Rubbish in Snow

[RichardCranium]

First snow fall over night since i got my A4. The car is absolutely useless! Couldn't get out this morning. Had to abandon it down the road and walk back. sliding all over the place! At least I get a day at home instead of going to Hull:approve:

[zollaf]

shouldve ticked that box with quattro in it!!!

[RichardCranium]

shouldve ticked that box with quattro in it!!!


Lol. Would've been quite interesting trying to sneek that one past our fleet manager!

[Audi Happy]

Agreed, took me 1.5 hours this morning to do a 20 min. journey, sliding all over the place, even on the smallest hills struggled to get going.
Havin said that it would have been better if all the idiots in front kept moving and didnt stop on the hills. Bit of snow and the Uk is at a standstill, good job we dont live in sweeden

[Dans]

Are you using winter tyres?

Most cars on summer tyres will be fairly rubbish on snow I should think.

[zollaf]

i dont have any problems at all in my coupe in the snow. i just leave it at home and jump in the discovery. only problem is, the snow hasnt arrived in west wales yet. big load of wood in for fire though, so im waiting for it.

[RichardCranium]

Are you using winter tyres?

Most cars on summer tyres will be fairly rubbish on snow I should think.


No winter tyres. dont have such luxuries available! RUnning on Bridgestones at the moment, which i'm not that impressed with anyway

[A1exp]

Amen to that.

Followed my father home in his Civic and only just managed to make it home where he had no problems.

Also had a slight run in with a gate...

Currently got around 3" here and I can't get the car out of my drive, I'm thinking of investing in some auto socks for when this happens again.

Even the slightest incline becomes impossible in the audi, too heavy and wide-fat slick tyres don't help...

[martin@wolfy]

On the Audi channel they recommend turning of 'ESP' in snow, have you?

wolfy!!!!

[HighwayTG]

I could not get out of the drive this morning, the wheels just span to the amusement of my wife as she drove out in her VW Polo with skinny wheels with no problem

[jakerade]

I drove to austria skiing in my old b7 s-line last year and used some AutoSocks (had chains as well). They transform the car into almost a quattro in the snow so i now keep a set in the boot just in case

[Vinnyg]

Yup, absolute cack in the snow. Had to abandon trying to take the kids to the child minders the other morning and walk instead, what with her living up a moderate hill and all.

With any other car, get moving, stick it in 2nd and try to drive as smootly as possible. In the A4, try and get moving, slide backwards, reverse back down hill with red face!

Very embarrasing to watch a Vectra and an Avensis cruise up without any problems.

Of course it could just be my shoddy snow driving technique.....

[A1exp]

Yeah I've had ESP turned off but that's not the problem, the car will just not go up any kind of incline in the icy conditions we have here in sunny Yorkshire.

Being passed by an elderly couple in an ancient fiesta as you're taking your third run at the hill is very embarrassing!

I was going to ask if anybody else had auto-socks?

I've driven with chains on quite a few times in the alps but I'm worried they won't go round the s-lines wheels without a load of damage and I'll just tear my track up.

Autosocks seemed ideal but I've seen a few people rubbishing them and wondered if I should go for proper chains.

jakerade, any other comments on how effective they are vs chains?

[AndyH123]

Erm.. very interesting reading from down here in the tropics (London).

I haven't been in proper snow yet, though I have gone up a slight incline in an extremely wet muddy field. Didn't have a problem so long as I let the TDI do the work. I was itching to give it a bit of welly to see what lights started flashing but didn't fancy calling a tractor in, or cleaning it (or me) for that matter.

And our drive is a real proper park-in-1st slope (for which I adore the auto handbrake). Could get interesting...

[RichardCranium]

Glad i'm not the only one. Seems like i've found a common theme. I felt a right tool this morning. Everything was going past me with minimal problem. When i slid out at a junction into the middle of road, I realised it was time to go back home, and almost didnt make it.

The damn thing was sliding all over even when almost stationary. Thankfully its rained and all the snow has gone, but I hear there is more on the way. Humbug!:(

[bluestar_ale]

The car's not much cop in the snow, my old BMW was bad, i thought the Audi would be a bit better but alas no.................... when I was struggling to get up a slight incline and a £500 old Punto sails straight past it's very embarrassing...................good job the schools were off today as luckily about a dozen teenagers took it upon themselves to give me a push.................thanks lads.................. who said the youth of today are a waste of space....

