4WD vs. RWD...

PNH80

PNH80

Low life livin' the high life.
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Interesting video i found while browsing YouTube. It's a comparison of the S5 vs. the 335i coupe from an episode of 5th Gear. Slightly unfairly, the 335i is in SE form and not M-Sport so the suspension is going to be a little softer and the tyres not as low profile...
I watched this with the sound off so i have no idea what the outcome was but the 'ghosting' effect of superimposing the cars over one another to compare lap times is quite interesting.
It's often been a hot topic whether 4WD does actually aid a car whatsoever around a track. I'll let you guys decide.
It's definitely obvious which car looks the more fun though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RwOAP4PxjM
 
BMW won by a ****-hair. Since the S5 has 50 more horses, it was a triumph of "handling over power" she said.
 
Not seen that one before, just shows how much power 4WD loses you. I had a W plate 200BHP Nissan 200SX before my A4 1.8TQS, it lasted all of two months I hated it, much prefer 4WD, personal preference
 
Thanks for translating Leon, i'm no good at lip reading lol.
Can't help but think the M-Sport with less body roll would be a bit quicker still. The S5 does seem to roll quite a lot in the corners it must be said. I'd take the S5 out of the 2 cars tested in that video though, the beamer looks very ordinary but thats the fault of the show for picking a blue SE model!
 
PNH80 said:
Thanks for translating Leon, i'm no good at lip reading lol.
Can't help but think the M-Sport with less body roll would be a bit quicker still. The S5 does seem to roll quite a lot in the corners it must be said. I'd take the S5 out of the 2 cars tested in that video though, the beamer looks very ordinary but thats the fault of the show for picking a blue SE model!
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
PNH80 said:
Thanks for translating Leon, i'm no good at lip reading lol.
Can't help but think the M-Sport with less body roll would be a bit quicker still. The S5 does seem to roll quite a lot in the corners it must be said. I'd take the S5 out of the 2 cars tested in that video though, the beamer looks very ordinary but thats the fault of the show for picking a blue SE model!
Click to expand...

Have you noticed that they always seem to do that, I would have said it was because the M sport wasn't out at the time but I'm guessin that it would have been seeing as the S5 hasn't been out that long!

They picked the Se Z4 in the past when they put it up against the TT and again when they pitched it agains the 350Z conv. Not sure why they dont pick the M sport models...
 
Exactly, it's not even a similar spec'd car. The M-Sport model in bright red, black or white with 19's would at least even the playing field for a fair comparison looks wise.
Also correct me if i'm wrong but there's quite a price difference between the 2 cars in that test.
Moaning aside though it's an interesting comparison to see where both cars were at certain corners and how they pick up and lose speed at different points.
 
PNH80 said:
Exactly, it's not even a similar spec'd car. The M-Sport model in bright red, black or white with 19's would at least even the playing field for a fair comparison looks wise.
Also correct me if i'm wrong but there's quite a price difference between the 2 cars in that test.
Moaning aside though it's an interesting comparison to see where both cars were at certain corners and how they pick up and lose speed at different points.
Click to expand...

The BMW is 5k less - She said :)
 
Thanks for translating again Leon!
Thats what i thought MB, the M-Sport is bound to be stiffer, less body roll, lower profile tyres. Surely there must be a second gained per lap there?
 
i honestly don't think i can make a RWD car go faster than a 4WD car. so its 4WD for me. if you're the stig, go ahead buy the F/R...charging up mountain roads i'd miss the stability and traction.
 
Yes but surely a full rear wheel drive car is going to make a better driver of you? I think you learn far more about the dynamics of a car and the skill of driving in general if you get behind the wheel of a fast RWD car.
4WD can lead some drivers into a false sense of security and they start believing they're better than they are, the many impreza's i've seen inserted into roadside shrubbery proves this.
With RWD you automatically have more respect for what you're driving.....In my opinion anyway!
 
PNH80 said:
With RWD you automatically have more respect for what you're driving.....In my opinion anyway!
Click to expand...

By the same token does that cause you to drive erring on the side of caution, taking it a bit slower? Leading to less of a thrill?

Man i love pointing my car into corners i'd have never dreamt of doing before now, it amazes me everytime and puts a fat smile all over my face :w00t: the way it whips through corners with such agility.
 
Less of a thrill? Last year when i was taken for a blast over the moors in an 80's 911 turbo, the brown 'medals of fear' in my underpants are testament that every corner is a roulette in one of those things at speed. No computer trickery, slip diffs or Haldex to save your *** there! One false move and you are at one with nature. Surely THAT'S thrilling driving! lol
 
I would get the S5 just like someone said the 3 series looks rather ordinary and common.

I really like the S5 shape... still Audi, still discreet but lovely.

RWD vs 4WD... well after the S3 I guess I would prefer 4WD for every condition driving... RWD in a racetrack... ohh but I already got my go kart... and it doesn't have a differential so my bends are always in 3 wheels!!!! GREAT!!!

Pedro
 
Well for me it is... Has big wheels and the S5 badges are not in your face.... Could be mistaken for a normal A5... Same way my S3 can be mistaken for a normal A3...

Pedro
 
Oh jesus neither of them do anything for me. Sure both can drive but what good is that to me, the only time my misses drives me is when I am spannered...

