I just traded in my Outback for a Quattro and last night we finally had some snow in Boston. I noticed the A4 has a lot more oversteer and is easier to spin out than the Subaru. Same goes compared to my Subaru Impreza RS (another really fun car). I agree with the comments below that if you fear the gas pedal, you can quickly get into trouble and that Quattro can easily get you out of trouble, as long as it's not too bad. My only real comment is that it's a little easier to get into trouble in the A4 in the first place (compared to the Outback). To be fair, we didn't get our snow tires until yesterday and they weren't mounted until today, so we still had the Z rated stock tires on during the storm. The OB had all seasons. The Michelin Artic Alpin were great in the rain and slush today.<p>I know I'm comparing two really good winter vehicles here. We have been fully converted to AWD for two years now (this week is the first Audi, though) and will never go back. This is my wife's first winter driving regularly and I'm concerned for her safety. Despite my above comments, the A4 is totally competent and we're quite pleased with our choice. If we continue to like the Michelins on the Audi, I'll probably throw some on our RS.<p>I took her out to practice in big parking lot and she really seemed to get the hang of it. I made sure she spun the car out a few times so that she would learn what causes such things. Plus, she looks really cute in her new Laser Red 1.8T.

Yup, down here in CT we received that same snow. Driving my 99' 1.8T in it was a blast. I was looking forward to the drive home from work and when 5:00 finally rolled around, I had a fun trip home. I, like you, did feel the car slide a bit while took a left onto the highway entrance ramp. Later last night I took it out again to visit a friend. I ended up taking it down a dead end where the snow really hadn't been plowed yet and driving it there really put a smile on my face. <p>Say, are you a member of the Northeast Quattro Club? If so, they are having a winter driving school that I'm planning on attending in February. It will be up in the Franconia Notch area of New Hampshire. Let me know if you're interested and I can give you more details. <p>Finally, the Northeast A4 Club is meeting this Saturday at Joe's American Bar & Grill in Braintree, MA. I'll be there, too. <p>Congratulations on the car and best of luck w/it!<p>JT 99' 1.8Tqms

I'd love to attend, and I'll likely be up there anyway since we rent a place in Woodstock for the winter.<p>Thanks,<p>--Greg<br>

I drove my 97 A4 for around 2 hours in the snow yesterday. I had a really fun time back by the resevoirs in Bedforn Hills NY, over the boarder from my home in CT. I recently took off my Ronal R-28's 17-8.5 with the P7000ss z 225-45-17, and put back on the 16-7 stock sport wheels with the goodyear RS-A, 205-55-16 M+S. This is the first time I used the stock rubber cause I went to P7000ss in 225-50-16 when the car was new in June 97. They were much better than has been reported by some and I really let it fly in some deserted areas, like 60 or so in some spots on back dirt roads.I feel these tires are a better choice for me around here as full snow tires give less rubber on dry roads and they are dry most of the time. After I got home, I took my wifes 98 Subaru Outback, with the Michelin all terrains. Her car is a stick, and a pretty good car in general. The car felt great untill I tried to do a few turns the way I was doing in my A4. I almost took out a wooden fence, and was very suprised. I made a few stops on hills the same way I was doing with the A4 and it did just as well. I tried braking on hills as I had done with the A4 and it did just as well. So the only thing I noticed was on turns it was not up to the A4 and going fast on the same back roads did not feel as safe. This was not very scientific but a side by side comparison, same weather conditions, same roads, both cars sticks and both with OEM rubber. Bottom line, both very good (and fun in snow), high speed stability and cornering go to the A4, and do not sell the OEM m+s tires short, for all around winter driving they are good.

I have been talking to a few others like Andrew Mofit who owns Camra Motorsport, about hooking up to drive up to Braintree, nothing set yet, but if you are close maybe you might want to join us? I am in Ridgefield Ct. near New Canaan, and wilton.

I live in Mt. Kisco NY and thought my 1.8t was great int the snow considering the ZR dunlops that are on it!

<br>:0

Snow tires vs. ZR summer tires make a big difference in the snow; you should be fine with snows on the car. We've had over 11" of snow/rain/freezing rain (in worst combinations) since about Dec. 30 here in hilly Pittsburgh (winter precipitation last 11 of 12 days); have not come close to spinning the Avant with 15" Nokian Hapkapelittas. Car is a blast in the snow; only complaint is lack of ground clearance with Sport package, but I knew this going in and still bought it this way. <p>I think the Audi AWD system distributes power more evently between front and rear tires than Sube. Audi as I understand it initially is even power front and rear,while Sube is normally 95% front, 5% rear. As either front or rear starts slipping, then power is redistributed to the non-slipping end of the car in both systems.<p>Little different philosophy in both cases, but Audi should be fine with snows on.<p>I initally was a little cautious due to not driving in the stuff for about 2 years due to mild past winters. Car initially felt a little more skittish than old Coupe Quattro (bought in '91 and drive for about 120,000 miles), but I think now it was due more to having 6" of snow on top of freezing rain surface. Car sems to relish slightly aggressive snow drviing up hills and on windy roads; use tranny to slow down as much as possible rather than brake, and make sure you allow for plenty of braking distance (you can start/accellerate far better than most vehicles on bad snow/ice, but braking distances are largely unaffected by Quattro.<br>

Hey Mortell did you read my post to JT, any interest? Do you visit J.D.'s Offroad at all for parts? What have you done to your car, and how long have you had it? <br>Phil Sunkel<br>Ridgefield, CT