Whats it like going from RWD to AWD?
I've always wanted to make the step into an AWD vehicle but have stuck to my RWD roots (or "WWD roots" if I'm driving the wife's car for an extended period of time).
What could I expect if I were to make the jump into an AWD vehicle? Would doughnuts ever be the same?
Donuts become out control nuts
Otherwise awd is more grip,
the few I have driven were more like FWD with some push from the rear
depends on the car. I have 2 RWD cars, a 4x4, and a WRX DD. Before this group of cars, I had FWD for about a decade.
On the WRX, grip is ridiculous....snow, rain, dry. I never have to worry about losing the tail. The car is set up pretty balanced now (I can rotate it, and on hard cornering in the rain, for instance, I can slip front and rear at the same time). I've spun it a few times at autocrosses, but never on the street. Stock it understeers somewhat, but not nearly as bad as a FWD car.
The BMW (e30) I pay more attention on hard cornering to keeping the tail in because it will break free pretty easily.
All in all, now that I"ve had an AWD daily driver I wouldn't have it any other way. For a motorsports car, I prefer RWD but AWD has most of the "fun" of RWD plus more safety, more all-season capability, and no burnouts :)
They are all a bit different in how they handle. I've owned two: an Audi Quattro and an Eagle Talon Turbo AWD. Very different cars. The only constant is that you really can't use throttle to adjust the attitude of the car while cornering.
I've just discovered the Carlos Sainz edition Celica (turbo AWD) thought it might be kind of nifty to give an AWD car a try.
Most current AWD are FWD cars with a rear output shaft that is engaged through a viscous coupling or clutch when you lose front traction. Best you will ever get is 50/50 torque distribution and that is only if the fronts have absolutely no traction. In other words "Bad cop-no donut!" Some cars are AWD with a rear bias and front engaged with the coupling/clutch method. Several of those have a 66/33 60/40 etc... rear to front bias. Those are extremely donut capable, but it is no longer a lazy circle, it is a helicopter without a tail prop.
Argo1 wrote: They are all a bit different in how they handle. I've owned two: an Audi Quattro and an Eagle Talon Turbo AWD. Very different cars. The only constant is that you really can't use throttle to adjust the attitude of the car while cornering.
I found that throttle certainly controlled the attitude of our STI swapped '98 Impreza: understeer or oversteer, depending on the conditions - it was seriously tail happy in slippery conditions on the throttle, and you could use the throttle on on-ramps for example to control trajectory.
MrJoshua wrote: Most current AWD are FWD cars with a rear output shaft that is engaged through a viscous coupling or clutch when you lose front traction. Best you will ever get is 50/50 torque distribution and that is only if the fronts have absolutely no traction. In other words "Bad cop-no donut!" Some cars are AWD with a rear bias and front engaged with the coupling/clutch method. Several of those have a 66/33 60/40 etc... rear to front bias. Those are extremely donut capable, but it is no longer a lazy circle, it is a helicopter without a tail prop.
Mr Joshua nailed it.
Most AWD's are front biased, and handle like a FWD with more grip. They are steady and sure footed. Donuts will definitely not be the same.
RWD: Brake, turn in, ease into throttle through the turn, get it pointed straight, full throttle.
AWD: Brake, turn+full throttle, wheeee!
On older non-computery AWD cars, if you don't execute turns when at the limit like that you will get massive understeer. I can't speak to the new ones with active everything control.
AWD donuts in the snow are fun: http://armitage.crinkle.net/video/?playitem=48
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