I have repeatedly seen people on here call for AWD on the new F-Body, why? The assertion is you need it for snow. If you're driving an f-body in the snow IN GOD'S NAME WHY? These cars (particularly the perf. models) weren't made for it! If you MUST drive it in the snow then do it right & buy yourself 4 snowtires & put them on your Z/28-SS-T/A-Formula. What's that you say? They'll make it look crappy? Well, it's going to anyway with all of that salt & sand you're throwing all over it by driving it! Some would say the WRX has it. So what! Last I looked, nobody was rally racing a Camaro across snow covered mountains & thru muddy jungles! The way I see it the only handling enhancer the Camaro would benefit from would be a cheaper (but no less capable) version of Stabilitrak! This is lighter, less complex, & cheaper than a version of Versatrak would be! And in the event of failure it would just turn itself off. Which means most of the time you wouldn't even notice it wasn't working except for the warning light on the dash! I imagine that when something goes bad on an AWD system you don't need a warning light, you'll know! Of course the Stabilitrak would have to have an off switch so that you can do smoky burnouts & donuts. I don't do that sort of thing, but I know of some people who do.

 

How about the convenience of not having to buy two cars so that you can drive year round?
How about picking up buyers that would otherwise be afraid to buy the car because its, "bad in the weather?"
How about the killer dry weather traction?
How about conquest buyers from the import crowd where AWD is a big thing?
How about if the car does come with awd, it would be optional and you wouldn't HAVE to buy it?

 

I'd never want or buy an AWD camaro. I also think the option would make the 2WD version heavier than it would otherwise be.

That said, I do like AWD in the right car.

 

AWD is the future of all cars, period. Especially with hybrid technology on the horizon of mainstream automotive design.

It's superior to FWD in terms of drivability, intuitive stability, and all weather traction, and its superior to RWD in terms of accelerating and cornering control as well, especially when mated to a good stability control system.

Only real downside is added complication in the drivetrain, slightly increased weight, and slightly more parasitic drivetrain loss (sometimes).

As you well know, the most average consumers are very willing to accept added weight and complication for the benefit of safety. And as time goes on I suspect the weakpoints of AWD will continue to be minimalized.

 

I don't see Porsche, Ferrari, the Corvette, or any other car shifting to AWD when they already could have, so I wouldn't say every car is headed towards it. Lambo is the only big manufacturer to start doing it to their cars (when we talk supercars). Also, how about those cheap cars? I hardly think the Aveo will be getting an expensive AWD setup anytime soon. RWD and FWD will always have their place because they are just plain cheaper and easier to engineer. I do agree with you though, that as time goes on, more cars will be AWD or AWD-optional. Just the way times are going...
And Bob, I agree with you completely. A set of Blizzaks and traction control should be more than enough to keep you on the road. Just don't act like a dumb*** in inclement weather. And if even that won't cut it for some very very nasty weather, maybe you should think about buying an SUV.

 

I don't see AWD taking over the market. Too many parts, more to make a heavier vehicle, more to package, more to go wrong, more to warranty, more stuff getting pushed into the vehicle in an accident. As roads and tires get better I see it being used less and less.

 

Live with a powerful AWD car and you'll understand. Doing a t-turn onto a hwy from a stop (I have to every morning), you just floor it and go. No tire spin, no slide. When it rains, you can still go full-tilt boogey and when it snows, oh when it snows, its sooo much fun to haul ***** in a 12 second awd car.

That being said, I dont think it belongs on a camaro. I would love for GM to bring out a 4-banger AWD car. Too bad they just dumped subaru.

 

They just need to put AWD in the damn Cobalt SS

 

I don't care about AWD, atleast not when it comes to the Camaro.

David

 

Not a bad idea, but it'd require a more powerful engine to compete with the likes of the STIs, Evos, etc.

 

I don't mind rwd in a camaro, but i do think it should be an option on some of GM's other bread and butter performance models (SS versions of Malibu, impala, monte, GP GXP, etc...). In this case, AWD > Fwd....especially on the v8 cars.

I never drove my camaro in the snow, but did my old sn95 and that thing was excellent in the snow with a set of Blizzak ws-50 snow-tires.

 

the Turbo is awd........wtf are you talking about?? so is the Cayenne turbo i believe.

 

My fault on the Turbo. And I wasn't including the Cayenne because, well, it's an SUV. I was talking strictly cars. But thanks for the correction.

 

Well for one they underrate the power of the engines they have in there already. I've seen one dyno 225 to the wheels stock. They can also push a few more ponies out of that Ecotec engine, either with a big turbo, or make the engine withstand a few more stock PSI from the SC. If they could get this car to have around 280-300Hp and have AWD it would no doubt be a good American Solution to the STI. They need to promote the SS model of the Cobalt a little more in my own opinon. I am personally looking into buying one as a daily driver. Think it would be fun as hell for that type of thing, hard thing is I can't find any used ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

No doubt they COULD do it, but would they? Probably not.
I don't know how much resale would slide on a used one anyways. They'll probably be like SRT-4s and keep their resale pretty high. Good luck though. Hope you find one.