Drove on I55 in Illinois in the snow. My outback handled better.
01-08-2005, 10:31 AM
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Drove on I55 in Illinois in the snow. My outback handled better.
I was driving the 97 Outback wagon and my babies momma was driving the A4 Quattro. My original logic was that it'd handle better in the snow (plus ESP), and with the baby, the logical choice for her to drive. Both of the cars have approximately the same all seasons on (as far as tire rack's snow rating was concerned) with 95% tread or greater. Low and behold it seemed that she couldn't keep up with me. Driving experience differences? Sure. She said she skid into the center median of the Interstate once, was able to get out of it undamaged, but the car was sliding everywhere. We switched cars, after been driving 50mph in the outback w/o a care in the world I tried the same w/ the A4. The car was able to get straight line grip just fine, but it kept swaying left and right, it just wouldn't cut through the snow like the outback did. Lesson learned: 1) put winter steelies on ASAP, and 2) wider tires aren't very helpful. The outback won this battle, but I'm putting my steelies on this weekend, watch out Legacy, I'm coming to get you.
01-08-2005, 10:53 AM
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I am not impressed with mine either.
I have 225/45/17 Dunlop M2's and they do not cut through anything. The swaying left and right sucks. Maybe smaller tires would help. What the hell is this all about?
01-08-2005, 11:17 AM
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I have limited snow experience.
The most I've ever seen with the A4 was last Christmas going cross-country.
With the Bridgestone Turanza all-seasons that came on it I found that it was rock-solid on slush or soft powder but did the rocking, white-knuckle thing on hardpack.
With the Bridgestone Turanza all-seasons that came on it I found that it was rock-solid on slush or soft powder but did the rocking, white-knuckle thing on hardpack.
01-08-2005, 11:22 AM
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some other things to consider
suspension & rim/tire size.
for snow, a softer suspension and larger sidewall is better.
I'm willing to bet that the outback has both a softer suspension and taller sidewalls.
-bill
for snow, a softer suspension and larger sidewall is better.
I'm willing to bet that the outback has both a softer suspension and taller sidewalls.
-bill
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01-08-2005, 02:02 PM
#10
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My family owns '97 Outback, '97 Legacy GT, and my '02 A4. Subes win big time in snow....
with all season tires. I just purchased Bridgestone Turanza LS-Hs because of the positive reviews for snow performance on TireRack and that was a big mistake. The Turanszas are as bad as the Michelin MXM4s (which were horrible in the snow)that I removed with a lot of tread left with hopes of better snow performance. Next year I'm buying 4 Dunlop M-2 winter tires and wheels.
Bottom line the Subarus win in snow. I now take the Outback when it snows. I have owned a '97 A4 with 2 different brands of tires, and now the '02 with 2 other brands of tires and the A4 sucks here in northeastern PA type of snow compared to the Subes.
Bottom line the Subarus win in snow. I now take the Outback when it snows. I have owned a '97 A4 with 2 different brands of tires, and now the '02 with 2 other brands of tires and the A4 sucks here in northeastern PA type of snow compared to the Subes.