Motor Trend RWD vs AWD Thoughts

I tend to believe that steering feel can be influenced with alignment fairly well once your suspension setup's static or remains OEM. But I've not gone down that road with the Stinger yet. I'm still on the 18" all-seasons, waiting them out until I get dedicated summer and winter wheel/tire setups.

I will say that the AWD is a very solid performer in the winter snow/ice/slop. We had over 11 inches of the white stuff just over a week ago that's not melted. And we had another 3 inches last night with temp drop and winds that haven't abated. Very solid footing. Somehow it seems moreso than last winter for some reason (purchased mine 12/17).
 
I've read lots of opinions on the power distribution of the AWD. I haven't found the specs from Kia on the 20/80 or 50/50 distribution claimed, and there is also nothing I've seen on how the computer distributes power when it sees a wheel slip. Admittedly I haven't read the service manual yet, either so it may be in there. It would stand to reason (mere speculation on my part) that the computer would be smart enough to proportion power front/rear based on traction comparison or wheel rotational speed. Whether it is capable of smoothly adjusting to some intermediate balance, or just switches from 20/80 to 50/50 is a good question.

Any configuration can be tricky under some conditions. My GTO is RWD LSD. If I can get one rear wheel to grip, I can go. But if both slip more or less equally, you lose directional stability on the back end and the rear end can slip sideways, especially on a crowned road. With my former FWD cars (Saab, GrandPrix) if the front wheels are turning, you lose steering control, and although a FWD car pulls with better traction than RWD, it can be dicey on very slick, icy roads. The danger of AWD or 4WD is that you lose directional stability to the side on all 4 wheels and you can end up in the ditch with no steering control as with a FWD.

The accelerator pedal on the Stinger is a bit stiffer than my GTO so that takes a bit of getting used to when you need a very light touch on the power. With AWD, you lose the LSD on the rear so you're dependent on the front to pull when both rear wheels slip. The dynamics change with conditions, I just wonder how much the computerized transmission in the Stinger is able to compensate for them.
 
I'd love to hear more on this myself. Depending on what we learn and owner stories from autocrossing and/or tracking the AWD on courses, I will consider upgrading the rear of my AWD to LSD some day. Right now, with lots of snow and ice on the ground, I must say I'm impressed with the ability of the AWD to take off from a stop. If I over-apply the gas I can get fishtailing going on, but I have no idea what's really going on with the drive wheels.
 
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mldavis2 said:
The danger of AWD or 4WD is that you lose directional stability to the side on all 4 wheels and you can end up in the ditch with no steering control as with a FWD.
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I hear a virtual @Waynerm002 saying, "Amen!"
 
mldavis2 said:
I've read lots of opinions on the power distribution of the AWD. I haven't found the specs from Kia on the 20/80 or 50/50 distribution claimed, and there is also nothing I've seen on how the computer distributes power when it sees a wheel slip. Admittedly I haven't read the service manual yet, either so it may be in there. It would stand to reason (mere speculation on my part) that the computer would be smart enough to proportion power front/rear based on traction comparison or wheel rotational speed. Whether it is capable of smoothly adjusting to some intermediate balance, or just switches from 20/80 to 50/50 is a good question.

Any configuration can be tricky under some conditions. My GTO is RWD LSD (Limited Slip Differential). If I can get one rear wheel to grip, I can go. But if both slip more or less equally, you lose directional stability on the back end and the rear end can slip sideways, especially on a crowned road. With my former FWD cars (Saab, GrandPrix) if the front wheels are turning, you lose steering control, and although a FWD car pulls with better traction than RWD, it can be dicey on very slick, icy roads. The danger of AWD or 4WD is that you lose directional stability to the side on all 4 wheels and you can end up in the ditch with no steering control as with a FWD.

The accelerator pedal on the Stinger is a bit stiffer than my GTO so that takes a bit of getting used to when you need a very light touch on the power. With AWD, you lose the LSD (Limited Slip Differential) on the rear so you're dependent on the front to pull when both rear wheels slip. The dynamics change with conditions, I just wonder how much the computerized transmission in the Stinger is able to compensate for them.
Click to expand...
Kia Pushes All-wheel Drive as Brand Pillar | Kelley Blue Book
 
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MerlintheMad said:
"In the normal driving mode, the Stinger’s system is set to roughly a 40/60 split for sending power to the front and rear wheels, respectively. In sport mode it shifts the equation to a rear-biased 20/80."

When are we going to the get the SOURCE of these repeated factoids? Now it isn't 50/50, it's "normal 40/60" front and rear.
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I thought it was always 40-60, hence the statement that it's rear wheel bias.

What's the actual concern? Is there concern that switching modes doesn't do anything? Is the concern it's not AWD? What is the issue?
 
Jimmer said:
I thought it was always 40-60, hence the statement that it's rear wheel bias.

What's the actual concern? Is there concern that switching modes doesn't do anything? Is the concern it's not AWD? What is the issue?
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It will run 80/20 in Sport and 50/50 in snow , comfort is likely the 40/60 , but again I've never seen that quoted before either
 
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Yeah well, after driving around several months on cold roads while running a JB4 on map 3, and trying to grasp a freezing steering wheel last night with no gloves on while 29 degrees outside, I'm definitely suffering from AWD Envy.
 
falanger said:
Yeah well, after driving around several months on cold roads while running a JB4 on map 3, and trying to grasp a freezing steering wheel last night with no gloves on while 29 degrees outside, I'm definitely suffering from AWD Envy.
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....................and lack of a heated steering wheel !
 
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I originally did not want AWD, up until after I bought it...got cold...and learned the RWD didn't have the heated steering wheels!
 
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Callum said:
I originally did not want AWD, up until after I bought it...got cold...and learned the RWD didn't have the heated steering wheels!
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You can add it! I did in my RWD and love it
 
Does anyone else's heated steering wheel shut off after awhile?
 
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