AWD, FWD, RWD - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

logo20 · 08-30-2002, 04:41 PM

Can somebody give me a wet site,  or tell me about the advantage or disadvantage of AWD cars, and how they compare to FWD and RWD.
Thanks.

Mtt22 · 08-30-2002, 04:54 PM

well obviously the advantage of an AWD car is all 4 wheels are pushing/pulling the car, the disadvantage is because it has a larger drivetrain you loose more horsepower in it, and you will find an awd drivetrain will take less horse power before major modifications need to be done to it due to the extra load on the transmission and of course the transfer case.  And a awd car is awesome in the winter.

i dont know what advantage a fwd car has over other cars for racing, prolly none, better in snow though....

the advantage of a rwd car is that when you lay into and the car is pulling forward the weight "transfers" to the back of the vehicle giving you more power to the ground being that the "extra gravity" is pushing the wheels down harder. Unfortunatly the rwd's are obvoiusly the worst in wlippery conditions.

orange-grey · 08-30-2002, 11:05 PM

This question is too vague to give a proper response to, but I'll try anyway.

Despite popular opinion, without active diffs or a heavy rear torque split, AWD sucks on dry pavement.  If you don't believe me, watch a WRX at an autocross, either stock or modified.  They basically drive like a overweight FWD car except they understeer a bit less on the exit.  It takes some real manhandling or a huge rear sway bar to break the end loose.  I regularly outrun them in my s13 despite being down around 75 hp simply because I can stay on the throttle longer.  Great for dirt/wet asphalt/drag racing though.

guidot · 08-31-2002, 12:13 AM

Here it is:

FWD - Loss of power through driveline is minimal.  Steering and power is put through one area.  Heavy understeer in corners.  Weight distribution is usually heavy in the front.

AWD - Greatest loss of power in driveline.  More stable under uneven road conditions.  Mild understeer.  Weight distribution is medium-heavy front.

RWD - Moderate loss of power in driveline (10% stock 240).  Steering and power are put down separately (better turning radius, higher sensitivity to movement).  Low understeer to moderate oversteer (depending on car).  Weight distribution is almost as close to 50/50 as possible.  

Midengine - Loss of power similar to fwd.  Steering and power are separate.  Neutral to heavy oversteer (best agility of all).  Weight distribution is even or rear heavy.

gemoose23 · 08-31-2002, 10:35 AM

Back in September of 2000,

Sport Compact Car did an Article about this.

Sport Compact Article, RWD, FWD, and AWD...

The Eclipse was tuned by where I work... RRE.

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

Some good reading, enjoy.

piratepete420 · 08-31-2002, 06:03 PM

240 loses about 17% through driveline.

S13Grl · 09-01-2002, 01:40 PM

I think this should be archived. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

And 240s lose between 10-15%, depending on vehicle conditions.

08-30-2002, 04:41 PM	#1
logo20 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 345 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Can somebody give me a wet site,  or tell me about the advantage or disadvantage of AWD cars, and how they compare to FWD and RWD. Thanks. __________________ http://community.webshots.com/user/logo20

08-30-2002, 04:54 PM	#2
Mtt22 Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 79 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	well obviously the advantage of an AWD car is all 4 wheels are pushing/pulling the car, the disadvantage is because it has a larger drivetrain you loose more horsepower in it, and you will find an awd drivetrain will take less horse power before major modifications need to be done to it due to the extra load on the transmission and of course the transfer case.  And a awd car is awesome in the winter. i dont know what advantage a fwd car has over other cars for racing, prolly none, better in snow though.... the advantage of a rwd car is that when you lay into and the car is pulling forward the weight "transfers" to the back of the vehicle giving you more power to the ground being that the "extra gravity" is pushing the wheels down harder. Unfortunatly the rwd's are obvoiusly the worst in wlippery conditions. __________________ Matt "andy offers kevin pudding at 9, if andy is 7 years older then pudding than how many liters of andy does it take to get to detroit?" "There are 3 types of people in this world. People who can count, and people who cant.." ""Save the Whales" (Trade them for valuable prizes)"

08-31-2002, 12:13 AM	#4
guidot Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cape Cod, MA Age: 44 Posts: 443 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Here it is: FWD - Loss of power through driveline is minimal.  Steering and power is put through one area.  Heavy understeer in corners.  Weight distribution is usually heavy in the front. AWD - Greatest loss of power in driveline.  More stable under uneven road conditions.  Mild understeer.  Weight distribution is medium-heavy front. RWD - Moderate loss of power in driveline (10% stock 240).  Steering and power are put down separately (better turning radius, higher sensitivity to movement).  Low understeer to moderate oversteer (depending on car).  Weight distribution is almost as close to 50/50 as possible.   Midengine - Loss of power similar to fwd.  Steering and power are separate.  Neutral to heavy oversteer (best agility of all).  Weight distribution is even or rear heavy. __________________ -Jeff T. 96 240SX 240SXONE http://www.240sxone.com

08-31-2002, 10:35 AM	#5
gemoose23 Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 42 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Back in September of 2000, Sport Compact Car did an Article about this. Sport Compact Article, RWD, FWD, and AWD... The Eclipse was tuned by where I work... RRE. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> Some good reading, enjoy. __________________ GeMoose23 92 GSX 91 240sx 00 TL1000R

08-30-2002, 11:05 PM	#3
orange-grey Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 94 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This question is too vague to give a proper response to, but I'll try anyway. Despite popular opinion, without active diffs or a heavy rear torque split, AWD sucks on dry pavement.  If you don't believe me, watch a WRX at an autocross, either stock or modified.  They basically drive like a overweight FWD car except they understeer a bit less on the exit.  It takes some real manhandling or a huge rear sway bar to break the end loose.  I regularly outrun them in my s13 despite being down around 75 hp simply because I can stay on the throttle longer.  Great for dirt/wet asphalt/drag racing though.

08-31-2002, 06:03 PM	#6
piratepete420 Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 69 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	240 loses about 17% through driveline.

09-01-2002, 01:40 PM	#7
S13Grl Married to the Mob Join Date: Dec 2000 Age: 43 Posts: 3,670 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I think this should be archived. Correct me if I'm wrong please. And 240s lose between 10-15%, depending on vehicle conditions.