[SteelTorque]

So yesterday I attended the Porsche Driver skills day with my 335xi coupe. I had done this 6 months before with the RWD 335, so my main goal was to see the RWD vs AWD difference.

My car has PROcede V2 and H&R sport Springs (which are crap BTW).

Overall, I was very happy with the way the car behaved. I thought the AWD system worked great and did not experienced too much understeer, except a couple of times where I had way to much entry speed in a tight corner and braked too late.

Car felt like it had a lot of traction and could easily recover from certain situations. I also did not noticed a lot of "push".

On the wet skidpad is where, of course, the AWD simply shined. I thought there was no comparison against the RWD here. The car gripped in the wet like crazy. The instructor said the car was very grippy and fast around the skidpad. I was able to induce, hold oversteer and drift around a cone very nicely. Suprising.

The only drawback that I had (as noticed by one of the instructors) where the H&R springs. Car was a little bouncy in certain corners and did not feel very planted with too much body roll.
It definately felt a little heavier than the RWD, but not bad.

Conclusion: Overall, I thought the AWD drove very similar to the RWD. Seriously. This AWD system is definately RWD biased, which is good. I did not feel to much understeer. The car even wanted to oversteer in a lot of situations, but was very easy to recover and control.

Which is faster? Hard to say, because we couldn't time anything, but the car felt pretty quick.

In the real world, I say the AWD has an overall advantage, due to increased traction and safety recovery.

Next step is coilovers and track day.

[CinciBlueBimmer]

Great post - thanks! You're driving exactly what I'm looking at buying when my '06 330 lease runs out in Feb. I've read lots of knocks against the xi, but very little being backed up with experience, so this is good info. I'm not 100% decided yet, but I'm still in the Bermuda Triangle of '09 335xi vs. '09 335 vs. E46 M3. Track days will be my #1 performance criteria, so I'll be interested to hear how yours goes. Thanks!

[SteelTorque]

Originally Posted by Cinci330i

Great post - thanks! You're driving exactly what I'm looking at buying when my '06 330 lease runs out in Feb. I've read lots of knocks against the xi, but very little being backed up with experience, so this is good info. I'm not 100% decided yet, but I'm still in the Bermuda Triangle of '09 335xi vs. '09 335 vs. E46 M3. Track days will be my #1 performance criteria, so I'll be interested to hear how yours goes. Thanks!

THe new xDrive (already in the X6) will include Dynamic Performance Control with an LSD. This new system will make the car very fast. the X6 is already getting good reviews.

I don't know if they will put the new xDrive in the 09 or 10 for the 3 series, but it's going to be a winner.

[longodj]

SteelTorque I know you're on the list but get the rear sway bar. Your body roll problem will be solved and the car will feel even more like RWD. See my review for specifics I was absolutely floored by the difference today.

[SteelTorque]

Originally Posted by longodj

SteelTorque I know you're on the list but get the rear sway bar. Your body roll problem will be solved and the car will feel even more like RWD. See my review for specifics I was absolutely floored by the difference today.

I just read it. Very nice.

What turns me off is the install cost. So expensive.

I need to get coilovers first as I'm worried about the current ride quality with the H&R springs.

I'll try to get the coilovers and sways installed at the same time.

[OverDrive]

nice review man. I'm looking forward in tracking my xi soon.