However, I will take the driving dynamics, feel, and lap times of RWD every time. All things being equal, I will put my money on the RWD having a better lap time every time.
Unless you're racing against a GT-R. Right? I get it, you like RWD, I do too. But downplaying the advantages of AWD is not helpful. It's not my
opinion that AWD has more grip than RWD. It's not my
opinion that RWD has limitations in a turn that AWD doesn't. These are facts, not opinions. If I take a tight turn, hit the apex and floor it in my V, what happens? Right, the rear gets loose and I either have to drift it until I get traction again or I have to let off the throttle. Sure, that's fun. But is it faster than having full grip at the same point in the turn and blasting out to the edge of the track using all the power your engine has? No. No it's not. AWD having more grip through turns isn't an opinion, it's a fact. It's non-negotiable. AWD has more grip than RWD does. More drive wheels equals more grip.
I'm not saying there aren't any fast RWD cars because obviously there are. But the simple truth is that they are limited by how much power the rear end can successfully put to the ground through only two wheels. If you have extremely high grip limits like the Z06, you get spectacular grip numbers and lap times. But the GT-R can get right up there with similar times using smaller wheels and tires, with less power, because it has AWD.
The V3 CTS-V has ~100 more HP and torque than the V2. And it weighs less, increasing the power to weight ratio by that much more. Are you under the impression that in the V3 you'll be able to just floor it through a turn? How about from a stop light, full throttle and just move off the line? Yeah, of course not. Either TC will limit your power until you have grip, or you'll just light up your rear tires and create your own smokescreen. You punch it through an apex and you'll be drifting, not gripping.
Like I said, fun, but not faster. My V has ~730 HP, I get beaten off the line by Fiestas. Why? Not enough grip. I could do drag radials to solve that problem - and it would solve that problem - but you lose some of the handling characteristics that way. But with AWD, in the V3, I bet you could hit sub-3 second 0-60s. On OEM street tires. With RWD? Not a chance in hell.
I'm not advocating AWD ONLY. I just think it should be an option. Making use of all your engine's power, all of the time, is a good thing.
That's nice. I'll have more driving enjoyment with RWD. Go buy an auto AWD and have your fun...
Why would I buy an auto? That's one of the reasons I'm not getting a V3. RWD is not a bad thing, but at the V3's power levels AWD would be really helpful.