hey guys my mate reckons i should buy a TJ AWD, but i dont really want a heavier car. how heavy is a AWD TJ sports? and i looked at redbook but i dont trust it, i see lots of errors on redbook

I can't remember the exact figure but I remember reading on here that the AWD's are around 1900kg. I'm sure someone on here can give an exact figure but I do know its heavier than the standard FWD magna/verada, which you would expect because of the extra running gear.

they arnt that heavy in comparison - its not really that noticeable really..

AWD sport 1625kg

FWD Sport 1512kg

the TJ AWD exec is 1604kg

then add full tank 115kg driver 100kg of extra lard mags amps subs some sound proofing and accesories and in daily trin your looking at almost 2 tons as it sits on the road!!!

Very heavy, thats why they have a looser convertor for better acceleration in the lower gears....

the brakes are far better than a normal magna and the spring rates are different... so when sotck vs stock and pushing it on a twisty road the awd is much more stable and feels much slower, but infact isnt... just smoother

there are driveline vibrations from the awd that pop up now and then at certain rpm...

i'd just buy a fwd magna unless you wanna tow a boat or go skiing

the TJ AWD exec is 1604kg

then add full tank 115kg driver 100kg of extra lard mags amps subs some sound proofing and accesories and in daily trin your looking at almost 2 tons as it sits on the road!!!

Very heavy, thats why they have a looser convertor for better acceleration in the lower gears....

the brakes are far better than a normal magna and the spring rates are different... so when sotck vs stock and pushing it on a twisty road the awd is much more stable and feels much slower, but infact isnt... just smoother

there are driveline vibrations from the awd that pop up now and then at certain rpm...

i'd just buy a fwd magna unless you wanna tow a boat or go skiing


thats a real interesting read andrew cheers

AWD sport 1625kg
FWD Sport 1512kgInteresting :think:
The below website lists the Ralliart at 1493kg.
http://glassguide.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/RT/330B4B05AEB7AEA6CA256BDB00108778_Our+Opinion?OpenD ocument

the TJ AWD exec is 1604kg

then add full tank 115kg driver 100kg of extra lard mags amps subs some sound proofing and accesories and in daily trin your looking at almost 2 tons as it sits on the road!!!

Very heavy, thats why they have a looser convertor for better acceleration in the lower gears....

the brakes are far better than a normal magna and the spring rates are different... so when sotck vs stock and pushing it on a twisty road the awd is much more stable and feels much slower, but infact isnt... just smoother

there are driveline vibrations from the awd that pop up now and then at certain rpm...

i'd just buy a fwd magna unless you wanna tow a boat or go skiing

thanx for the info, i kinda wanted one, as FWD isnt very fun, understeers somthing terrible, and i wanted some thing than you can play around with, and im over commodores, and dont like falcons,
may i ask why did you buy yours? any particular reason?

thanx for the info, i kinda wanted one, as FWD isnt very fun, understeers somthing terrible, and i wanted some thing than you can play around with, and im over commodores, and dont like falcons,
may i ask why did you buy yours? any particular reason?


a well set up FWD isnt really any worse than the awd in terms of understeer

the awd can be worse than the fwd in the wet with the plough understeer, and then snap oversteer

i prefer the way a 2wd handles

2wd is much more fun to drive as you can get a proper manual if you like...


i got mine cos i dont like 2wd magnas the torque steer and wheelspin were one factor... the other was i could get a 5spd auto better looking car than a std 4spd auto exec for the exact same price!!! what would you choose...

i dont really like magnas at all, just the way they look so thats the only reason why i brought mine, performance and size made no influence to my decision... the money my car cost when i brought it would have easily brought a much quicker car had i have wanted it...

Lowrider, how about get a drive in an awd and see what you reckon.find some roundabouts or whatever and go hard. it will be a bit heavier, it will be an auto, but they are awesome value for money. Esp the sport version if you would rather some performance verses bodykit and such on the vrx. They are not a race car, but for a daily that goes round corners like something that goes round corners really good, you might get into it.

thanx for the info, i kinda wanted one, as FWD isnt very fun, understeers somthing terrible, and i wanted some thing than you can play around with, and im over commodores, and dont like falcons,
may i ask why did you buy yours? any particular reason?

On turn-in an AWD is even worse than a FWD for understeer, due to the extra weight. However with AWD you have the option of powering out mid-late corner with minimal understeer.

However if we are talking proper suspension/chassis mods, our FWDs can be made quite neutral on turn-in, even with mild oversteer tendencies with the right setup (i.e big spring rates in the front, even bigger spring rates in the rear in relation to the front).

A FWD or front-biased AWD will ultimately always understeer on corner exit, however an LSD and the right suspension setup means you can pretty much mash the throttle and only get a hint of understeer.

A PROPERLY setup FWD is in a different world compared to 99% of the stock FWDs that are setup to understeer in pretty much all situations.

