Very close to trading in my 2005 Viper for an F Type R and I'm undecided on RWD vs. AWD. Everyday car is a Jeep SRT and my previous coupe was an C63 AMG.

I love spinning tires in the viper and C63 in a straight line, will I miss this in the safer AWD?

The only reason I can see buying the AWD is due to safety, better cornering, and control in rain etc.

Can you spin the tires at will with the RWD and or AWD?

I appreciate anyone's feedback.

 

RWD V8 will light em up at the drop of a hat. That said, it's very controllable. Never had any issues in rain, but I also drive pretty conservatively when it's wet.

 

As another RWD owner - if you even think about it too hard you can get a nice cloud going

Once I put on a set of Pilot Sport tires, the wet weather handling went way up. Never had an issue in the rain. Just keep your foot out of it a little

 

Agree with the comments above.. my 2015 R is easy to handle, with a sensible approach to wet roads.

If you want to drive in the snow, the awd with snow tires should be a good choice as long as you don't 'high center'.

I don't drive mine in the winter at this point, although I did drive my XKR in the winter and it was surprisingly good in the snow with snow tires ... it was rear wheel drive. So, I would think awd with winter is best, yet with good snow tires the rear wheel drive is quite good; up to the point of around 4 inch's of snow.
Lawrence.

 

OP, get the '15 w/RWD. And this is from someone with a '16 AWD R. If you're like me, you'll miss it too much

 

How come no one realizes the AWD is the quicker car?

 

Because for some of us it's not always about straight line performance

 

2016 RWD S, no issues. You can spin tires rather easily, especially with bad (i.e. stock) tires but it is controllable.

 

Are you ignoring the corners then too? Doesn't matter if you're going straight or turning, you can put more power down.

 

There's more to fun driving than the numbers. All of us chose the F-Type over the Porsche.

 

I don't disagree with that at all. However, we are lucky enough to have both options in the same car. When comparing them both and trying to decide what is best for you, lets not ignore the AWD's biggest benefit to a sports car. Do you want a batshit crazy drift missile or a slightly faster, more tame version of the same car you can drive more confidently in bad weather? Those are the choices.

 

I prefer the predictability of oversteer with RWD cars. This is my first AWD

 

OK, I'll weigh in. If you want to smoke the tires like a Viper the only choice is the RWD V8 and not only are they relatively cheap they are wicked fun particularly if you want to learn to drift. However it is generally a summer car, when it gets wet I get nervous and when it snows it stays in the garage. The thing is I have two AWD cars and they are fun too but I can drive them in weather. So, for me, because I do have choices, the RWD was really the only way to go but were this my only car and I had to deal with lots of weather (and particularly freezing weather) I'd opt for the AWD but I'd likely not get the Jag, fun it is, practical it isn't.

 

Sounds like I would miss spinning the wheels and since this isn't my daily driver I will go with the rear wheel. Appears to be a lot more controllable than a viper with the same amount of fun. It's great having choices with an amazing car.

Thank you for the comments.

 

Why? Don't go nuts with the throttle and you will be fine. If you can't help it, press the snow/rain button and the nanny won't let you got nuts even if you try.

 

We're on the same page here...some folks will find the AWD more fun and others the RWD.

 

All cars can be enjoyable, FWD, automatics, rat rods, pilsner bilar... if that your thing.

I find manual gearbox, rear wheel drive, naturally aspirated front-mounted V8s to be preferable, but as you can tell I often have to compromise.

 

It sounds like you are making the right decision for your use case. Nicely done and enjoy! Post pictures here when you get it!

 

Not so sure about that, I put in the pedal commander throttle controller and I can smoke the tires in almost every gear. The drive by wire hesitation in this car (at least for someone as sensitive to this stuff as I am) is very apparent, and the car is now boring to me with the throttle controller off. That said the R is the first AWD sporty car I have not turned into RWD. This for a number of reasons including the fact I'm getting older and I do not need another car I put in storage during the winter. I know the steering feel I find a bit off is partly due to the AWD (I cannot even drive a x drive BMW both my 650's are RWD).

 

Wait... What? You're smoking the tires in every gear of your AWD F type?

I assume you're aware that the throttle controller has just remapped the pedal logic and hasn't added power correct?