Are FWD Audis still good in the snow?

[eurocarftw]

I have a FWD audi and was wondering if these cars could handle the snow pretty good or if its just the quattro?

[SEXICÄN]

its partly the quattro, but FWD will do find, just not great. The AWD will allow you to be able to potentially lose traction in more than 2 wheels and still be able to control the car unlike if you lose that same traction in the FWD you have 0 control of the car.

[eurocarftw]

Booo then does that mean I would probably need to use chains in the snow?

[Tgr_Clw]

No you just need good snow tires.

[INTEGRATION]

It all depends on the driver.

[Tiesto]

If you're getting an Audi you should get Quattro.

[Noffy]

I grew up in northern idaho and eastern washington and always had front wheel drive cars. It snow pretty heavy there at times and never had any problems with all season or snow tires and never had to chain up. Just remember to go slow and a front wheel drive car will preform well in the snow.

[Sanjman]

you'll be fine.... you just can't do the cool things quattro's can haha.

[cjonesgo]

fwd is ok in the snow, but you will likely need chains for heavy storm areas or mountain passes etc. fwd is generally better than rwd in the snow, but still nothing compared to quattro!!! that said, it all depends on the driver, 0 traction = 0 traction regardless of how many wheels are drive wheels...

[Phrost]

It will be fine. FWD Audi/VW cars are good in the snow compared to other FWD cars. You will be fine with good all-season tires, but of course I have to recommended dedicated snow tires.

Yes, Quattro is a ton better but a FWD Audi will be fine. 75% of vehicles out there are FWD anyway lol... just be a good winter driver and please use good tires.

[DeMOROlized]

Winter tires are much more important than AWD, because AWD does next to nothing to help you stop quicker, which is the critical part of winter driving. If I have to choose between them, I'd take winter tires over AWD any day.

[Sanjman]

fwd is ok in the snow, but you will likely need chains for heavy storm areas or mountain passes etc. fwd is generally better than rwd in the snow, but still nothing compared to quattro!!! that said, it all depends on the driver, 0 traction = 0 traction regardless of how many wheels are drive wheels...

winter chains?? I have been living in chicago all my life, and I have yet to see anyone use chains for snow storms. Maybe in hardcore steep mountains they use it. I recommend you ignore all posts made by people in california LOL. people in socal are scared to drive in rain!!! A good set of snow tires is all you really need, if you REALLY need them. I drive with my stock 17" double spoke rims with Pirelli P6 4 Season tires (they have 94H rating)

Which OC do you live in by the way... there's like 30 Orange Counties in the country... unless it stands for something else...

[Wagon]

winter chains?? I have been living in chicago all my life, and I have yet to see anyone use chains for snow storms. Maybe in hardcore steep mountains they use it. I recommend you ignore all posts made by people in california LOL. people in socal are scared to drive in rain!!! A good set of snow tires is all you really need, if you REALLY need them. I drive with my stock 17" double spoke rims with Pirelli P6 4 Season tires (they have 94H rating)

Which OC do you live in by the way... there's like 30 Orange Counties in the country... unless it stands for something else...

Assuming he means Orange County in CA, CalTrans does at times have chain control checkpoints where they don't let 2WD vehicles through without chains. AWD with snow tires are allowed.

[FlyPenFly]

Winter tires are much more important than AWD, because AWD does next to nothing to help you stop quicker, which is the critical part of winter driving. If I have to choose between them, I'd take winter tires over AWD any day.

Exactly. A lot of people think Quattro is some sort of miracle machine but it's not, it only helps when you push the loud pedal.

[Tiesto]

Nobody is denying the imporance of snow tires. Snow tires + Quattro ftw.

[AlexK]

winter chains?? I have been living in chicago all my life, and I have yet to see anyone use chains for snow storms. Maybe in hardcore steep mountains they use it. I recommend you ignore all posts made by people in california LOL. people in socal are scared to drive in rain!!! A good set of snow tires is all you really need, if you REALLY need them. I drive with my stock 17" double spoke rims with Pirelli P6 4 Season tires (they have 94H rating)

Which OC do you live in by the way... there's like 30 Orange Counties in the country... unless it stands for something else...

Go to any mountainous area in the West and you'll see tons of people with chains. They set up checkpoints and wont let you through if you dont have AWD, snow tires, or chains on your tires. I had never seen it on the East coast either.

I've never driven a car with chains but from what I understand they are as good as snow tires. Just dont hit the dry pavement with them!

[Phrost]

I've never seen or heard of chains anywhere in Wisconsin/Minnesota, but I've heard stories about mountainous areas requiring them before.