[mickyc39]

Well, I've had my car a week and someone managed to run into the back of me at a roundabout!

:zx11:

[interbear]

Can anyone explain why the A4 is so bad in icy conditions/snow? I've struggled in the snow before with rear wheel drive BMWs and assumed that a front wheel drive Audi would perform far better in those conditions. Doesn't sound like it, but I've no idea why that would be the case - weight distribution, wheel size etc? Any ideas?

I'm still waiting for my A4 Avant s-line......scheduled for next week, don't want to prang it on my Xmas run up to icy Scotland !

[browellm]

Can anyone explain why the A4 is so bad in icy conditions/snow? I've struggled in the snow before with rear wheel drive BMWs and assumed that a front wheel drive Audi would perform far better in those conditions. Doesn't sound like it, but I've no idea why that would be the case - weight distribution, wheel size etc? Any ideas?

I'm still waiting for my A4 Avant s-line......scheduled for next week, don't want to prang it on my Xmas run up to icy Scotland !

As Dans has already said, it's all down to tyres.

[scottishbud]

Car is hopless in the snow with ESP on! Turned of ESP and it goes a lot better!

[Red 2]

Must confess I hadn't noticed much difference on slopes in my 2wd A4 in the snow from Passat/Golf etc. If your tyre treads end up filled with hard packed snow and the snow is also hard packed/smooth, you are however , to use a non-technical term, goosed!

Heavier the car, the more difficult to go up a slope in these conditions and FWD , I was told, is slightly less effective than rear in that particular situation. Quattro drivers will sail past....

[Joe richardson]

Intresting reading this !

we had a 58 plate B8 A4 avant s-line come into our workshop with a smashed front end:(
said he lost it in the snow,smashed into a gate in someone's feild,The car was a right mess:(

If we get more snow,just take it easy out there !

Joe

[Dunkx]

The standard of driving out there in bad conditions is shocking, if you are not long in the tooth like me and never experienced the thrill of zero grip on cross ply tyres and have been pampered with super grippy tryres and ESP you won't have the finesse to deal with tricky conditions - no car is good in the snow unless you have skinny multi studded competition tyres and no traction control! get yourself to a Rallyschool and have a go at getting it sideways, I would highly recommend it, that and Motorway driving should be compulsary before new drivers take to the roads. Cheers
Dunkx

[STEWY L]

On the Audi channel they recommend turning of 'ESP' in snow, have you?

wolfy!!!!
we have a bora with "esp" and "asr".
the esp has never ever been turned off,whilst the asr has never been on?
it was crip in the ice,no control over when the esp grabbed a wheel.
thinking of turning the esp off and the asr on.
i believe the asr stops,or tries to stop wheel spin under acelleration?
am i on the "right track " with that?
to be honest,compared with older cars,their seems to be too much power
available with the right foot,and we need to "simmer down" a little.
regards,
stewy.

[onemanparty]

After seeing how most drivers drive in the UK after a bit or snow or ice I wish I had got the train most of the time. :zx11:

Having spent time in Germany they have no problems in this weather with or without the snow tyres

[discobarry]

Get a Quattro with some snow tyres, no problems tackeling the best of Pennine hills then. Front wheel drives are generally no good in the snow.

[drmartin]

The standard of driving out there in bad conditions is shocking, if you are not long in the tooth like me and never experienced the thrill of zero grip on cross ply tyres and have been pampered with super grippy tryres and ESP you won't have the finesse to deal with tricky conditions - no car is good in the snow unless you have skinny multi studded competition tyres and no traction control! get yourself to a Rallyschool and have a go at getting it sideways, I would highly recommend it, that and Motorway driving should be compulsary before new drivers take to the roads. Cheers
Dunkx

Best car I ever had for snow was a Mk1 astra, 155 rubber, low engine power, no fancy electrics getting in the way... no problems, had to drive that fella and respect the conditions. Having driven a 4x4 in the snow, the only advantage is grip getting away, they are just as poor stopping as 2wd cars.

M

[spidermax]

After seeing how most drivers drive in the UK after a bit or snow or ice I wish I had got the train most of the time. :zx11:

Having spent time in Germany they have no problems in this weather with or without the snow tyres

I couldn't agree with you more.

