AWD cars on the autoX/RR track? - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

So f'n douche bag at work got a '07 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon, and now thinks he's the holy grail of motoring. He says AWD cars (like his WRX, which ofcourse is what god designed himself and put on the dirt road) isn't supposed to be driven on anything else but rallies (just like Ferrari's as supposed to be on the track and not on the road) and cannot be setup for the track and people need to stay off the gas to drive it around an asphalt track and that RWD is where it's at for anything performance oriented 'cos you can bring the ass end around at will. I'm not disagreeing with the RWD part (although I've noticed our f-body's like to understeer) but of course I've never driven an AWD car around a track but from what I've read, heard and seen, AWD's push a lot and have quite a bit of understeer and need more of a nose down attitude to get the handling right and then can be pretty competitive on the track. What say you? If I'm wrong, I'm gonna shut up and cry in a corner (ofcourse, having learned something ... but I ain't telling him, I'll just say I got sand in my eyes .. lol)

so ... does a properly setup AWD like a WRX match, supersede a prepped RWD or will they forever be lagging behind 'cos they belong on the dirt road?

This post has been edited by Mean Green Z28: Dec 27 2007, 05:10 PM

Mean Green Z28 View Member Profile	Dec 27 2007, 05:08 PM Post #1
Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 60 Joined: 11-November 07 From: Baltimore, Maryland Member No.: 2,000	So f'n douche bag at work got a '07 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon, and now thinks he's the holy grail of motoring. He says AWD cars (like his WRX, which ofcourse is what god designed himself and put on the dirt road) isn't supposed to be driven on anything else but rallies (just like Ferrari's as supposed to be on the track and not on the road) and cannot be setup for the track and people need to stay off the gas to drive it around an asphalt track and that RWD is where it's at for anything performance oriented 'cos you can bring the ass end around at will. I'm not disagreeing with the RWD part (although I've noticed our f-body's like to understeer) but of course I've never driven an AWD car around a track but from what I've read, heard and seen, AWD's push a lot and have quite a bit of understeer and need more of a nose down attitude to get the handling right and then can be pretty competitive on the track. What say you? If I'm wrong, I'm gonna shut up and cry in a corner (ofcourse, having learned something ... but I ain't telling him, I'll just say I got sand in my eyes .. lol) so ... does a properly setup AWD like a WRX match, supersede a prepped RWD or will they forever be lagging behind 'cos they belong on the dirt road? This post has been edited by Mean Green Z28: Dec 27 2007, 05:10 PM

trackbird View Member Profile	Dec 27 2007, 06:19 PM Post #2
FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,432 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196	I own a Mazdaspeed 6 which is AWD. It's a bit larger and heaver than the WRX/EVO cars, but it's a respectable performer. If the suspension allowed for some additional negative camber (or any adjustment at all), I think it would go from "decent" to "very good" in the handling department. On top of that, you can do things in an AWD car that aren't prudent in a RWD car of the same hp. I can run wide open in first gear in my car in the rain and it will barely spin a wheel (274 hp/280 ft lbs). Where my Camaro's have required care in the rain, the Mazdaspeed really doesn't require any talent at all to operate. Just don't point it at anything you don't want to hit and it will pretty much do the rest. And, no, you don't have to be off the gas in corners. Actually, you can often accelerate better since you will not just overpower two tires in a corner. Your friend is a bit misguided about AWD. Sorry.