I've heared how good the Quattro is in the snow but how is the FWD? Let me know what tires you are using also. Thanks

The quattro CANT be beaten when it comes to acceleration no matter if you are driving on snow, ice, water, gravel or whatever. <br>There is NO problem driving a FWD A4 wintertime though, I live in Sweden and have a FWD A4 T '98, Ive never expereienced any problems getting where I want no matter outside conditions. Im using studless winter tires (Nokian 195/15Q), but have also used the stock Dunlop 195/65 SP2000's wintertime. No problem with them either. <br>Id say that it takes a somewhat more skilled driver to be able to keep up with "ordinary hard summer driving" in a FWD than a Q. You have to control boost (1.8T) and "feel" the road more. <br>Remember that there will be NO difference when it comes to braking!! You may have an advantage with engine braking in Q. Some people will also say that Q is a disadvantage wintertime, due to sudden tranfers of power to the axis with best grip. I would not listen to this, The Q is unbeatable wintertime, if you are at least somewhat active behind the wheel. If you arent concerned with active driving, the difference will not be as great.<p>If you are able to get Q, get it. If not, do your best without it. The A4 still rocks without it though...<p>HTH<p>Joe M, currently driving FWD in snowy conditions and -5C!

In have a fwd 2.8 in New England, and it has been excellent in the snow. The 2.8 has the ASR, which helps out quite a bit. For example, if you are driving up a snowy incline in 2nd gear and FLOOR it, the ASR will modulate wheelspin using a combination of braking and throttle reduction so that you simply go up the hill without much drama. It is pretty cool actually. <p>I have had a number of fwd cars, including an Accord back in 1990, and they have ALL made it through winter here in New England with aplomb.<p>Mike

Michael, <br> First, let me thank you for carrying the Front-trak fight when I was too timid to speak up. Also, your posts are always pretty good. <p>I was out driving my 96 Front-trak (Hakki NRW's)on packed snow roads today and didn't seem to have any problems' although I did have to accelerate slowly up hills that I'm sure the Quattro wouldn't have had any trouble with.<p>Anyway, I tried to dig around for my 96 brochure to read up on ASR,but I couldn't find it. I think you're incorrect about throttle control with ASR. I agree that the rpm's fall when it engages,but I'm pretty sure this just from the fact that the wheel is no longer spinning wildly and the engine bogs down under the new resistance.<p>My ASR was working well when I sought out tough conditions for it,but again,I'm sure you wouldn't have even noticed it with Quattro.<p>See ya Jan. 16th if I can<br>Bill<br>

Bill,<p>We both may be right. You may not have the ASR on your '96 2.8. I believe that the '96 came with EDL, which means that the system you are running does not affect throttle position. ASR was not offered until the initial '98 model if I remember correctly. <p>There is an easy way to tell. Do you have a switch on the center of your dash (next to the passenger-side heated seat switch) labeled "ASR"? If not, then you have only EDL. EDL doesn't alter throttle position.<p>The ASR system does, in fact, decrease throttle. It is a system that is quite similar to the one used in the BMW and Mercedes, which also affect throttle position.<p>The fact that EDL is limited to a speed under 25 or so is due to the fact that it does NOT reduce throttle. At higher speeds, EDL would put too much of a strain on the braking system since it doesn't cut throttle.<p>Here's a question for you. Have you ever tried to cause the wheels to spin at speeds over 30? I wonder what the result would be since the EDL would supposedly be completely disabled. By asking this question, I am assuming that you do have the EDL.<p>Mike

Hey guys i'm not sure if the 1996 or 1997 have EDL or ASR on the front wheel drive models.I thougth it was just the late 98.If I have either on I really could'nt tell the difference in the snow.I was really stuggling going up a hill after stopping for a traffic light.If mine has the EDL<br>how does that help when I start off? It seems that my car really struggles, and I have all season Contis.Thanks Stevep

steve, My Hakki'NRW's, although M&S tires,look like snow tires and probably outperform your Conti's. EDL will not make up for lack of Quattro or serious snow tires. I could get underway on fairly steep roads(not San Francisco),but my EDL was controlling wheelspin, and I certainly did not accelerate like it was dry pavement. I complained once to my service manager once that my front end made a weird sound when my car moved the first few feet after start up. Ever heard this?(radio off,fan not blowing)It sounds like something spinning inside a small drum. This is your ABS going through a short test cycle. This is the sound I hear shortly before my wheel stops spinning and my rpm's fall off when I'm in a low traction situation. If you go up a hill that is slick your car will struggle even with EDL/ASR. It is possible that another front wheel car might not make it at all. Quattro is where it's at in these conditions. <p>For anyone who might care, I agree that Quattro at $1600 is a very good deal if you drive on snow. I didn't get it because I paid $25,000 for a 96 2.8, and the alternatives were $30,000 cars in colors I didn't want. Also, at the time I was spending 6 weeks every winter away from my car.<p>Bill<p>

I grew up in Switzerland and we had a a100 FWD and a Golf Syncro. As of last winter, the roles are reversed - A6Q and Golf FWD. <p>When it came to buying new cars, the Golf IV was not available as syncro yet, and mom wanted 4WD "to feel safe". With dad we chuckled and ordered the $4000 option. And to tell you the truth, after 10 winters of my driving in Switzerland, I wonder why we paid that much. First, I may be able to get up a mountain, but sure as hell I can't get down anymore. Second, you may have 4wd, but all the Dutch and German tourists don't, and so you will not get up the mountain after all.<p>The one big advantage of 4wd was when they come with the snow plow and you are parallel parked (as usual in Europe), you will have a fun time getting out. But once you are on the road it doesn't matter too much because your progress depends primarily on other people's progress. This does not apply if you have a chalet somewhere up on the peak, but be honest, do you?<p>The only time in my life when I flew off the road was in my Golf Syncro on snow. After driving it for about 1000km under extremely adverse conditions I got overly confident and got into a spin in a long turn; I caught it, over corrected, and seconds later I had the nose all buried in the wall of snow. With 4wd I got out on my own, there was no damage to the car, but it could have been all different.<p>Bottom line: in all the years I never encountered a situation where 4wd would have saved my butt where fwd would have let me down.<p>- Stan<br>A4 2.8 QMS :-)<br>

Thanks Bill for the info, but I can't recall hearing any of those noises youre talking about<br>then again I wasn't listening for it.So the 1997<br>A4 1.8T fwd does have EDL correct.<br>Thanks again,<br> Stevep