I am from the north of Italy (bottom of the Alps) and it was quite strange for me seeing a lot of people here in UK leaving their cars in the middle of the roads and walk home just because there was 1/2 cm snow on the road.

No dis-respect for anyone but this country goes ****-up when it snows just a bit..

In italy you never leave the car alone... you might do not finf it anymore....

In any case anyone can have problems in the snow, sometimes in a very tricky conditions could be useful to lower a bit the tyre pressure in order to get home...

Ciao

[RichardCranium]

two new front tyres getting fitted tomorrow, so hopefully it might eleviate the problem a tad

Only 14.5k and needs new rubber!

[A1exp]

Quite a few people have commented how rubbish the UK is when it gets half an inch of snow but this is only because it's such a rare event.

People in Germany/Italy who get snow year after year are set up to deal with it with chains/winter tyres/better ploughing, and being exposed to it year after year people learn to drive to the conditions.

There's certainly an element of driving ability, which many people in the UK lack due to experience, but no amount of driving experience will get my A4, with it's slick summer tyres, out of my village when it snows, despite trying all the tricks!

I'd also much rather people left their cars (as long as they're safely parked) and walked home rather than attempting to drive home and potentially having an collision with my still fairly new car!

Luckily even up in the wilds of Yorkshire the local weather sage reckons we've only had this kind of snow 3 times in the last 15 years, so hopefully I'll have traded my A4 in for one with quattro before the next lot comes...

[discobarry]

A quick note to the person above who has spent time in Germany being a little cocky, If you drive in the snow in Germany in a fair few regions without snow tyres you get a fine at least...against the law.

[jakerade]

Not entirely true according to the AA

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/winter-tyres-and-snow-chains.html
"Visiting Germany

If during the winter months a vehicle becomes stuck because the tyres are unsuitable, drivers are liable to an on the spot fine in Germany. If the vehicle causes an obstruction and aggravation to other traffic, the fine may be doubled. The fine may not refer specifically to the fitment of 'incorrect' tyres though but relate instead to the fact that the vehicle could not make normal progress in inclement conditions!

The German law requiring 'appropriate tyres' is national legislation only. The UK Department for Transport (http://www.dft.gov.uk/) have confirmed that International conventions permit vehicles to circulate in international traffic as long as they satisfy general technical requirements which as far as tyres are concerned mean only "pneumatic tyres ensuring good adhesion, even in the wet".

So as far as the law is concerned your normal tyres that meet UK regulations will be OK for a winter trip to Germany though you must take measures to ensure that you can make normal progress in inclement conditions.

In practice this means carrying snow chains and using them whenever conditions or local signs require. "

[RichardCranium]

Got my new tires fitted last week. They swapped them over to put the new tread on the back:mad:. Its now only got marginally better grip than before

[onemanparty]

A quick note to the person above who has spent time in Germany being a little cocky, If you drive in the snow in Germany in a fair few regions without snow tyres you get a fine at least...against the law.

That was not the point of my reply:confused:.

It was the bad driving in the UK in Snow & Ice which I can not stand

[discobarry]

And i apologise, RichardCranium is your Audi a Quattro or 2 wheel drive? and did you get snow tyres fitted?

[RichardCranium]

And i apologise, RichardCranium is your Audi a Quattro or 2 wheel drive? and did you get snow tyres fitted?

2 wheel drive and fitted with two Michelin Primacy's

[mkc]

Thought I would ignite this thread again.

Given that most of the UK appears to have had some snow over the last 24 hours, is the A4 as bad as some said in this thread earlier this year?

Im in Bristol and the west has not really had snow so far. A little but its melting as soon as it hits the floor!

[AndyH123]

Hah, I wondered if this thread notification would ping up today.

I'm a wuss, I haven't risked finding out today.

Proper 4 to 5 inches of snowman snow in these parts, our drive is very steep and above all my pride and joy is only just back from the body shop after being taken out last year!

[Audi Happy]

Yup, Mine is useless, i tried it this morning both with esp on and off.
i did everything low revs, start in second gear but i could not get it up my drive, so i had to resort to the snow shovel to clear the snow before i could get away.
When i did eventually get out i drifted nicely out of a T junction without stopping abs kicked in but the car still kept going.

