Ferrer this one is for you!!
Although many people hate on Audi's handling and how they put their engines so far forward and all that nonsense, Audi's do one thing really well and that is drive in the snow. The Quattro system works really well. Back in December we had a Blizzard here in the tristate area that left us with 2 feet of snow totally unexpected so cleaning crews didn't accomandate properly. I happened to be with my family in Vermont at Stratton skiing and had to come back that day because my brother and sister had to go to work. The 4 hour drive turned into an 11 hour ordeal. It was crazy but the Audi performed extremely well and Quattro proved it's worth. Here's a thread I posted in an Audi forum:
I have Michelin Latitude Tour HP tires 235/60r18. It's an all season tire that performs exceptionally well. First time driving it in this much snow for this long.
I was skiing at Stratton w/ my family. 5 of us in the car. We left Stratton at around 330, my family back in Staten Island were telling us to leave because it's coming down. We got back to I-91 around 430 and ate in Brattleboro, VT. We got on the road around 5 and it was snowing but not too bad. Having driven the Q5 in snow before I had a good idea how it handled. I had my heated mirrors on, fogs, rear fogs and just moved it along, very smooth linear motions. I was passing everything on the road from Massachusetts through Connecticut. The only car to pass me were 2 Porsche Cayenne's. It became tough when you couldn't see the lines on the road because people would wander all over while trying to pass them. The car drives very solid on the snow and very well. Audi's are made for the snow I guess. If the left or right side of the car has traction it will pull you through whatever you need to get through. It really is amazing. When the car hit snow mounds it felt like puddles. The car would barely pull left or right and I always had control. I can only imagine how well it would be if I had proper snow tires on.
I had to drop my sister off in Greenwich CT. I-95 was pretty shut down so I got off and took Rt-1 to get through. I made it through those roads fine, they were pretty empty. She lives on a hilly street and Q5 just trudged up it with no problem at all. Just put your foot down and it goes it doesn't hesitate, it says ok and that 3.2 just sounds great doing it. The car doesn't slide around, it just goes. Her street wasn't even cleaned yet and I went straight down her street without a single issue. Got there around 930PM. Now off to Manhattan (REVIS ISLAND for your JETS fans!!!) Got back on I-95 and it was a parking lot. Managed to get off at exit 19 (Rye) and got back on Rt-1. I took that into the Bronx. The Bronx was hell. People were out, people were walking in the middle of street, could barely see them, no visibility. Buses were stuck, ambulances, cops, you name it and they were stuck. I was just going right around them. Move out of my way!!! The Q5 gets through the snow without any problem, it eats it up and does it so well. Its also very safe as I never ever lost control. At one point on a turn I ran into a huge snow drift, drivers side plowed into it and I was going right into a concrete barricade but before I could react the traction control light turned on and it straightened right out for me. AMAZING. The whole night my family was telling me to slow down but never once was speed a problem.
I did manage to get the Q5 stuck, 3 times. In the Bronx just trying to get out. Those stupid cabbies w. their crown vics and town cars. They skid all over and get stuck so easy. I ended up stuck because there was nowhere to go, when i found a path to go I ended up getting stuck in deep snow going up a hill. Tried rocking, nothing. traction off, nothing. My brother was spotting me and he said my rear wheels weren't turning but my fronts were. Forgot about Torsen doing that. We managed to get a shovel, a little digging and off we were. Continued dodging taxi's and stuck cars. I broke every light home. No need to stop. I managed to get into Manhattan via Morris ave and the 3rd ave bridge. The roads there were cleaned really well. FDR was perfect and i dropped my brother off at 34th st and lexington. This was around 1AM. Long day. Luckily I had enough gas to make it. The Brooklyn bridge ramp had stuck cars trying to get up. I took the tunnel and from then on it was clear. I had the same mentality, just pass everyone and be alone, its safer that way. I did just that and I passed every car I could. Just kept going. When I crossed the Verrazano Bridge, cars were stuck getting in and out the toll booth due to snow drifts. I was able to just cut right through. I passed plow trucks because they were going too slow. Didn't bother me because by now I knew I could handle just about anything Mother Nature could throw at me. I made it home somehow. My street had a big snow drift to turn in, I hit it hard and plowed right through it and then got stuck as I turned into my driveway. Uphill bricks will do that. My family dug me out and it was 2AM and I was home sweet home and safe. My cousins from Texas who have never seen snow like this muchless a Blizzard were amazed. The Q5 did really well and they were just as impressed as I was. I did talk to the car to help her get through this. Her and I were one together and we conquered!!!
This morning I had to pick my brother up from the ferry and I got stuck pulling out of my street, 2 feet of snow and a huge 3.5 foot snow drift, I high centered due to the plow hard packing the snow but I rocked her our and was on my way once again. The car had no issues stopping. When you turn hard right of left it doesn't slide on. None of that. The Quattro system works phenomenal and so does the traction control. Last night was like an obstacle course and the Q5 was king.
The Bronx was hell...oh did i mention the jackass in a BMW X6 who was going nowhere, just sliding cause his dumbass had aftermarket rims and summer tires on it....
I think she deserves some Blizzacks now haha too bad Tire Rack has em sold out for the season... Maybe some 20" summer shoes?
The Quattro setup does have a few flaws because the toresn center diff can go 75% front, 25% rear or 85% rear 15% front normally its set to 60% rear 40% rear. It has open diffs front and rear but Electronic Diff locks (EDL) which uses the ABS to brake a spinning wheel to vector the torque to the wheel that has traction. However the center diff can act as an open diff and send power to both fronts or both rears and not have enough left over to go there as well. If your fronts are stuck or rears are stuck you will have a problem. I hear Audi is working on fixing that with crown gears and clutches. the stability programming on the vehicle is excellent i must say. Yes I did get stuck but if i had winter tires i wouldn't have been stuck.
Quattro really shines when you're moving at speed through the snow. It sends the power where it needs to go instantly. Benefit of a fully mechanical system. No sliding, no pulling, just go go go! I love it!
Enjoy this story too! Some pics as well!