All-wheel drive vs. Rear-wheel drive
- Thread starter RaistlinZ
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deadlyapp
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- Apr 25, 2004
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I <3 awd. makes a difference in cornering, at least I think so, its so much easier to keep the tires planted to the pavement and not slide.
You will thank it the time where you take a corner a little too quick when its wet and rather than sliding yourself into a guardrail stay planted firmly on the pavement.
You will thank it the time where you take a corner a little too quick when its wet and rather than sliding yourself into a guardrail stay planted firmly on the pavement.
all wheel drive wont do alot when its dry...infact the car will understeer more. in the wet though, and other bad conditions like snow all wheel drive is pretty useful.
for me id just get the rear drive.....probably a better drive, if your into driving. i reckon all wheel drive might spoil the BM's 50/50 weight distrobution, and cock the awesome handling just a bit
watch some top gear....or some of Jeremy clarksons dvd's, 4 wheel drives stick like glue! but i prefer to go side ways
for me id just get the rear drive.....probably a better drive, if your into driving. i reckon all wheel drive might spoil the BM's 50/50 weight distrobution, and cock the awesome handling just a bit
watch some top gear....or some of Jeremy clarksons dvd's, 4 wheel drives stick like glue! but i prefer to go side ways
The last generation 3-series AWD was amazing in the snow, like it was on rails. I'd expect the newer one to be the same if not better. Where in CA are you?
Specop 007
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- Jan 31, 2005
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Are you a good driver? If so, RWD
Are you a mediocre driver? If so, AWD.
RWD for me please. After the days of my RX-7, I wouldnt ever want a AWD unless it was called a "4WD".
Are you a mediocre driver? If so, AWD.
RWD for me please. After the days of my RX-7, I wouldnt ever want a AWD unless it was called a "4WD".
IMO an all wheel drive will handle slightly worse on dry pavement and a lot better on snow, so it depends where you live.
FWIW AWD only helps in the snow for accelerating, it still only uses 2 wheels to steer and 4 to brake, just like any other car. If you are in a location that doesn't get lots of snow, IMO AWD is not worth the extra weight and parasitic loss. Especially considering 330 will have little trouble hooking up it's modest power with RWD.
Oh, you are in CA. umm RWD all the way, isn't gas uber expensive over there?
Oh, you are in CA. umm RWD all the way, isn't gas uber expensive over there?
Captante
Lifer
- Oct 20, 2003
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I prefer a RWD car for fast driving on dry roads because it gives you much better control if you know what your doing, however in any type of bad weather or even on a sand/gravel covered road AWD is so much better theres no comparision.. if you like to ski
and/or get rain where you live then AWD is the only way to go.
Edit: One detail I forgot until now is that while most AWD cars, like my old Subaru WRX default more power to the front wheels & thus handle more like a FWD car on dry roads, the BMW's AWD favors the rear wheels, so it will feel better then most other AWD cars when pushed.
and/or get rain where you live then AWD is the only way to go.
Edit: One detail I forgot until now is that while most AWD cars, like my old Subaru WRX default more power to the front wheels & thus handle more like a FWD car on dry roads, the BMW's AWD favors the rear wheels, so it will feel better then most other AWD cars when pushed.
If you look at the G35 AWD, it's on RWD almost like 95% of the time. You have to do some crazy windy wet road driving to even make use of the AWD. RWD is enough.
I've got a Subaru Impreza STi ('05) and it's my first AWD car. I love AWD and my future cars will have it. For safety reasons/factors, I've avoided a tire I know I wouldn't able to have avoided w/out it. I never lost control and in fact, felt proud how it handled.
Your budget seems nice and there's a lot of nice cars available.
If you are already interested in buying a top 3 series, any dealer would love to give you a test drive. Just don't drive the M3... seriously... you'll want it
Your budget seems nice and there's a lot of nice cars available.
