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Is AWD better or worse??

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Is the all wheel drive on the late 80's subs better or worse than the 4wd?? Is there a big difference in gas mileage or reliability or anything else??? Would you prefer a awd to a 4wd??

 

Thanks

the big difference for me is awd, vs a 4x4 dual range transmission.

awd is cool if you have lotsa hp and wanna scoot around on the road.

dual range tranny is better for off road, and good for on road when you dont have tons of hp, cuz you run it in 2wd.

i think a 4x would get better mileage than an awd tranny.

  • Author
the big difference for me is awd, vs a 4x4 dual range transmission.

awd is cool if you have lotsa hp and wanna scoot around on the road.

dual range tranny is better for off road, and good for on road when you dont have tons of hp, cuz you run it in 2wd.

i think a 4x would get better mileage than an awd tranny.

What about the DR awd like the rx's?? Would that be cool?? Or would you still prefer a DR 4wd over the DR awd (in a turbo ea82)???

 

Thanks for the feedback:)

Can the full time 4WD on RX's and the like be dubbed AWD, or does somthing else have to be in there, too?

There doesn't seem to be a black-and-white answer to this question. In many people's opinion, the FT-4WD can be called "AWD". People call all versions of Audi's Quattro "AWD", and its original version was functionally the same as our FT-4WD (except that it had a lockable rear diff). As a general rule, it seems that "AWD" refers to cars that do not require driver input in order to send power to all four wheels. This includes any 4wd car that uses a center diff, center viscous coupling, or other means of automatically balancing power between front and rear.

 

It is my opinion that the 5spd FT-4WD tranny should be classified as "AWD" since it sends equal power to all wheels when moving straight with no slippage and has a center diff to balance the power when turning. The FT-4WD 4EAT transmission has less of a claim of being "AWD" since it acts more like a FWD tranny in a straight line with no slippage, and only sends substantial power to the rear when a front wheel slips. Unlike the 5spd, the 4EAT cannot send more than 50% power to the rear wheels. Never-the-less, I think it can still be thought of as "AWD" since the driver doesn't choose when to activate the rear wheels.

That's deep, Noah.

 

I like the full time if you live somewhere w/ continuous road abnormalities (construction, ice, dirt roads, mountains, whatever), or if you're an avid off roader. Then, if you get yourself into "trouble" go for a ranges shift.

 

The AWD (w/o toggle, just the computer guided one) is fine, not as fun, but you don't have to think when driving it- better gas mileage.

 

And the 2WD w/ selectable dual 4WD (i rebuilt the engine of an '88 GL Bubble back) is super for long commutes on highway.

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