AWD or RWD

[Divorce Car]

Maybe y'all can help. So first...it's my divorce car and yes I'm female. I'm coming out of a 2014 Dodge Durango Citadel with 5.7L Hemi (but I no longer need the ability to pull a cattle trailer and it has 155k miles) and before that a 2006 Volvo V70R. My ex was insistent on AWD. My 18-year old car guy son (who picked the Stinger for me in December, but it's taken me ruling out every other option to agree with him) is positive RWD. I live in SC. Thoughts? Suggestions? It will either be a GT1 or GT2. I really am not sure I care between the two. But.... and I know this is silly but I LOVE the heated steering wheel on my Durango. I only see that option with AWD.
Thanks for any insight!
Can't wait to finally buy the car...I just dread the process of dealing with dealerships.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hi. AWD then. I got the heated steering wheel without asking for it. Sounds like you love it. I do now.

At least two out of three Kia dealerships/service departments are good ones. (That is taken from the Consumer Reports owner satisfaction survey.)

 

[Travis Wills]

I am in North Carolina and AWD isn’t really that useful down here. If they don’t plow then ground clearance will be your biggest issue.

I would save the $2k for AWD and get the RWD GT2. The all around camera is a must have in my opinion and that only comes on the GT2.

 

[MisterMac]

Hello.

In SC there is no real need for AWD bc no snow. Yet, in rain it can be very secure. The truth imo is AWD for a car is more about the sure-footed drive than it is about need. I live in the desert and love my AWD. Go for the GT2. Power tailgate you will love and the heads up display is super cool.

Welcome!

 

[eflyguy]

AWD has nothing to do with handling in bad weather. It's a better solution for delivering power on performance cars. People don't buy the Audi R8 to drive in snow.

RWD would be more fun if you were going to track/autocross the car every weekend, and have funds for dedicated tires. On the street or in the hills, you will get more enjoyment from AWD. Without any coaxing, my daughter (21, and owns a Challenger and a Corvette) talks constantly about how much more enjoyable my (AWD) Stinger was on tight twisty roads.

If you're not going to be exploring the performance limits, however, then it will make little difference.

 

[Manaz]

I tend to agree - AWD isn't just for snow.

I wish they offered an AWD option here in Australia. I've driven AWD cars in Sydney for years, including track cars. Only two trips have involved snow, and AWD has been a positive nearly every day.

 

[MrSmoofy]

If it's a cost concern I would pick GT2 RWD over a GT1 AWD but I was in the same boat as you. I definitely wanted a GT2 because of all the features and then I couldn't decide RWD or AWD. I'm in Florida I went RWD but wonder daily if I made the right decision and should have spent the extra on AWD.

SNOW/RAIN AWD does help which we get a lot of rain here but again not really sure AWD is necessary. I think if you're going to take it to the track for autocross everyone likes RWD better but for drag strip stuff AWD is better.

I'm sure none of this helps LOL but just things to think about buy as much as you can afford and then you have little regret later.

 

[MerlintheMad]

not really sure AWD is necessary.

Necessary, no. When I got my car it happened to be AWD. I didn't ask for that, I said I'd be okay with AWD, even prefer it, but RWD would be fine as well. And we get significant snow here.

 

[Ruturaj]

I am in North Carolina and AWD isn’t really that useful down here. If they don’t plow then ground clearance will be your biggest issue.

I would save the $2k for AWD and get the RWD GT2. The all around camera is a must have in my opinion and that only comes on the GT2.

Hello.

In SC there is no real need for AWD bc no snow. Yet, in rain it can be very secure. The truth imo is AWD for a car is more about the sure-footed drive than it is about need. I live in the desert and love my AWD. Go for the GT2. Power tailgate you will love and the heads up display is super cool.

Welcome!

Stringer's AWD is not same AWD in FWD based cars which provides power on front wheel sleep only for speeds up to 30-40 miles.

Stringer's AWD has (brake based) torque vectoring as well.

It is good for drivers who are new to RWD world. I don't know how much I should push my car and I am really curious. AWD keeps me safe on a sunny day in North Carolina.

 

[Lawrence Williams]

AWD GT2 new owner here....like others have said, get the features of the GT2.....no regrets there....the AWD sticks in corner better than the rwd did when I test drove and with tons of rain here in Florida figured it would be more sure footed....we do plan on mountain driving in the Carolinas so travel was factor .

 

[Ruturaj]

Stringer's AWD is not same AWD in FWD based cars which provides power on front wheel sleep only for speeds up to 30-40 miles.

Stringer's AWD has (brake based) torque vectoring as well.

It is good for drivers who are new to RWD world. I don't know how much I should push my car and I am really curious. AWD keeps me safe on a sunny day in North Carolina.

*slip

Lol, not sleep

 

[Legendsk]

I'm definitely glad I went with the GT2 and with RWD. If I was spending time above the 40º parallel (snow), driving on the beach or desert (sand), or other traction problem areas, possibly the AWD would be worth the extra $2,000 initial, added weight, added maintenance, reduced reliability, etc.

 

[turboAWD]

I've never owned a RWD car - all FWD + Legacy GT AWD. So, sticking with AWD was natural. Plus, when I read that RWD has traction issues, ESPECIALLY on bumpy / pothole-filled roads like here in NorCal, it was easy. Plus, we had a lot of rain last winter, and we go to Tahoe at times, etc..

 

[1RADKIA]

Congratulations/condolences on the divorce (whichever works best for you)! Life 2.0 will be quite fun - once you get that Stinger out on the road. As to the AWD vs. RWD; my $.02 - NEVER heard anyone say “ I wish I wouldn’t have purchased an AWD” except for at the gas pump! I guess that could also be the case at a repair shop should the system fail, but that isn’t likely. Guess we’ll have stats on that as time goes on. My AWD has been trouble free and I really enjoy the grip. db

 

[Ruturaj]

I guess only thing I would want from RWD would be LSD. AWD G70 gets it, why not stinger.

 

[westcoastGT]

I live in Canada , we get snow and rain , but the sure footedness of AWD is something you can appreciate everyday in any weather ....................

 

[Ruturaj]

I live in Canada , we get snow and rain , but the sure footedness of AWD is something you can appreciate everyday in any weather ....................

With stringer's power sure, if we really wanna push it without worry.

 

[westcoastGT]

With stringer's power sure, if we really wanna push it without worry.

And the Stinger too.....................

 

[Ruturaj]

And the Stinger too.....................

Lol, yah stinger too.

 

[Capital AL]

Both AWD or RWD are good choices, but if you do choose AWD be sure to get the 19 inch wheels with high performance tires. Not only does it raise the top speed to 167 MPH and makes the car handle much better, but it also visually looks alot better since the rear tires are wider than the 18 inch all season tires. I still have no idea why Kia puts the 18 inch all season tires on most of the GT AWD models.