I was just wondering what peoples thoughts, opinions, experiences of All Wheel Drive is? Is it a good thing? Bad? Is it just a gimmick to sell cars? I would be very interested to hear some opinions...

No line lock for RWD BURNINATIONS!

It is good if you like traction! If you dont plan or being an idiot and doing stunts then AWD is good. Best of both worlds (FWD & RWD). It isnt a gimmick however dont let words like variable 4wd n shizzle think that whatever the car is will work like a 4WD.

It still allows some slippage in the diff's as ud need for road driving.

I dont know how the magna AWD's are but I hear alot of people when they get them are happy.

man do a google search and draw your own opinion!

your just going to get a thread full af spam and how about rwd V8 magnas lol


awd's have their benefits, and some disadantages over fwd too, more fuel useage more weight blah blah blah....

depends on what you want out of the car and what car it is...

i have an awd and with a worked supercharger is only as fast as a near stock manual ralliart in a straight line.... on an icy mountain road it would be different, towing a boat up a wet boat ramp different again..

then there are brand new cars with more computers in them than microsoft, and they can behave similar when all the electronic gizmos kick in in the wet


i only got awd cos i dont like fwd but i love the magna shape, driving the fwd vs awd as a normal person would daily, the only difference you would ever notice is under moderate acceleration the steering wheel wont pull at all.... you wont notice any other difference!

if your an average/poor driver it will give you more confidence in taking corners at speed in the wet, but they still corner very similary fwd biased front heavy so you get mass understeer.... unless your cool like me and know how to make it kick out lol

as the add on the radio says "awd will help het you moving, but it wont help ou stop in a hurry"

awd is no gimmick and takes some of the fear out of cornering.

downside is tyre & break wear and fuel consumption.

also inability of Mitsubishi Australia to make a medium-large AWD sedan with manual box is a deterrent to many......but I'm yet to be convinced that the INVECS set up is as fragile as some make it out to be.

My car is an awd.
Its not the quickest car in a straight line but ill race you up and down the mountain any day.

Honestly its about you driving style, the only way to know for sure is to drive one and see how it makes you feel.

awd looses a lil accel speed due to it having all that extra weight of the awd systems

some ppl love it
some ppl hate it

drive one of each, and see which one you like the best.

iv driven both - the the fwd magna i drove... was a TR so a few years behind the KL verada, but i definatly liked the way the awd handles.

(its good to be able to boot it thru a roundabout when some lil punk thinks hes hot **** in his hotted up silvia or VL commo and then the look on his face when the car just grips perfectly and DRIVES with poise and grace leaving him wondering!!! lol, well thats my opinion anyhow)

another good thing about the awd, is that at least the auto is a 5speeder, gotta be better than the 4speeder right?

but I'm yet to be convinced that the INVECS set up is as fragile as some make it out to be.

The AWD transmissions are different in specification to the FWD transmissions.

The AWD transmissions are different in specification to the FWD transmissions.

yep. the components are adapted from the EVO and GT available in the US.

also the gearing particulalry in first is lower than in a standard auto (about a whole turn lower). I would be surprised if even a manual fwd could beat an awd to 60kph from a standing start.

just test drove an 05 TL AWD today.

Not a bad bit of machinery, standard options are pretty amazing.
Having not driven a TL before I found I was dumping the accel a bit hard, resulting in a surge. It 'felt' like there was a bit of lag between pressing accel and actually moving.
hard to tell as my car to be replaced is a 4cyl auto Crapmry to a big V6, so the pickup was a suprise lol.

Driving the AWD tippy is something that comes with practice though.
From a standing start priming your revs with the brake or handbrake to the rite point works well, but at a full dump from nothing they still go pretty quick.
... mine does at least.
As for shifting up just put it in tippy and pre-empt the lag time by shifting a little befor you need to so its precise.

It leaves a little to be desired but its still an amazing drive.

Not trying to start a fight with this, its just my POV.
I drove a 380 S3 VRX today and was acctualy... pretty unimpressed with the performance being a larger literage and front wheel drive.
The car was amazing to look at and it had so many toys... but the power left me wanting my car back.