[ScottyUK]

Audi's engineers are pretty good but they've yet to defeat the laws of physics ;)

[onemanparty]

I know I have said this before. Get quattro if you can.

Having said that I did work from home today. I know my S3 would not be as good as my old A4 :(

[ScottyUK]

You're not wrong.

Here's my playing with my S4 in the snow and me trying to play with a 3.2 A3 in the snow.

Torsen all the way :D

S4 (including 0-100 on snow :D )

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6746097996028243904&ei=_zKHSZ6SIYW0iAL6qPH7Cg&q=s4+scotty(uk)+snow&hl=en

A3 (I did try :o and to be fair there was less snow and more trolley bays!!)

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5597525381921924423&ei=XjOHSYX_Fo2siALT5fj8Cg&q=a3+scotty(uk)+snow&hl=en

[onemanparty]

You're not wrong.

Here's my playing with my S4 in the snow and me trying to play with a 3.2 A3 in the snow.

Torsen all the way :D

S4 (including 0-100 on snow :D )

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6746097996028243904&ei=_zKHSZ6SIYW0iAL6qPH7Cg&q=s4+scotty(uk)+snow&hl=en (http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6746097996028243904&ei=_zKHSZ6SIYW0iAL6qPH7Cg&q=s4+scotty%28uk%29+snow&hl=en)

A3 (I did try :o and to be fair there was less snow and more trolley bays!!)

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5597525381921924423&ei=XjOHSYX_Fo2siALT5fj8Cg&q=a3+scotty(uk)+snow&hl=en (http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5597525381921924423&ei=XjOHSYX_Fo2siALT5fj8Cg&q=a3+scotty%28uk%29+snow&hl=en)

Nice :beerchug:

[kodkod.84]

making me feel dizzy those videos :puke:

[ScottyUK]

hehehe yep - best not to watch after a few beers! :D

[STEWY L]

turned the asr off on the 130 bora tonight,but esp would not turn off,the switch light just stayed on,guess the switch is goosed,was too dark and cold to mess about.
stewy.

[jakerade]

You want winter tyres.

I have just come back from Austria where i had an A6 2.5Tdi quattro avant with winter tyres and the grip is awesome. 12" of snow overnight and our house was at the bottom of a steep hill and it went straight up without snow chains. Pretty steady under braking as well.

I'm pretty tempted to get a second set of wheels for the winter like they do in the fatherland.

[gibbyd]

On the Audi channel they recommend turning of 'ESP' in snow, have you?

wolfy!!!!
I had a Passat years ago- pulled out of the drive and went for a right turn with a slight incline, when on came the ESP, the dash light up like a Christmas tree and the car went straight on and ended up parked on my neighbours double drive parked next to his motor:Blush2: Technology!! Eh!!:biglaugh:

[Paul W 101]

Same here... Ford Ka's flying past on my hill and I'm slipping everywhere!

Now hoping to get home without a problem as the snow starts again in Cardiff

[troc]

There'll be no snow by the time my S4 arrives...............

:(

The mini isn't bad in snow though.

[A1exp]

Just bought some AutoSocks from roofbox.co.uk, ordered at 3PM yesterday whilst stuck at home and they've turned up at work today.

When the snow arrives again Thursday I'll let you know how I get on.

Anything more than a skittering of frost currently and my A4 refuses to leave home.

[AndyH123]

Wow, none of you are kidding - I just cannot get up our drive!

Even after hacking away at the ice with a shovel to remove the majority, it still refuses.

Mm.

[jakerade]

I had some autosocks on for my old A4 and they worked very well. Not sure they fit my new one as the 18" tyres are now 245 instead of 235 which is a pain. May try them anyway if we get some snow one day...

[A1exp]

The socks I bought (685) were for my normal s-line wheels (245/40 R18), but they also fit the following wheels apparently:

235/45 R18
235/50 R17

...so you might get away with it.

When you say they work very well, does this mean I'll be able to get up a slight incline without fishtailing and swearing...?
(http://www.roofbox.co.uk/cgi-bin/accGen.cgi?type=det&query=AS685)

[jakerade]

umm - looking on the back of my packet 245/40 R18 should be 665? 685's should be for 19" wheels? However on their website they agree with your choice of 685 - wierd

http://www.autosock.co.uk/ASsize.html


I have 645's for 235/40 R18 on the old car. I guess the difference is an extra 10mm of tread width so they may or may not fall off! I think its worth a go!