I think the moral of this thread is snow tires > Quattro so you will be fine. If you can get a cheap set of winter wheels (and appropriate lug bolts if needed) and used winter tires (or new if you can't find used) they should last you at least 2 to 3 winters. Winter tires last a very long time if you drive literally in snow most of the time, but yeah they will wear faster than no-seasons if they run on dry pavement.

[cjonesgo]

yeah, I suggested carrying chains for the trips to the snow (there ARE regular chain requirements here in CA) but in all seriousness the only reason that there is not chain control in cities is because of the logistic nightmare it would be.

How many threads were started in the last month about how winter was killing everyones cars?

Chains, while not needed very often, are a good investment! And for how often he'll need them in OC, considerably cheaper than a second set of winter wheels.

[wflan]

My family has an A3 3.2 Quattro, A4 B6 Quattro, and a Jetta TDI (a slow, torquey, turbo, front wheel drive bio-diesel) and all are good in the snow. I live in Colorado and we had a good cold, snowy winter this year.

The audis are definitely more planted and there's a world of difference when doing things like accelerating from a stop on ice, accelerating while steering, and cornering in general. The Jetta is decent but esp. on icy side streets it's pretty different (we had 6-10 inches of snow on a slushy base, then it dropped to about 10º so unplowed/untreated streets were sketchtastic after a few days. I'd hate to be in a RWD with allseasons or summers but the Jetta in snows still felt safe and never got stuck or anything. The audis took it in stride and only had real trouble whilst stopping on super slick bits.

Since your location says OC, i'm guessing that FWD will do you just fine.

As an anecdote, I took the A4 up to Breckenridge (a ski town) and as a game, on a steep snowpacked street that lead to my friend's place. I stopped in the middle and started again. I was expecting some sort of struggle of clawing for traction, but it just accelerated off as though it was flat and grippy!

P.S. about chains, in the mountains, it's VERY rare to have chain requirements, except on commercial vehicles. CDOT tends to close things when they get bad enough that every vehicle would need chains and a closed road like I-70 is bad news for image, tourism, and national commerce...

[4-tified]

Exactly. A lot of people think Quattro is some sort of miracle machine but it's not, it only helps when you push the loud pedal.

Still at it huh?

Audi's quattro system is acutally pretty "miraculous" compared to systems from the likes of BMW and MB.

Oh, and why downplay the necessity for safe acceleration? You make it sound as if being able to move and accelerate on poor traction surfaces is a minor need while driving. I find it quite necessary and advantageous.

[a4dc89]

Winter tires are much more important than AWD, because AWD does next to nothing to help you stop quicker, which is the critical part of winter driving. If I have to choose between them, I'd take winter tires over AWD any day.

In fact, AWD would prob cause the car not stop as quick due to the additional weight from additional components.

[Tiesto]

This whole argument is ludicrous. Why did this turn into a Quattro vs snow tire debate? These systems are designed to work TOGETHER idiots.

[Phrost]

The OP just wanted to know if his FWD audi would be alright in the winter, even though he does not have Quattro. We are just reassuring him that if he buys snow tires, it will be better than having gotten Quattro and staying with oem tires.

[matttl16]

fwd + bfg g-force kdw 235/45/19 + snow = no traction what so ever for the most part!!! i live in phoenix where the is never snow so some friends and i went up to northern arizona for the day today and i really should have put my stock wheels and tires back on!!! the whole day i was asking my self why i didnt get quattro..

[Kemiksiz]

fwd + bfg g-force kdw 235/45/19 + snow = no traction what so ever for the most part!!! i live in phoenix where the is never snow so some friends and i went up to northern arizona for the day today and i really should have put my stock wheels and tires back on!!! the whole day i was asking my self why i didnt get quattro..

Right!

for 4 days I'm wrestling with the snow + ice..

i could not get snow tires so with 235 + 18 inches, its a nightmare.. snow never maintain more than 1 day ehre but this time its forcing me to buy snow tires :D

[Phrost]

Summer tires + any drivetrain = death. I had Dunlop summers with Quattro before and slid into a curb. Let me break it down for everyone, on the most important variables of winter driving. Starting with the most important:

1. Driving skills
2. Tires
3. Drivetrain
4. Weight of vehicle / weight distribution

There's not much to it.

[OH4NA4]

Playing devil's advocate, one reason where Quattro is much better than FWD in snow or ice is if you need to accelerate to keep someone else who is out of control from hitting you.

[FlyPenFly]

Still at it huh?

Audi's quattro system is acutally pretty "miraculous" compared to systems from the likes of BMW and MB.

