So let's talk about all these AWD sports cars...

"PushToStart" (pushtostart) 05/09/2014 at 13:01 • Filed to: None

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Why are they (seemingly) becoming more popular? I recently read about how Jag is supposedly playing around with the idea of an AWD F-Type, and now, some variations of the 911 are AWD only. I know that Porsche has been doing AWD for a while, but is the demand for RWD really not high enough for them to justify making the new Targa and 911 Turbo's with that configuration? It's the same way with Lamborghini as well, none of the cars they make currently (or in the past few years, besides the special editions) are RWD. Do people really not want them? Why don't people want them? I love the new Targa, but honestly, I personally don't care for AWD in a 911...

Will the RWD sports car eventually go the way of the manual transmission?

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 13:06

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I don't think RWD will ever completely go away, decline a bit, sure, but never fully away. I think they are putting out AWD for a lot of this powerful cars because, there are a lot of people out there that cannot handle a car with upwards of 400+ hp in a RWD configuration, just as that video a few days ago of that Diablo spinning out and smashing a wall proved.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 13:06

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I don't think it will go all the way to the state of the manual, but it's headed that way alright.

Too many people think they can buy an expensive car and all of a sudden they're an F1 driver. I think with AWD it keeps them alive a little longer with better traction, and more nannies.

spanfucker retire bitch > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 13:08

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It makes it a better vehicle? Having all 4 wheels powered, means more power to the ground through more contact patches. It's a no-brainer. You think a GT-R would be the monster it is right now if it was RWD? Hell no.

PS9 > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 13:15

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Why are they (seemingly) becoming more popular?

0-60.

(On RWD) Do people really not want them? Why don't people want them?

Loss Aversion. In other words, 5-10k more on a car that already costs 100k for AWD is 5%-10% more money for a faster car, if they offer the option at all. Most are going to take that bait.

Will the RWD sports car eventually go the way of the manual transmission?

Not a chance.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > PS9 05/09/2014 at 13:26

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People are being sold on the "safety and performance" of AWD, and have stopped buying cars based on driving feel.

All that seems to matter now is shift-times measured in pico-seconds and lap-times.

Sadly, for those who refer the dynamics and pleasure of driving a less-complicated, more mechanical car, it is becoming ever increasingly difficult to come by a car built for just those reasons.

There are cars that do indeed benefit from having AWD; the GT-R being the poster child for a car that looks like it should be crap on paper, and yet just destroys the competition. The Veyron is another where AWD is actually a necessity, as that much power can only be utilized with as much rubber as possible.

But for cars like the Golf-R, AWD isn't really needed. I would bet that the Golf-R would just as fun to drive if it were only FWD. The Focus RS is an absolute blast to drive by all accounts, and it's partly because it's not burdened with a more-complex-than-needed AWD system. Can that much power cause torque-steer? Yes, physics is still the law. But enough engineering can solve most of that problem. The rest boils down to perception. Some people don't mind driving a car that demands attention and strength from the driver to control. Others would rather not deal with it.

Neither is necessarily wrong.

feather-throttle-not-hair > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 13:28

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The 911 Turbo has been AWD since the 993 generation was released in the 90's. 2wd gallardos were only "special editions" but there were multiple 2wd special editions so it's not like they're exceedingly rare.

Look, the truth about AWD is that it has it's pluses and minuses. However, cars are evolving in such a way that the pluses AWD offer are becoming more and more relevant, while the minuses tend to more and more minimized through technology.

It makes more sense having all four wheels move you forward, just as it makes more sense to have brakes at all four corners.

I wouldn't be surprised if 70 percent of the cars on the road have AWD in the next 25 years or so. That said, i totally used to rock an awd turbocharged sports car, and now drive a RWD sports car with 100 more horsepower than the awd one. I think enough people like me exist that RWD will forever remain on option on select sports cars.

Nonster > spanfucker retire bitch 05/09/2014 at 13:30

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I wouldn't say it makes all cars better. it depends on what the purpose of the vehicle. For some situations AWD is better, but its not the end all be all. The GT-R would still be a monster if it was RWD, actually I think it would be better if it lost all that weight and complexity and had a simple RWD drivetrain.

PheeNoIVI > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 13:31

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I don't know why. I'd much rather have a RWD sports car. The only reason I see to have a track sports car, built for the road, having AWD is hr massive amount of power it has. Such as a Lamborghini or supercar. To put the power down. A Porsche with AWD? They don't have an excessive amount of power so I'm not sure why its needed. I hope there's always an option for both.

CAR_IS_MI > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 13:36

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AWD is more easily tamed by the higher hp numbers that these cars are now producing. Your average sports car buyer has no business being behind the wheel of a 500 hp rwd car. They don't know how to handle them properly so they end up around a tree. AWD helps keep these clowns out of trees and keep $ in the manufacturers pockets.

PushToStart > spanfucker retire bitch 05/09/2014 at 13:49

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I'm not sure AWD automatically makes a car "better" all the time, first off. Secondly, I'm not saying "fuck AWD, get rid of it." because I appreciate it and it's various applications. Really my biggest question is why it's not even an option on some stuff (the Targa, for instance). It's not like that car is so outlandishly powerful that it necessitates AWD.

tehGnomeArmy > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 05/09/2014 at 14:04

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I think with AWD it keeps them alive a little longer with better traction, and more nannies.

And well enough after the accident so they can say, whoa that car saved my life so I am going to buy another.

JR1 > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 14:10

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The world is being sissified. That is why we are getting AWD sports cars. Some are excellent I will admit but sissification is the main cause of AWD sports cars.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 14:29

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I blame youtube for exposing all the RWD fails. Realistically most who have money to buy these RWD cars dont take the time to learn how to drive them outside of the usual trip to (insert typical asshat destination here), so whenever I see a fail all I can think is "if only they had taken the time to learn how to recover" this is OPPO isn't it?

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > JR1 05/09/2014 at 15:03

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I don't think anyone who has driven an AWD rally car at full chat would agree with you :-)

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > PushToStart 05/09/2014 at 15:04

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Incremental sales mostly. It gets some who are on the fence of purchasing to do so while still having RWD options available for enthusiasts and current owners to continue to purchase.

Ricky Weston > PushToStart 05/13/2014 at 16:38

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IMO, AWD makes cars boring. So what if it chops a couple tenths off your 0-60? I'd much rather have to work a bit at it, than just be able to mash on the gas at any time, in any weather, in any conditions, like an absolute idiot. I. Like. Driving. I like having to drive. I like having to think. And I sure as hell like doing both at the same time. You listening Mercedes with all your new 4matic AMG's? I won't be buying them. Thank god your V12s are still rear wheel drive. For now.