From technological and performance point of view what is the best AWD system on the market (among passenger cars at least)?

Audi's quattro? Subarus symmetrical system? BMW's x-drive? Anything else?

11/7/2010 2:09:18 AM

Not bmws it's weak and uses the brakes rather than diffs to move torque around.

Audi has 2 some are a front longitudinal transmifferential like subie uses others use a fwd based haldex system like the evo and eclipse uses. I don't like transverse engines I think it is a bad design to start with. That being said the evo awd system in conjunction with it's stability control system will save your ass no matter how dumb you are.

I would say the non symmetrical Subaru sti system is my favorite. Followed by the longitudinal Audi And symmetrical subaru awd systems with Subaru having a slight edge because Audie engine are bigger and the entire engine is infront of the front wheels on this system. Then the fwd haldex system and BMW being dead last because it's not designed for performance driving at all it is only there so that you can still move your bimmer when it snows.

[Edited on November 7, 2010 at 7:03 AM. Reason : Sorry about typos etc posting from a phone.]

11/7/2010 6:57:12 AM

from a technological point, it's likely the nissan gt-r setup, closely followed by the evo setup. for performance, probly the same 2 in the same order since those awd cars seem to be the only factory models that can still put down really good on road numbers with them. I'm sure a newer porsche turbo is up there as well.

11/7/2010 8:54:32 AM

Yeah then again the gtr is auto and who really wants that.


No seriously though those are awesome awd systems that along with their stability control systems allowed the manufacturer to sell a balanced handling car and not worry about people crashing them driving too hard.

But from a reliability stand point i wouldn't own either... Also... get the power into the sti that those have and
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/06/video-2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-test.html

7:55 ring time with the R205 engine and spec C suspension still 100-50 hp behind the r35 gtr

11/7/2010 9:16:37 AM

Found this on Honda's SH-AWD

http://world.honda.com/HDTV/news/2004-4040401a/

seems like they can essentially vary the torque any which direction to any of the wheels. I thought Mitsu can't vary the torque front to back in 100:0 or 0:100. It is always set to 50:50? Wouldn't that be inferior to Honda then?

11/7/2010 10:20:25 AM

Mitsu does 100-0 to 50:50 i think

Subaru does 0-100 to 50:50

http://www.drive.subaru.com/Win09/Win09_ItsWhatMakes.htm

I don't know crap about honda's awd system but seeing that their rear axles (from what i see going down the road) are less than 1" in diameter i don't care to know crap about them.

11/7/2010 12:16:55 PM

i always thought:

subarus understeer like hell from factory
evos are always AWD and torque gets distributed without ever going fully RWD
nissan's ATTESA system (at least in the skyline) is RWD until things get hairy

11/7/2010 3:35:53 PM

i like the new lexus awd.

11/7/2010 4:02:04 PM

^^

1 true! Sways coils and konis coming to a lgt near you!
2 false evos are front wheel drive 100% front 0% under normal driving until slipping is detected.
3 GTRs are 2% front 98% rear under normal driving and up to 50:50 as needed.

11/7/2010 5:34:17 PM

Quote :

"I don't know crap about honda's awd system but seeing that their rear axles (from what i see going down the road) are less than 1" in diameter i don't care to know crap about them."

LOL @ IGNORANCE

11/7/2010 6:05:07 PM

LOL teach me honda man!!

11/7/2010 6:07:50 PM

If you cant break axles you dont make enough power. SAS

11/7/2010 6:22:31 PM

Toyota.

11/7/2010 8:32:24 PM

I challenge any non Subaru AWD on our rallycross series.

Bring yer junk.

11/7/2010 9:16:21 PM

Why is their no mention of Porsche or Mercedes in this thread? They've been selling AWD cars for over 20 years.

11/7/2010 10:44:47 PM

Porshe is audi's installed backwords with better torque manipulation. Mercedes is also not performance oriented. Lambo has also been awd for a while but I really think these are practical uses.

Ford's Sierra cosworth setup was pretty awesome similar to bmws in mechanical design but with lsds everywhere so no need for brake torque manipulation.

Mazda 6 is haldex
Volvo uses haldex
Vw uses haldex

11/8/2010 6:52:54 AM

Best AWD test: (includes Subaru, Honda, VW...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQRxlChvMw

[Edited on November 8, 2010 at 8:56 AM. Reason : .]

11/8/2010 8:55:36 AM

Quote :

"Vw uses haldex"

vw uses haldex in the transverse setups and torsen in the longitudinal setups.. just like audi.

11/8/2010 10:32:20 AM

Good video. Go legacy!! :-)

11/8/2010 10:54:15 AM

Quote :

"Mitsu does 100-0 to 50:50 i think "

EVO 50:50 all the time. Cannot vary, unless google is wrong...

11/8/2010 12:57:09 PM

Evo is definitely FWD biased the majority of the time.

11/8/2010 1:45:59 PM

^^^^ nice video but i wish they would have tested the 4WD system from Nissan. I love my 4WD in the QX4. its a freaking snowmobile!

11/8/2010 1:58:05 PM

Google is wrong and santa isn't real.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/05q1/why_do_these_similar_cars_feel_so_different_-feature

11/8/2010 2:53:29 PM

I tell ya evolution.net forum people don't know their cars!

I stand corrected.

11/8/2010 3:55:00 PM

Sometimes people post what they want not what they have. They have a fwd car with an awesome suspension setup that can use a hydraulically controlled clutch type differential to send power to the rear and an awesome stability control system.

The haldex system is weird/cool its almost like a FWD setup with a PTO setup that has the diff on it but it seems you can't vary the front torque but the rear can be engaged and brought to 50:50 max. But i think you can get differential kits/software that make it rear biased all the way to straight RWD.

11/8/2010 5:29:14 PM

SAS

11/8/2010 6:11:02 PM

Quote :

"I challenge any non Subaru AWD on our rallycross series. Bring yer junk. "

wish i still had this junk. headgasket didnt like 2.1 bars of boost though

11/8/2010 10:29:05 PM

I don't think any head bolts other than arp particularly like 32is lbs of boost.

11/9/2010 8:18:48 AM

Sorry for the shitty pic but that is coolant all over the front and id put that awd system up against any jeep/subaroo

11/9/2010 11:52:20 AM

Audi has a good setup no joke

11/9/2010 12:24:55 PM

This thread and mine together are perfect!

BTTT

12/5/2010 5:22:42 PM

Quote :

"I don't think any head bolts other than arp particularly like 32is lbs of boost. "

for non-diesel only?

12/6/2010 11:57:55 AM

yeh that only applies for those of us who don't like it when explosions happen without a spark.

12/6/2010 5:46:37 PM