Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but I've searched for about two weeks, and can't seem to find what I was looking for. If it is, then excuse my noobiness and feel free to point me in the right direction.

From what I can understand, there are only a few differences between the models, but I'm sure I must be wrong?

Anyways, differences I've managed to discover between AWD Exec and AWD Sport (this list has been updated as other differences have been proven)..

Different rear muffler (responsible for extra power).
White faced dials on Sports
Different Rims (same size)
Different Tyres - Turanzas on Exec, GII's on Sports
8 (vs 6) speaker stereo - (According to redbook)
Sports Wing
Sports interior trim.
Climate Control Aircon on Sports (redbook photo)
Fog Lamps on Sports

Yeah that list sounds about right.

The sports would also have the sports suspension I would assume.

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but I've searched for about two weeks, and can't seem to find what I was looking for. If it is, then excuse my noobiness and feel free to point me in the right direction.

From what I can understand, there are only a few differences between the models, but I'm sure I must be wrong?

Anyways, differences I've managed to discover..

Different rear muffler (responsible for extra power).
White faced dials
Different Rims (same size)
8 (vs 6) speaker stereo - (According to redbook)
Sports Wing
Sports interior trim.
Climate Control Aircon (redbook photo)
Fog Lamps

id be ripping that wing straight off!

The sports would also have the sports suspension I would assume.

I think they both got the same springs/ shocks, actually.

The TJ AWD springs sit ~10mm lower than normal & are firmer than stock too. I doubt Mitsu went to the trouble of manufacturing 3 springs; Exec, AWD Exec + Sports.

i was told sports were lower as well!

i was told sports were lower as well!

..yeah, the sports sit lower in the other ranges. If you look on redbook, etc you'll see the height of the AWD/AWD sports is no different.

Different tyres as standard.

Base AWD had Turanzas
Sports had GII's

Different seat trim.

Actually a bit lower as a friend bought a TJII base AWD at the same time as I did.

Gerry

Also different seat trim, basically the Sports greya nd green flashes.

I have one sitting in the driveway at the moment.

Gerry

I would have thought MMAL would have only made 2 springs, the normal one and one for the sports varients. Easy explanation to why the AWD sits lower, its because it has added weight. Same concept as throwing a back of cement into the car...

I would have thought MMAL would have only made 2 springs, the normal one and one for the sports varients. Easy explanation to why the AWD sits lower, its because it has added weight. Same concept as throwing a back of cement into the car...

The AWD did get different suspension setup, and I couldn't actually find anywhere that said that the AWD sport had any different suspension. The sport may have sat lower due to the fact it carried a couple of dozen extra kg's.

I couldn't actually find anywhere that said that the AWD sport had any different suspension.

I think this is pretty good evidence for the suspension being the same..

The rear shocks for the AWD in the monroe catalogue have the same code as the non-AWD sports (37-0348), and a different code to the rear 'normal' magnas (37-0347).

So, it looks like all AWD TJs got the sports suspension.

NO.
I have a Sports AWD.
Definitely lower than an executive.

Friend of daughrer at gym, has a green metallis ordinary" AWD. Definitely rides higher than a Sport.

Also when I bought mine, I looked and drove a Verada AWD.
Apart form the dork salesman who told me that it was a 4 speed auto,
Again rode higher and was not as firm as the Sport.

Gerry

Ground clearance is the same between the two, both are 165mm high of earth.

Sport weighs 24kg more and there are some differences in the rear suspension setup.

AWD:
Suspension/rear description: Independent, multiple links, upper/lower control arms, coil spring/gas dampers, jointed mount anti-roll bar.

AWD Sport:
Suspension/rear description: Independent, fabricated steel upper wishbones, dual lower unequal length transverse link I-arms, fabricated steel longitudinal trailing arms, steel sub-frame mounted, coil spring/gas damper units, anti-roll bar.

Where does that come from Lugo??


From here: http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_55316/title_Magna-and-Verada-AWD-Sedans-Set-Benchmark-for-Traction/newsarticle.html



3.8 Suspension

The fully independent suspension is based on the 2WD Magna, viz:

Front: Independent MacPherson strut with lower A-arm and anti-sway bar.

Rear: Independent multi-link, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers and rear anti-sway bar. Spring rates and damping have been uniquely calibrated for AWD models.

The suspension 'SETUP DESIGN' is exactly the same as the FWD but the AWD's came with a Rear swaybar standard.

As for heights, can't comment but i do know that AWD's do run different springs to the equivelant FWD's. Found this out when i was in the process of lowering.

AWD's are slightly stiffer spring for the extra weight.

