RS4 Quattro - any good in snow?

[Hol]

Been holding on to my daily driver for an extra three years (Subaru Forester Xten) as it has been faultless in the snow (they have permanent asymmetric awd like a landy) and life hasnt had to stop after a foot deep drop - as it has for most of my neighbours.

BUT, there's no denying that I have missed out a car purchase in the cycle of ownerships and its getting on in age (7 Years) and although the majority of my daily commute is actually by train and not in the car (and I happily pay First Class fare becuase of that ratio) - I really should get something newer before long.

So is the Audi RS4 (circa 2007-2010) any good in snow, or do the ecletronics and abs suffer from some form of over-compensation where it suddenly think ayou are drifting?

[y2blade]

Don't know about the RS4 but my S4 was sublime on the snow.

[Cupramax]

The old RS4 was 2006-8 and yes even with summer tyres theyre pretty unstoppable, usually by beaching themselves rather than running out of traction. With winter tyres only a snowdrift will stop you.

[Dr G]

London/home counties type snow they're alright on normal tyres; on winters they'll go anywhere ground clearance will allow.

Used to live on a hill (cul de sac) that wasn't gritted or busy enough to clear the snow. It would routinely freeze over night and my plain jane A4 (normal Dunlops) and neighbour's ancient discovery were the only cars that got to the top unphased. Towing a brand new AMG out was very amusing in 2k of old Audi

[dvs_dave]

Cupramax said:

.....with summer tyres they're pretty unstoppable.....

And that's the problem with 4wd vehicles on high performance summer rubber. You can usually get going very well, but don't be fooled into thinking that you can stop or corner any better because you can't. Many a 4wd owner bins their car by falling into this most schoolboy of traps.

If you really want snow ability, invest in a set of winter tyres, or some decent all seasons if you can't be arsed with swapping tyres. The all seasons on my A8 work very well in much more extreme weather, both hot and cold than anything you'll ever get in the UK.

[fatboy b]

My old A4 cab quattro was really good in the snow. My A5 was awful. Could only put it down to the wider tyres.

[Cupramax]

dvs_dave said:

And that's the problem with 4wd vehicles on high performance summer rubber. You can usually get going very well, but don't be fooled into thinking that you can stop or corner any better because you can't. Many a 4wd owner bins their car by falling into this most schoolboy of traps.

If you really want snow ability, invest in a set of winter tyres, or some decent all seasons if you can't be arsed with swapping tyres. The all seasons on my A8 work very well in much more extreme weather, both hot and cold than anything you'll ever get in the UK.

You seem to have mistaken this for A) the snow tyre thread and B) for me as someone who gives a st

Ive driven 4wd Audis through many snowy winters now, I know my, the cars and the tyres limtations unlike many....

[Murph7355]

Snow tyres are handy but not essential in modest snow conditions IME.

I managed to find a set of new winter wheels and tyres for a very good price on eBay though, so why not. They had the added advantage of being a much easier to clean 5 spoke design. Not as pretty as the std RS4 wheel, but a more guilt free winter abuse wheel

[graeme4130]

dvs_dave said:

Cupramax said:

.....with summer tyres they're pretty unstoppable.....

And that's the problem with 4wd vehicles on high performance summer rubber. You can usually get going very well, but don't be fooled into thinking that you can stop or corner any better because you can't. Many a 4wd owner bins their car by falling into this most schoolboy of traps.

If you really want snow ability, invest in a set of winter tyres, or some decent all seasons if you can't be arsed with swapping tyres. The all seasons on my A8 work very well in much more extreme weather, both hot and cold than anything you'll ever get in the UK.

I'd agree entirely. My RS4 was ste in the snow. Great at going up hills, but downhills, braking or cornering was rubbish on packed snow due to the wider tyres with narrow tread cuts (PS2's with 6-7mm tread) and the sheer weight of the car
My wife's countryman was significantly better

On winter tyres, it's a different story

[iluvmercs]

It's fantastic in the snow!
My first couple of winters I stuck with summer tyres and never got stuck.

I gave winters a go and it was even better.

The only thing I have found is that deeper snow can be problem for ground clearance. Not a huge issue, although it has meant I have required at least one plastic under tray each year - £50-75 has been my usual cost of replacement at a main dealer.
On this point though, I guess I could have been unlucky!

