[Forzanerazzurri]

Originally Posted by ASAP

nothing wrong with awd at all... why not for most people? thats why its selling so well. I definitely wouldn't want my X3 m40i to be RWD...it would be a subpar SUV.

but for those few that live in warm climates, never deal with the snow or poor weather in general... want a slightly lighter car and never want an extra safety net that allows the car to kick it out more easily all the time, why have it? I mean there was a whole year without an AWD m3 even in this generation... and I never heard boy I wish I had awd until it came out.

It would be a very similarly posed question if I asked... why is the 911 CS2 so much more popular than the CS4? I mean the premise is identical... or why would Porsche's top dog GT2 RS be RWD?... or frankly any of the GT3 cars? It's gotta have something to do with feeling.

Supercars/hypercars that have AWD don't have it because of its performance in snow.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

Supercars/hypercars that have AWD don't have it because of its performance in snow.

yea, i just don't know of any supercars / hypercars with only 500 hp or ones that weigh 3900 lbs either... so maybe your knowledge is better than mine

the bugatti chiron comes closest at 4400 lbs... but i got to give it you that car ONLY has 3x the power and wears $40,000 tires

[Forzanerazzurri]

Originally Posted by ASAP

yea, i just don't know of any supercars / hypercars with only 500 hp or ones that weigh 3900 lbs either... so maybe your knowledge is better than mine

the bugatti chiron comes closest at 4400 lbs... but i got to give it you that car ONLY has 3x the power and wears $40,000 tires

Cool, you completely missed the point. You were the one who said AWD was for the snow, not me. I said that supercars have AWD for performance. Nowhere did I call the M3 a supercar.

Hope that clears it up for you.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

Cool, you completely missed the point. You were the one who said AWD was for the snow, not me. I said that supercars have AWD for performance. Nowhere did I call the M3 a supercar.

Hope that clears it up for you.

some folks have reading comprehension issues...

you said supercars have awd for performance... i agree...

i pointed out that the M3 doesn't have remotely the power nor light weight that a supercar has hence not necessitating AWD that supercars have...

are you saying supercars strictly have AWD for handling or what?

I am saying it is because of power and traction issues... something that the RWD M3 doesn't seem to suffer from because it doesn't have the power that would necessitate it.

If its strictly for handling, that's hard to believe since of the top 20 production nurgburging times... 14 were ran by RWD cars.

Is it maybe because the power is easier to access for most people? well we could definitely agree there but that's a driver skill issue not the car itself

[BGM-M3COMP]

I got the RWD comp but wish i went x-drive.

The fact you can make it RWD adds the cherry on top.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by BGM-M3COMP

I got the RWD comp but wish i went x-drive.

The fact you can make it RWD adds the cherry on top.

are there any specific situations that you feel you could use the awd?

do you have traction issues etc? poor weather?

I am looking for objective statements here with examples.

[BIGW0RM]

I had a RWD G80 M3 for 2 months and traded it in for an X drive. The RWD one felt a little more fun than the X drive. But the X drive is much faster and much more "planted" feeling.

I would get a 6MT in RWD and the auto in X drive.

[MichaelB1969]

As someone who owns a Base, the only reasons I could see choosing RWD is either wanting a manual or wanting to save money.

Otherwise, get the AWD and throw it in RWD whenever you want.

Regardless, the RWD is pretty darn composed!

[G MONEY]

I thinks it’s pretty simple. If you want to keep the car stock, by all means buy the RWD. It’s fine for peeps who want to stay at that low power. If you are going to tune and want to go fast, it’s a no brainer, you get the AWD. Like someone else wrote , I just have to laugh when talk about the AWD for weather 🤣

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by ASAP

are there any specific situations that you feel you could use the awd?

do you have traction issues etc? poor weather?

I am looking for objective statements here with examples.

I've driven both AWD and RWD on a track, and I own a RWD.

If you like driving fast in inclement weather, AWD is a no-brainer (especially if your liberal with your use of Launch Control since RWD launches in 2nd gear).

If you like racing people at stoplights, AWD is a no-brainer.

If you want the fastest track times, AWD is a no-brainer.

