Are Quattro Audis good in snow?
Discussion
LeoSayer said:
blade7 said:
How about winters on the A6 and summers on the 993...
I never drove the A6 on winter tyres.Gusto said:
My old R8 was fab in the snow on summer tyres. Most issues come from poor control rather than poor equipment. Always easy to blame the kit!
Yes, I've never been bothered with changing tyres. Seems far too much hassle to me. Just buy a Quattro and be done all year round ; )Stuart J said:
The Subaru is permanent 4wd, the 4motion has electronics to give a firm of 4wd . Scoob heavier on fuel as a result
Nope, I used to get 23mpg out of my 4motion, my impreza generally around 25mpg on the same journeys. The impreza has a smaller turbocharged engine and is a fair bit lighter.Stuart J said:
rb5er said:
My v6 4motion (same as quattro) was noticeably worse in snow than either of my Subarus. I've never needed winter tyres.
The Subaru is permanent 4wd, the 4motion has electronics to give a firm of 4wd . Scoob heavier on fuel as a result 
t).Tyre type and footprint size are biggest factors in snow/icy conditions.
The front of that A5 will act like a snow plough, which limits its usefulness in proper snow, but if that's your postcode in the AT search I don't think we've had 'proper' snow down here since about 2010?!
Our S5 runs 9x20" summer wheels and I picked up a set of 8.5x18" A5 s-line coupe wheels with the correct Dunlop winter tyres when we bought the car - the main benefit being they work better at colder temperatures as clearly there's not much difference in footprint from reducing the wheel width 0.5".
Our 2004 A6 on 17" summer tyres was very easy to drive in any winter conditions - my 2002 S8 is fecking awful in snow due to the ABS going into meltdown whenever you braked!
An old B6 S4 convertible auto would be a fun alternative!
The front of that A5 will act like a snow plough, which limits its usefulness in proper snow, but if that's your postcode in the AT search I don't think we've had 'proper' snow down here since about 2010?!
Our S5 runs 9x20" summer wheels and I picked up a set of 8.5x18" A5 s-line coupe wheels with the correct Dunlop winter tyres when we bought the car - the main benefit being they work better at colder temperatures as clearly there's not much difference in footprint from reducing the wheel width 0.5".
Our 2004 A6 on 17" summer tyres was very easy to drive in any winter conditions - my 2002 S8 is fecking awful in snow due to the ABS going into meltdown whenever you braked!
An old B6 S4 convertible auto would be a fun alternative!
I've had an old C5 A6 avant quattro for 10 years now. Taken it to the alps and the pyrennees a few times.
I always took chains because I only had stock road tyres but I've never needed them.
Amazing grip on hills and on really slippery surfaces to get you moving from standstill
Very easy to find yourself going into corners too quickly such is the confidence the grip gives.
Slowing down with brakes never the best idea in any car in the snow but engine braking excellent
(Just bought a V8 C6 avant....)
I always took chains because I only had stock road tyres but I've never needed them.
Amazing grip on hills and on really slippery surfaces to get you moving from standstill
Very easy to find yourself going into corners too quickly such is the confidence the grip gives.
Slowing down with brakes never the best idea in any car in the snow but engine braking excellent
(Just bought a V8 C6 avant....)
fatboy b said:
All depends on the tyres really.
4 wheel drive is only effective with your foot on the throttle. No other time. My Audis with quattro were crap in the snow, but marginally better than a front wheel drive car, which is better again than a rear wheel drive. However, a rear wheel drive car on snow tyres will be miles better than a quattro on summer tyres. But most important, as soon as your foot goes on the brake, it's like any other car on summer tyres. Unfortunately, most people with 4x4 don't realise that bit.
Spot on. Key to it is winter tyres, ideally narrow (to minimise the snowboard effect of wide tyres). 4wd then of course assists a bit - once you have winter tyres. Also note difference between winter tyres and (studded) snow tyres which are generally not needed in UK. Also beware tyre depots who will try to sell you an all-season tyre when you ask for a winter set. 4 wheel drive is only effective with your foot on the throttle. No other time. My Audis with quattro were crap in the snow, but marginally better than a front wheel drive car, which is better again than a rear wheel drive. However, a rear wheel drive car on snow tyres will be miles better than a quattro on summer tyres. But most important, as soon as your foot goes on the brake, it's like any other car on summer tyres. Unfortunately, most people with 4x4 don't realise that bit.
Best car I ever drive in snow was an 88 Golf on narrow winter steelies and winter tyres. FWD and heavy engine on driven wheels. You could drive it up an ice wall. Great fun to chunter along in one's ancient little hatch, while all the cocks in their low and wide summer tyres spun and slid impotently - and moaned about needing "more salt" to "deal with the crisis".
