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.

 

[TurBoGs-T]

Originally posted by Squackdiddy
gearing what to you mean by that?

AWD and FWD Gears are different. Awd go alot faster while FWD you can hold 3rd for hours.

 

[Squackdiddy]

when you say "go" do you mean #### up faster or the rpms go up faster to shift, like close ratios?

 

[Defiant]

We don't do street racing here.

 

[Beanokid69]

I have a 93 Laser Turbo which i got from my grandma and is fwd I am thinking of getting a awd instead since all i have in the fwd is a act2100 kit and filter but i know with this car that i have now that it is in good shape it was never even really taken over 65 MPH. My question is, should i sell it and get a awd or stay with what i got? because i plan on modding and i know awd is way better but could sticky tires hold my anxious foot?

 

[EvolvingGST]

IF its in good condition keep it, I dont think you will find a good condition 1G for a while, you can look but i seriously doubt you will find a great condition 1G AWD for the price you may be looking for... and to your modding... What are you planning to do for goals?

Are you doing highway, 1/4? are you planning to go full out and want to run 11s? or 10s? then we will let you know more about if you should...

 

[GSntncT]

^^^agrees.

It seriously all depends on what you want to do.

 

[98RedGs]

IF its in good condition keep it, I dont think you will find a good condition 1G for a while, you can look but i seriously doubt you will find a great condition 1G AWD for the price you may be looking for... and to your modding... What are you planning to do for goals?

It definately depends on your goals.

But if your grandmother owned it and she was the only owner it has probably never seen a "ROUGH" day in it's entire time of being driven. I'd hold onto that with dear life because low milage good condition 1g's are worth their weight in gold.

 

[Beanokid69]

well i want to go all out and be fast but im not much of a traditional track guy just street running. And it does have 140k miles on it but was in the shop for anything wrong.

 

[EvolvingGST]

then stick with FWD... FWD is for the high ways and bi ways... not much of a 1/4 but hell you will whip if you modded and went on the highway.

 

[psychlow]

Stay with your FWD until you can find a killer deal on an AWD.

If/once you find a good AWD, it's just a matter of swapping most of your mods (or your engine) over.

 

[Beanokid69]

i would love to find a tsi 6/4 bolt setup

 

[98RedGs]

Stay with your FWD until you can find a killer deal on an AWD.

If/once you find a good AWD, it's just a matter of swapping most of your mods (or your engine) over.

Right-o!
Unless your not that worried about 1/4 mile times and runs.
If your not stay with your FWD and mod it because like I said it's probably in pristine condition... I wish my grandmaw owned a turbo dsm... but she only has a delta 88 and a truck.
:laugh:

 

[Beanokid69]

well im thinking of getting a 300zx so possibly selling it for 2000 obo get ahold of my aim is Beanokid69 and email is [email protected]

 

[midnght]

FWD can be for the track. That car is the same as the one you have.

9 sec FWD Laser (right click, save as)


Keep her. You can enjoy things even though only 2 wheels are spinning. (If you get an LSD.)

 

[infamousmarcus]

Should i Stick with my 92 Talon TSi FWD Auto, which needs some body work, and a engine rebuild, also some interior work which isn't much of an issue, or should i go for a 94 Talon TSi AWD Manual, wit 40-45k miles on it, Body in really good condition and so is the interior. Minor problem with the 94, it has some engine noise, some knocking, and thats it. The 94 is for sale for 4500, and the car i have right now, the engine has already been pulled and i got it for free. I need input.

 

[EvolvingGST]

Since both need an engine I say AWD, and its 5 speed... not even a consideration...

 

[Defiant]

Gosh, we JUST did this thread.

And we aren't going to do it again.

 

[DeviantClipse]

well ive found quite a few front wheel drive turbo dsm's but i wanna hear from you all should i hold out for a front wheel drive. i want the launch but the highway rolls would be fun. just what do you prefer and why


phil

 

[Jeremoose]

I would definitely go AWD; sure highway rolls are fun, but they're dangerous from what i've heard .. ! But yeah, its fun to scare some cars that are a LOT faster than yours with that filthy AWD launch

 

[2fast2furious]

I think you should ask yourself what purpose your going to use the vehicle for. i.e. drag, autocross, etc... Don't just buy an AWD to buy and AWD... if you can find a deal on a FWD, it might just be worth itm depending on the cars intended purpose.

 

[GORBS88]

If you are doin anything to the car for speed mods then do the awd.... a fwd is useless with more power then stock....i have 92 awd and love it.....even that with 300hp spins 4 tires through first and second in the rain.....fun....hehe....dont settle for nothinless....

 

[Defiant]

I can't stomach the feel of riding a hog rooting for truffles while going through a corner, nor the howling shreiks of agony from the tread blocks when driving much too fast through a ramp. Consequently, I've not tried a FWD car since mom's Fuego. I'm horrible and senselessly bigoted against the very idea.
The Tiburon I tried seemed okay, but I must admit I was fairly infatuated with it, too.

FWD is for travel toasters, unless you're Paddy Hopkirk at Monaco. Putting it on a car that weighs more than a ton should be a capital crime.

Then again, if you go with an AWD DSM, expect to have trouble with the transfer case. You may not, but I think it's much more a concern than crankwalk ever was.

And regardless which you get, it's not going to hold up if the term "lauch" means anything to you outside its correlation to Cape Canaveral.

 

[Well Traveled]

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

 

[Catbox_95]

OR... you could just learn to launch a FWD. It's not hard. It requires some skill, but so what. It's funny to see that everyone who replied to this post was in favor of whatever they drove. I have on numerous occasions out-launched GT Mustangs and Z-28's with my FWD, but I know how to drive. Even some people with RWD and AWD can't drive.

Sure, AWD will launch better. They also break better. FWD is lighter. Also has less moving parts, more hp to the ground.

FWD = lighter, faster
AWD = heavier, quicker

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

 

[86MCSS]

Two friends owned 12 sec FWD DSMs...took off the mods from the FWD put them on the some AWDs they bought...now both AWDs are 11 sec rides....I honestly dont know which to tell you to get