If you're not experienced managing a heavy, fast car on public roads, especially in bends and turns, AWD is a no-brainer.

Basically, just get AWD...unless you're really trying to pinch pennies.

Do I myself wish I had AWD? Nope.

I don't drive fast unless the roads are dry (and this wouldn't change if I had AWD).

My RWD has plenty of traction to beat 97% of cars you encounter ata stoplight, even with the TC on (because the RWD G8X suspension is so well sorted). And the ones I would lose to (most will be super fast AWD vehicles with better traction from a dig), I don't mind losing to. I simply tip my hat. But me losing (and me racing) are both rare occurrences at stoplights.

And I like the slightly squirrely nature of the RWD in some situations, which occurs even with the TC on or in MDM mode. The car breaks traction for a split second before catapulting forward. I like that feeling. This doesn't happen in AWD. The split second of the rear wheels spinning is why you lose about .5 seconds in the 0 to 60 (AWD in the high 2s, RWD in the mid 3s). I never miss that extra .5 seconds.

So, for me, my 2021 RWD has been fantastic...super fast, super fun, and super safe (never an issue in the rain driving sanely, and I avoid ice and snow...but I would avoid that in my AWD G8X as well because of the inexperienced and bad driving of others in really slippery conditions).

But if I purchased a G8X in 2022 or 2023, I'd likely get AWD with the 10-stage traction control, giving me the ability to switch to RWD and use the advanced TC system to help reign the car in when I wanted to.

[kjx]

Originally Posted by ASAP

i pointed out that the M3 doesn't have remotely the power nor light weight that a supercar has hence not necessitating AWD that supercars have...

I am saying it is because of power and traction issues... something that the RWD M3 doesn't seem to suffer from because it doesn't have the power that would necessitate it.

If this were true:
(a) The RWD would be closer to the AWD 0-60 times. But the measurable difference is vast on purely dry surfaces.
(b) The AWD car wouldn't be clawing (and losing traction) on all 4 wheels when floored from low speeds in the wet.

Clearly, there are traction issues at the power the G8X develops. But maybe not if someone drives it like a granny or whatever your pedestrian use case is.

To your questions: Nobody notices the weight difference, especially down so low. In emperically objective ways, M xDrive more than makes up for it. The price difference between a used M xDrive and a RWD is way more than the price difference between them when new - which means that M xDrive is one of the only appreciating options on the G8X. And there's a very good reason for that.

[Gottagofast]

Sometimes, in life, you don't get a choice. If you live in Canada, you either get the 6mt or 8 speed with xdrive.

[user12464]

OP, I read through this thread thinking I could contribute, as I own an AWD G80 and have driving the RWD G80 quite a bit at the 2 day M-school. But after re-reading your initial post and seeing your responses I think the real question is whether the G80 is for you. If you didn't think the AWD G80 is for you, I doubt you will like the RWD version. They aren't all that different in dry conditions on the road. You should check out the Giulia Q4.

[RM73]

I tried both, not back to back but a few weeks apart.

The RWD was great, a lot of traction everywhere and plenty of grip for such an heavy car. It would rotate easy on the gas and was fun to drive, but you have to be on it to make it slide.
The AWD is faster, even grippier, but it still allows for powerslides at corner exits in 4WD Sport. I could not feel the weight difference.
Overall I didn't think they were so different 99% of the time.


Keep in mind this is with bone stock cars. I planned on modding mine pretty much as soon as I got it, so that became a factor. I went with the AWD and have no regrets at all.

Also, my M1 button is set to RWD mode with 0 TC, effectively turning the car into pure RWD, so there's no downside.

[EatThatLunchBaby]

Originally Posted by ASAP

It was in MDM mode... and it just felt way too safe to me. Yes you can completely turn off DSC but then you still have AWD... unless you go 2wd and DSC off which is questionable on the street.