I drove a 380 S3 VRX today and was acctualy... pretty unimpressed with the performance being a larger literage and front wheel drive.
The car was amazing to look at and it had so many toys... but the power left me wanting my car back.
Strange because a 380 is more powerful, has more torque, is lighter and faster to 100 and down the quarter.

Just a though, would the 380 being auto matter. the difference between a manual and auto magna is pretty big, I wonder if it still applies to the 380.

Just a though, would the 380 being auto matter. the difference between a manual and auto magna is pretty big, I wonder if it still applies to the 380.
If you're referring to the above comments, then sure. But AWD's only come in auto, so...

Hi,

Love it!

I used to be a big time Holden Commodore fan until I chose my new company car as a TL AWD. 5 Speed auto - heaps of grip (you should try it hard down a dirt road!).

I was so impressed that when I changed jobs I put my money where my mouth was and bought a second hand TW VRX AWD for myself. Now all I need is Mitsubishi to bring out a 380 AWD!

Oh well I may have to settle for a second hand 380 Series II VRX 5 Speed Man with leather.

Believe me - don't hesitate to buy a AWD - it truly transforms the Magna.

awd is no gimmick and takes some of the fear out of cornering.
I thought that was what the handbrake was for :P

Strange because a 380 is more powerful, has more torque, is lighter and faster to 100 and down the quarter.


are they? i know your comparing 380 vs awd but how about 380 vs 3.5L magna 2wd with comparable transmisions

i dont think so, cos the only 380 i have heard of running at the strip has run a best of 16.1 and that was manual :|

and the only other 380 i know of being run was slower down the 1/4 than the owners previous 3.0L both 5spd

its not hard to be faster than an awd auto, but 380 vs normal magna we have a problem..

are they? i know your comparing 380 vs awd but how about 380 vs 3.5L magna 2wd with comparable transmisions

i dont think so, cos the only 380 i have heard of running at the strip has run a best of 16.1 and that was manual :|

and the only other 380 i know of being run was slower down the 1/4 than the owners previous 3.0L both 5spd

its not hard to be faster than an awd auto, but 380 vs normal magna we have a problem..
380's in WHEELS and MOTOR were timed (for the base model) at 15.3 for auto, stock. Take that with a grain of salt I suppose, but no 3.5L auto magna is gonna get close to that. There's a 20Kw/27Nm difference in power and 130kgs when compared to a TW magna (all redbook figures) 130kgs is a lot but I think the 380 would be noticeably quicker.

You know just as well as the rest of us Dicp that numbers on paper are just that, paper.
Factors change a car that numbers cant explain and i KNOW from driving my car to driving that 380 i was not impressed at all.

And before you get into full flight over my car, its engine is stock.

So you can blow your figures. That 380 left me wanting more response, more torque, more communication from the road. From dumping the clutch to 100 (which i did a few times) was amazingly over rated. Ill take a tjawd over a 380 vrx every time. Every Time!

You know just as well as the rest of us Dicp that numbers on paper are just that, paper.
Factors change a car that numbers cant explain and i KNOW from driving my car to driving that 380 i was not impressed at all.

And before you get into full flight over my car, its engine is stock.

So you can blow your figures. That 380 left me wanting more response, more torque, more communication from the road. From dumping the clutch to 100 (which i did a few times) was amazingly over rated. Ill take a tjawd over a 380 vrx every time. Every Time!
That's good you like your car mate. Like I said, take the paper figures with a grain of salt. It would be interesting to line a stock AWD up with a stock 380.

do all the numbers on a piece of paper really mean anything ?

if you like the way the car, handles, drives, fuel econ etc - then what does it matter if its the least powerful one on the yard at the time?

my advice in situ's like this:
1) test drive as many cars as possible - try awd and fwd back to back
2) test drive a different brand
3) come back to a mitsi - drive the one you liked the best again
4) buy the one that YOU like the best, the one that suits YOUR needs best

afterall, YOU are the one that will be driving the car all the time - it doesnt matter if its awd or fwd, as long as you are HAPPY with what YOU brought!

happy - the keyword - be HAPPY with what you buy - whatever it is :dancin: :2cool: :dancin:

380 would beat stock awd down the qtr mile on dry track.

but no way would it win the 0 to 60kph or out perform on wet track.