I've ridden a couple of times in a IPRA race civic that went on to win the NSW title. It really opened my eyes up to what a FWD can be made to do. Mild oversteer going into every corner, very netrual mid-corner, then full-throttle exits even on tight corners, with no understeer in sight.

[QUOTE=Chisholm]On turn-in an AWD is even worse than a FWD for understeer, due to the extra weight.


The first night I took mine out for a spin, I flew into a wet roundabout to see what happened and it pretty much went straight ahead. :D

I only bought the AWD because it was the same money as an ES, but it had a bit of extra kit, better brakes, 5 spd auto and a splash of leather. I'm no race driver so it suits me. However it is pretty clear that a FWD manual is the go for speed.

If wet weather or dirt road traction is important to you, then go awd, if not I wouldn't bother.

wow this has turned into the old "FWD / AWD is better than the other" arrguement..

i dont think that was what was originally asked somehow.

On turn-in an AWD is even worse than a FWD for understeer, due to the extra weight. However with AWD you have the option of powering out mid-late corner with minimal understeer.

However if we are talking proper suspension/chassis mods, our FWDs can be made quite neutral on turn-in, even with mild oversteer tendencies with the right setup (i.e big spring rates in the front, even bigger spring rates in the rear in relation to the front).

A FWD or front-biased AWD will ultimately always understeer on corner exit, however an LSD and the right suspension setup means you can pretty much mash the throttle and only get a hint of understeer.

A PROPERLY setup FWD is in a different world compared to 99% of the stock FWDs that are setup to understeer in pretty much all situations.

I've ridden a couple of times in a IPRA race civic that went on to win the NSW title. It really opened my eyes up to what a FWD can be made to do. Mild oversteer going into every corner, very netrual mid-corner, then full-throttle exits even on tight corners, with no understeer in sight.

Don't forget that the AWDs have LSD centre and rear diffs already and to get rid of the
initial turn-in under steer, chuck it down a gear or two and contant power initially and
then squeeze more once past the apex. The centre diff will send most if not all the torque
to the rears and the rear diff will transfer most if not all the torque to the outer rear wheel.

People in AWDs make the mistake of leaving the gears in D and then understeer through
a bend. Use the gears like in a manual for better control. Mine hardly understeers and I've
got the heaviest Magna/Verada period (1700kg kerb mass).

But basically as Psi said, if you want wet weather confidence then get the AWD, especially
if you want some fun as well.

On an additional note of the bennefits of the AWD, I went fishing to Myponga Rocks in SA
last weekend, after crossing the damn near Myponga, there is a gravel road section with a
few bends. I went trough that (with three people on board plus fishing gear) at 80+km/hr in
4th without a hint of trouble.

Interesting :think:
The below website lists the Ralliart at 1493kg.
http://glassguide.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/RT/330B4B05AEB7AEA6CA256BDB00108778_Our+Opinion?OpenD ocument

Don't put too much faith in that article, as it also list's the Ralliart Magna as having a Quad-cam V6.

I have a KH and a KJ2 AWD and there is no comparison on which handels better in the wet.
The AWD is a totally different car to the FWD in the wet. You can drive an AWD like it is a dry road where as with the FWD you have to be a little cautious round bends in the wet.

Obviously the FWD goes harder in the dry but in the wet, there is no question that the AWD is light years ahead of the FWD in terms of grip and handeling.

Have never had an issue of understeer in the AWD at all. all you do is put your foot down a bit and power out of a corner. If anything, if you push hard enough, you will get over steer like a rear driver but much more controlable.

In the real world there are bumps and corners. there is also rain. I find 2WD suspension tuning is often only about "stiffen the springs it will handle". The AWD has a great deal more genuine grip to start with. As I have read in road tests and these forums the AWD loses alot of acceleration. Can you use this in the real worlds of COPs and cameras? Ironically I heard about the AWD Magna from a forensic pathologist who could drive anything she wants but drives one of these on the recommendation of the police who find them a great handling drive.

Don't put too much faith in that article, as it also list's the Ralliart Magna as having a Quad-cam V6.Yeah, I saw that too, that's why I put the weight out there to see if anyone knew different.
It did make me wonder where they saved some weight given the bigger brakes, & spoiler kit, etc.

Yeah, I saw that too, that's why I put the weight out there to see if anyone knew different.
It did make me wonder where they saved some weight given the bigger brakes, & spoiler kit, etc.

The Ralliart fits in just between the VR-X and the AWD in terms of its weight from memory.

wow this has turned into the old "FWD / AWD is better than the other" arrguement..

i dont think that was what was originally asked somehow.

lol yeah true, but it is all very interesting and my question was answered.

thanx guys, i think i might take one for a test drive, dry and rain, and see what i think. its either buy one, or if im not that impressed spend some money on mine, which i was intending on in the first place.