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.

 

[Boost92awd]

+1 on the AWD. After owning a couple FWD cars and then finally getting a AWD car I will never go back to a FWD car. Yeah FWD might be fun spinning the tires and all, but that gets old real fast and gets expensive having to buy tires so often.

 

[DGajre777]

AWD > FWD

Any day of the week.

What ^^ said.

 

[MountainDew]

FWD is just no fun at all.. RWD is definitely the most fun but I love AWD. Especially when I'm killing just about everything off the line with launch control.

 

[chetvram]

AWD if you plan on making more than 300hp.

 

[thorlief4g63]

Also, from a roll the gst is faster vs. a gsx. Donuts in awd is sweet and the launch is amazing. Depends on the fun you want to have.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Go look at 60ft times and trap speeds of the two compared.

And if you read what you quoted, you would see that I personally don't care about 60', 1/8 or 1/4 mile times...so that is a mute point.

I will still say it depends on what you want to do with the car.

AWD is not always the best choice.

+1 on the AWD. After owning a couple FWD cars and then finally getting a AWD car I will never go back to a FWD car. Yeah FWD might be fun spinning the tires and all, but that gets old real fast and gets expensive having to buy tires so often.

People just need to learn that the best form of traction control is your right foot.

 

[CrankWalk1985]

LMFAO FWD is never Faster the AWD from a Dig or on the highway, your going to be spending that "Extra" 2 Gs trying to race people from a Dig and still get killed by a GSX/TSI, no matter what, 2k into a FWD car is pointless, go GSX or TSI... pointless not to,

 

[MountainDew]

And if you read what you quoted, you would see that I personally don't care about 60', 1/8 or 1/4 mile times...so that is a mute point.

I will still say it depends on what you want to do with the car.

AWD is not always the best choice.

I did read what I quoted. You said this...

"That is if you're going for 400+WHP, if not, then what's the point of a GSX?"

All I did was point out the "point" of having a GSX. I don't care what you think, not everyone is going to not care about 60 foot times and trap speeds.

 

[Nofear20]

Yeah actually fwd is faster then awd from a roll.. how much though I dont know.. I do remember some guys talking at a meet I went to. They were messing around on the freeway. AWD vs FWD. It was pretty close, but once the FWD hit a certain speed it was gone.

And BTW crankwalk85... a TSI is FWD, you must mean TSI AWD.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

If I was to buy another 2g for a DD and mod it to no more than 300whp, I'd buy a FWD.

If I were to buy a 2g as a DD that I want to be able to take to snow, kick ass in the rain, AND mod to 300+whp, I'd buy the AWD.

If it was not my DD at all I'd buy an AWD.

My reasoning is this:
AWD is useful for traction. DD's don't need the extra weight, traction or the decreased driveability. The difference is pretty huge going from a FWD 2g to an AWD 2g. I miss the ease and smoothness of stop light take offs that are gone forever with the FWD. But You'll have to pry the immense AWD traction in a high rpm takeoff from my dead, icy, cold hands.

The bottom line is you'll be happy with either, just consider the possibility that you don't need AWD and that you may prefer the driveability of the FWD.

 

[Deliverance]

Everyone automatically says go awd but thats not always the best choice, there are different areas that make the fwd a better choice. To the OP what are you plans for the car (mods, power, etc) & what type of driving etc. Personally for the street I think my fwd is great, at the track on the other hand, I wish I was awd all the time. Slicks will make a huge improvement in this area but if you want to run it the way you drove it in/street trim, the awd wins at the track, hands down.

i know FWD GSTs that own Evos all day long because FWD cars put power down better. AWD is just good for turns, bad weather, and launching. Dont get me wrong i;d go awd if i had the chance but their are advantages of a fwd.

 

[My1GLaser]

But You'll have to pry the immense AWD traction in a high rpm takeoff from my dead, icy, cold hands.

LMFAO. Well said.

If you get prothane motor mounts, frt control arm bushings, lowering springs & shocks and go with at least 225mm tires at 24 psi and maybe an LSD insert then the traction, torque steer & wheel hop greatly improve on the FWD.

I totaled my FWD Laser and my next DSM was a GSX, so I guess that does say something about what I wanted out of my car. I had the motor mounts and control arm bushings, but the rest was stock. The SOB wouldn't hook well until about 70 mph and I could spin in third at 85 if I wanted to, but my right foot is made out of lead. I was running 22psi on an Evo 3 16g.

Some people like the challenge of making a FWD hook-up. Just check out Dsm-onster and others on here who have stayed FWD over the years...

 

[DSMunknown]

Times 4573478154094629463985.

 

[Bud92gsx]

I myself have had my GSX for about 2 years now and I absolutly love it. Sept of course when I break it. ! They do launch very well. They handle great they pretty much smoke most of the stuff thats out there. But the GST is also a very nice car, I'm thinkin about buying a 2G and i think its a GST. When I think how the car is gonna handle compared to my GSX it scares the hell out of me.

 

[bane3d]

So the general consensus here is: It depends on how much HP you will be pushing. Over 300HP the recommendation is GSX for traction, under 300HP, go with a GST and save the $2000? Can we bury this issue now?

d

 

[DGajre777]

So the general consensus here is: It depends on how much HP you will be pushing. Over 300HP the recommendation is GSX for traction, under 300HP, go with a GST and save the $2000? Can we bury this issue now?

d

^^^ and...

If you race from a stop, get an AWD.
If you race from a roll, get a FWD.

 

[e36bmer]

I would say being in LA and not needing AWD for anything. Get the GS-T and some sticky tires.

 

[e36bmer]

And your car looks like a car I would see out at the levy or down in chalmette at night.

 

[DSMsOwnYourV8]

i know FWD GSTs that own Evos all day long because FWD cars put power down better. AWD is just good for turns, bad weather, and launching. Dont get me wrong i;d go awd if i had the chance but their are advantages of a fwd.

At what point? You can have say 600 crank horsepower coming from the gst but it's going to be hard to put that power to the pavement without slicks.

 

[DGajre777]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/hangout/270185-anything-better-about-fwd-than-awd.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/drag-strip/263501-drag-race-car-fwd-awd.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/267547-convince-me-awd-over-fwd.html

 

[2liter tubo]

for the amount of power these car put to the ground traction is a serious problems awd>fwd now ## just

 

[2liter tubo]

for the amount of power these car put to the ground traction is a serious problems awd>fwd now your just

 

[majik2k5]

I'm bringing this thread back, because I've enjoyed reading into it thus' far. The opinions are great, but I don't hear hardly any before and after stories relating to Limited-Slip differentials.

After looking at my modification list, I'm sure you can understand my intrests into the pro's and upgrade potentials of a FWD platform.

 

[keithscianna]

Yea Great thread! I am in the same boat as you, At or around 300whp FWD is "interesting".

 

[crimsonGST]

I was shooting for about the 300-350hp range. The MAIN reason I'm most probably going to get the awd is the fact that when it rains here in Louisiana, it POURS. I hate driving in the rain with my fwd n/a and if i do get the gsx that will most probably be the deciding factor. Im looking at the big picture here, and with a fwd I understand about tire wear. I would rather spend $2k more right from the start and get the smarter, safer buy. The GSX is looking mighty tempting right now guys...

It's amazing, this post wasn't up but a day or two and it recieved so much feedback.
If any one else has any opinions I'm still going to keep checking in on this thread. For now I just need some time to do a little more research and a little more searching for my perfect car before I decide.
Thanks.