AWD or RWD

[ElChanclo]

AWD has nothing to do with handling in bad weather.

That's the opposite of everything I've heard regarding AWD. It gives you more contact area to put power down when traction becomes an issue due to rain/snow/mud etc aka bad weather.

NEVER heard anyone say “ I wish I wouldn’t have purchased an AWD” except for at the gas pump!

Oddly the AWD and RWD both advertise 20 MPG combined. I'm sure they're not the same in real world driving

 

[MisterMac]

That's the opposite of everything I've heard regarding AWD. It gives you more contact area to put power down when traction becomes an issue due to rain/snow/mud etc aka bad weather.



Oddly the AWD and RWD both advertise 20 MPG combined. I'm sure they're not the same in real world driving

You clearly have a shallow understanding of AWD on the 3.3 TT Stinger. .

It's true on the mpg. My AWD average is 23.1 over 20,000 miles.

 

[ElChanclo]

You clearly have a shallow understanding of AWD on the 3.3 TT Stinger.

Clearly I know more than you.

 

[eflyguy]

That's the opposite of everything I've heard regarding AWD. It gives you more contact area to put power down when traction becomes an issue due to rain/snow/mud etc aka bad weather.

Of course.

My point is AWD offers significant advantages when not driving in bad weather.

 

[Ruturaj]

AWD systems which are in most FWD cars/SUVs are slip and grip systems i.e. when front wheel looses traction it sends some power to rear, has made everyone believe that AWD is for snow or rain only.

 

[Doel]

RWD has better steering feel than the AWD IMO. I would test drive both, if you can't feel a difference, go for the AWD. If you can and the RWD feels better, go for the RWD. If you aren't dealing with snow, both are so good there is no wrong choice.

 

[itguy61]

AWD=more weight, and complexity. I have driven scores of AWD vehicles and find them to be a bit less fun than the RWD versions. If it were a car that is basically a FWD car such as an Audi I would prefer AWD. But on a native RWD platform I prefer RWD , just feels more playful to me. AWD models are not common at dealers in Texas it seems. The dealers I spoke with said they are more difficult to sell down here.

 

[westcoastGT]

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.

ALL GTs in Canada are AWD and all are on staggered 19s , the 18 in square set up for the US AWD was a regional decision ,.

 

[itguy61]

That's the opposite of everything I've heard regarding AWD. It gives you more contact area to put power down when traction becomes an issue due to rain/snow/mud etc aka bad weather.



Oddly the AWD and RWD both advertise 20 MPG combined. I'm sure they're not the same in real world driving

I used to own a BMW and many said they had not purchased an X-drive model due to lack of steering feel and less fun to drive.

 

[Ruturaj]

AWD=more weight, and complexity. I have driven scores of AWD vehicles and find them to be a bit less fun than the RWD versions. If it were a car that is basically a FWD car such as an Audi I would prefer AWD. But on a native RWD platform I prefer RWD , just feels more playful to me. AWD models are not common at dealers in Texas it seems. The dealers I spoke with said they are more difficult to sell down here.

I guess front wheels just turning and not applying any power might feel different. Motor trend made same observation.

 

[Manaz]

I used to own a BMW and many said they had not purchased an X-drive model due to lack of steering feel and less fun to drive.

BMW also said that they don't believe most owners of 1-series cars can tell which wheels are driven to start with:

It is true about 80 percent of the 1-series owners we surveyed either thought their car was front wheel drive or that they didn’t know the layout.

That's not some nobody either - it's BMW’s CEO Norbert Reithofer at the time, justifying the decision to take 1-series (and later, 2-series) cars to FWD. And while the quote is specifically around the 1-series, I sincerely doubt that 3x-series drivers are significantly better, and certainly not X3/X5 drivers.

 

[Manaz]

I guess front wheels just turning and not applying any power might feel different. Motor trend made same observation.

It certainly does. Not only does it feel different, it behaves very differently too.