On the old car it definitely gave them more grip but i wont offer any guarantees of getting into your drive!

[AndyH123]

So how does the traction control behave on this car?

I ask because to be fair, it was a little much to ask of the car to get up our drive, it is very steep. Once we'd solved the problem with some spadework and rock salt I hopped in the car to attempt re-entry again.

Was a little surprised to find it near impossible to even pull away on a flat surface. I wasn't booting it obviously, but it felt like no power was being put down at all, a bit like forgetting to put it in first. I was expecting more of the build up - spin - traction kicks in routine.

I'm probably over analysing!

[digigriffin]

Is it the tyres that these are fitted with that are the issue?
Or is the power delivery putting too much in even when trying to creep.

I too have now tried this out and found the New A4 the worst car ever in the snow :confused:

It just cannot seem to get any grip whatsover when most other cars show no issue on the same part of the road.

This is which ESP on and off.
It would appear that the electronics in the car can do nothing to help the situation.

I am afraid the B8 A4 is now consigned to the driveway whilst there are any snow/ice issues afoot.

Luckily I have something older and much more down market, that happens to be 4x4, which is now the choice in these weather conditions.

[kelvinbishop]

I think at least some of the problem comes about by the 'improved' weight distribution to give less understeer and better handling in corners (in the dry). Moving the weight distribution back has significantly reduced the weight over the front wheels hence less grip in the snow.

[troc]

What I want to know is, will I need (for the annual skiing holiday :) ) 1 or 2 pairs of chains for my S4 (quattro) and if 1 pair, do they go on the front?

I've already determined that I can go for something like the spikes spider (http://www.spikes-spiders.com/) and they should fit on the 18" wheels without damaging them or interfering with stuff behind the wheel. I just wondered how many pairs I need as they cost a bomb.

I'd rather avoid winter wheels/tyres as I have nowhere to store them!

[djl78]

turned the asr off on the 130 bora tonight,but esp would not turn off,the switch light just stayed on,guess the switch is goosed,was too dark and cold to mess about.
stewy.

On my 2002 Allroad i can turn the esp off by depressing the button until the light extinguishes.Reverts to normal once ignition has been cycled.
May work on the Bora too.
regards
dan

[A1exp]

You can only turn the ESP/ASR off on the A4 below a certain speed (20Mph?) and if it's snowy and you know what you're doing you probably should, however in my experience it makes absolutely no difference.

I suspect the tyres and the weight distribution are the problem.

The tread on the tyres is almost like slicks and the standard tyres are big and wide so whilst you get more rubber in contact with the road you get less cohesion because the weight of the car is distributed over a wide area.

That plus the shift of weight backwards probably doesn't help as that reduces weight over the front wheels as kelvin said.

I've tried to drive out backwards as that sometimes helps and whilst I've made marginally more progress the car is still crap.

As far as chains on a quattro goes, the short answer is buy two pairs.

If you only put chains on the front you'll lose the rear end really easily going downhill, if you only put chains on the back you're have very poor steering and braking.

The (much easier to fit) alternative is autosocks (there's a video of a Subaru Impreza on you tube with autosocks on, slaloming around an icy lake), however as far as I'm aware if you get to a section of road where snow chains are mandatory then autosocks are not yet legally recognised as chains.

[jkh112]

Just got back from a trip to snowdonia. I arrived there late on Monday evening and not knowing the area follwed the satnav directions which took me over the high pass on Mt Snowdon! By the time I realised where I was it was too late to turn around, so just kept the car in first gear and did not really use any throttle which got me to the top of the pass. The only other cars I saw were mountain rescue trucks. As the visibility was so bad at the summit I missed the car park and was desecding again before I found anywhere to stop. On the descent I realised that I couldn't stop as any use of the brakes sent the car off towards a wall or a big drop, so again just came down very very slowly in first gear with minimum throttle. The locals I was meeting were more than a little surprised when I made it to my destination as they couldn't get out of the village.
So the fwd A4s B8s are not that bad (or maybe just becasue mine is white and so feels at home in the snow).

[A1287210]

I'm sorry i must buck this trend, I live on a hill and my drive is on a greater gradient, looking out now the street is layered with compacted snow that has frozen...ice. I must say that the car has been the best I have ever experienced in the snow/ice.

