[s-cars] G35x Debate

[Keith Maddock]

Bob DG <bobs6 at msn.com> wrote:
> So they may say they handle better in the dry, but my bud and I almost had
> to push his in 2-3 inches of snow... Rear bias is kinda cool when the land
> is flat, but any grade and you better have studs on the rear- the fronts
> barely do anything.

Actually for optimum acceleration, you want more rear bias going up a
hill than you would on flat land.

So from a "not getting stuck in the winter", the G35 actually has more
of a disadvantage (compared to Torsen-Quattro)  on flat land, and said
disadvantage dissapears the steeper the hill gets.

The problem with the G35 AWD system is the max front torque allocation
is 50%.  However the weight distribution is 55/45.  So if you're on
snow/ice, you don't have enough acceleration to cause enough weight
transfer to the rear to get it to less than 50% on the front.  So the
rears will always spin first.  (Unlike Torsen-Quatto which can adjust
the torque distribution to cover nearly any range of static/dynamic
weight distribution possible)

However get enough of a hill to move just 5% of the weight to the
rear, then the G35x would not be much of a disadvantage over the Audi
since the the actual weight distirbution woudl be within the G35x's
range of available torque distribution control.

What the G35 really needs is to have the "engageable center open
differential" to be a planetary style unit, with a 60/40 F/R split. 
With that, the system would be able to better cover nearly any
situation, while still allowing rear bias on command.  Quattro can't
do that - rear bias is only given when there is more traction at the
rear than the front.

What kind of tires did the G35x have?  I'd be more inclined to blame them.

Keith