Even with Quattro, I still notice a fair amount of slipping & sliding (e.g., fishtailing a bit when making a turn from a stop) when driving in snow. How much performance benefit does Q really provide in the snow.<br>(Tires=Conti OEM)

Since I live in Socal, I really can't say much about the snow performance of your car, but I CAN say that the tires you're running on are incredibly horrible...<br>Contis are about the worst tire out there...you're better off running on something else...<br>just my gripe, thanks...<br>have a nice day :))<p>Jason G<br>98.5 A!AvantGarde 2.8 30V

After driving all types of vehicles in snow, I can say that the quattro system is one of the best out there. With any system some wheelspin will occur in snow, especially if snow tires aren't used. Even without snows, you will be a lot safer than most out there on the road. Even with AWD, cornering and braking aren't really improved in the snow. Although Audi Quattros aren't the best snow machines out there, they are still pretty damn good! Check out a RWD Bimmer the next time you drive in the snow!<br>

I have installed 4 Blizzak's 195/65 R 15 on my 98.5 q, Tip. This is the most stable car I have ever driven in the snow. I find it hard to imagine having more traction. During a recent trip the passing lane was totally covered with snow. The impression was like driving on bare dry roads. I tried several test stops when no other traffic was around. The ABS with the Blizzak's provided sure, straight, short stops. I'm very impressed. Acceleration in the snow and slush is nothing less that amazing! I have a very steep driveway. I stopped on the steepest part and when I started up no spin, no problem the quattro just goes with no complaints.<br>Roy M (Very impressed with the quattro)

What'd ya expect? It *is* snow! Even the 4x4 snow plows with huge snow tires slip and slide out there...<p>Mike

The day it first started snowing in Toronto, my car slid into the back of stationary Sport Ute at an intersection and damaged the front grill and bent the hood ($2000 of damage !!! YIKES) The tires were the original Dunlop SP8000s as part of the Sports Package.. these tires may be ok in the summer but really SUCK in snow and slush...<p>Anyway...enough was enough.... I went out the next day and purchased Bridgestone Blizzak.... WHAT A DIFFERENCE !! I know its not just the tires too, because I had Blizzaks on my previous Honda Civic..... I love Quattro !!<p>

yup quattro is awesome.<br>One of the posts here states he is using blizzaks, and in combo with ABS it is great. This implies that the WHEELS ARE SLIPPING!<p>methinks quattro is 50/50 split to start. so if you are making a turn from rest and punch it, the back end will come out a bit, as the proportioning varies.<p>Even with the stickiest tires in the world, if u punch it in a turn, you will start to slip. With vehicles that have more grip biased to the front, the car will tend to plow ahead. Since the rear wheels aren't driven, they will not tend to snap out from you.<p>Personally i love the character of the AWD split, i love doing power slides, etc. However, with the V6, I can't imagine a snow tire that will provide enough grip that i can't spin the tires.<p><br>1996 a4 2.8 qm<p>moral: no jack rabbit starts!

you really can't STOP that much faster.<br>I have quattro and snow tires, myself. It doesn't matter what you drive, stopping and cornering you will still slide under the worst conditions. I tend to downshift and brake to help slow the car smoothly. On ice.....forget it....no one stops.<br>Overall grip and traction IS better. I watched a poor slob in a FWD GM product sliding all over trying to get forward motion at a stoplight while I just put my foot in it and went on my merry way.<br>I've got a lot of rally style in my snow driving and seem to get it under quick control even when it gets a little slide. Of course, I don't recommend playing this way with other cars nearby or when it's icy.<br>You see, that is why I see so many Sport Utes and 4WD/AWD vehicles in ditches and snow banks! They think they are invincible and can drive as if it's dry out. Last week there were 4 rollover accidents that either closed the freeway or reduced traffic from 4 to 1 lane. Guess what? All of them were sport utility vehicles.<br>Yes, quattro plus snow tires give you an advantage in grip and will minimize slippage. You won't get as much control from FWD or RWD with traction control. (I had a couple Hondas too) However quattro owners have to know how to best use the quattro system and that takes a little practice for everyone who may be new to it. Having driven many cars, I can tell you that this is perhaps the best combination to have....just remember there is no perfect setup for all conditions and you still have to drive carefully. <br>Now, I'm off to dodge the other idiots in the snow....<br>-Cathleen

The darn things are so high off the ground also. You have to wonder about the wisdom of buying something with such a high center of gravity for use on ice.

