Snow/Rain - Quattro or a 4x4?

[HannsG]

Winter is coming (Cue Game of Throne music...)

I digress. In your esteemed opinion as a daily hack to pretty much be used all year round. Come rain, snow or shine. Which would you opt for?

I have never owned a Quattro of any variety, but surely its one of the best systems out there to get you out of trouble when needed? And safest possibly???

albeit some of the cars have poor ground clearance. Or is a Chelsea tractor in the middle of of a town estate the be all and end all?

[Rick1.8t]

For how often, how long and how severely it snows here in 75% of the uk just drive any old car you want, maybe fit winter tyres if you feel like it (or own a rwd car i suppose)

This country is becoming crackers when it comes to the weather....

[sideways20vT]

Rick1.8t said:

For how often, how long and how severely it snows here in 75% of the uk just drive any old car you want, maybe fit winter tyres if you feel like it (or own a rwd car i suppose)

This country is becoming crackers when it comes to the weather....

Agree

[Toaster Pilot]

Any FWD car with winter tyres only if it struggles on it's normal ones.

[Toaster Pilot]

Oh, and actually look beyond the immediate space in front of your car, planning ahead rather than reacting to what's right in front of you. Would make a lot of people better drivers in any conditions but it'd avoid the vast majority of stupid little shunts in snow/ice.

[MonkeyDust]

If the weather gets that bad, the roads get clogged with stranded vehicles anyway.

[stef1808]

HannsG said:

Winter is coming (Cue Game of Throne music...)

I digress. In your esteemed opinion as a daily hack to pretty much be used all year round. Come rain, snow or shine. Which would you opt for?

I have never owned a Quattro of any variety, but surely its one of the best systems out there to get you out of trouble when needed? And safest possibly???

albeit some of the cars have poor ground clearance. Or is a Chelsea tractor in the middle of of a town estate the be all and end all?

sold my ml63 for a rs4 to get ready for winter and couldnt be more happier. exciting car to drive even in heavy rain, and im guessing going to have a fun time in the snow

[Rick1.8t]

Toaster Pilot said:

Oh, and actually look beyond the immediate space in front of your car, planning ahead rather than reacting to what's right in front of you. Would make a lot of people better drivers in any conditions but it'd avoid the vast majority of stupid little shunts in snow/ice.

Exactly - You wont stop any faster in your quattro if you lock all 4 wheels up at the last minute.

Seriously - the press in this country needs to calm down with the way they report / sensationalize the weather.... would go some way to stop everybody panicking the second the temp gauge gets below 5c.

[Willy Nilly]

OP, you'll need one of these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marauder_(vehicle) because you just cannot be too careful.

[Rick1.8t]

stef1808 said:

sold my ml63 for a rs4 to get ready for winter and couldnt be more happier. exciting car to drive even in heavy rain, and im guessing going to have a fun time in the snow

You dont really count though as a performance car enthusiast! - Your looking forward to the fun it brings not panicking in misery.

[k-ink]

I had an Audi S3, which as we know is FWD with AWD if it slips. Last winter it had so much grip it was insane. I could nail the throttle at will with no issues all winter. You simply do not need any more grip than that. Unless you have ground clearance issues an off road 4x4 offers no more benefit on the road. Even a FWD only car with decent tyres will be perfectly fine. Off roaders are more of an image and ego thing, if that is what you are into.

[scrwright]

Can't wait for a bit of snow, hoping to offload wifey's Jeep as she wants to downsize her motor. First drop of the white stuff its on ebay

[onlynik]

Rick1.8t said:

For how often, how long and how severely it snows here in 75% of the uk just drive any old car you want, maybe fit winter tyres if you feel like it (or own a rwd car i suppose)

This country is becoming crackers when it comes to the weather....

What about the other 25%?

[Speed addicted]

I'm considering trading my Q7 in for an S4.
The massive bus is comfortable and great in crap conditions but a Quattro car will work just as well in anything I would actually drive in.
If the snow is over a foot deep you just get stuck behind other people!

The S4 also has better driving dynamics and is hugely faster while costing about the same to run.

I live in NE Scotland so do get proper winters.

[Rick1.8t]

onlynik said:

What about the other 25%?

buy something suitable?

[k-ink]

Speed addicted said:

I'm considering trading my Q7 in for an S4.
The massive bus is comfortable and great in crap conditions but a Quattro car will work just as well in anything I would actually drive in.
If the snow is over a foot deep you just get stuck behind other people!

The S4 also has better driving dynamics and is hugely faster while costing about the same to run.

Absolutely. I would even say a part time FWD/AWD system as used in the S3 is way more than anyone would actually need on the road, ime. I've had other cars and Jeeps with permanent 4x4 so have experiences them all. I had such a surplus of grip in the S3 I actually intend to try FWD with decent tyres this winter as an even bigger cost saving.

[cocopop]

I use RWD sports cars and just drive appropriately.

It works well

[schmalex]

Speed addicted said:

I'm considering trading my Q7 in for an S4.
The massive bus is comfortable and great in crap conditions but a Quattro car will work just as well in anything I would actually drive in.
If the snow is over a foot deep you just get stuck behind other people!

The S4 also has better driving dynamics and is hugely faster while costing about the same to run.

I live in NE Scotland so do get proper winters.

Just don't get a manual S4, the manual box in the V8 absolutely ruins the car

[Rick1.8t]

schmalex said:

Just don't get a manual S4, the manual box in the V8 absolutely ruins the car

If you are a pensioner...

[k-ink]

cocopop said:

I use RWD sports cars and just drive appropriately.

It works well

Been there, done that too. I managed a RWD Lexus on worn summer tyres quite well, simply by driving properly. I certainly had far more control over my car than my neighbour, with his lead footed FWD efforts. However that said and ignoring incompetent idiots, there is a huge advantage in switching from RWD to FWD / AWD. The amount of extra capability and safety margin is really quite a stark contrast. Essentially it is much easier to make greater progress at speed (assuming driving skill and tyres remain the same).