awd option needed?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 443
Likes: 37
From: LA CA
There's basically no way to install AWD in the current configuration, which is a front longitudinally mounted v8. There's no place to put the front diff, unless you push the engine and tranny way the hell out in front of the front axle, killing weight distribution. You'd have to go with a front transverse mounted engine and tranny (no room, weak tranny, blow up), or go with a rear mid engine setup (unlikely).
No matter what you do, you mess with the beauty and simplicity of the rear wheel drive platform. Plus this car's heavy enough as it is.
I've owned an awd turbo eclipse before the c6. It's unbeatable for launching, and I like the way it puts power down out of corners, but overall rear wheel drive is more fun. All wheel drive cars still fundamentally understeer under power unless they have a rear biased torque split.
Look at a z06 vs a Murcielago. Even with less power, the z06 still beats it around a track. Simplicity has its benefits.
Yes, in the winter awd would help some (not much with those tires), and only in some situations (ie under power), not worth worrying about. Get a first or second gen awd eclipse for a winter beater, those are fun
No matter what you do, you mess with the beauty and simplicity of the rear wheel drive platform. Plus this car's heavy enough as it is.
I've owned an awd turbo eclipse before the c6. It's unbeatable for launching, and I like the way it puts power down out of corners, but overall rear wheel drive is more fun. All wheel drive cars still fundamentally understeer under power unless they have a rear biased torque split.
Look at a z06 vs a Murcielago. Even with less power, the z06 still beats it around a track. Simplicity has its benefits.
Yes, in the winter awd would help some (not much with those tires), and only in some situations (ie under power), not worth worrying about. Get a first or second gen awd eclipse for a winter beater, those are fun
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 0
From: North Liberty IA
St. Jude Donor '07
I guarantee the Vette is a better snow car than anything I drove my first ten years with a license.
Anyone of 'an age' like me remembers how crappy cars were.
The key to snow is defensive driving. Odds are a Vette owner is going to drive carefully and slowly, knowing their limitations.
Only to be passed at 85 miles an hour by an SUV owner that believes that 4WD makes them immune to the laws of physics.
Anyone of 'an age' like me remembers how crappy cars were.
The key to snow is defensive driving. Odds are a Vette owner is going to drive carefully and slowly, knowing their limitations.
Only to be passed at 85 miles an hour by an SUV owner that believes that 4WD makes them immune to the laws of physics.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
I guarantee the Vette is a better snow car than anything I drove my first ten years with a license.
Anyone of 'an age' like me remembers how crappy cars were.
The key to snow is defensive driving. Odds are a Vette owner is going to drive carefully and slowly, knowing their limitations.
Only to be passed at 85 miles an hour by an SUV owner that believes that 4WD makes them immune to the laws of physics.
Anyone of 'an age' like me remembers how crappy cars were.
The key to snow is defensive driving. Odds are a Vette owner is going to drive carefully and slowly, knowing their limitations.
Only to be passed at 85 miles an hour by an SUV owner that believes that 4WD makes them immune to the laws of physics.
Learning how to drive, and staying inside the limits set by physics are the keys to making it under poor conditions. AWD doesn't make a car stop one damn bit quicker when you're sliding toward the ditch. Good winter tires and good driving skills are what will keep you safe during winter driving season.
Supporting Lifetime
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,274
Likes: 1,516
From: Syracuse NY
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Considering the amount of money most C6 owners (myself incuded) spend on toys and options for their Corvettes, to me the single most important option if you live in the snow & salt capital of the world (Central New York) is a couple grand for an older 4x4 pickup. It makes a great parts chaser, a usable winter vehicle, and believe me, if you've never owned a truck before you'll find friends you never knew you had. Unfortunately, they all want you to help them move. All you need is a decent runner with a working heater - anything else is nice but not strictly necessary. Don't care what the body looks like, all of 'em are rusted out over the wheelwells and have ripped seats, sagging headliners and crappy radios. As long as it's structurally sound (that is, the doors don't fly open when you cross the railroad tracks) you're good to go. Most of 'em even have a plow. Every few years you'll have to park it and walk away when it becomes too expensive to get inspected - but you'll typically get three to five years out of them if you keep the oil changed and don't drive it like you stole it. Cheap wheels indeed, and to my way of thinking the ideal winter solution. Hell, it's probably cheaper than an AWD option would be on a Corvette. 
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,902
Likes: 2
From: RIP Lotus
St. Jude Donor '09
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 129
From: Fairview Heights IL
The availability of true snow tires in Corvette sizes could make winter driving a practical reality for those of us who live where major accumulations are uncommon. Unless you live in a "lake effects" area like Syracuse, the biggest problem is the rubber compound and its loss of grip at freezing temperatures. Goodyear's all-season F1 A/S-C tire has reasonable traction in light snow and is visually the same as the OEM GS-2 on base/F55 Corvettes. It requires a second full set of wheels with TPM sensors, so all together this winter driving option will set you back about $2K. A better alternative to AWD? I think so.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 2
From: The Great Pacific Northwest...........I carry a gun cause a cops too heavy.
The only thing 4WD is good for is to get you stuck further into the woods.
Learning how to drive, and staying inside the limits set by physics are the keys to making it under poor conditions. AWD doesn't make a car stop one damn bit quicker when you're sliding toward the ditch. Good winter tires and good driving skills are what will keep you safe during winter driving season.
Learning how to drive, and staying inside the limits set by physics are the keys to making it under poor conditions. AWD doesn't make a car stop one damn bit quicker when you're sliding toward the ditch. Good winter tires and good driving skills are what will keep you safe during winter driving season.
Alot of people don't even know how to navigate on dry pavement, I can
only imagine how stupid they would be if they had AWD.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
sometimes I wonder
how my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles ever survived on the roads of western Maryland and Pennsylvania without traction control and 4wd.
I can't remember how many times someone told me that they needed a 40k suv to get to work. I can't get on my soapbox now because of my 400hp gas guzzler that seats two.
I can't remember how many times someone told me that they needed a 40k suv to get to work. I can't get on my soapbox now because of my 400hp gas guzzler that seats two.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1
From: Tempe Az
i was reading a post by a member who took his vette to work,only to find it snowing later and concerned about driving it home. other members posted dire warnings about driving it home in the snow.
for dummies like us who live in these wintery areas,wouldn't it be nice to get a corvette option of awd so you could have a safer shot in situations like that. porsche,lambo,bughati have it....why not make it an option.....i'd get one so equipped..sad when you take it out to work or cruise and suddenly find the harrowing experience of trying to just get home!
ps make mine a vert with awd
for dummies like us who live in these wintery areas,wouldn't it be nice to get a corvette option of awd so you could have a safer shot in situations like that. porsche,lambo,bughati have it....why not make it an option.....i'd get one so equipped..sad when you take it out to work or cruise and suddenly find the harrowing experience of trying to just get home!
ps make mine a vert with awd
