FWD versus AWD [Merged 2-8]

[TrippleStar]

Hello, kids. Here is the Official AWD or FWD? thread. All the hare-brained arguments about "rolling starts" and "top speed" and "deadly transfer cases" and "drivetrain losses" and the rest of the mis-guided "better" advice is right here.

It's recommended you just skip reading it. You already know which you want, and why. Still, it's a place to dump it all.

Let's start with this fine opener from 2002 (it really doesn't get much better):

newbie to DSMs here, whats AWD and FWD. just sold my civic hatchback and got my eclipse not to long ago and im still learing the dsm101 stuff.

 

[1fstSS]

i wish i had a awd but im just gonna mount up my drag radials for next year awd, who needs stinkin awd ::

 

[bigemrich]

I would wait. Waiting will make it all the better when you get it, and you will get what you truly want. I should've waited for a 5-Speed, and now I am stuck with an auto I would wait if I were you.

--Kyle

 

[Mandon]

When i was buying my first DSM I went through the same decision you are. I ended up buying a FWD turbo and hated every minute of its pathetic track life. I ended up selling it cause I couldnt take it anymore. If you are EVER planning on racing at the track just wait for AWD. If you NEVER intend to race then it really isnt a big deal either way. Although it is nice to be able to dominate sport bikes from light to light

 

[Defiant]

It's funny to see that everyone who replied to this post was in favor of whatever they drove.

Uh.... yeah, many of us have bought what we wanted....

They wouldn't have made both if they both didn't have some advantage over the other. You choose.

Just as Ford wouldn't make V-6 Mustangs if V-8s were better? Or Chrysler 300Cs with and without AWD? They sell what people will buy. And, people buy what they can afford. It's why many of us are herding 10+ year-old cars instead of nice new ones.

 

[Catbox_95]

Yes, and generally speaking, all things being equal, FWD is cheaper than AWD. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to fix (drivetrain anyway).

 

[GinNBoost]

I have had 3 friends sell their 300+ hp fwd dsms for stock awds. Take that for what it's worth.

That's really pathetic and a huge waste of time and money. Since they obviously have all this cash to spend, they should've shelled out the grand for an LSD. Any high powered GST needs one.

 

[UrMyStlkAl]

I'd get AWD if I were you, I went w/ GS-T cuz I wanted the Spyder. I still want the AWD alot of times though

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

i use to have a 98 GS-T

now i have a GSX.. (AWD)

ask urself the question about which u want.. contemplate.. meditate.. ull know wat YOU want.. no need to ask us..

 

[tsi20gawd]

I have both a FWD and a AWD they both have there diffrent advantages. I say youll have fun no matter what platform you chose. I sure have
My FWD is a serious street beast not mutch can waste it.....except my AWD

 

[TrystanGST]

These threads always end the same. The AWD guys are gonna say AWD, and the FWD guys could go either way (maybe there is something to be said there?).
Judging by your thread title, I'd say you already know what you want. If you would be "settling" for FWD, then just wait for AWD. Good luck finding one in decent shape.

 

[big green]

Going from an RS to AWD was the best thing I have ever done, you will be amazed with it.

 

[SDSGSX]

hmmm.....I can honestly say it depends on the car. FWD is alot harder to make fast as far as fast ET in the 1/4 but at the same time the 1/4 mi slip isn't everything. My roomate has a gst and honestly for driving around and havin fun the pull from a roll is pretty awesome. With less mods when we mess around he's right there with me....yes awd launches own but i cant ever find myself launching the car in the street. If not for the track and the ideas of goin to the road course with it i wouldn't mind fwd. If you want a fast car to dyno well its easier findin a fwd dyno than awd. Also fwd isn't all that bad..i mean srt4's are wreaking havok on evo's and all in the streets

 

[DSMTurboEclipse]

I got FWD and its okay but I'd prefer AWD. Better traction in snow and rain.

 

[SnowWhite]

I'd wait and get a AWD. I got my GST a little over a year ago and I really wish I would not have settled for a FWD. My buddy has an AWD and I dream about having one now...the temptation of a launch with no wheel hop is killing me.

 

[DeviantClipse]

after reading all these post i think ive gone back to waht ive wanted the awd, i mean i have friends with built fwd and they have traction problems all the time. i guess ima just have to drive a long ways to get one.


thanks for all the advice guys
phil

 

[sarge]

go awd if you want to rape people 0-60, go fwd if you want to rape people 60+.

 

[fulanititoo8198]

I love my Fwd, a launch is only a moment big deal.I've driven my friends Evo and you rarely get to launch it anyways, besides at the track. A GSX would probably be quicker with the same mods on a Gst but it can be done, just look at the 1/4 times.Want to be fast than you just need to Mod if you want a good 1/4 use slicks.

 

[jpape]

I own a FWD but love AWD. I although wanted to try somethign new I wanted to build a fast FWD car and as my location allows i cannot drag on the strip much. So iam limited to mainly highway roll races. I love my FWD and like AWD its all the choice of the owner both are fun!

 

[ZachM31]

i guess it all depends on how you like to drive..me with an AWD, it's nice for the winter weather, but AWD kills clutches, you have the transfer case recall on some, they are somewhat more spendy to maintain.. i guess i am satisfied with mine, FWD is fun tho, like for messing around..and with a good LSD set-up, you wont be disappointed!

 

[Thomas91169]

i bought a fwd instead of a awd cause seriously, how many times do you end up first at the light with another car thats worth of youre gas? or how many times do you go to the dragstrip a year to make it worth the while? i see a fwd as anything but racing from a stop. this does not mean it cant be done, as my freind zane can launch his 16g fwd pretty dam good. though the awd would be great if by some chance you pulled next to a SS or Cobra at the light and wanted to make them feel bad. but then again in a fwd you can always take of casual like youre not gonna play, then hit 2nd and give the go ahead and go at it.

AWD=stoplight
FWD=roll races

what are youre goals? wanna spank people from the light, or do you commute on the freeway and like to spank people on the way to work?

i would just buy a fwd if theyre cheap and available. i couldnt find a awd in all of cali for less than 10 grand, but i found my gst spyder for 7.5 grand.

 

[xcelr8n]

Do you want to be FAST? or do you want to be quick... put it this way, a fast awd can hold its own on the highway, a fast fwd, will still only cut 2.0' at best.
do you wanna have high trap numbers, or low ets?
Id say go with awd... its better all around, and once you run 13's with like 1000 bucks in mods you will be all smiles...

 

[sarge]

^


high traps

 

[ASMX86Routine]

i have a fwd and an awd.

a stock awd can obviously outlaunch many cars and youll be beating a lot higher hp cars just from the fact its easy to launch an awd on top of the fact it grips....(assuming you dont break one of the driveline components and you know what your doing).

fwd gets a bad rap from mostly people who have never even been in/tried to launch a modded fwd(ie one that has sticky tires/slicks and an lsd). you ask them about some of the fast fwd cars or people off dsmtimes.org in fastest fwd section(mention their 60fts) and they find some other excuse to get around explaining it.

i have no problem with either or... a dsm is a dsm in my book, so if you want to be a ####ing elitist go right ahead, because soon both my fwd and awd will be done, and id be more than happy to race anyone with either car from a dig or roll.

 

[4g64GST]

if you have a fwd, spend the money on a (good) lsd & motor mounts, before you complain. It makes a world of difference.

 

[Raph]

just get a red 2g like the one ui already have (gst or gsx dont matter) and switch over all your exterior parts and make it look hot like your current car! (that way youll save a ton of money for mods!)