4S - Is all wheel drive better then rear wheel drive

[jkolorado]

Searching for my first Taycan 4 - Lost 3 so far, indecision usually the issue, but this damn board isn't helping - yes of course it helping just frustrated -
Question - is all we drive better than 2 wheel rear drive - I always wanted 4 wheel drive living in Colorado, granted we are turning into a desert, but what are your thoughts
Thanks,
jkolorado

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[FrankV]

It really depends on your personal preference and what you’re looking for. If range and some driving enjoyment matter to you, RWD is a solid choice. If you often drive in wet or snowy conditions, AWD is the safer option.

I’ve driven both AWD and RWD and, based on my experience and daily use, I specifically chose RWD (and saved some money in the process). For the anual trip to the snowy Alps RWD with wintertyres is sufficient.

 

[Dee]

4WD is better cuz you can deliver more power to the ground.
Besides, it's safer.
Or do you want a Porsche for driving efficiently?

 

[ovonrein]

Does the 4S in Normal not do RWD only anyway?

 

[prj]

Does the 4S in Normal not do RWD only anyway?

No.

 

[ovonrein]

"In ‘Normal’ mode, the drive distribution is designed for high efficiency and range. This means that rear-wheel drive is used as often as possible."
https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/press-kits/the-new-porsche-macan/Fahrwerksysteme.html

 

[prj]

"In ‘Normal’ mode, the drive distribution is designed for high efficiency and range. This means that rear-wheel drive is used as often as possible."
https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/press-kits/the-new-porsche-macan/Fahrwerksysteme.html

That does not mean at all that it's "RWD only", just that the torque is biased to the rear when you're driving at steady speed e.g. cruise control.
Any throttle application and there is a programmed front to rear torque split.

This in no way means that the car is "RWD only" nor does it behave in any way RWD when you step on it.

 

[SergeyIndy]

No way I would have a RWD only in Colorado. I used to work in the Denver/CastleRock area and had to go there often and when it snows, there is no way I would be having myself in a RWD Taycan. However, if this is something you can keep at home when the weather is bad, then yes RWD has unique character with great handling due to lower weight, but it is slow off the line, and you need to get it up to speed before it becomes tolerable. In the usual Porsche fashion, this is designed to want more and spend more on higher trims.

 

[Al Faromeo]

I tend to favor 4WD for mundane tasks, RWD for track and spirited driving - so not on the street with all the morons and certainly not for winter driving.
My TC is 4WD as standard so well chuffed for having that as a daily.

 

[69Mach390]

Searching for my first Taycan 4 - Lost 3 so far, indecision usually the issue, but this damn board isn't helping - yes of course it helping just frustrated -
Question - is all we drive better than 2 wheel rear drive - I always wanted 4 wheel drive living in Colorado, granted we are turning into a desert, but what are your thoughts
Thanks,
jkolorado

What do you mean by “better?”

Gotta define the terms before we can really answer your question.

Faster and better traction? Yes.

But it’s also more expensive and less efficient. Plus adds weight which can impact braking and handling.

In Colorado I would consider it a must for the snow.

Sure, you can pull off a high torque rwd car in the snow with excellent winter tires. But if you have the option of AWD, why bother?

 

[prj]

J1.1 4S target torque split in normal.

Only a tiny island has target to RWD (note, that this is a "target", it is only obeyed when there is excess total torque available).
Between 20-140km/h and wheel torque below 800 Nm, which is tiny - that's ~64Nm motor torque in 2nd gear, which is just enough to keep the car moving at a constant speed.

Any slight acceleration at all and you have the front coming in. Any recuperation and you have 70-30 front to rear target split.

 

[f1eng]

Does the 4S in Normal not do RWD only anyway?

No

 

[f1eng]

If you are concerned by grip in wet and snow conditions the tyres make the biggest difference, on snow winter tyres on a 2WD have better traction than summer tyres on 4WD (and much better steering and brakes). OTOH with an EV where most of the braking is the recuperation having 4 wheel recuperation makes much more sense than just mainly 2 wheel braking

Personally as a chassis engineer working in racing I had always chosen 2WD in UK weather conditions (with winter or all seasons tyres in winter) but went 4WD because of recuperation for my first EV.

 

[Tpup]

If I lived in a cold climate with snow I would get a 4S (I used to live in Milwaukee where all the cars I drove in the winter were 4WD). I now live in FL and rear wheel drive is fine imo. I have a 4S just because that was the one that was available...

 

[CraigUrch]

I thought range mode was truly only 2 wheel drive, although not sure if it is front or rear wheel drive. I know it limits some of the power but when you just want driving efficiency who cares. I use it a lot when I'm just driving on the highway and want to maximize my range.

In any case I would want 4 wheel drive for winter driving (upstate NY winters) and when playing around with the car on back roads.

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