So you can blow your figures. That 380 left me wanting more response, more torque, more communication from the road. From dumping the clutch to 100 (which i did a few times) was amazingly over rated. Ill take a tjawd over a 380 vrx every time. Every Time!

I sympathise with your feelings on the 380. First time I drove one after my stock KE I wondered what the fuss was. The torque didn't seem to be that good. Now I've got one I have to say that a lot of it is chassis stiffness and suspension. It's one of those cars that doesn't shift in the suspension much under hard acceleration and braking and doesn't feel that fast consequently. But I know it hosed my KE because I ran up against one once or twice before I bought it. But it suffers from too much restriction in the exhaust, drastically reducing torque from 4500rpm to 6000rpm and a very restricted intake (4 cylinder intake for OZ cars) which limits torque all through the rev range.

Easily fixed however...:badgrin:

380 would beat stock awd down the qtr mile on dry track.

but no way would it win the 0 to 60kph or out perform on wet track.

Mines awd sport, so its a little beefier than a standard awd.
Better gearbox, better suspention. bout 8 pounds more torque, few more kw at wheel.
It weighs a little more but has a small fuel tank so bring the weight issue under control a bit.

The differences are minimal but you feel it.

The Sports got 5Kw at the fly, and 8 Nm extra over the standard AWD. But it also put on almost 25kgs. You think it's faster than a standard AWD tho? I don't think you'd feel 5Kw and 8Nm.

The Sports got 5Kw at the fly, and 8 Nm extra over the standard AWD. But it also put on almost 25kgs. You think it's faster than a standard AWD tho? I don't think you'd feel 5Kw and 8Nm.


it was all inthe muffler!

the exec had an exec muffler

the sports had a sports/vrx type

thats all

how does a muffler give you heaps more power like a vrx vs exec 2wd :nuts:


i think the power figures are misquoted to promote to sports model as being upgraded etc...

that said my awd when stock was as quick (proven) as an equivalent FWD magna, lucky me i guess

i like how we just gloss over the stuff that people dont wanna hear.
Yeah i said that it has a little more torque and kw, but you glossed over the gear box, andrew brought up the differnt exhaust.

It seems like just cos the car doesnt have seven thousand more pounds/feet torque and as many horse power as the american south west it cant possibly be faster. A whole bunch of subtle little differences can and offten are just as effective and overhauling the car.

Anyway. They are my views. Not gonna let this go into a full argument over awd vs. fwd... Like all the awd threads seem too lol.

i like how we just gloss over the stuff that people dont wanna hear.
Yeah i said that it has a little more torque and kw, but you glossed over the gear box, andrew brought up the differnt exhaust.

It seems like just cos the car doesnt have seven thousand more pounds/feet torque and as many horse power as the american south west it cant possibly be faster. A whole bunch of subtle little differences can and offten are just as effective and overhauling the car.

Anyway. They are my views. Not gonna let this go into a full argument over awd vs. fwd... Like all the awd threads seem too lol.
:bowrofl: No offence intended mate! I agree totally too - small changes can have a big effect on a car. Just look at the EVO 9 for example - great car, but put some racing pads on it and the performance pack suspension and it's a totally different car.

in a nutshell

AWD:

Advantages
-much better in crap conditions/roads
-Better brakes (twinpot, same as used in the ralliart)
-Better than a FWD magna in a TLGP on a crap road surface.
-More safe/easy to push for drivers lacking in a bit of confidence, or on a wet road etc.

Disadvantages
- Extra weight and drivetrain loss of AWD = slower than a auto FWD
- Auto only = MUCH slower than a manual FWD
- Worse fuel economoy (probably not THAT much difference)
- Extra weight makes the handling more barge-like
- Doesn't really have enough power in stock form to take advanatge of the awd system properly, IMO a FWD driven correctly will be just as fast on the twistes, add an LSD and it'll be much faster. Never underestimate just how much corner speed a properly setup FWD can carry, because of less weight and the way you can setup the suspension for maximum front-end grip.

Razor: There's no way a 380 is slower than an AWD magna, it may have felt that way for some reason, but it just isn't. The extra weight of a 380 is pretty negligible compared to an AWD magna, given it's less lossy FWD and has more hp at the flywheel, it's gonna have considerable more power at the wheels.