The parents of 2 girls phoned in work yesterday because they could not get in my boss told me I should go and get them, on estates a long way from roads that had be gritted and if you know Chesterfield .....we have hills. The car did not skid, it was superb. Maybe on the edge of the Peak distrist we have not had as much snow or as much gradient as other places but the car was excellent. PS the parents of the two girls drove a Suberu Impreza!? and a Passat 4motion?!

Well done AUDI !!!!! :D

[digigriffin]

So now we have conflicting views on the handling in snow?

I spoke to my dealer who said that he had been driving a A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi manual s-line over the past four days without any issues in snow.

So now what I am thinking...

...does the ESP have a general fault that is causing this for some of us?

As I would think the ESP should go some way to help the situation, but in fact for many of us it doesn't seem to do a thing.

In fact I think it has been mentioned in a thread on here about being able to spin the wheels with ESP on in the dry?

What exactly does ESP do?

Or maybe its the traction control (ASR) that ESP manages?

[ScottyUK]

Reading your post I was about to say it could be ASR and then I saw you posted it.

Here's something you may find useful :

http://www.audi.co.uk/audi/uk/en2/tools/glossary/safety/electronic_stabilization_program.html

http://www.audi.co.uk/audi/uk/en2/tools/glossary/chassis_body/traction_control__ASR_.html

[onemanparty]

You can only turn the ESP/ASR off on the A4 below a certain speed (20Mph?) and if it's snowy and you know what you're doing you probably should, however in my experience it makes absolutely no difference.

Do not just press the button. Hold down for 6 seconds will deactivate ESP

As always quattro is the way forward

[A1287210]

I drove and only when I wanted to slide did the ESP kick in my experience to take it nice and easy is the way to go. It makes me v sad to see damaged A4's

[RichardCranium]

After past experiences. Ie when i started this thread, I left my car where it was for 2 days. Only today did i try to move it. I got off our street, which isnt steep at all. I couldnt get up the hill a nd had to turn around and go the long way round. I am aportioning some of the blame to the Bridgestone tyres. Dont rate them at all

I have found it marginally better with the ASR/ESP turned off. Turned on, the revs drop and it grinds to a halt and almost stalls.

[r99ljh]

totally agree with you. Have found that the slightest bit of dampness and the thing just wont grip! consequently when we had the snow mine went straight into the back of a pug and left a £2000 garage bill for mine.

[Paul W 101]

Ouch that sounds nasty r99ljh :(

Today in Cardiff we've had a few inches of snow and I thought long and hard before leaving the house in the car....... none of the problems of the other day, the car was fine up the hill in 1st gear with little revs.

Guess today was the "right kind of snow" for the A4 ;)

[AndyH123]

I braved the new batch this morning, it wasn't too bad, bit of ABS on the untreated snow, no surprise. Everyone was taking it gently which helped. The main roads were extremely slushy today, I could sense it struggling when pulling away.

Are others here getting the traction light flash on the dash? I'm not, which I find a bit odd - maybe it isn't kicking in for long enough, or I'm too busy concentrating on what I should be. I've seen it in the dry / damp when being a little aggressive so I know it works.. just can't risk any experimentation in this weather though.

In answer to the above - yeah, I can spin in the dry quite easily (2.0 TDI).

As an aside, I couldn't believe the amount of people who hadn't bothered clearing their rear window AT ALL this morning. Plus I cringe whenever anyone boots it out of a corner..

[digigriffin]

So shouldn't the ASR prevent wheel spin in the dry?
If it cannnot prevent it in the dry what chance does it have in the snow?

I am not sure when the ESP is active?
Does it only work above a certain speed?

Quote from the audi web site.



The electronic stabilisation program (ESP) makes the vehicle easier to control in handling situations close to the limit It reduces the danger of swerving and thus improves....

...The program uses the anti-lock braking system (ABS) (http://www.audi.co.uk/audi/uk/en2/tools/glossary/safety/anti_lock_braking_system.html), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) (http://www.audi.co.uk/audi/uk/en2/tools/glossary/safety/electronic_brake_force_distribution.html), the electronic differential lock (EDL) (http://www.audi.co.uk/audi/uk/en2/tools/glossary/engine_driveline/electronic_differential_lock.html) and the traction control (ASR) system, and is permanently active.