Darren

[dvs_dave]

Cupramax said:

You seem to have mistaken this for A) the snow tyre thread and B) for me as someone who gives a st

Ive driven 4wd Audis through many snowy winters now, I know my, the cars and the tyres limtations unlike many....

[belm]Being good in the snow is not just about if you can get going or not, driving gods notwithstanding[/belm]

HTH

[anonymous-user]

The 4WD system will help you get going but the low ground clearance means you can get beached, when it comes to stopping/turning the extra weight of the 4WD system does count against you. The wide tyres do not help in the snow but appropriate rubber will help.

The older generation A4 quattro's (A4/S4/RS4) have a 50/50 front/rear split in power same as your Subaru but the B7 RS4 doesn't so can behave like a rear wheel drive vehicle and be more tail happy.

The A4 quattro's I have had have been brilliant in the snow, always got me moving, scary moments braking/turning but they don't make you invincible so brilliant within their limits.

[Hol]

Thanks guys. It looks like a possibility as a new family allrounder.

I am also 100% with the agreement about all traction bets being off when planning to stop or driving downhill in the ice. In those circumstances, all cars are equal.

It was more traction going up a slope or driving the road equivalent of off piste, that I was wondering around.

[MintyChris]

I'm sure it will be a hoot, same as any awd car in the snow. I know my S3 is and that just uses haldex awd.

[anonymous-user]

The 4WD system in the A3/S3 is different to the A4/S4/RS4.

The A3 uses the haldex system which means the car is front wheel drive except when the front wheels lose traction, when this happens the haldex clutch engages and the drive is distributed to the rear wheels as well.

The A4 uses a torsen centre differential so is a permanent 4WD system, the torsen centre diff distributes the power based on which end of the car has the most grip, my first A4 quattro (B5) I had was fitted with a torque sensing diff in the rear axle so would always get moving. After the rear diff was changed under warranty it never did this and could spin both wheels on the same side of the car. My B7 S4 is the same i.e. standard diffs (front and rear) except the traction control operates the brakes to control the spinning wheel. Does the job but is a cheaper solution as normal diffs are cheaper than torque sensing ones.

[orbtar]

Hopeless in snow! I had a new RS4 this winter running on standard tyres. I used it a couple of times in the snow before giving up, my 5 Series (admittedly on winter tyres) was far better in these conditions.
I am sure that it would be great with winter tyres but I wasn't keeping the car for long so couldn't see the point in buying any.

[iluvmercs]

orbtar said:

Hopeless in snow! I had a new RS4 this winter running on standard tyres. I used it a couple of times in the snow before giving up, my 5 Series (admittedly on winter tyres) was far better in these conditions.
I am sure that it would be great with winter tyres but I wasn't keeping the car for long so couldn't see the point in buying any.

That's the B8, though.
The OP is asking about the B7.
I guess the B7 would possibly be a bit better in the snow thanks to it's manual gearbox.

Darren

[graeme4130]

iluvmercs said:

orbtar said:

Hopeless in snow! I had a new RS4 this winter running on standard tyres. I used it a couple of times in the snow before giving up, my 5 Series (admittedly on winter tyres) was far better in these conditions.
I am sure that it would be great with winter tyres but I wasn't keeping the car for long so couldn't see the point in buying any.

That's the B8, though.
The OP is asking about the B7.
I guess the B7 would possibly be a bit better in the snow thanks to it's manual gearbox.

Darren

I've driven both in the snow and there's nothing in it. You can modulate throttle or change up early in dsg, so no perceivable grip difference through clutch control. B8 was equally as crap as my old B7. It certainly convinced me to get some winter tyres later in the year for the next lot of snow we get

[Flibble]

gottans said:

The 4WD system in the A3/S3 is different to the A4/S4/RS4.

The A3 uses the haldex system which means the car is front wheel drive except when the front wheels lose traction, when this happens the haldex clutch engages and the drive is distributed to the rear wheels as well.

Not quite as simple as that. My A3 wears all four tyres evenly despite pretty much never breaking traction on the front wheels. By your reckoning the front tyres should be wearing much quicker (as a FWD would), but they aren't which means power is being sent to the back wheels before the wheels begin to slip.