neutral handling AWD cars
neutral handling AWD cars
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Discussion

dylan0451

Original Poster:

1,040 posts

220 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
all this talk of winter tyres recently has certainly made me think seriously about purchasing some. those nokian wr g2 are quite reminicent of gravel tyres, like what they use in that there rallying...

this had me thinking. i was looking at '02-'05 wrx's - seem to get a good low miler for the price, but how much of the AWD mechanicals get skimped on compared to the STI? is a WRX still a drivers car, or is it a skimped, poverty 'i can't afford an STI so i'll badge it up like one' car? and what about low traction conditions? are they comparible, or might you just as well have a slippy diff'd fwd hatch?

gareth.e

2,071 posts

218 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
don't think theres any real difference!

Main changes are better brakes, more power and aesthetics

road_rager

1,091 posts

228 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
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As far as I'm aware the AWD is exactly the same in WRX & STI

dylan0451

Original Poster:

1,040 posts

220 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
really?! i can't find much info anywhere, but i'm sure i hear mention of the wrx's being open mid diff? or more, no mention that they have the locking dccd(?) as in STIs?

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
Even the GX model has a superb AWD system. I used to own one, and it was a hoot to drive in the snow. Painfully slow, but it never once failed us in the worst that Derbyshire and N Yorkshire had to throw at us. It would happily claw it's way up a steep snow covered hill from a standing start.

dylan0451

Original Poster:

1,040 posts

220 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
so... kinda handled/handles like a front driver, front is driven until it begins to lose traction, washes out then starts working afterward?

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
dylan0451 said:
so... kinda handled/handles like a front driver, front is driven until it begins to lose traction, washes out then starts working afterward?
No nothing like a front drive car. Scoobies have a proper full time AWD. You're describing a haldex / torsen type system that is FWD until slip is detected. Scoobies drive front and rears all the time.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
doogz said:
rhinochopig said:
dylan0451 said:
so... kinda handled/handles like a front driver, front is driven until it begins to lose traction, washes out then starts working afterward?
No nothing like a front drive car. Scoobies have a proper full time AWD. You're describing a haldex / torsen type system that is FWD until slip is detected. Scoobies drive front and rears all the time.
Although, in my experience, they do understeer a bit, on standard suspension. My A4 done a similar thing, you get a little bit of understeer to let you know you're pushing your luck, and you can either back off and let the rear swing round, or give it some more to induce some power oversteer.
Which is why it's not like a FWD car.

Evil.soup

4,047 posts

234 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
The WRX and Sti are very simular in all models. The main differences are bigger brakes, more power and a stiffer spring set up, plus of course visual differences. The late newage blobeye Sti's and onwards have DCCD where as the WRX has a constant 50-50 AWD system. I am not sure when it came in but the hawkeye WRX onwards at least is fitted with rear LSD.
Handling wise, there is understear which can be swapped to overstear but more easily with a flick than with more power as the car tends to grip extreamly well. I now have new front tyres on mine though and that has changed things a bit, the back is much more willing to let go due to the extra grip at the front, although it does give you fare warning...............great fun!!!!!

mrmr96

13,736 posts

233 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
doogz said:
It's not constant 50-50. If it was, it would be a locked diff.
50/50 torque split doesn't mean a locked diff.

dylan0451

Original Poster:

1,040 posts

220 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
Evil.soup said:
The WRX and Sti are very simular in all models. The main differences are bigger brakes, more power and a stiffer spring set up, plus of course visual differences. The late newage blobeye Sti's and onwards have DCCD where as the WRX has a constant 50-50 AWD system. I am not sure when it came in but the hawkeye WRX onwards at least is fitted with rear LSD.
Handling wise, there is understear which can be swapped to overstear but more easily with a flick than with more power as the car tends to grip extreamly well. I now have new front tyres on mine though and that has changed things a bit, the back is much more willing to let go due to the extra grip at the front, although it does give you fare warning...............great fun!!!!!
this is a blobeye or hawkeye?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/classifieds/1939012.h...

if the former, then there's no locking either fronnt, rear or mid?

Evil.soup

4,047 posts

234 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
quotequote all
dylan0451 said:
Evil.soup said:
The WRX and Sti are very simular in all models. The main differences are bigger brakes, more power and a stiffer spring set up, plus of course visual differences. The late newage blobeye Sti's and onwards have DCCD where as the WRX has a constant 50-50 AWD system. I am not sure when it came in but the hawkeye WRX onwards at least is fitted with rear LSD.
Handling wise, there is understear which can be swapped to overstear but more easily with a flick than with more power as the car tends to grip extreamly well. I now have new front tyres on mine though and that has changed things a bit, the back is much more willing to let go due to the extra grip at the front, although it does give you fare warning...............great fun!!!!!
this is a blobeye or hawkeye?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/classifieds/1939012.h...

if the former, then there's no locking either fronnt, rear or mid?
Thats the blobeye, and i should have been more clear in my post, sorry.