Oh, and why downplay the necessity for safe acceleration? You make it sound as if being able to move and accelerate on poor traction surfaces is a minor need while driving. I find it quite necessary and advantageous.

Quattro on the lowly A4 is pretty good for a car in it's price range and I would prefer it over BMW and MB's systems. Subaru, Mitsubishi and Nissan actually have better systems in the price range in terms of pure mechanics and performance however their cars aren't quite as nice to daily drive.

Not sure where I'm "downplaying" the necessity of acceleration. I simply stated the fact that AWD systems only work to your benefit on acceleration and in no other circumstance unless you're doing some foolish engine braking.

Otherwise, you live in magical fairy land I found it futile to argue with you when your understanding of some of the basics of fundamental performance driving is flawed and incorrect. You seem to be convinced your XX years of daily driving somehow make you some sort of expert on the matter so that's pretty much reason enough to stop arguing since it won't lead to any intelligent discourse.

Of course, you're the same person who also believed his E46 had special magical sensors telling you to get your oil changed and not a simple fuel rate consumption monitor because an ad in Pelican told you so.

[Dub2]

you'll be fine.... you just can't do the cool things quattro's can haha.

hahahah

[Quigaboo]

My next door neigbor has a B5 a4 and he drove my car in the snow too. He and I notice a night and day difference since I have a quattro. They just won't handle the same IMO

[4-tified]

Quattro on the lowly A4 is pretty good for a car in it's price range and I would prefer it over BMW and MB's systems. Subaru, Mitsubishi and Nissan actually have better systems in the price range in terms of pure mechanics and performance however their cars aren't quite as nice to daily drive.

Not sure where I'm "downplaying" the necessity of acceleration. I simply stated the fact that AWD systems only work to your benefit on acceleration and in no other circumstance unless you're doing some foolish engine braking.

Otherwise, you live in magical fairy land I found it futile to argue with you when your understanding of some of the basics of fundamental performance driving is flawed and incorrect. You seem to be convinced your XX years of daily driving somehow make you some sort of expert on the matter so that's pretty much reason enough to stop arguing since it won't lead to any intelligent discourse.

Of course, you're the same person who also believed his E46 had special magical sensors telling you to get your oil changed and not a simple fuel rate consumption monitor because an ad in Pelican told you so.

My fundamentals are flawed?

My XX years of driving experience only serve to show me how theory applies to real life, and that's true not just in driving, but in many areas of life. I've never said I was an "expert", that's merely you attempting to drive a point home by making an accusation based on what you said not what I actually said. Do you work for Hillary Clintons campaign btw?
Low blow, I digress.
You can email me directly if you care to show where my fundamentals of driving are flawed. Maybe you can send me that nifty "traction circle" thing again. How cool is that!? It's not like I haven't seen it and understood it a thousand times, years ago. OOOPS.

As far as the oil sensor issue, I have found information showing the Audi/VW do use more than just mileage rundown for oil change interval. I have the PDF if you want to read it. Just because you find 1 or 2 or 10 people who agree with you, that does not mean you are all correct. It's like trying to tell the flat-Earth society that there is actually proof that the Earth is round.
"Magical sensors?", you're funny. Although, I never said they were "magical", just that the system uses sensors and algorithms.
But, if you need to put it your way to feel more right or better, be my guest.
BMW did indeed use more sensor data in previous model years, and will be using more with the newer models including the E90.

Maybe we could go even more off topic so you can TRY to prove more points?

As far as intelligent discourse, you get what you give.
Since you short tenure on these Audi boards, you've said and implied how the A4 lacks in many areas, but that it's still an "ok" vehicle.
Even in the post you just made you make Audi's quattro seem like less than the other systems.
Quattro in manual Audi's is better than BMW's or MB's AWD system in manual or auto mode. Subaru has a nice system too, but it's not superior to Audi's as you imply.
Mit's system is only high end on the ever price increasing EVO, and the new EVO X system brings more gimmicks to the market with a requisite price increase. Nissan's AWD system is not better than the Quattro.

Also, "price range" is not the category. Cars are compared in many ways.
The EVO and the STI may be close in cost to the A4 or 3 series, but their costs are for mechanicals not for the overall car.
I've never said the Quattro is the end all be all of AWD. But, in comparison to the actual vehicles real owners shop between, Audi's quattro is pretty much the best with Subaru's manual trans system in the Legacy a great rival. BMW and MB can marketing opine all they like, as you do, but their systems can't match what Audi makes.
And, the new A4's quattro will be even better.

[Grk_A4]

4-tified 1 - flypennyfly 0