German Car Forum

No it isnt. My dad and I did one in our black E60 M5 without it even being in M mode..

Well I guess the people in warm climates do not get to experience the fun you have with Quattro.

Both RWD and AWD have their advantages. I personally would take AWD because RWD in arctic conditions can be a pain in the ass when you actually trying to get somewhere and not just playing around. I haven't driven it personally but I fell that the MB's 4-Matic is the best. 65-35 power distribution should give the feel of RWD and the speed/traction of AWD.

^^ So I suppose it depends on where you live and what the whether is like.

I've lived in Russia and we didn't have one AWD car . What you need is a good set of winter tires and you should be set... AWD is defintely a plus, but honestly, it's not always necessary. I don't know if you guys have ever seen the Top Gear episode when they tested the S4 vs M3. The two cars were totally diffferent... the Audi just gripped and never let go (even saw some understeer). The M3 was just powersliding it's way through every corner. I'm sure it depends on what you want, but I'm not picky so I'll have either one.

As for the RS6... I expect them to just take a Lambo engine and not do too many mods on it. This is going to be a pure car, unlike the detuned engines on the S versions of late. I think that this car in terms of acceleration is going to be awfully close to the new AMG cars of the future, leaving BMW behind. Last but now least... expect a hefty price tag. These new Audis have been expensive lately!

I knnow we've had this arguement before.....i know ure pribably right...but ya never knoq

don't start arguement.....Quattro is definetly the bested....thats no bias...its a fact...

AWD is good but doesn't make the car better than one without it. Personally I prefer cars without AWD, it adds uneccessary weight. Still the big reason why I don't like AWD is becasue it ruins the driving pleasure. Some AWD systems simply grips too much, limiting your ability to control the car yourself. You can hardly drift och slide through a corner with an AWD car. Off course electronis aid is good but the challenge with driving a car around a track is controling the car through the bends but it becomes a bit boring when the car help you too much.

I only find it neccessary to buy a AWD car if you live in a cold climate. Other than it it's a bit pointless to buy a AWD car if you live in a warm place like LA.

Trust me in the area we live in......the AWD is mandatory....it gets so snowy and it is very hilly....you NEED AWD

What I like about AWD, especially Quattro, is that when you floor it to the full at a start, the car sucks itself to the ground and you fly away. Not as with a RWD or FWD that just spin and spin.

AWD is very good for getting the most out of a car during acceleration but I bet a 997 carrera driver has more fun on a track than a RS4 driver. Life isn't only about reaching your goal, it's also about having fun on your way there.

aha .. I had such experince previously in the US .. but it could get really ugly when u r trying to control ur car ....

So I think if your in So Cal RWD is the way to go but if you live in North where the weather is always snowing and raining then it makes more sence to get an AWD car. Do we all agree with that?

so I guess we are totally the opposite .. I like having the tire spinnin most of the times ... unless I don't want it to do so and turning the anti-spinning systems (ASR?) ON ..

so finally it all depends on the driver and weather conditions ..

I don't... like I said, I've lived in countries where it goes down to minus 30C and we haven't had one car that was AWD. Get the right tires and you will be set. Come summer, you'll have a car that is a "true" sports car.

i don't think it is that easy. We have to ask the guys who probably know like Snake or Martinbo..

Why? Of course they will say that AWD is going to be better than RWD in winter conditions... I'm not saying which one is better, but I'm just telling you guys that AWD is not necessary for winter, even in a place like Russia. Sure it is better, and some people would probably safer in an AWD, but with proper sets of winter tires, you will do fine.

well in the place i live in its not only snowy....its hilly, icey, etc. You can't just have winter tires....our audi has winter Tires, Quattro, and it sometimes STILL slips.

Well when you are at a stoplight on hill, in snowy conditions, you let me know just how fine you will do. My friend owns a RWD Infiniti and he cannot even get halfway up the hill that leads to my neigborhood when it snows and yes he has snow tires.

I say if you can afford it buy both, RWD and AWD. And in regaurds to being fun, thats depends on the person because I do not live in my car and I do not go out joyriding, so I personally would rather have my safe, rooadgripping, and 'boring' Quattro vehicle.

I'm not trying to say what you have to buy... I'm just stating our experience. So where do you live? I'm not saying that the wheels will never slip but in the 5 years that we were there, not once were we stuck there. Although I have to say that the main streets are cleaned briskly... the little streets however... Here were the cars:
VW Caravelle, MB E230 and VW Passat... 2 FWD and 1 RWD.
I did say that AWD would be better, but it's not always necessary.

Im sorry if it sounded as if there was some animosity in what I said it was not meant to.

I understand your point and agree I to was simply stating my situation. I live(d) in Omaha which gets snow for a good portion of the year and it sits in the Missouri valley so it is very hilly through out the city and surrounding countryside. So I appreciate the quattro quite a bit and I think in my city AWD versions of most cars probably sell more than the standard RWD or FWD.

I live in Sweden and as you know we have wintertimes , although not compared to Alaska I dont have a problem with RWD during wintertime. I use the brain and were decent wintertires and Im OK during driving. If the car didnt have DSC or antispinn it would not be good but all the electronics today helps a lot, even saved me from crashing.

I suggest you use you brain, buy great set of wintertires (there are different kind of wintertires) and you will be fine most of the times. Thats my experience.
BTW RWD is better than FWD if its snowy and you are going uphill.

Yes, it's possible to manage with RWD in slippery conditions but in city driving old ladies in 1.0-liter Micras will beat you off the lights and round corners...
You're absolutely right about the importance of good winter tires - nothing but studded ones for me...


Maybe if you can take the hill with speed, but if you have to stop there you're in trouble.

I just read in a swedish wintertest and they said RWD is better than FWd cause the power goes to the rearwheels and push the car up the hill. The best solution for a FWD is to turn the car so the front wheels lending downhill and use the reverse and start driving.

(tusan vet inte hur jag säger det på engelska men det underlättar om du backar upp för en backe med en framhjulsdriven bil, hoppas du förstår Mike )

A Greek TV car show called "Traction" had taken a A4 quattro along with some SUVs in the snow for testing and it was amazing how the A4 could outhandle all the other cars in the snow even with normal (not winter) tires. If you live in a country with wet/snowy roads quattro is a huge advantage.