Opinions on FWD vs. AWD

[boostedawd42]

Well I have been looking at buying another talon recently and personally I am a 1g kind of guy. I have always had AWD talons and loved them, but this time I came across one of the cleanest 1g talons I have ever seen. The only problem is that its FWD. Now I have had fast AWD talons and they are fun as hell but this car will never be a dedicated track car so I was wondering if it would be that big of a deal if it was FWD.

I am looking at making some decent power so I would like some first hand experience with people that have had FWD talons with a decent amount of power(around 400-450whp).

 

[LiquidX]

I know that you will have some traction issues up in those numbers but other's have done it fine. It's just learning how to drive without constantly spinning. They are much better on the highway and save a bit on gas with with less parts to rotate.

 

[talondave]

I had a fwd laser years ago, and kept twisting the splines off on the axles!
I only had around 250-300hp, while it was doing this!

But anyone that knows me will agree that i'm (too damn hard on shit)

 

[95redturboawd]

By "track car" do you mean drag strip or like rally racing?

 

[ilco187]

you can make them stronger and reduce torque steer by installing the awd driver side axle and carrier, from what i have seen on here.

 

[boostedawd42]

By track car I mean I wont be going to the track every weekend. I'm not trying to build a race car, but I have had enough fast cars that I am sure this car wont stay stock.

 

[FactoryChrome]

FWD drive is for experienced drivers only. If you want to beat the hell out of a car, get the AWD because at least you don't have to know how to drive to get it to win races.

 

[cjridert1]

1st and 2nd gear are finesse with street tires (225s). I ran Quaife/ELHS on eibachs 4-450hp. Dual stage BCs helped to address the issue, but wheelspin regardless. Tires would make a little noise in 3rd gear, but nothing bad. So if you are looking to kill it stop light to the next, maybe think twice? Car loves interstate on-ramps.

 

[talondave]

FWD drive is for experienced drivers only. If you want to beat the hell out of a car, get the AWD because at least you don't have to know how to drive to get it to win races.

Really??? WOW!!

 

[LiquidX]

FWD drive is for experienced drivers only. If you want to beat the hell out of a car, get the AWD because at least you don't have to know how to drive to get it to win races.

So you are saying that Dave Bushur, John Shepard, Magnus motor sports, Kiggly racing etc. etc. ARE NOT experienced drivers!? Seriously, do some reading before posting. Also I seriously hope your post was a joke as well.

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

 

[wkmitsu]

If you plan on making some power with it and racing from a dig, then FWD is less likely to develop some kind of drivetrain problem because if you mess up when starting off you'll just get tire smoke, whereas with AWD you will take off fast, but you will probably be causing some kind of problem in the drivetrain somewhere.

 

[cjridert1]

It's just learning how to drive without constantly spinning.

I think he is agreeing with what you said earlier in different wording. Kiggly is the only of the three that are FWD I believe, what is this related to anyhow? He specifically said this was not going to be a track car. Relax

 

[boostedawd42]

Well the reason I said it wasn't going to be a track car is because honestly I dot beat the piss out of my cars. Not saying taking your car to the track is wrong or abuse but I can't see myself going to the track 10-15 times a year driving the car there making multiple passes and driving home in the best interest for a car that I plan to DD right now.

 

[LiquidX]

I think he is agreeing with what you said earlier in different wording. Kiggly is the only of the three that are FWD I believe, what is this related to anyhow? He specifically said this was not going to be a track car. Relax

You are right, Kiggly is FWD. That's besides the point though. OP stated he wants around 400-450 HP apparently and with those numbers it's hard NOT to spin your tires. It's not a statement saying you have to be an experienced driver only, just giving a heads up. I have read that most people won't go much past that point at all because of massive wheel spin regardless at the track or not. It's just the nature of the beast.

 

[boostedawd42]

Don't get my wrong, I would love for the car to be AWD, the problem is that I have never seen an AWD talon this clean with decently low miles. It sucks that you can't convert FWD 1g's like you can 2g's. I guess I will just have to make up my mind if I really want to have to worry about wheel spin THAT much.

 

[twinsnails]

I really do not see why you care if the car is all that clean, if you are making it a track car then why would you really care. There should never be a track car that can win a shine and show contest also. There is no advantage to having a FWD car on a drag strip it is as simple as that. Unless you really want to get tires that stick 5 inches outside the fenders and bracket race then go ahead. I say find an AWD, that is nice and go from there.

 

[talondave]

It don't matter, what ever you would like to do! I would like to have a FWD for DD again... But like you said, their hard to find in good shape!

 

[LiquidX]

All-in-all, do what YOU want to do and if you want to try something new, get the FWD and enjoy a new style of DSM for yourself. I have my reasons for getting a DD AWD vehicle but they may not be the same as yours. Remember, FWD uses less gas as well.

I'm assuming it'll be more of a DD since he stated "...this car will never be a dedicated track car..."

 

[twinsnails]

You really just made no sense. I also thought we were talking about a track car, not DD cars. I drive a sentra from day to day. So go ahead and get whatever you like for a DD. You did not even start the thread....

 

[talondave]

You really just made no sense. I also thought we were talking about a track car, not DD cars. I drive a sentra from day to day. So go ahead and get whatever you like for a DD. You did not even start the thread....

Who the funk are you talking about?

 

[pboglio]

I owned a 1g FWD which probably had around 300 w.h.p. and the car had extremely limited traction under WOT. I'm sure the quaife helps, but still, I just can't see it being a fun car with 400-450 w.h.p. I know I got frustrated at not being able to put the power down when I wanted to.

If I'm having traction issues on my AWD with around 400 w.h.p. under certain conditions, a FWD has no chance.

 

[99gst_racer]

If you're making more than 300-350 WHP, you probably aren't going to be happy with being FWD. With a Quaife up front and putting down 400 WHP, I could spin the tires into 3rd gear until about 80 mph. It sucked. Switching the car to AWD was the best thing I've ever done to it.

Many people only think AWD is a benefit from the dig. It's all too easy to overlook the fact that traction issues occur at cruising speeds as well.

 

[pboglio]

A spun my AWD at about 40 mph in 2nd gear, completely sideways when the boost came on. The summer tires didn't help, but it was still dry as a bone out. This is why my motto is: "FWD, just say no!"

 

[FactoryChrome]

So you are saying that Dave Bushur, John Shepard, Magnus motor sports, Kiggly racing etc. etc. ARE NOT experienced drivers!? Seriously, do some reading before posting. Also I seriously hope your post was a joke as well.

DSM 1/4 Mile Times - 1/4 ET

Kiggly is FWD ding dong.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

I really do not see why you care if the car is all that clean, if you are making it a track car then why would you really care. There should never be a track car that can win a shine and show contest also. There is no advantage to having a FWD car on a drag strip it is as simple as that. Unless you really want to get tires that stick 5 inches outside the fenders and bracket race then go ahead. I say find an AWD, that is nice and go from there.

You really just made no sense. I also thought we were talking about a track car, not DD cars. I drive a sentra from day to day. So go ahead and get whatever you like for a DD. You did not even start the thread....

The OP, boostedawd42, stated in his first post "this car will never be a dedicated track car." Read the whole post before jumping in a posting dumb comments.