This right here tells me you won’t like the driving experience of the xDrive. I have not driven the RWD only car but I have been a passenger on the track. I don’t think there is much difference between the RWD only and the xDrive in MDM or RWD only mode. Maybe you can get some better angles without intervention but it sounds like you don’t want DSC off and will only be using this on the street. Personally, it sounds like either car would be too heavy for you, but you definitely won’t enjoy the xDrive if you’ve slid it around in MDM and not had fun

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by EatThatLunchBaby

This right here tells me you won’t like the driving experience of the xDrive. I have not driven the RWD only car but I have been a passenger on the track. I don’t think there is much difference between the RWD only and the xDrive in MDM or RWD only mode. Maybe you can get some better angles without intervention but it sounds like you don’t want DSC off and will only be using this on the street. Personally, it sounds like either car would be too heavy for you, but you definitely won’t enjoy the xDrive if you’ve slid it around in MDM and not had fun

i think fundamentally you are correct... and this problem is further compounded by the fact that the rears at 285 are very wide and the torque curve is very high in the rev range...

in other words, you have to almost punish the car to get it to come and have a lot of fun... the limits are very high and that's a good thing on a track, a so so thing on the street if mainly what you care about is fun

[beamlord]

Originally Posted by user12464

OP, I read through this thread thinking I could contribute, as I own an AWD G80 and have driving the RWD G80 quite a bit at the 2 day M-school. But after re-reading your initial post and seeing your responses I think the real question is whether the G80 is for you. If you didn't think the AWD G80 is for you, I doubt you will like the RWD version. They aren't all that different in dry conditions on the road. You should check out the Giulia Q4.

Hey I already offered him a Golf and he wasn't amused...

[beamlord]

Originally Posted by kjx

If this were true:
(a) The RWD would be closer to the AWD 0-60 times. But the measurable difference is vast on purely dry surfaces.
(b) The AWD car wouldn't be clawing (and losing traction) on all 4 wheels when floored from low speeds in the wet.

Clearly, there are traction issues at the power the G8X develops. But maybe not if someone drives it like a granny or whatever your pedestrian use case is.

To your questions: Nobody notices the weight difference, especially down so low. In emperically objective ways, M xDrive more than makes up for it. The price difference between a used M xDrive and a RWD is way more than the price difference between them when new - which means that M xDrive is one of the only appreciating options on the G8X. And there's a very good reason for that.

...and this.

[beamlord]

Originally Posted by kgelfen360

This whole thread is about OP not liking new platform. Which is totally fine. To each is own and he is intitled to his opinion and likes and dislikes.
That’s not going to take away from what I like and think.
It’s kind of odd to post a thread asking others to convince you to like RWD and whatver you might see as exciting to drive. That’s very subjective.
The debate will go on forever and meanwhile we just keep driving.
Cheers!!!

Pretty much nailed it

[Aalfred]

I have the AWD and I feel the M3 (AWD or RWD) is just too much power for street and highway driving if you wanna stay somewhere around the "legal speed limit" If its pure fun driving experience that you are looking for without pushing the envelope, why not try a 911 carrera T or S. Its RWD with a rear engine and will give you a great driving experience without breaking the bank. AFAIK, the RWD and AWD M3 isnt going to make a huge difference on the streets unless you are doing Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift type driving...which in that case, get the RWD.

[ASAP]

I just want to understand and be clear... you guys don't think BMW introduced AWD to be easier to drive and more accessible to folks in poorer climates but instead strictly for performance reasons, right?

...I find that odd because that is actually not in conjuction with even BMW initial marketing materials when the car was introduced and they showed the product split by region. I supposed the dumber question here is... if that was the case... why does BMW even make the COMP Rwd anymore? You'd figure the enthusiast will choose the 6mt option... the guys that wants it all the AWD option... and if they want RWD, they can just switch, right?

I absolutely wish I could find my old post here from G80 post where I predicted this many years before folks where even on this forum... altho its possible that was all deleted by now since there was so much initial talk about the looks from everyone etc. I stated clearly when BMW creates the awd model, an all new consumer will form and the more enthusiast minded folks that used to like M cars will go to other platforms... because 99% of folks will focus on 0-60 times and stop light racing against Teslas... well its happened.

[yousefnjr]

Not sure why you keep saying people that like the old cars aren’t into the AWD model. That’s some BS.