It just comes down to which suits you, for any kind of performance, a manual FWD ****s all over an AWD. But as a relaxed daily driver the AWD is probably better, especially when it rains etc.

Personally an AWD doesn't float my boat, as it must be manual, and I regularly go to the track. And the rest of the time I generally drive fairly enthusiasitically, enjoying frequently giving it a squirt, pushing it a little through my favourite corners etc.

Although since Ive started hitting the track my street driving has mellowed out a fair bit, I think I'd be happy with an AWD as a daily driver, provided I have something else for when I'm feeling frisky or going to the track.

As said before it comes down to driving style. I have been able to put my AWD through some pretty hairy situations and it has come through every time. Situations my TH sports would not have come through. The extra weight does tell but its all centralised so the effect is negligable. A FF magna simply wont beat it for apex speed and if you can even induce power oversteer if you like. Very different cars, both great. All depends on you.

Disadvantages
- Auto only = MUCH slower than a manual FWD


that sucks

manual magnas faster than they have the right to be....

i mean

atmo 6cyl aussie cars

fastest ever E49 charger official 14.4 1/4 mile in the 70's on 70's rubber, and it commonly known that a well tuned stocky will run a high 13 on modern rubber... then the E38 apparently did 14.8's

but then there is the stock ralliart under 15 easy... then bugger the ralliart there has been stock TH-TW's running sub 15 1/4's damn thats fast for a cheap family car that isnt a performance variant...

even the HSV supercharged 3.8L Xu6 wasnt as quick as a pov pack 3.5L manual magna of the same era

auto magnas on the other hand are slow in comparison

even by today hot hatch standards GTIs MPS's TYPE R's wilst std the magna dosent match the handeling but the straight line speed it easily matched if not bettered but again a cheap ****ty magna damn! lol

Thats a pretty pathetic attitude Chisoholm.
Your oppinion is one thing but out right telling someone that they are wrong is just ****ing rude. Just cos you believe that your view is rite does not make it so.

Your entitled to your views but to attack someone else for theirs is wrong and especialy cos your basing it on figures.

Ill be up at wakefeild in january, we can continue this there.

As said before it comes down to driving style. I have been able to put my AWD through some pretty hairy situations and it has come through every time. Situations my TH sports would not have come through

What do you mean by "hairy situations"? Apart from on an icy or wet road, I don't see what sort of situation an AWD would excel at over a fwd. Maybe in certain situation when you get out of shape, an AWD would be easier to recover I guess, but that's usually down to poor driving in the first place, and poor car control when recovering.



The extra weight does tell but its all centralised so the effect is negligable. A FF magna simply wont beat it for apex speed and if you can even induce power oversteer if you like. Very different cars, both great. All depends on you.

Well I had a brief drive of an AWD, the extra weight is something I could feel very easily, it felt noticeably more front-heavy when pushed a little into a corner.

I assure you from my track experience a FWD magna can carry a higher apex speed through a corner, simply because it is significantly lighter. It's common knowledge on a track AWDs tends to lose out a bit in corner speed over lighter FWD or RWD counterparts, where they shine is ability to get on the throttle earlier and harder, provided you have the power to properly take advantage of the awd traction on exit (a stock awd magna doesn't).

I've had a chat to a couple of IPRA competitors, they've commented if you look at the telemetry of the fast AWD competitors, their corners speeds are actually a little on the low side of the field, but where they win out is getting out of the corners, especially when we are talking decent amounts of hp on relatively narrow control tyres.

Thats a pretty pathetic attitude Chisoholm.
Your oppinion is one thing but out right telling someone that they are wrong is just ****ing rude. Just cos you believe that your view is rite does not make it so.

Your entitled to your views but to attack someone else for theirs is wrong and especialy cos your basing it on figures.

Ill be up at wakefeild in january, we can continue this there.

Correct, my opinion differs, and I'm trying to explain why. How is that a "pathetic attitude"?

Have I been abusive at any point? No. But when I see stuff being said that I believe to be wrong, I feel the need to debate that, which is the point of having these forums. Don't take it personally, it's not a personal attack on your character.

