Comments on: Pros & Cons: Rear Drive, Front Drive Or All-Wheel Drive?

By: Schwinn

Schwinn — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:23:45 +0000

It’s not that hard to put a 454 into an old Camaro… it’s been done many times before.

The Impreza will always get you off the line, since it has AWD and much less weight than the Camaro. However, if you have enough power, and can actually put it to the ground, and you don’t waste too much time spinning the wheels, you should be able to take the Impreza by the 1/4 mile mark on a track. But it’s gonna take a lot more work on the Camaro to do all that, beyond a new motor, and that’s only against a stock WRX… STIs will do better still, and the Subies are easy to mod. My modded Legacy GT clocks in at a 13.5, and that’s with a slipping clutch.

See: http://www.dragtimes.com/compare2.php?make1=42&model1=636&op1=%3D&year1=0&stock1=Yes&make2=8&model2=150&op2=%3D&year2=1988&make3=-1&op3=%3D&year3=0&make4=-1&op4=%3D&year4=0&submitButtonName=Compare!

You’ll note that the Camaros listed there are pretty fast, and not anywhere near stock for that year… while the WRX/STIs in the list were stock-only (I selected it this way). You can search/compare for yourself at that site…

So, in summary – you CAN get there with an ‘88 Camaro, but it’s gonna take a lot of things (and a good launch) to get there. Heck, for that matter, you can almost make anything go faster than something else… it’s all a matter of time, money, and skill…

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:31:43 +0000

Okay i have a question I’m getting a 1988 Camaro RWD and taking engine out putting a 454 in (possible friend has done it) getting new suspension and stuff everything new and drag wheels and everything so don’t nit pick at that stuff.
but main question if i put all that stuff in their will it be able to be a Subaru Impreza in a drag.

By: Schwinn

Schwinn — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:08:39 +0000

Good question… I would think that wear would result in a rather small size difference – not significant enough to warrant replacing all 4 tires, though.

In some cars (for example, friction-disc type AWD systems) I would expect a more significant size difference can shorten the life of the clutch packs. In the Subaru, with its viscous coupled system, I doubt it would cause any problems whatsoever.

I’ll let someone else answer more definitively, but I don’t think “wear” is a problem on any AWD system… if you put on a very different size, then yes, you should rethink that…

By: Ted

Ted — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:11:40 +0000

A question about cons of AWD concerning tires and replacement. Subaru service said all four tires had to be replaced at the same time or the tranny could (would) be damaged. Is the same true of all manufacturers AWD ? This is based on a difference in the diameter of a new tire and a worn older tire. Needless to say that now all tires are regularly rotated.

By: Todd

Todd — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:20:36 +0000

FWD is good for a compact economy car.

By: Kit Gerhart

Kit Gerhart — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:07:20 +0000

One advantage of FWD you didn’t mention is space efficiency. Front drive cars have less intrusion into both front seat foot space, and rear floor space, and generally less space wasted by “nose length.” In smallish cars, compare a Chevette with a similar era Golf/Rabbit. In larger cars, compare the interior space of a Crown Vic with a similar size last-generation Park Avenue.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:48:15 +0000

How many did Spyker sell? I bet AMC’s Grand Wagoneer was a bigger commercial success.

By: Ron D

Ron D — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:26:13 +0000

I don’t.

By: Ron D

Ron D — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:25:20 +0000

Not bad, but there really aren’t that many RWD cars left with solid axles. The Ford Mustang and the Ford Crown Vic and Mercury Grand Marquis are notable exceptions. Most modern RWD cars have IRS these days unless you are counting pickup trucks.

Personally I prefer RWD or AWD to FWD. Both my RWD vehicles (Porsche Boxster S and Cadillac CTS) have IRS by the way not solid rear axles. My Jeep Grand Cherokee with AWD does have a solid rear axle though.

By: Kira

Kira — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:45:46 +0000

I Love FWD!!!