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Audi RS3 Press Release


Ian_C
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The B5 RS4 was my original dream car - Client bought one new in Nogaro Blue, must have been 1994 or similar and it was a magic car - drove it a lot and I suppose I never lost the urge to own one, albeit the B7 version in the end!

Nogaro Blue was 'better' than Sprint Blue to me - Sprint just did not cut the mustard!!

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Back to the RS3 and the supposed invincibility of quattro in wintry conditions.

 

Some of you may recall I had an Impreza STI hatch a few years ago.  That had 330bhp through a superior 4wd system, running on 'only' 18 inch wheels and Dunlop high performance summer tyres.  And you know what?  It was absolutely fecking terrible in the snow.  The RS3, on fatter 19 inch rims and summer tyres will certainly be no better and it'll probably be worse.

 

The only advantage 4wd on a normal car with summer tyres will give over any two wheel drive car is initial traction to get moving on a slippy surface. That's it.

 

And therein lies the all too common misconception whatever the conditions. 4wd gives you better traction. It does not give you better grip. If you don't know the difference you probably shouldn't be driving a performance car.

 

Your only route to better grip in the winter is winter tyres. Period.

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One of the contractors here has just bought a 2 yr old X5 (permies can't afford such toys...........) and it's in white.

 

Hes' had it less than a week and he's had it washed twice.  It's filthy now.

 

However, he does drive down the Lower Luton Road which is a tree lined dark dingy road which never sees the sun and loves filling up with water.

 

He should get if professionally detailed and protected with a decent product. 

 

It makes a significant difference.

Edited by NewNiceMrMe
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What E-bmw said.  But hypothetically ( ;) ) exactly the same as 2wd vs 4wd on summers.  i.e. better traction.  Anyone who thinks 4wd = better braking will still slide inexorably into the nearest obstacle.

True and better traction also works when decelerating and is assisted by the shifting of the torque between the wheels.

 

fishing.gif

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There is a thought in there somewhere though. Do electronically managed traction control systems (available on most good two and four wheel drive cars) muddy the waters somewhat?  (So to speak).   Or do the electronics merely work within the physics boundaries set by the number of driven wheels?

 

Whatever I'm driving, the thing I hate most on snow and ice is going downhill.

 

Well not so much the going down as the (not) stopping at the bottom. :uhoh:

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