Where does that come from Lugo??
CarSales Research, which is directly sourced from the Manufacturer.

The suspension 'SETUP DESIGN' is exactly the same as the FWD but the AWD's came with a Rear swaybar standard.
As for heights, can't comment but i do know that AWD's do run different springs to the equivelant FWD's. Found this out when i was in the process of lowering.

AWD's are slightly stiffer spring for the extra weight.

so did did the sports vrx FWD. the spring rates would be different as mentioned for the extra weight going around corners

So, sounds like we are in agreeance that all AWD Tj's had the same suspension.

So, sounds like we are in agreeance that all AWD Tj's had the same suspension.

see post #14.
it says 'no'

NO,
Sports definitley are significantly lower then the Base and Verada AWD models.

Rest of suspension on the TJ series appears to be the same. i.e the same small Sway bar diameter at the rear.

Only real way to tell if the shocks are different is to look at the paint codes and the part numbers on the OEM shocks.

What Monroe put in their aftermarket list can easily not be the same as the multiplicity of varaints that were originally fitted in the factory.

Gerry

I'm sorry, but someone saying "mine is lower" is just heresay (not to mention I'm sure the sports drivers just want to believe theirs is better).
There are so many variables as to why two cars have different ride hights when sat next to each other.

Any extra weight in your car, extra features (more weight which is clearly listed as more in a sports that the exec), different fuel loads, etc, etc..
I'd say stick a sports next to mine and show me the difference, but I suppose that after 7 years (damn.. they are 7 years old already.. Doesn't feel like it) that no two cars would have the same heights anyways.

If you want to convince me, I'd need documented evidence, of which most seems to point to them being the same.
The reason I originally coinsidered the question on suspension, is I saw a set for sale on eBay, and wondered if it would be a cheap 'upgrade' but then I could only find information that said they were the same.

OK, TJ AWD owners go and measure the height of your car, from center of the wheel, vertically to the wheel arch.

My TJ II Sports AWD is 405mm front and 380mm rear.

This was measured on the passenger side (drivers may have sagged a bit more with 130,000kms) with jumper leads, jacket, street directory and 2 child seats in the back plus a full tank of fuel and the ground sloping down towards the back of the car after 10pm on a mild night :)

Interestingly when a certain DH politician tried to railroad a certain new law through, the RTA told me that depending on what vehicle code was on my compliance plate, that these measurements should be 428 or 418mm front, rear should be 395 or 385mm, which makes my car at least 13mm + 5mm too low f/r

TJ Exec AWD here with a relatively low 90k..

exactly the same at the fronts funnily enough for something that is supposed to 'not' have the same suspension... 405mm.
Rears were 370mm, but I have towbar, prams, child seats, etc and stuff in the boot and about 1/2 a tank of fuel atmo.

TJ2 AWD, about 41000 km, sitting on level garage floor.

Front 405 mm, rear 375 mm, almost nothing in the boot apart from spare wheel and two empty plastic crates, nearly full tank. I recon we've proved there's no difference between standard and sports model AWDs with respect to ride height.

There is, however a small but noticable difference in ride stiffness between AWD and standard FWD exec TJ models. I have each of these cars now, and my wife has commented that the FWD exec is softer riding. She's right. The exec has 215/60R16 tyres (it has the original AWD wheels / tyres) and 225/55R16 tyres on the AWD (slight upgrade on 7" rims).

TJ2 AWD, about 41000 km, sitting on level garage floor.

Front 405 mm, rear 375 mm, almost nothing in the boot apart from spare wheel and two empty plastic crates, nearly full tank. I recon we've proved there's no difference between standard and sports model AWDs with respect to ride height.

There is, however a small but noticable difference in ride stiffness between AWD and standard FWD exec TJ models. I have each of these cars now, and my wife has commented that the FWD exec is softer riding. She's right. The exec has 215/60R16 tyres (it has the original AWD wheels / tyres) and 225/55R16 tyres on the AWD (slight upgrade on 7" rims).

I believe the fact is (as demonstrated in the Monroe catalogue) that ALL MAGNA AWD's got the suspension from the 2WD Sports/VRX, thus why the are stiffer than exec 2WD's. Don't know about the Verada AWD's though?

I believe the fact is (as demonstrated in the Monroe catalogue) that ALL MAGNA AWD's got the suspension from the 2WD Sports/VRX, thus why the are stiffer than exec 2WD's. Don't know about the Verada AWD's though?

That would make perfect sense, given that Mitsi intended the AWDs to be driven a bit more "sportingly". It also explains the decision to fit Ralliart brakes.

Veradas got the same 'sporty' suspension as the Magna AWD's