If you don't like what I have to say, I'm happy to debate with you on technical grounds, although TBH you don't seem terribly interested in this atm. Numbers can misinterpreted, but they don't lie.

And uh I'm not really interested in some kind of ego grudge match with you at Wakefield, if that's what you're suggesting. And Frankly you'd lose :) However, I am interested to hear what your experiences are, and happy to chat with you about the track if you get into it.

For comparion's sake, Daniel (Cummins) has run into the high 1:13's, in a mildly modded ralliart. He's obviously rather good for a casual track-goer, so I doubt there's a hell of alot more time to be aqueezed out of his car, without changes to it.

I'll be interested to hear what sort of times you get, especially if you get your driving to the same sort of standard. I'm faily confident even with perfect driving, the awd will get no where near 1:13s.

I've been advised a stock sports/vrx would proably lap around the 1:17 mark, if driven by someone who really knows what they're doing.

Good points from everyone, Razor easy mate, I didn't think Chisholm's reply to your post was negative in anyway. Lets all be friends. lol

rember the 2L touring cars?

the FWD's and RWD's were always leading and winning with the audis a little back in the pack

although the audi carried ballast

but then when it rained the audis won 90% of the time...

but in defence to that, i rember an add for hsv where the gts won the 12hr production race beating wrx sti etc.. and it was pissing down rain at bathurst..

so like planes a car fwd/rwd/awd is only as good as the pilot...

i think the ultimate would be a gtr where awd can be disalbled and just run in rwd..

the magna awd as good as it is sucks!

the heavy motor is mounted in front of the front axle... as in a fwd... but also drives the rear tyres and yes it handles well and can go good, trust me they dont have the chassis balance of a decent awd or proper rwd/fwd car, they are a lil bit confused..

Thing with the Magna AWD is it's never going to be a race car or close to it because it's so heavy and it isn't very stiff. I jacked the EVO up the other day to change the oil and put the jack just behind the front wheel. Jacked it up and the whole side of the car lifted off the ground that's how rigid it is. No way a Magna is that rigid, hence it will always be a bit wobbly.

380's in WHEELS and MOTOR were timed (for the base model) at 15.3 for auto, stock. Take that with a grain of salt I suppose, but no 3.5L auto magna is gonna get close to that. There's a 20Kw/27Nm difference in power and 130kgs when compared to a TW magna (all redbook figures) 130kgs is a lot but I think the 380 would be noticeably quicker.
Not correct mine is a sports O.K but it is a auto(stock cept for k&n panel) And I ran a 15.30 and a 15.36.:confused:
Not a AWD though.

Not correct mine is a sports O.K but it is a auto(stock cept for k&n panel) And I ran a 15.30 and a 15.36.:confused:
Not a AWD though.
Maybe I should of said "no auto exec or base magna" Sports have the 163kW engine I believe. You can't say "my car is stock except for..." It's either stock or it's not. K&N panel filter may not add any HP - but it might.

couldnt be more right about the MAGNA chassis!!!

my merc 20 years old same as your evo i can jack it under the front wheel and the whole side lifts off the ground!

going in my drive way you can hear the magna CREAK as the chassis flexes OMG yeah i have no suspension! but the merc has much less than the magna and it dont flex!



but as not being a race car, sure not stock it isnt but rember the rally awd's???

most successful magna racing cars ever lol

and apart from a cage, gutted and suspension and lil mods they were stock enough

most successful magna racing cars ever lol
That's a bit like winning a dog turd eating comp. Not something you really brag about.

Haha this topic is getting out of control. The bloke asked for an opinion on the awd magna. For street purposes they crap on 2wd magnas for safety (esp for unskilled drivers) and general driveability. If you are looking for a race car, look at something thats not a v6 4 door aussie built family sedan imo lol.

This topic always does... its a very dangerous and stupid thing to ask for an oppinion of those drive lines and this site.

Especialy if Chis reads it lol

Im a pretty vicious, passionate supporter of AWD. And ill fight for it, but its not out of angst or hatred. Chisholm and i have done this before in other threads. Then ill read back over it later and go 'wow'.
Goes to highlight that its not easy to cut it down the middle though, everyone has a preferd style and you should choose a car to suit that.

