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.

 

[king_of_HTX]

Just incase you weren't convinced...

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/timeslips.php

wow @ all the AWD's... If that doesn't convince him nothing will.

 

[importpower99]

Go AWD, they are great in the wet and snow. Although you will never see snow. I drove my friends 98 gsx in the snow, and huge difference! But i'll never give up my fwd!

 

[boostenon114]

My first talon was a fwd. It only took 3 day of driving and i was always mad that i could not hook up. I bought an awd and feel in love! If it was me awd all the way!

 

[blackbetty]

I bought my '91 TSI for $200 and it runs like a champ. I would rather have awd, but i got my fwd for a hell of a bargain.

 

[oldman]

I think OP got the point.

 

[Bmxr152]

So my last talon was an AWD, the project car im picking up this weekend is a FWD. I know obviously i wont be able to do any hard launching, but is there any benifits or cons besides that to the FWD 1G's?

 

[winterftbl]

No, awd is definately better but hey at least you can peel out with fwd.

 

[Bmxr152]

, yeah i can already do that with my Cobra. Oh well you cant beat $300 thought for a 90 tsi with 140k miles.

 

[MyBlack94GST]

Two less diffs and one less transfer case to break.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

Yea... the biggest + is that they're cheaper!!

 

[Bmxr152]

About how much hp can a fwd handle? well the axels mostly

 

[Beanokid69]

better top end, only have to push 2 wheels instead of 4....put a big a$$ gt40 on there w/support and make a freeway car

 

[Bmxr152]

Well im going to build it mainly for the drags strip

 

[95grntsi]

weight is another advantage.

 

[marq95gst]

Better gas mileage.

 

[oldman420]

+1 for weight awd is +3900lbs gvrw

 

[wont_luz]

highway pulls...rolls from 30-40...## just gonna spank an awd with the same power mods. from a stop...you're going to need an lsd if you do any power mods.

 

[Bmxr152]

I thought they came stock with a lsd? Anyways will probly be runnin some nitto 555R drag radials.

 

[Cs4g63]

Not really a plus but torque steer can be a little exciting.

 

[dsm-onster]

The stock 1990-1992 axles don't like lsd, slicks, and a beafy clutch w/ a evo316g. They CAN break at that level. I've seen them hold for a while. And I've seen them break right away. Swapping out to the larger 1993-1994 axles is good for a bit more strength. You will have to use the 1993+ FWD differential for such a swap. That's about it.

But, the catch is that you will not be able to use the AWD equal length half shafts when you upgrade to the 1Gb axles. So take your pick: reliability or more traction.

You could pay $1000 for some really strong ELHSs. A quick search will give you the vendor (I cannot remember the name). Also Raxles.com is a decent place to get atleast "uncut" axles so that you'll have oem strength when one breaks. The other option if one breaks is to get a remaufactured pep-boys/autozoo/advanceauto piece. It is widely accepted that cut axles are about as reliable as cut cranks .

Building a fwd gives you the opportunity to really *study* traction and suspension: because you'll have to . But, there are tricks, tweeks, and upgrades that really work. Just do lots of research.

IMHO, if you can cut your 60 ft time to 1.9 seconds, then you have a chance against an equally modded AWD if you're both under around 400 hp. After that, drivetrain loss becomes much less of an issue as hp goes up. You have significantly less weight and less drivetrain loss. Good luck getting a 1.899 60 ft .

 

[Bmxr152]

i cant even get a 2.0 60ft in my mustang cobra. Damn 2wd steet tires. So how many axles have you gone through?

 

[DGajre777]

1) Weight
2) Cost
3) Drivetrain transfer loss (power from engine to 2 wheels compared to 4)

If you want a drag car, get an AWD. I've seen many people with FWDs go to AWDs but I haven't seen one person convert their AWD to FWD to drag race.

 

[brute]

You don't have to take off a transfer case to drop the oil pan!

 

[DGajre777]

You don't have to take off a transfer case to drop the oil pan!

Or for a clutch change!

 

[90laserRSfwd]

www.turbomirage.com

FWD SUCKS!!!