So this may explain why it does not seem to be operation at low speeds?
Is this the only way the ASR works?

[r99ljh]

It was mate,just no grip on it and ive had similar problems in the wet aswell.Not sure if its the factory fit tyres or the fact that they have moved the engine back on the B8's?? any ideas anybody. Been using a B7 avant the last couple of days while mine is being repaired and wow,the difference in the handling and control is so much more sure footed. What have Audi done??????

[JBlues]

Thought I would ignite this thread again.

Given that most of the UK appears to have had some snow over the last 24 hours, is the A4 as bad as some said in this thread earlier this year?

Im in Bristol and the west has not really had snow so far. A little but its melting as soon as it hits the floor!

I have to say that this is the absolute worse car I have ever driven in snow. How you can be left with zero traction on a marginal gradient is beyond me. Once you do get moving it seems OK but from a standing start it's shocking. Hopefully this weeks weather is a once in 20 year event, though in reality it's more like winters used to be!

[Martinrob]

It was mate,just no grip on it and ive had similar problems in the wet aswell.Not sure if its the factory fit tyres or the fact that they have moved the engine back on the B8's?? any ideas anybody. Been using a B7 avant the last couple of days while mine is being repaired and wow,the difference in the handling and control is so much more sure footed. What have Audi done??????

I agree, Have a B8 2.0Tdi 170 Avant, the traction in the wet is terrible. I was wondering about the factory fit tyres as well, has anyone tried any other brands: Pirellis??
Interested to hear if there is any improvement.

[jakerade]

I keep meaning to check my tyre pressures as the wet traction out of a junction is terrible and it seems to spin the nearside tyre very easily

Re snow chains: i bought some Maggi TRAK's for my old B7 S-Line as they dont snag the suspension (the wheel arch clearance isnt the problem). They should fit the B8 as its the same height and profile wheel/tyre

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/snow-chains/

The instructions say put on the wheels that provide the most traction so i guess on a 40:60 quattro that would be the rears now. However putting them on both would be the best. Personnally i would take some snow socks as well and use them where possible as chains are a right **** to take on and off. There are times where the police stop you and make you put chains on though.

Jake

[kkwan18]

Should brought a quattro,

[robtt09]

Well, if you think your Audis' are bad in the snow come to my rural part of N .Yorkshire and try my Merc C320cdi auto with 245 section tyres on the rear!Over the last five weeks I have been stuck eight times ! I get unstock using Snow Socks they are good but max speed 30mph so no good once you get on the black stuff again.

This is why I have just ordered an A4 3.00 tdi quattro today!

My wifes Mini has Vredstein winter tyres and it has not been stuck yet .I will put same tyres on Audi when the time comes.

Nice to back in the fold again ...I have previously had an A4 2.00tdi and a TT225.Both super cars

[a4suction]

Had no dramas with A4 1.9Tdi with 18's with Michy Pilot S's on.

ESP was off and even had the nerve to pull a stranded young dolly bird out of some deep snow with my missus in passenger seat watching with green eyes!!!

Bit hairy on some corners when the reflex to brake kicks in. Just wish you could turn the dam ABS off too.

[POLOACE]

I was very very impressed with my allraod on allroad p6 tyres, last friday I towed 2 mercs up a hill!

I had no problem navigating up a local hill as well, see pictures below.

http://j2lvaq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pkgOl_acyJHn4XUdK76Hofwk6kYpmeCY15jPcoeqSVeH128W dzu2dcHnGUB-vTNDPzhZSj26xjWk/n772405161_5758633_4824.jpg

http://j2lvaq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pkgOl_acyJHlCAX7jJERD8zBoV_dEDyTK-dUmDCH_oclnn9RVkSI9VPxWiniMVkA1SU3UVWSEiQY/n772405161_5758837_1814.jpg

Saturday I went for a play up the same hill had no problem going up the hill, which now had large drifts across the road maybe 4-5 ft high, all packed down so rather rough and bumby, I then decided to go along a by way across the top of the hill. I asked a 4x4 who had come along and he said its fine! Only to find out there was 4 other 4x4 stuck along the track a 90, freelander, Range Rover , Pagero. So I started to back up slipped of the track into a drift and bellied out. What fun!


So We all helped each other dig out and pull out a mitsi L200 with good all terrain tyres also helped pull us out.