-

Where do you get the idea that Continental tires are "the worst tire out there"? Not to criticize your opinion, but Continental's tires are outstanding. There is a ton of subjective data backing that up, too.<br>No wonder these tires come, or came, as OEM equipment on vehicles like the Porsche Carrera and Boxster, Mercedes C & E-class, BMW 3, 5, 7, 8 Series, and Z3, not to mention Audi A4 and A6.<br>That alone is a pretty good sign that Conti makes one hell of a tire.<p>

Didn't realize that I asked for a smart a** remark. I didn't keep it because snow performance wasn't the only reason I purchased the A4. Overall, the A4 is a much more enjoyable car, and I am more than happy that I traded. However, if your looking for an automobile which is going to be a main snow performer, I suggest going with the Subaru system. Lesser torque to the rear is less likely to result in spinouts, which happened to me in my A4, and has seemed to happen to other A4 owners. Also, others that have owned both Subaru and A4's agree that the Subaru system is better in the snow. In the dry and in rain soaked roads, I would say that the Quattro system would have the advantage.

ok,<br>Altough I dont agree with the point that Subaru is better than Audi in the snow, I have some questions. I was thinking, maybe the split for Quattro is too much for snow, but then again the manual Subes also are 50/50. If you look back at Rally Car you see that Quattro dominated by far over any other manufacturer using a 50/50 split and Sugaru now also uses a 50/50 torque split for its 555 rally Car. So wheres the problem? Possibly the main disadavantage of the Sube VC system, being a slow reaction system, has produced less oversteer in snow for unexperienced or heavy footed drivers?? Personally I have never had this problem.<br>Any thoughts,<br>Chris

I don't know how much rally racing is done in snow, and I'm sure that a professional driver will know the car well enough to keep the car under control in most all conditions. Also, a 50/50 torque split would seem to give ultimate traction in all but snow/ice conditions. Also, on the rally cars.... at least on the Subaru Impreza, they can modify the torque split prior to running, and if I remember the articles that I've read on the rally Impreza, it has a fixed torque split. So I don't think that they use the same system that is available to the public.<p>Also, in rally racing, it is not such a bad thing to have some oversteer.... they can usually use this to their advantage in the curves with some controllable oversteer. However, on a public highway, it could be dangerous to have the rear swing out..... especially if someone is driving beside you.<p>Again, I favor less original torque to the rear in snow/ice and 50/50 split in all other conditions. Regardless, any type of AWD is going to be better than FWD or RWD in all conditions, and I have no regrets for purchasing my A4. It's the best car I've owned..... so far.

I have driven the Subaru Legacy GT-B Japanese version in HK's summer pouring rain weather, and compares to my 97 sports package when I back home in Vancouver. The Subaru's AWD system is definitely not as sophiscated as Audi when one of the wheel gets slippery or stuck in some situations. On the Audi, you can feel the power is distributing through the wheels at 25 percent at each wheel to 50 percent. I agreed that the sports package tires are especially slippery in some snowy weather, but then you can get some very decent snow tires and you can conquer the roads when snowing. Both Subaru and Audi's AWD system are excellent system, but I will give Audi an edge because of its vertical/horizontial movement of EDL system. You really want to try some AWD system that really sucks, Volvo's S70/V70 AWD system really not in the same leaque at the Subaru/Audi class.<br>Tom<br>97 A4 1.8TQM<br>99 JETTA GLS 2.0

How you holding up?...sorry to hear about your pop. Just wanted to let<br>you know that I will uphold the Laser Red tradition of doing well at the<br>Quattro Club driving school this weekend. :-)<p>Glad to see you back...<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM

The Subaru 555 Impreza Rally car does use a set 50/50 turque split, I found some specs on it on an Australian site. Just to let you know.

My Outback had less oversteer than the A4 and was more predictable, though as an automatic, it was biased towards the front wheels. It was probably a better snow car than the A4 for the average driver, though I think both cars are superb in the white stuff. My Impreza RS (WRC wannabe) has a little too much understeer, but if you know what you're doing, you can really toss the car around and feel in control. That's easily fixed with a larger rear sway bar. It's a blast. I see the Audi as being in the same class as the RS in terms of handling slippery conditions. If you know what you're doing, you can take advantage of a little oversteer and really have fun.<p>Lucky me. I haven't driven a FWD or RWD in the snow in three years, so I'm pretty picky about the different AWD systems.<p>All in all, for everyday driving, both the Subies and Audis are great winter cars. I applaud Subaru for making AWD available at an affordable price. It's great here in New England and we were able to get AWD before we could afford an Audi.

Very good writeup, Kathleen. Have been battling the elements here in Pittsburgh (have had snow/rain/freezing rain last 12 out of 13 days). Snow tires are required if you have much adverse weather; can't count on Quattro alone. Quattro will get you going better than most other systems out there, only problem I am having is low ground clearance with Sport package (figured this would be the case before purchase - measured the Sport package against my old Coupe Quattro). If snow is really heavy, will stay home or leave work early. Otherwise, in starting up on snow/icy hills, have managed much better than most other vehicles. Braking caution is still needed; Quattro helps some, but if you're going too fast for conditions, you're going to skid.<br>

BoTtOm LiNe FrOm AuDi/SuBArU OwNeRs...............................<p>JiMbO Is FuLl oF eXcReMenT WhEn RecOmEnDiNg a WiNtER AuToMoBiLE!!!!!!!