J.
 
Come on now mate, fat AND ugly? Maybe chubby with a pretty face i could allow but not big AND ugly...
Speaking of big and not so good looking, i agree, the S5 isn't a subtle, discreet car at all. Fairy lights, MASSIVE chrome mirrors, chrome grille. Lovely car, but discreet it aint! lol
 
lower your standards once.... and then wander why you are walking!!!!

Neither of them would get into the C-list... but I am too fussy!!!

Pedro
 
audi upgrades
phantom said:
Japs eye? or there brown eye? :eyebrows:

Sorry!

p
Click to expand...

Too late to apologise my friend, the damage is done lol
Brings a tear to the 'brown eye' of an ugly fat bird....? :no: Crikey.
 
PNH80 said:
Interesting video i found while browsing YouTube. It's a comparison of the S5 vs. the 335i coupe from an episode of 5th Gear. Slightly unfairly, the 335i is in SE form and not M-Sport so the suspension is going to be a little softer and the tyres not as low profile...
I watched this with the sound off so i have no idea what the outcome was but the 'ghosting' effect of superimposing the cars over one another to compare lap times is quite interesting.
It's often been a hot topic whether 4WD does actually aid a car whatsoever around a track. I'll let you guys decide.
It's definitely obvious which car looks the more fun though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RwOAP4PxjM
Click to expand...

As a selection criteria, I would never choose a car based on how good it is on a track as I will never use my daily driver on a track.

I appreciate Journos need some kind of comparison, and often the track is the place they choose, and I guess it makes for good viewing/reading etc..

IMO its too easy to get lost in Bhp figures and lap times, but what that means in evaluating a car that will spend its life being driven by average Joe on public roads, is questionable.

And what is a couple tenths of a second anyway? When you need specialist imaging techniques and digital timing gear to separate 2 cars around a track, its fair to say they are as near as damn it.

Just as an example, couple of years back, I changed a CTR for a MK5 Golf. The CTR was half the price and quicker round the track (according to the motoring press, Top Gear etc..).
Although the CTR was a great car, in real terms the MK5 was much better in every other way, just no comparison really.

Feel better now.


Cheers
Paul
 
audi upgrades
I love it when a sensible thread descends into my brand of humour, superb LOL :)

Anyway 335i M Sport rather than S5, cheaper and better handling if not as exclusive but an excellent stealth weapon with close to M3 figures.

Rear wheel drive will make you grin at lower more realistic speeds so perhaps the fun is more attainable than in its 4wd counterpart which relies on outright speed?
 
PaulAr said:
As a selection criteria, I would never choose a car based on how good it is on a track as I will never use my daily driver on a track.

I appreciate Journos need some kind of comparison, and often the track is the place they choose, and I guess it makes for good viewing/reading etc..

IMO its too easy to get lost in Bhp figures and lap times, but what that means in evaluating a car that will spend its life being driven by average Joe on public roads, is questionable.

And what is a couple tenths of a second anyway? When you need specialist imaging techniques and digital timing gear to separate 2 cars around a track, its fair to say they are as near as damn it.

Just as an example, couple of years back, I changed a CTR for a MK5 Golf. The CTR was half the price and quicker round the track (according to the motoring press, Top Gear etc..).
Although the CTR was a great car, in real terms the MK5 was much better in every other way, just no comparison really.

Feel better now.


Cheers
Paul
Click to expand...

I know what you're saying but the point of me posting the video wasn't necessarily to compare these 2 cars inparticular but more to highlight the difference or lack of, on a track scenario between RWD and 4WD
BMW with less bhp, putting the drive through the rear wheels was faster around a track and it wasn't even the M-Sport model which i guarantee would have been a second faster. That is the point i was highlighting and asking the queston why people think that is the case?
Statistics are clearly only half the story and in this case all 4WD did for the S5 was throw away it's power advantage. So in a performance orientated car, if it can't do the business on the track... What's all the quattro trickery there for?

If i was Audi (which i'm clearly not) i would consider looking at 'reverse' Haldex. Bang most of the drve to the rear, say 80/20 and then allow it to be up to 100% transferable to the front if and when needed. All the 50/50 balanced quattro seems to do is steal power and as this test proves, on dry tarmac it serves no real purpose.
 
Oh and just on the fat bird subject, last saturday night i found my mate in a semi conscious state round the back of the nightclub coughing his guts up. This girl who he'd apparently been talking to earlier came over. I can only describe her as a 'big machine'. Truly awful. Like a good mate I suggested she accompany him to the taxi rank and make sure he got home in one piece.
At 6 o'clock the next morning i get a very irrate phone call from said mate who had woken up in the arms of an enormous naked fat girl who he'd never met before, he was also naked and had obviously been abused by said 'lady'. Didn't have a clue where he was or how he'd got there. Having located his clothes and negotiated what he called ' a minefield of stinking fresh dog **** all over the flat' he caught the bus 15 miles back home. Quite superb.
I came clean and admitted it was me who pushed him in her taxi and unfortunately he still isn't talking to me or replying to texts....

EDIT: I'm sure there is a moral to that story which we can all learn from. Just can't see it yet...
 
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