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.

 

[95TSiNewbie]

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

Off subject but if you ever want to dump that off ill take it off your hands...
Now back to the thread topic. I have a FWD A/T and get a lot shit for it.... at the time i bought this car it was a great deal so i couldnt pass it up (4,000 w/ 86,000 all highway by a 60 yr old lady). I have learned to make better launchs (no ones perfect) and can now get my friend off the line who runs an SVX and then i pull top end. Drivetrain loss is a factor but doesnt come into play untill upper RPM and higher speeds. You want a drag car go AWD.... but i love my FWD for Auto-X. just my 2 pennies

 

[siceclipse]

Dont only think about what you personaly want. Also look around you and see how your surroundings effect you. I could have gotten either, but went AWD because of personal reasons for wanting it and the fact that we get our fair share of rain and snow. Also the backroads over here in New England are AWSOME with AWD!

 

[TimG]

AWD all the way. I have a FWD and AWD. I say AWD all the way. FWD is only good for highway pulls and even at that it's not much faster then my AWD on the highway. AWD owns off the line. Period. FWD has a SLIGHT advantage on the highway. I own and drive both. Don't argue with me.

 

[greyforestgst]

id stress all wheel drive just for the whole it works better while turning and accelerating issue

 

[bhop]

Hold out..

 

[95TSiNewbie]

Never settle for anything

 

[BlackNWhiteRS]

Why are FWD faster from highway pulls? Just the fact that they are lighter?

 

[Catbox_95]

Yes, lighter and less rotating mass, which equals more HP to the ground. Personally, I'm all about being lighter. The fwd weighs about 200 lbs. less than awd, and on top of that I've shaved about another 180 lbs. off of my fwd. That's why that damn Lotus Elise, with all of it's 190 hp, runs mid-13's!

 

[95tsiawdgst]

FWD is faster on the highway due to the 300lb ish weight difference and driveline loss of awd.

I have had both fwd and awd stock cars with mileage in the 30ks when I got them. The awd wasn't nearly as fast on the highway. I could almost get out and walk it seemed. I have fixed that now.
It depends on what YOU want/need.
I kinda like fwds for the hw power and the taller gears in the gst which should yield better economy. I also like my awd for the fact I can enter traffic w/o spinning the tires off and it doesn't spin the inside front tire when cornering under boost, the awd is much more balanced than my gst was in corners. I can say I have never really "launched" my awd because it just doen't seem like a good idea to me. I get my kicks from 3rd gear pulls and have no desire to race anyone like I have done before.

 

[yup talon]

if your anywhere near snow, that alone would warrant getting the awd FOR SURE. all my friends are putting there cars away for the winter and crap, and buying winter beaters, if this applies to you, believe me this, if u have FWD, you will be kicking your own ass come winter time. save the hassle, and drive 1 car all year round.



i also like AWD over FWD just because of traction in general, it seems like all my fwd dsm buddies are always just peeling out all over, wether they mean to or not, to me its annoying. when i mat the pedal, the car should move, not squeel.

just my .02

 

[gsx3000]

Just hit the 5 grand mark to put to a car my question is

AWD OR FWD

I really am not someone who cares about going to the track and doing a sick et but their is nothing better then s****** on someone from a roll. I am really confused with what to get for this purpose of going from a roll I hear that you can't get any traction whatever in the FWD yet the AWD has to divide the power to all 4 wheels. Like how much faster is a fwd vs an awd from a 40mph roll 1 or two cars or does the fwd just s*** on the awd. WHAT IS BETTER FOR THIS PURPOSE AND WHICH IS THE BETTER ONE TO GO FOR ALL AROUND

 

[Gary 420A RS]

AWD better handling but i would get the fwd also... iam no help :laugh:

 

[Ottoman]

If u do alot of racing from zero.. then AWD..

if u do alot of racing from rolling FWD...


the FWD is lighter, has less to go wrong, and puts more power to the ground...

the "traction" problems of the Fwd's can be cured.. or at least minimized...

good tires, good rims, LSD, stiffer engine mounts, traction bars... there's a ton of options for u...

 

[ACKERSON]

I have awd and I can spin my tires even when I'm rolling. Fwd will never have the same amount of traction as awd on the street. The fwd would probably pull on the awd from a roll if they have the same mods and they both get traction, due to less driveline loss and less weight in the fwd. I just prefer awd because I know I would never get traction with my mods in a fwd car on the street.

 

[me612]

Ya I used to defend FWD when I had a GST too. Then I gotta AWD, and will never look back. Get AWD. It's not like some sort of pig from a roll like people make it out to be when comparing it to FWD.

 

[1998gstspyder]

my choice AWD all the way, but i craved the convertible top more at the moment....if they made a gsx spyder, u can bet i wud have it

 

[yup talon]

my choice AWD all the way, but i craved the convertible top more at the moment....if they made a gsx spyder, u can bet i wud have it

i thought they did make a drop top gsx?

 

[zzzwilliams3200]

another thing to consider is with FWD you will always be making extra noise with tires, chirping when u shift, which attracts a lot of attention from cops...with an AWD you dont have to worry as much about it unless you are really loud. I would rather not have the extra attention from da po-po my 2 cents

 

[mrcooley]

I want my fwd 5sp back.

completely stock, it ran a 14.8@96....

with filter, uicp, bov, and mbc @ 15psi it ran a 14.2@99 with a 2.4 60', bald tires, and a slipping clutch.

i now have a a/t awd.

have not had it at the track, but feels just as fast with a profec b at 15psi, filter, uicp, bov, fp bt28, and evo iii manifold.

 

[1998gstspyder]

i thought they did make a drop top gsx?

nope never...

 

[90gs-turbo]

Well my 3 things are.. ,1 I have a fwd and I mostly race from a roll cant seem to get anyone good at a light everyone around here thinks they are the sh** from 30mph until I down shift and own them..Even awd dsm's over here always go from a roll ..2,My 90 probe gt was fwd and with the mods I put into it I KILLED a awd 2g eclipse..3 Be glad you dont drive a rwd!!!!! Well now I kinda want an awd a little ...But im glad I got a DSM

 

[Defiant]

And in closing, the superiority is clearly defined.

Of which, no one can tell for another customer.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

I'm seriously thinking about switching to a 2gb awd from my 2gb fwd. just wondering who here has done this and if they liked it, or like the FWD better?

yes there are many factors, but i'm asking for everyone's seperate experiences.

 

[herostar]

I haven't heard of a single person regretting it. I think more would if it werent' for the money issue...

 

[Staytuned]

I went from a FWD sunbird turbo GT to my Talon AWD ....and I say for sure I will never go back to a FWD car period.

Edit: I guess you meant a AWD conversion....which I of course did not do with my Sunbird.