Driving a sporty awd car, what's it like

[masraum]

I'm curious. What's it like driving something awd? I did a short test drive of a 996 tt once, but I really didn't do anything crazy.

When driving most sporty cars, occasianally when traffic, conditions, etc... are good/right, I may hang the tail out a little. A thought popped into my head the other day that if I had an awd car and couldn't occasionally wag the tail or had to be at a much higher speed to do it, I would be disappointed.

I've also read that most awd cars understeer (of course, so does a 911 and usually anything with a LSD, but I really loved driving my old 911 and my turbo miata with the LSD).

[cockerpunk]

when pushed, most AWD cars will understeer. the only ones that don't basically convert themselves to RWD (evo).

it also depends on how you like your driving. do you like to drive? or do you want a computer make it seem like your really good at driving?

[porsche4life]

No clue, but the first chance I have i intend to hammer on a Focus RS and find out!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

when pushed, most AWD cars will understeer. the only ones that don't basically convert themselves to RWD (evo).

it also depends on how you like your driving. do you like to drive? or do you want a computer make it seem like your really good at driving?

I prefer to drive than riding along.

[notfarnow]

I drove my 964 C4 as a DD for 3 years, rain, shine and snow. I had to be doing something pretty to get it to hang its arse out on dry or even wet weather. It was a $#it ton of fun in the snow though. I really miss that car

[Deschodt]

I recently sold my B8 Audi S4. Short answer is incredible...

My wife is accustomed to my driving a variety of P-cars, but this is the only one where she complained about her internal organs being rearranged (and me having to stop doing that)... The combo of AWD + very short gearing and very quick shifts makes for a take off that is supercar-like. Honest... I'm not saying it remains supercar-like to 100, obviously, but 0-40 (which is all you get anymore in everyday driving) is mind boggling.

After that, handling and fun, it totally depends on the car, the diff settings (if any, options) etc. I'm going back to an all manual / RWD thing because it's my cup of tea, but those AWD cars are amazing !

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I recently sold my B8 Audi S4. Short answer is incredible...

My wife is accustomed to my driving a variety of P-cars, but this is the only one where she complained about her internal organs being rearranged (and me having to stop doing that)... The combo of AWD + very short gearing and very quick shifts makes for a take off that is supercar-like. Honest... I'm not saying it remains supercar-like to 100, obviously, but 0-40 (which is all you get anymore in everyday driving) is mind boggling.

After that, handling and fun, it totally depends on the car, the diff settings (if any, options) etc. I'm going back to an all manual / RWD thing because it's my cup of tea, but those AWD cars are amazing !

Sounds like a lot of fun.

[VaSteve]

I've had a BMW AWD for 11 years. It's predictable. I like driving it, I can get it to step out a bit on wet pavement in turns but it's very solid. I don't have to think about some of the dumb **** like taking a corner too fast like I have in the 911. It just does its job.

[dafischer]

With my Volvo S60R, I can get the back end to hang out a bit during hard cornering with increasing throttle input, on dry pavement. It's a blast, and very predictable. All without garnering undue attention...it is a Volvo you know.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

I drove my 964 C4 as a DD for 3 years, rain, shine and snow. I had to be doing something pretty to get it to hang its arse out on dry or even wet weather. It was a $#it ton of fun in the snow though. I really miss that car

Yea, I had one as well, it benefited from a warranty rebuild from Brumos and with some extra goodies to give her about 300hp
The 1st time I got caught in a major FL. rain storm, I found out just how great AWD was in bad weather. And one day, I get a call from a friend asking me what I was doing the next day, as they had Roebling Road race track for the day, and if I came, that would be six. Since I didn't have the tow vehicle, and my track car wasn't street legal, I took the 964 on street tires. Well, that car was MUCH faster than my 944 track car and as I noticed that I was doing 140MPH and running out of braking zone, so I stabbed brakes, and dove into the turn,fully expecting to go off track, being on street tires and all. Instead of going off, the front end pulled me around the turn, tires screaming, but holding. I found out that I could brake later, dive deeper and as notfarnowed, wouldn't break loose and would hold. By the end of the day, I was board with it, because there was no consequences for mistakes, and that just wasn't fun and nothing to be gained, or as masraum said

I prefer to drive than riding along.

But I would love to have that back for a daily driver (got rid of her when I got my 88 Carrera)

[rattlsnak]

I have driven a few 964 C4 track cars and they were great. It felt really weird to have the car pull you through a corner, but once you got used to it, it was much faster. You never had to 'feather the throttle' or ease into it. you could nail to the floor every time and it would pull you through.

[fanaudical]

I hate to say it, but my A6 quattro Avant is probably faster than my 911 (but not necessarily quicker or as much fun). It handles well and is an easy car to drive fast on twisty roads, regardless (mostly) of weather conditions.

[Hydrocket]

I've driven a few EVO X and STis. Incredible cars. Plenty of fun. And FAST.

[Macroni]

Drove a modified 996TT (dealer installed X50 package) this weekend..... car ran like it was on rails with incredible punch which let you enter fast and exit faster..... AWD is definitely the way to go on my next DD.... RS7, Bentley CGT, M6 Gran Coupe; Big, Fast, Turbo, seat four, AWD......

[Nickshu]

I just drove an Audi R8 and a Lambo Hurican around the track at Exotics Racing in Vegas. Both AWD, both had noticeable understeer.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

I drove my 964 C4 as a DD for 3 years, rain, shine and snow. I had to be doing something pretty to get it to hang its arse out on dry or even wet weather. It was a $#it ton of fun in the snow though. I really miss that car

Same here. I did lose it once on dry pavement. Scared the **** out of me. I am more cautious now. No more mature, just more cautious.

[jwasbury]

I have a little over 3 months of seat time in my new-to-me '09 997 Turbo. I'm sure limitations would reveal themselves on the track, but its a Cabriolet so I won't take it there. On the street it seems pretty unflappable. You can charge hard into or out of any bend and it just sticks. I've felt the front end working in instances where elevation changes lead to the suspension un-weighting. The thing is a beast, and it has cupholders.

[Macroni]

D@mn.... I need cupholders......

[Daves911L]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Same here. I did lose it once on dry pavement. Scared the **** out of me. I am more cautious now. No more mature, just more cautious.

You've described the fundamental problem with AWD (and all modern electronic suspension and traction control systems). They do a phenomenal job of keeping everything hooked up right to the limits of frictional grip. Then bang, you've violated the laws of physics and the car flies off the road, with no hope of recovery. We now use technology to allow the car to manage a lot of what used to be the driver's job. I have an an A4 Quat, and it really is such an easy car to drive, right up until the point it stops being an easy car to drive and then I'm sure there's no saving it (or so I believe, not having crossed that barrier).

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

I just drove an Audi R8 and a Lambo Hurican around the track at Exotics Racing in Vegas. Both AWD, both had noticeable understeer.

I can see the need for awd on cars that have supercar levels of power like the Lambo, Audi or Herbert's 997tt