Quick lunch time inquiry

"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
04/10/2017 at 14:56 • Filed to: None

How does AWD affect mildly powered cars? For example a non WRX Impreza.

I guess the heart of the issue for me is, does AWD have any performance advantages when you’re driving under the limit; or does AWD just bog down a weak motor with additional parasitic losses? I know those two aren’t direct opposites, so the answer could be different depending on the scenario.

For a specific example: Let’s say you’re launching a FWD right below the limit of any wheelspin. Now if you where to give that car AWD and launch it just below the limit of any wheelspin; would the AWD launch be faster than the FWD launch?

DISCUSSION (12)

CalzoneGolem > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 14:58

AWD should always launch faster.

Textured Soy Protein > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 15:00

My wife drives a regular Impreza, which replaced a 2013 Civic. They’re both slow. The Civic got better mileage. The Impreza with BFG g-Force Comp-2 A/S tires is actually kinda fun to throw through turns and works much better in the snow.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 15:01

The only way I could think awd could be faster would be if the system was quick enough to send power to the rear during weight transfer, that way the rears would have slightly more grip that the fronts. Therefore you could send more power to the back and still not break traction, I think that would be a stretch though

Ash78, voting early and often > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 15:09

Having driven two near - identical 190hp cars for almost 15 years, one with 5MT FWD and the other with Auto AWD, the AWD is parasitic as hell (power, economy) — but I literally cannot spin the wheels with the Auto AWD. The FWD would bark the tires through second without much fuss.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 15:09

I think with low powered AWD cars you need to give it a bit more gas to not stall it and of course there’s an economy hit.

carzcarzcarz > CalzoneGolem
04/10/2017 at 15:13

and faster to break too (axles, cv’s, driveshaft, etc...)

vicali > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 15:43

Our 08 NA Forester doesn’t launch well on pavement. The 4EAT likes to shift for mpg, it’s not super high power at 165hp, in 1st and 2nd gear (or full throttle) the power distribution is 50f/50r, and I’ve got wider-stickier tires than stock.

But it is near impossible to beat off the line in snow or mud with winter tires on.

OPPOsaurus WRX > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 15:47

i know this isn;t really what you ewere asking but I can break the tires loose on my Focus (notST) especially if I’m turning. When I had the WRX, even with 60 hp or something more, I still couldn’t even chirp them.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By
04/10/2017 at 17:22

I guess with symmetrical system’s, like Subaru, you sort of get that. Assuming you at least have a center limited slip diff. Which I think all or most Subaru’s do.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 17:52

It’s an interesting though though, I can see both sides of the argument. Need to bring it up with my engineering buddies

TahoeSTi > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 19:19

You can still get an AWD Impreza sideways on power in the snow....good luck having that sort of fun in fwd.. ..they can both ebrake slide.

cberg > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/10/2017 at 20:43

Makes me want more Saabs.