The only "crisis" was a mass outbreak of stupidity from folks trying to drive on snow and ice with summer tyres
I don't buy this idea that quattro is only any good when you have winter tyres, and offers no advantage over 2WD without them. I can't even get off my drive with 2WD when it's been snowing, esp once its all compacted and icy. Quattros handle this without even trying. I've driven up some stupidly steep iced-up inclines in quattro-equipped cars, and never bothered about getting winter tyres.
I agree that it's not a lot of help going around bends or stopping, as I've found to my cost. But at least it gives you fighting chance of getting where you want. in very crappy conditions. It's especially brilliant in mud.
Older quattros are definitely better, before they introduced electronic instead of physical diff locking. Also I'd hate to try out my current auto jobbie in the snow. I hate autos in the snow. Just not enough control.
I agree that it's not a lot of help going around bends or stopping, as I've found to my cost. But at least it gives you fighting chance of getting where you want. in very crappy conditions. It's especially brilliant in mud.
Older quattros are definitely better, before they introduced electronic instead of physical diff locking. Also I'd hate to try out my current auto jobbie in the snow. I hate autos in the snow. Just not enough control.
Yertis said:
I don't buy this idea that quattro is only any good when you have winter tyres, and offers no advantage over 2WD without them. I can't even get off my drive with 2WD when it's been snowing, esp once its all compacted and icy. Quattros handle this without even trying. I've driven up some stupidly steep iced-up inclines in quattro-equipped cars, and never bothered about getting winter tyres.
I agree that it's not a lot of help going around bends or stopping, as I've found to my cost. But at least it gives you fighting chance of getting where you want. in very crappy conditions. It's especially brilliant in mud.
Older quattros are definitely better, before they introduced electronic instead of physical diff locking. Also I'd hate to try out my current auto jobbie in the snow. I hate autos in the snow. Just not enough control.
Indeed, my driveway is particularly awkward to get into if snowy. I've had RWD, FWD and AWD vehicles all fitted with 'summer' tyres and the AWD cars always got up with no or minimal wheelspin where the FWD struggled and the RWD failed.I agree that it's not a lot of help going around bends or stopping, as I've found to my cost. But at least it gives you fighting chance of getting where you want. in very crappy conditions. It's especially brilliant in mud.
Older quattros are definitely better, before they introduced electronic instead of physical diff locking. Also I'd hate to try out my current auto jobbie in the snow. I hate autos in the snow. Just not enough control.
Nothing more stranded than a RWD car on snow/ice that is effectively a one wheel drive due to wheel spin.
Even my old A3 3.2 (haldex) quattro managed to tow the Wife's stranded Galaxy up on a particularly snowy day and all with so called 'summer' tyres fitted.
The S4 is even better despite having wider wheels, it would surely be unstoppable if it was fitted with 'winter' tyres.
I generally don't go out in the snow but a few years back I got caught out in my Mk2 TT 20 miles from home, with snow so bad the camber on flat roads was enough that 2wd cars struggled to drive straight ahead. All season tyres, light on the controls, breezed up this and no issues the rest of the way https://goo.gl/maps/hhrRHkbLe1yV8bRh7
I found the auto better in that if you just take your foot off the brake it'll pull away very gently.
I found the auto better in that if you just take your foot off the brake it'll pull away very gently.
I live in mid Finland where we have snow between November and April. We by law have to use winter tires, either winter formula or studded tires. I have had a Quattro for the last two winters and it's handled everything. Yes tires matter, but tires and 4x4 seems the best possible combination.
tommy1973s said:
Spot on. Key to it is winter tyres, ideally narrow (to minimise the snowboard effect of wide tyres). 4wd then of course assists a bit - once you have winter tyres. Also note difference between winter tyres and (studded) snow tyres which are generally not needed in UK. Also beware tyre depots who will try to sell you an all-season tyre when you ask for a winter set.
Best car I ever drive in snow was an 88 Golf on narrow winter steelies and winter tyres. FWD and heavy engine on driven wheels. You could drive it up an ice wall. Great fun to chunter along in one's ancient little hatch, while all the cocks in their low and wide summer tyres spun and slid impotently - and moaned about needing "more salt" to "deal with the crisis".
The only "crisis" was a mass outbreak of stupidity from folks trying to drive on snow and ice with summer tyres
Holy thread revival Batman. Best car I ever drive in snow was an 88 Golf on narrow winter steelies and winter tyres. FWD and heavy engine on driven wheels. You could drive it up an ice wall. Great fun to chunter along in one's ancient little hatch, while all the cocks in their low and wide summer tyres spun and slid impotently - and moaned about needing "more salt" to "deal with the crisis".
The only "crisis" was a mass outbreak of stupidity from folks trying to drive on snow and ice with summer tyres
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