Was good fun certainly now the limits of the allroad. 3 ft drifts maybe ok 6ft NO:D

Spare wheels with some proper agreesive all terrain tyres are needed to really test the allroad out.

[ginvi]

Best way to drive A4 stopping wheel spin is 1st gear or 2nd and use clutch with minimum pressure on the gas. This in 1st gear will go up any hill with ease. Try it, it works all the time you will never get stuck in the snow

[A1exp]

Best way to drive A4 stopping wheel spin is 1st gear or 2nd and use clutch with minimum pressure on the gas. This in 1st gear will go up any hill with ease. Try it, it works all the time you will never get stuck in the snow


With all due respect that's just not true, at least on my A4 B8 with admittedly slightly worn tyres.

I've driven in the Alps plenty of times using a variety of cars and none of them were as bad as the B8.

When it last snowed here in N. Yorks, the same person (me) drove two other cars out of our track without a problem, it took two hours to get the Audi out.

1st, 2nd, just on clutch, reverse, it made jack-all difference to it's performance.

My advice, get some auto-socks and stick 'em in your boot.

[robtt09]

Yep.Auto socks will get you going.I have used them a few times this winter when my C320cdi Merc got well and truly stuck.Cannot wait to get my A4 quattro..it arrives in early april...just in time for some lovely mild spring weather!!

[LRS]

Basic question:

What type of tyre does Audi factory fit as standard to the A4 S-line?

RFT or non-RFT?

Bridgestone
Michelin
Pirelli

Thanks;

[kkwan18]

Bridgestone on my 3.0Tdi SE Quattro

[satsu]

Bridgestone RE050A, non-RFT on my S-Line.

[2.7 S-line]

Bridgestone RE050A, non-RFT on my S-Line.

same for me (standard 18" s-line rims)

[Audi Happy]

Dunlops for me ( 19" upgrade )

[interbear]

I found my A4 B8 (S-Line 170 TDi with standard 18 inch wheels) to be awful in the snow. Despite being measured on the clutch I couldn't get it parked on my drive which is on a slight incline. Never had that problem before and I have no idea why the Audi would be so poor at this.

In every other respect I've found my car (had it since early Jan) a fabulous choice.

[Jop]

yep rubbish in snow.
my much smaller older 1.4 golf has no problems getting away.

want quattro now!

[2.7 S-line]

well having had some snow now i have to agree with other posters this is by far the worst car i've driven in snow (but i still love it !)

mine's an auto so clutch control etc doesn't really apply - its far worse than my A3 with a DSG box was in slippery conditions even with the fancy traction control /esp etc turned off even a slight incline at low speed upsets it

think some auto socks in the boot is sound advice (though i bet i never get to use them as its bound to never snow again if i buy some) would have saved me some anxious moments over the last few days

[Johnboy48]

Hi, agree they are not the best i snow but still a brilliant car.

What do you think of the 2.7tdi acceleration, performance wise and fuel consumption?

Is the engine pretty quiet ( i had a B7 2.0tdi and it was very noisy) as the Common Rail engines are supposed to be a lot better. Am thinking of changing to the 2.7tdi myself

B8 1.8tfsi, sports seats, mob phone prep, 18" alloys, Towbar, hill hold, rear parking[/COLOR]

[2.7 S-line]

its very refined - nothing like the old 2.0tdi (138bhp) which i had in my last a3 (same engine as the b7 a4 i believe)

most passengers don't believe its not a petrol engine , on the move wind and road noise are the only sounds you can hear unless you put your foot down heavily - even then it has quite a nice growl

acceleration is extremely good - typical overtaking on A roads is a breeze

only thing that holds you back when you go all boy racer is the multitronic - its geared for fuel efficiency so if you really want to boot it its better to swap from drive into sport - this holds more revs and keeps you ready for quick bursts of acceleration (or use the flappy paddles to do manual changes) though even in D it gets the idea after a brief pause and drops you down to allow good acceleration just feels like a bit of a lag before you take off

I love the car , engine and gearbox - best auto by far i've ever driven and one of the best engines (the best non- petrol by far), fuel economy is better than i expected - average overall is probably in region on 40mpg which is only 10-15% down on what i got from the A3 2.0Tdi DSG which was a lot lighter and a vastly slower car