So yeah, as for the wakefeild thing. Wasn't a be all end all grudge match thing. Im acctualy interested in hitting the track with a few other drivers. It just came out vindictive cos of my mood at the time.

I'm another awd sycophant

the awd is not that heavy, in fact its lighter than commo and about the same as mass as a falcon.

it is quite well balanced thankyou.

it does have the same excellent brakes as the ralliart.

the 6G72 and 6G74 engined gto/VR4 all wheelers in the US which share some common drivetrain components are regulalry modified to +700 hp beasties.

transmission we get will probably accept up to 400hp/500nm before making filings. put a 400hp 6G74 in a fwd and see what its like.

i have an awd

dont get me wrong im a huge fan of it it's great

but my next car is going to be fwd :shock:

yeah i want rwd, but im silly do lotsa skids and cant afford the fines or tyres lol

will i get another awd?????

only if it's a rex or evo...

i still maintain that the best way to sort this out, is for the OP to go and test drive one each of FWD and AWD back to back.

and buy the one that he or she likes best on that drive.

take them both on an identical drive / route and the one that brings the biggest smile to your face is the one you like the most - buy THAT ONE

Well when i started this topic i didnt know it was going to be such a heated discussion. May have touched a nerve here guys?

Based on the discussion thus far i have decided to stick with my first decision and buy a Verada GTVI AWD just before xmas.

My driving style does not need a car with massive amounts of power and speed and if it does i have another car for that! I dont do track days or drag events or anything like that although my missus thinks i drive too aggressively, lol. If the purse strings allow it i would like a sprintex kit put on, its nice to have some power up your sleeve! Thanks for your help people...

Doddski’s got the right idea. I was looking for an AWD when I bought my last car. Took one for a test, scared the salesman on one of my favorite local twisties and bought the VRX instead.

put a 400hp 6G74 in a fwd and see what its like.

Around a track with a sorted suspension setup and LSD? Quite a weapon (for something base on a family barge). You'd be surprised just how well a SORTED fwd platform can handle lots of hp aroud a track (up to a point of cours, rwd/awd is always gonna be better in end with stupid amounts of power). Obviously if you are serious about TLGPs or the drag strip, forget FWD, they are always inherantly disadvanated in getting off the line with lots of power.


That's a bit like winning a dog turd eating comp. Not something you really brag about. Damn EVO snobs:P

Seriously though, you are right. Manual FWD magnas are surprisingly good around a track with the right mods, but only up to a point, unless you are gonna get REALLY serious with mods (i.e no longer daily drivable, and not really a regular magna anymore).

Jason did 1:14s around wakefield on his very first outing with his supercharged ralliart. I believe with good driving and r-comp tyres, he can lap in the 1:10 region, perhaps even dipping under. around 1:10 is what a well-driven stock or near-stock recent EVO does. Not too shabby at all, especially since Wakefield is pretty much made for EVOs and WRXs. Having said that, with the money Jase has spent on buying his ralliart and mods, he coulda bought an evo, which has the potential to go faster for relatively little money. But that's not what it's about is it:)

There's something incredibly satisfying about seriously modding a car not purpose-designed as a sports car, but making it go relatively fast with the right mods. I love the underdog status of bringing a magna to a track, and then walloping a fair few people driving cars considered much faster (obviously driver ability is a big factor here). Obviously my next car is likely gonna be something much more performance-oriented from the factory, but I'm having an absolute ball in the meantime, as im sure plenty of other members here are.

Making a FWD go fast properly fast around a track means setting up in a way where it had loads of front-end grip, with a very stiff volatile rear end (e.g VERY high spring rates in the rear, massive swaybar). Basically a FWD setup for this manner of driving is incredibly twitchy, and takes major balls to drive properly - basically if you arent getting a touch of oversteer on the way in, you've gone in too slow. I've ridden in a seriously quick FWD around Wakefield (A trailored civid doing 1:07s) being driven by a pro, it was a very enlightening experience, the style of setup and driving required to make a FWD go properly fast is really quite exciting, as the setup and driving delibrately allows for some oversteer on the way into corners. Basically fast in slow out, in comparison to a RWD/AWD.

