BigMouse

I drove up the Sierras to Foresthill this evening and saw an area of snow. I thought "I should take my AWD car out onto that snow. It was old snow and maybe a foot deep, very hard. At least on the surface. I made it about 90% of the way across it then suddenly sunk right into a soft spot. Pulled a few road signs and did some prying and pushing with my friend, and got it to start going back the way it came, but got stuck again, and stuck good. All four tires had spun out their own little trough and the car was sitting on the snow. We tried for like 3 hours to get it out, but it wouldn't budge. Even with the rear diff locked. Eventually called a buddy with a big toyota 4x4 to pull me out with his winch. I'll never take my car out on the snow again. It was interesting to see the TORSEN and the diff lock in action though, even though neither really helped. Maybe it was my tires. Just normal, every day tires. I wonder how much of a difference snow tires would have made. Anyway, at the moment I am dissapointed with my Quattro for getting stuck.

MikTip

<center><img src="http://www.wrc.com/NR/rdonlyres/eki5umfcgtamxel6c75om7dc73rmkxsrj55y5nfm5yy3erggdx v34hcak7kdhta53f6y7qmqcw4uyg/ZLOixdownbanklarge.jpg"></center><p>

JaXeN

If you had more ground clearance, you would have been ok.

squidix9

<center><img src="http://members.verizon.net/~vze4phja/images/firenodsm.jpg"></center><p>here in Buffalo, where we all watch to see glistening SUV's stuck in the ditches, all covered in snow.

But seriously, if you're in that deep, sitting on the belly, nothing is going to get you out, but a winch. 4WD/AWD or whatever, if they can't bite into anythjing, you're toast. When you get on the belly, you've got trouble. There is a point, when it's just too deep.

That's when you need real power!

GoldQuattro

If you just had more horsepower, like me, everything would have been ok, I swear

Audi_kid_BC

1) always start off in second gear, first has too much power and you will just spin.
2)when you get stuck, stop before you get more stuck, put as much gravel or rocks under the tires as you can.
3)when trying to get out, rock your car from reverse to second very gently while someone is pushing, eventualy you will get enough momentem that you can pop right out.

Hope that helps, I am experienced, I got my dads 2001 ford expedition stuck in an elementry school field. long night, especialy after the cops showed up;O)

GoldQuattro

you could carry those ramps around with you, so when you get stuck, you dig the stuff out from in front of your wheels, throw the ramps in there, and hopefully that can get you out (just a more advanced version of throwing gravel and rocks under you tires)

mroberts

One of my chains snapped, so I turned around to go back and get it, U turn suddenly became 270 degrees.

Then I tried to stop, beautiful 180 degree spin just nudging a snowbank. Ended up facing exactly the wrong way, dead parallel to the snow bank and abotu a foot out from it. Looked perfect !

Moral of this story: no chains are better than one chain.

GoldQuattro

They never made me put chains on my car driving up to kirkwood on 88 at the checkpoints, and I just had all seasons on my car... I always liked being one of the only sedans/wagons (depending on whether I was in my audi or subaru) that got waived on by with the sea of SUVs

S490

yeah here in newfoundland, eastern canada, we have over 400 cms of snow after falling. In fact the blizzard today is so bad that the snow clearing equip. had to be taken off the road.

As for konw how to drive, you have no choice here but to know.

I had to drive my buddies new santa fe out of the STuck position over christmas.

To elaborate on audi kid bc's 3rd tip. When you are rocking the car back and forward, jam the brake as soon as you feel it getting stuck again or detect wheel spin. Then go the opposite direction and do the same. This will do a better job of holding you farther back or forward and in turn widening the margin of traction. Otherwise you just roll into the hole again.


anyway if you aren't cliping snow-banks going around turns with the *** over-steering and getting stuck from time to time you aren't enjoying this car.

When i get my car fixed i will get some picks of the roads and conditions we drive in....

Ever be in a total white out and have the wiper motor go...thats stress.....happened to me two years ago...

cheers
mike90q