just thought i'd pose the question. Clearly there are some major traction benefits to AWD in certain circumstances. However, i really do not like the feel of AWD cars. I drove an EVO yesterday and was reminded why i love RWD so much. RWD cars just feel much lighter and more tossable. Do you really like the feel of AWD? If so, did you like it immediatly or did it take a while to get used to? Part of my problem i'm sure is that i've been racing rwd cars/karts and motorcycles my whole life.

-Steve

 

I like RWD - more fun to drift in. I guess (in hindsite), I should have gotten a GT-2.

 

If I had the choice, for what I do, I'd have
gotten the GT2 instead, knowing what I know
now, but wait till you race in the rain.
Joe

 

AWD - would be safer for me.
RWD - definitely more fun.

especially when dealing with so much power.

 

As I think about the GT2, there are other reasons
too (lighter, more power, wider wheels and a
wider choice of tires etc). However, the ideal
car for me would be a GT2 *with* PSM that I
could switch on or off.
The quick turn-in is maybe as much or more
to do with the lighter front, owing to the absence
of AWD hardware, as opposed to AWD driving the
front wheels. Audi did very well racing AWD,
and often played with varying the front tire
diameter to dial in more or less constant drive
to the front, which would dial in more or less
turn-in. I guess the quickest turn-in would be
if all the traction in the front tire was going
to lateral force. This would mean getting the
front diameter just right so there was no power
delivery to or from the front, for the initial
power-off conditions at turn-in.
Because this needn't be worried about with
RWD, it's easier/better in this regard.

 

that's what i figured. Kudos to porsche for offering a RWD turbo. I hope Lambo offers an RWD Gallardo. The Lotus Elise is my next car (drive an S2000 now). I hope when i'm done with that someone in the high end segment is still offering a kickass RWD ride, otherwise i'm gonna have to buy my stepdad's GT2 from him.

-Steve

 

I prefer RWD.

Btw, I drove the Federal Elise today. Really a nice car, much improved over my Elise Sport 190 or Exige in terms of refinement. Under 6K it's like driving a nice sedan. Go above 6K and it's a wild animal...

Roy

ps. I'm slated to take one for evaluation purposes later this year. The factory will give me one to drive for a while but I must return it with an evaluation of the car. Should be fun

 

Roy you are a lucky dog

 

I prefer AWD. AWD allows you to put down the power in any road conditions. I love that fact that when the roads are wet my RED BEAST still rocks!! I also like having AWD on the track you can feel the front tires helping to pull you through the corners.

 

while AWD is more efficient at transferring the power, i preferred my C2 Cab's RWD. AWD was one of the reasons i got out of my 996TT. a GT2 sure would be sweet to have.....

doody.

 

roy you have a PM

 

AWD is more efficient only when you are traction-
limited at the rear. As soon as you're going
fast enough (or running on a dry/grippy enough
surface) to not be able to break the rear end
loose with the throttle, RWD is more efficient
because of the added parasitic losses from all
the extra AWD stuff. That's why the drivetrain loss percentage people use when dynoing AWD cars
is higher.
Joe

 

Nothing like driving the GT2 around and losing control wondering what object you are going to hit at anytime. Too much money with way too much torque. I like my TT AWD with more power then my GT2.

Doug

 

Yep. I have seen a fairly experienced autocrosser
with familiarity with turbo porsches accidentally
loop a GT2 in traffic.

I'm willing to risk it but if the 996tt were
as light as the GT2, I'd prefer it certainly.
As to the money, hell yes. I have often argued
with GT2 fans that if actual delivered content is
considered, the prices of the two cars should be
reversed. The GT2 is just a decontented 996tt.
If they had come to the market GT2 first, no one
could argue against the 996tt costing much more.

 

I have to say that most racing organizations have banned AWD because it gives those cars an advantage. The Audi quattros use to dominate the series they raced in because of the AWD. They tried to add weight to even things out but the Audi's still won. Eventually they banned AWD.