AWD good or bad for ¼-mile?

[flyinhawaiin]

So im a newbie and im looking at buying a tsi in the spring. Ive been talkin to people, i eventually want to make it run thirteens? Anyways ive heard some people saying that AWD drive is good for take offs but robs horsepower especially at the top end. Im just curious to hear what u owners think. What do u guys prfer? looking forward to reading the replies thanks for the help.
-Tooley-

 

[leakyfaucet]

AWD is far superior for drag racing. It has shorter gears and you will not have any traction problems getting into the 13s. Also, the extra drivetrain loss really isn't as much as you would expect. It's maybe an extra 3% loss.

 

[flyinhawaiin]

I have also heard the whole AWD drive is a pain in how easy it is to break. With all the extra horse and torque it tears it up. how true is that and if there basic parts that usually break what are they and are they an easy fix?
thanks alot

 

[xcellr8]

youll regret getting a FWD eventually, especially for drag, a fairly modified FWD will barely or wont beat a stock AWD, get an AWD and put a 16g in with the necessary supporting mods, (fuel mods) and you wont regret it.

 

[bigemrich]

I have driven both FWD and AWD DSMs, and prefer the AWD 100%. The lauches are amazingly fun, and I have a near stock auto. I couldn't imagine a highly modded 5-speed. Go with the AWD, and never look back.

--Kyle

 

[xcellr8]

you wont have to deal with spinning your tires on the launch either with AWD, which im certain you already knew.

 

[Bjeezy01]

youll regret getting a FWD eventually, especially for drag, a fairly modified FWD will barely or wont beat a stock AWD, get an AWD and put a 16g in with the necessary supporting mods, (fuel mods) and you wont regret it.

Actualy it's been tested, a STOCK AWD vs STOCK FWD, from a stop the AWD will win, from anothing above a 50mph roll the FWD will win, so I guess it all depends, AWD will be your better bet, for drag, handling, and tracktion overall, but don't rule a FWD out, it's lighter, and has much less power loss, I see somone pasted 3%, I am sure I am wrong, but I thought going AWD was a loss of almost 20%...but like I said, I could be wrong on that.

 

[96TSi_Chris]

youll regret getting a FWD eventually, especially for drag, a fairly modified FWD will barely or wont beat a stock AWD:

Clueless. So i guess me beating a modded AWD from a stop was just a fluke? BTW - this was w/ intake, exhaust, and mbc.

 

[DiabloRT]

I have both.

My vote is AWD .

The FWD puts down close to 300hp/300 lb ft as per my last dyno. It can be tricky to launch. Great while already going, but difficult to launch. Plus you have to be careful in the twisties.

An AWD is hands down the way to go.

 

[Bjeezy01]

Just checked my facts, the drive train for a stock DSM looses 15%-20% total on the FWD, and 20-25% on RWD models, and 25-40% loss on AWD's. Every car is diffrent, and there is no one formula to solve/check with, but for all cars off all makes and models, this is the industry standards. Also keep in mind that a auto will have more loss then a manual.

 

[DiabloRT]

BTW the way if your looking for durability....

Have John Shepherd rebuild the trans down the road....and learn how to launch it without dumping the clutch....slip it.

John runs mid 8s in the 1/4 mile.

You can also get beefer axles.....but you will alot of power before that.

 

[96whgsx]

With FWD, you will get really bad traction through first but I'm not sure about second. By the time you stop spinning the tires, AWD is way ahead. I heard stories of AWD launching about 2 cars ahead of FWD cars. I read other member's posts. Another difference is the weight. AWD weighs about 200lbs more than FWD. These are a couple more things to consider.

 

[nutshot]

I vote AWD for corners, launches and upgrade options (how quick would Shep be with a FWD instead of AWD?).

 

[96TSi_Chris]

I agree w/ what most people are saying, except the twisties. Seems like most people are trying to say FWD isnt good in cornering. Id have to say my car out handles most of the AWDs in my area. So i dont see that as a factor.

