xiaogou

^ perhaps you can explain why you can change the awd bias on the sti from 50/50 to 60/40? The answer is specifically to launch. Call your local subaru dealer if you dont believe me. Better yet, call Prodrive, the engineers who designed the car. They will tell you when you launch, bias toards rw has the advantage. You have a point about rwd and slicks. Can you explain why a E55 amg (rwd) is faster (by any measurement: launch or whatever) than the evo or sti? Im not saying awd is bad... i love it. The fact is, rwd has the advantage on launches.

bigguy225

A 60/40 ratio, give or take, bias to launch the STi is a great idea. The purpose of the majority of the power coming from the rear wheels is when you launch, a lot of the weight of the vehicle shifts to the rear applying more traction to the rear wheels. But regardless of the ratio you use, its still an awd car with four wheels gripping the road as opposed to two (four tires = more grip).

Motor Trend's 0ct 04 issue reports that the STi's 0-30 time is 1.2 sec.
Also Motor Trend's website has a 2003 Enzo 0-30 at 1.34 sec.

All i'm saying is the awd concept is superior to the rwd concept "off the line" or through the intersection or whatever

xiaogou

^ I see your point. AWD is the technology of the future, no doubt. I cant even argue about the motor trend report. Yes 4 tires = more grip.

Let me run something by you. FWD {pull} cars have to: (1) power (2) coroner (3) grip. You lose a lot of power because you are expecting a FWD car to do all 3 at the front axle. Now, RWD {push} cars have to: (1) power from the rear (2) coroner with the front (3) grip with the rear. Thus, RWD has an advantage in putting power to the ground. With AWD {push & pull} you still have the detriment that FWD has. The front is expected to power, coroner, and grip. Although, the grip & power is divided by 4.

Im sure sometime in the future the M3, M5, C55amg, E55amg, and the S55amg will be AWD. These companies claim that the cars are faster as RWD as opposed to AWD. This does leave the question: if the STI and Audi S4 and RS4, RS6 are AWD monsters why cant everybody else do it?

Im sure as more and more car companies produce awd cars, the awd technology will improve (through R&D). There will also be a day when RWD cars will be a relic of the past. For me personally, right now I still like RWD for balls to the wall power. The STI, EVO, S4 are rare breeds.

marks01lude

On the street any day of the week AWD has the advantage...no question

on the track it may be a different story....some of those high horsepower RWD cars take off the line on the two rear wheels and pull like 1.3 60 foots...something AWD could not achieve.

But when speaking generally only in EXTREME cases does RWD have the advantage if giving both cars the same amount of power and same driver...

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H22AK47

For drag racing, RWD is the only way to go. AWD has its advantages on low HP street cars, but not when you start to make serious power.