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FWD, AWD, 4WD and RWD all have very strong + and -. From my experience:
FWD+ : less weight, less moving parts (no transaxle or transfer case), more engine power to ground, very stable in slippery conditions
FWD- : less traction available during accelleration (and steep hills)
AWD+ : computer controls power to all 4 wheels, drive train is not locked in, so sharp cornering and power distribution is smoother
AWD- : computers can be stupid, when you're really stuck the power might not go where you want it, more wieght, more things to go wrong and wear out, more drive train losses than FWD and 4WD because of fluid clutches and such
4WD+ : front and rear axle can be locked together and coupled with posi or limited slip makes for top-notch traction, generally manually controlled transfer case, front hubs can be unlocked for fuel economy (generally)
4WD- : again more weight and more complexity, very easy to lose control because the rear wheels get the same amount of power as the front but about half the weight
RWD+ : very simple design, no CV joints to wear out, maximum power to wheels, lots of traction available when launching off the line
RWD- : little traction available when road is wet, icy or snowy, super easy to lose control and spin out under power
There are FWD cars out there with 500+ HP, so the real question is about money, engineering the chassis and installing the right rubber. The Saabs don't have any limited slip differentials on the front because they always break and add cost and weight. But if you want anything over 300HP, and you want to drive hard off the line, you're going to have to put one in and replace it every so often. Pretty much, put one wheel on ice on the shoulder of the road and the other wheel on dry pavement at below zero temps and you can kiss any posi or limited slip goodbye in no time. That's why I love the TCS on the Saabs, nothing to wear out except the brake pads.
The 9-2x is really a joke, in my opinion. The body, chassis, engine and drive train were all designed and built by Fuji Heavy Industries and their people. So what if it has a different ride height, springs, shocks and interior? I can do those things to any car in my garage. Why water down a car manufacturer's history with a pimp-my-ride mentality? Many Saab shops are now forced to work on Subarus so they can stay in business.
posted by 66.230.9...
, Sat, 3 Sep 2005 17:32:51, Sat, 3 Sep 2005 17:04:38
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