 

[xBOOSTx]

Another vote for AWD

This should answer your questions about AWD...

http://www.ecanfix.com/users/atdsm/atfaq's.htm

 

[nutshot]

I agree w/ what most people are saying, except the twisties. Seems like most people are trying to say FWD isnt good in cornering. Id have to say my car out handles most of the AWDs in my area. So i dont see that as a factor.

When my car (AWD) starts to understeer, all I need do is throttle lift, then as the front loads and the rear starts to lighten up, I jab the throttle and swing into oversteer (right foot controlled). Can't do that with a FWD.

 

[Dieselboy]

I have also heard the whole AWD drive is a pain in how easy it is to break. With all the extra horse and torque it tears it up. how true is that and if there basic parts that usually break what are they and are they an easy fix?
thanks alot

If you dump the clutch often, then you are gonna break stuff. About 7 out of 10 times a broken driveline part happens is because of a young kid who just got his hands on it and loves the feeling of AWD launches he does it repetatively. Also old/worn parts is a culprit if they are not replaced or adressed properly.

Most of the time though, its because of dumping the clutch (especially with a 2600 or stronger clamping clutch). With a FWD, you can dump the clutch and spin the tires because the power is coming straight to the wheels with little distance to travel (hence the drivetrain loss advantage of FWD). With AWD however, you channel the power to the front wheels, transfer case, center diff, driveshaft, and rear diff and including all the parts and braces holding the assembly together (hence the "disadvantage", which in reality isnt a disadvantage at all when you get higher up in power output because AWD's are capable of awsome topend).

What it mostly comes down to is your driving style and launch technique. If you dump the clutch often, your gonna break stuff eventually. If you slip the clutch as you should on a launch, you cut down the sudden initial stress the driveline see's as is does by dumping the clutch, therfore cutting down the possibility of breaking driveline parts.

 

[leet]

If all you want to do is race from a roll, get a FWD.

If you want to do other stuff too, get AWD.

The only reason I would get rid of AWD would be to get a Ferrari.

 

[bhop]

I own a FWD. Get a AWD if you can.

Not only is the traction an issue when building power, but there's also stuff like rain and depending on where you are, snow.

 

[Denji]

ive never raced or driven an fwd turbo dsm, but i know the launches rip most cars up off of the line.

 

[saw wave analog]

no one has ever bought an awd and regretted they didnt get fwd later on, most everyone that gets fwd wishes they had gotten awd at some point..

thats all the justification i need


awd rocks

 

[Defiant]

I don't race, but AWD is the only reason I put up with DSMs.

 

[xcellr8]

Actualy it's been tested, a STOCK AWD vs STOCK FWD, from a stop the AWD will win, from anothing above a 50mph roll the FWD will win, so I guess it all depends, AWD will be your better bet, for drag, handling, and tracktion overall, but don't rule a FWD out, it's lighter, and has much less power loss, I see somone pasted 3%, I am sure I am wrong, but I thought going AWD was a loss of almost 20%...but like I said, I could be wrong on that.

thats what i meant is from a stop.

 

[xcellr8]

Clueless. So i guess me beating a modded AWD from a stop was just a fluke? BTW - this was w/ intake, exhaust, and mbc.

well i guess i mean with two equal drivers cause you may have one because he wasnt even racing you or he sucked at driving, or maybe the AWD was automatic if that could faulter the stats.

 

[BOBS90TURBO]

I have both, a 90 tsi/awd and a 90 gst/fwd, I do like my awd a lot more and yes thy are faster, but the fwd is more fun to drive in some ways, runiing in 2nd-3rd gear at 30-50 mph and spinning the tires the whole way is a blast, the fwd gets my pulse going more and they feel much faster. But if possible do get the awd, if not you will allways wish you had. Good Luck and check www.DSMtrader.com for a good DSM.