While RWD is considered "more fun" by many, I'd argue that they potentially haven't pushed an (proper, not the on-demand style) AWD car hard enough in the right conditions - the break-away point into a slide, and the way an AWD car behaves in a slide, is, IMHO, later, more progressive and more controllable than in similar RWD cars.

Sure, you can often get a RWD car to break traction sooner and generally more violently - but it's then harder to control. There's potentially more reward for getting it right in a RWD car - but then, if you're at that point on a public road, I'd suggest you need to rethink your driving habits anyway (and yes, I've pushed the limits of several AWD and RWD cars on closed circuits such as Eastern Creek North, South and Skidpan circuits, Wakefield Park, Amaroo and Oran Park raceways back in the day, etc).

Plus AWDs do great helis (on the skidpan).

 

[Kinvara8017]

Go with AWD for the fun of the launches and when you want to try RWD, pull the fuse and bam! RWD... Lots of us do it with no repercussions.. Hell, ive made PLENTY of passes on the strip in both modes with no repercussions from either *knock on wood*

 

[BertBert2019GT]

That limited slip diff though. <3

 

[itguy61]

BMW also said that they don't believe most owners of 1-series cars can tell which wheels are driven to start with:



That's not some nobody either - it's BMW’s CEO Norbert Reithofer at the time, justifying the decision to take 1-series (and later, 2-series) cars to FWD. And while the quote is specifically around the 1-series, I sincerely doubt that 3x-series drivers are significantly better, and certainly not X3/X5 drivers.

Not talking about 1 series cars, they are not sold over here. This was from mainly 2 and 3 series drivers. Those cars ride higher, are heavier and have a reputation of not handling as well and being as fun to drive.

 

[Capital AL]

ALL GTs in Canada are AWD and all are on staggered 19s , the 18 in square set up for the US AWD was a regional decision ,.

Well that is a very poor decision on Kia's part for the US market. Makes looking for the right car and color combinations a lot harder.

 

[itguy61]

AWD cars just do not sell as well in the southern US. No heavy demand as they are not needed very often as snow and ice are rarely an issue. Really not that much benefit for the increase in price here. Also with some enthusiasts, AWD is not as highly regarded in the fun to drive category. Number steering and no popping the rear end around with throttle application. If I lived up north it would be a different story.

 

[MerlintheMad]

AWD cars just do not sell as well in the southern US. No heavy demand as they are not needed very often as snow and ice are rarely an issue. Really not that much benefit for the increase in price here. Also with some enthusiasts, AWD is not as highly regarded in the fun to drive category. Number steering and no popping the rear end around with throttle application. If I lived up north it would be a different story.

Torrential rain and crosswinds are a "perfect storm" for AWD vs RWD. You don't have to live where it snows or freezes. I travel and plan to travel more. And if those living in southern climes plan on traveling north, you have the seasons to contend with. A heavy rainfall will tax worn summer tires. That is when AWD can save you.

 

[itguy61]

Merlin, if that was a big issue you would see more AWD cars on lots down here. DFW is a large metro area and it is very hard to find AWD stingers at any of the dealers. Rain I agree with but not crosswinds. This car is pretty low to the ground and I have never felt any instability from wind. The fun to drive factor is probably why the GTS model will have a 2wd drift mode. The big reason people down here get AWD is for off road capability. The ROI is just not there for AWD and weather issues down here. I love being able to hit the gas in a corner and have the power break the real wheel free and pop around the corner. You try to do that it AWD and the front wheels start getting ore power applied to them and the rear doesn't break free as much.

 

[MisterMac]

AWD cars just do not sell as well in the southern US. No heavy demand as they are not needed very often as snow and ice are rarely an issue. Really not that much benefit for the increase in price here. Also with some enthusiasts, AWD is not as highly regarded in the fun to drive category. Number steering and no popping the rear end around with throttle application. If I lived up north it would be a different story.

Actually, 4x4 and AWD sell very well no matter what part of the country they are for sale in. These are the number one and two features for retaining the highest percentage of the original manufacturer markup upon resale. Even in Texas.