It's basically about carrying as much corner speed as possible on the way in, so you are fully committed before the corner. Unlike a RWD/AWD, if you go in a little slow you don't have the option of powering mid-corner to make up for it, and you've already lost.

There's something incredibly satisfying about seriously modding a car not purpose-designed as a sports car, but making it go relatively fast with the right mods. I love the underdog status of bringing a magna to a track, and then walloping a fair few people driving cars considered much faster (obviously driver ability is a big factor here). Obviously my next car is likely gonna be something much more performance-oriented from the factory, but I'm having an absolute ball in the meantime, as im sure plenty of other members here are.



Hear Hear!

A bit like tinkering with steam engines. Pointless but nevertheless satisfying

Im a pretty vicious, passionate supporter of AWD. And ill fight for it, but its not out of angst or hatred. Chisholm and i have done this before in other threads. Then ill read back over it later and go 'wow'.

So yeah, as for the wakefeild thing. Wasn't a be all end all grudge match thing. Im acctualy interested in hitting the track with a few other drivers. It just came out vindictive cos of my mood at the time.

I figured that:)

Just remember it's all very well being a fan of one particular type of car, but it pays to be educated about all types, as with everything in life different sides have their cons and pros, it's down to the indivudual what suits. The AWD magna has many pros over the FWD, but outright performance when booted around a track or some twisties in the dry isn't one of them :P

It's always nice to see fellow AMCers at Wakefield, perhaps I'll see you there at some point? I know at least myself and Cummins are going to the October 1st Circuit club day (And possibly Wookie from memory), hopeing to fly the magna flag proud and upset plenty of faster cars (Knowing Cummin's last effort, he'll likely be up near the top of the field).

Btw January isn't the best time of year to go, better in the cooler months. I went this year in March, it was absolutely sweltering, close to 40 Deg that day. Was much more pleasant going back in the cooler months.

Keep us updated on how you guys go, always good to read of the exploits of Magna drivers.

i've been in a kw awd with a competent driver and i can garuntee the exit speed they can carry is where its at... left all the other magna's miles behind.

I'm in serious contemplation of buying an TL/TW AWD - ironically it is to tow a racecar (an AW11 MR2). Has anyone used an AWD to tow any serious loads before - I know that with the correct tow hitch they are factory rated to 1500kgs - do they need a trans cooler or anything like that to be able to reliably tow that sort of weight?

My TJ awd was quoted to be able to pull 2000. To be perfectly honest though i have never tryed it. I asked the mechanics at mitsu what my car was capable of when it was in on its last service.

Ive had my sisters Lancer on a trailer... but thats it. Thats about a 1400?

My TJ awd was quoted to be able to pull 2000. To be perfectly honest though i have never tryed it. I asked the mechanics at mitsu what my car was capable of when it was in on its last service.

Ive had my sisters Lancer on a trailer... but thats it. Thats about a 1400?

Hmmm thats interesting they quoted 2000Kg as nobody makes a tow bar/hitch rated to tow 2000kg for any Magna, the highest spec one is 1500Kg by Hayman Reese, which make the Mitsubishi ones.

My MR2 is probably similar in weight to the Lancer - did it tow it ok? Did you go up any serious hills?

Man, i dont know... I don't tow very offten.
Maybe thats what the car was quoted at?

Didnt have a problem towing it. Took of slow and left it in first till about 3500 revs.
Went up Cantebury Rd hill. Its pretty steep. I built the speed up before reaching the base of the incline and let it drop off slowly as i went up so i didn't have to slug the accelerator.

an awd would by far be the best magna there is as a tow car, greater mass tougher trans and lets not forget the awd, no bum dragging wheel spinning here, 2 ton boat up a steep wet ramp easy!

yes you need a cooler!! all cars with a towbar should have one

apart from rated capacity, you could easily pull fat more than 2 ton...

i tow trailers around the airport for a living, 40kw 3 spd auto 2.5L n/a diesel tug that weighs 4 tons and it easily tows 25tons unbraked :shock:


i towed a 65 valiant behind a hyundai getz lowered on 18's!!

the low ratio 1st on the 5spd auto will let you easily drag off 4spd auto falcone etc... that are towing the same load