. The system will even allow the rear end to drift up to 10 degrees either direction with the AWD and stability control still active under hard cornering.
I think my AWD R handles better than my RWD Z in everything except tight low speed turns. All that extra gear on the R doesn't bode well for really tight turns and since the turbo doesn't kick in until almost 2k RPM there isn't as much torque to move that extra weight.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Cerritos, CA
AWD is far more fun to drive for me. I hate drifting and I like taking the fastest line.
Nothing against RWD though, I have a RWD car and I love it. Just doesn't suit my purposes as nicely as AWD does though. No offense.
Nothing against RWD though, I have a RWD car and I love it. Just doesn't suit my purposes as nicely as AWD does though. No offense.
Originally Posted by davidv
Check SCCA Solo II classes. What cars are in A, B and C Street?
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From: denver
IMO AWD is good for drag because of the grip... but then again, you dont see any AWD top fuel dragsters... and all the really high end race cars are RWD... something tells me the added grip/weight ratio isnt good enough, or maybe RWD cars just do better on the track... notice the TT Z's keeping up with the vet's on the track... IMO the only reason why the STI keeps up with the Z on the track is cuz it's a little quicker in a straight line.
Better question would be what is it that you are looking for in a car? Daily driver? Weekend warrior?
I have both a RWD Z and MB CLK55 AMG and I just purchased my first AWD car in an 07 Audi A4 Quattro. I love all the cars but they all serve their own purpose. Actually, I really like the AWD and the Audi has been seeing the majority of driving time since purchasing it.
I have both a RWD Z and MB CLK55 AMG and I just purchased my first AWD car in an 07 Audi A4 Quattro. I love all the cars but they all serve their own purpose. Actually, I really like the AWD and the Audi has been seeing the majority of driving time since purchasing it.