If you are already interested in buying a top 3 series, any dealer would love to give you a test drive. Just don't drive the M3... seriously... you'll want it
Specop 007
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Specop 007
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Originally posted by: KingCheeba
nope..but it's an M3
You didnt get the memo? All 3 series BMW's are poser cars
Otherwise, why do you think the M3 doesnt came in AWD......Now ask yourself, do you really want it in another 3 series.
No.
Captante
Lifer
- Oct 20, 2003
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I had an Impreza WRX & an Outback Sport both of which were great cars, at the moment I've gone back to FWD only with a Corolla sport and its not too bad, but living on the East coast (& driving to Northern Vermont to ski) I would never consider going back to RWD unless it was for a summer car.
My Outback in particular was awesome in snow... I drove to Stowe Vt a couple years ago in over a foot of heavy, wet snow & had no problems at all... kept passing traditional 4x4's
spun off the road every few miles too!
My Outback in particular was awesome in snow... I drove to Stowe Vt a couple years ago in over a foot of heavy, wet snow & had no problems at all... kept passing traditional 4x4's
spun off the road every few miles too!
I got an STi, this is for the OP who asked.
I drove both and settled for my STi cause IMO, I got the "bang for my buck" deal. 33k last summer
Have you driven an M3? What's so poser about it?
I drove both and settled for my STi cause IMO, I got the "bang for my buck" deal. 33k last summer
Have you driven an M3? What's so poser about it?
Specop 007
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Whats poser about the M3?? My God, what ISNT poser about that slow ridiculous poser car!!
M3 is for posers
Lot of bad drivers in here. If you can't drive a RWD car in the rain then you shouldn't be driving. AWD is better in the snow but other then that for general driving no it isn't worth it. It adds weight and complexity.
Specop 007
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I've had no problems putting my RX-7 anywhere I needed it in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa for some 5 years. That included rain, shine, hail, sleet and snow.
I think drivers are becoming progressively worse as they rely on progressively better cars. If you need AWD to drive, you probably would be better served to take a good driving class.
I have been thinking about the 330i vs. the 330xi also. I decided to go with the 330i after I found out that the front wheels on the 330xi are chain driven. Audi's quattro uses two driveshafts for the front and for the rear. After riding motorbikes, I can't trust a chain I can't check everyday.
If your concerned about snow or bad weather, 70% of the traction in the snow comes from a good pair of snow tires, (Blizzak LM-25s).
The 330xi also uses the same size rear wheels as the fronts. Were as the 330i has staggered wheel sizes, and has larger and wider tires in the rear.
If you want the most performace possible out of the 330, go with the 330i Sport. The AWD system saps about 10% of the total power, the auto trans another 10%. I've driven the 325xi, 325i, 330i and the 330xi trying to make my decision. I finally went witha 330i Sport.
I live in CT btw. I change to snow tires.
If your concerned about snow or bad weather, 70% of the traction in the snow comes from a good pair of snow tires, (Blizzak LM-25s).
The 330xi also uses the same size rear wheels as the fronts. Were as the 330i has staggered wheel sizes, and has larger and wider tires in the rear.
If you want the most performace possible out of the 330, go with the 330i Sport. The AWD system saps about 10% of the total power, the auto trans another 10%. I've driven the 325xi, 325i, 330i and the 330xi trying to make my decision. I finally went witha 330i Sport.
I live in CT btw. I change to snow tires.
Captante
Lifer
- Oct 20, 2003
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Having owned fast & good handeling cars with FWD, RWD & AWD over the years, I have to say that while RWD is the most fun to blast around with & easiest to control on dry roads, the only way somone could say AWD doesn't blow it away in any adverse condition
is if they havn't tried it.. my old Subaru could run rings around a much faster RWD car in slippery conditions, never mind in snow.
As for why people drive so poorly these days, I do think high-tech cars play a big part because they compensate for driving mistakes that would spin you off the road in an older car, just look at how many people can't even drive a manual transmission for a perfect example.
Edit: Just a note on the RX7, Those cars don't really indicate how most RWD cars handle in bad conditions because the rotary engine is so light-weight & they are also very well balanced which really helps in rain or snow, I never owned one but I did drive one a lot & it was a great car.
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