Golf R... Why buy a Golf GTI?

[scanesare]

Αnd yet, of all the cars I've had over the years, the only ones that could get out of my road when it was icy and/or snow were quattro Audi's and the Golf R.  Which are both AWD.  All the FWD cars couldn't.  And I didn't even bother with the RWD cars    So, despite what you're saying, I'd have to side with the 'ignorant' members of this forum 

You are confusing grip and handling with traction. Totally different and I couldn't agree more that any AWD is great for exactly what you described, ie: traction and getting out/setting off slippery roads. My comment was about the common misconception that AWD gives grip and makes you corner faster (as suggested in some earlier post a few pages back).

Don't side with the wrong team until you are sure what we are talking about first 

[Daz Auto]

And yet, of all the cars I've had over the years, the only ones that could get out of my road when it was icy and/or snow were quattro Audi's and the Golf R.  Which are both AWD.  All the FWD cars couldn't.  And I didn't even bother with the RWD cars    So, despite what you're saying, I'd have to side with the 'ignorant' members of this forum 

You could learn something here and save yourself some money - watch this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfuE00qdhLA

Did anyone try your road on winter tyres? I'll bet they would have no problem either. Even if they had rear wheel drive.

As I said before, 4WD will help you get up a hill on snow or ice. It won't help you coming back down that hill.

[drisser]

I can categorically say I am sold on winter tyres.  Bought a set of continental winter contacts for my 330d last year with 18inch wheels and the dealers swaps them over and stores the other set.

we didn't have much snow but last year when we did, I did a 30 mph stand on the brakes stop on a back road on snow and there was no skid, lockup or slide.  The confidence they inspire is way better than 4wd IMO. 

I would take my RWD BMW with winter tyres over any 4wd with normal tyres, and I have run a TT Quattro in Scotland before and my BMW is way better on snow.

Not only on snow, they push much more water out of the way on dual carriageways as they have much deeper treads.  Handling suffers a bit as they are softer compound and you can feel the flex in the tyre but hey ho.

[scanesare]

An epic vid where the Beemer (!) rescues the snow stuck R (!) (both on all-season tyres)  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd693LSdNOY

Winter tyres are the single best thing there is when it comes to driving over ice/snow.

[matchboy]

Αnd yet, of all the cars I've had over the years, the only ones that could get out of my road when it was icy and/or snow were quattro Audi's and the Golf R.  Which are both AWD.  All the FWD cars couldn't.  And I didn't even bother with the RWD cars    So, despite what you're saying, I'd have to side with the 'ignorant' members of this forum 

You are confusing grip and handling with traction. Totally different and I couldn't agree more that any AWD is great for exactly what you described, ie: traction and getting out/setting off slippery roads. My comment was about the common misconception that AWD gives grip and makes you corner faster (as suggested in some earlier post a few pages back).

Don't side with the wrong team until you are sure what we are talking about first 

Nope, not confusing grip and handling with traction.  Just said that AWD is the only way I can get out of my road when its icy and or/snow.  Never tried winter tyres tbf, but I don't think it would have made that much difference tbh.  I wouldn't know about cornering at high speeds a la track style as I don't take my cars onto the track, so I'll take your word for it in terms of cornering on a race track.

All I know is that when its raining I would trust the AWD of a Golf R over the RWD of my current car - therefore that makes AWD better in tricky conditions IMO. 

[drisser]

Slightly off topic but Matchboy, why the change from Cayman to TTS ?

[scanesare]

Nope, not confusing grip and handling with traction.  Just said that AWD is the only way I can get out of my road when its icy and or/snow.  Never tried winter tyres tbf, but I don't think it would have made that much difference tbh.  I wouldn't know about cornering at high speeds a la track style as I don't take my cars onto the track, so I'll take your word for it in terms of cornering on a race track.

All I know is that when its raining I would trust the AWD of a Golf R over the RWD of my current car - therefore that makes AWD better in tricky conditions IMO. 

Getting out of your icy road is purely a matter of traction. AWD is naturally better at that and it'd take a fool to disagree. But my post was about grip/handling/hard cornering and that AWD, contrary to what some still believe today, is not helping any of those more than FWD. So I don't see how your traction related experience qualifies as a reply to grip/handling debates like the one you quoted in your initial reply. Hope it's clearer now.

The rainy conditions AWD drive needs further clarification. Yes you'll accelerate quicker/smoother if you are somewhat hard on the throttle but you won't brake or corner faster than your tyres allow. The later is a common (and dangerous) feeling several AWD drivers have, especially when driving lower than the car's grip limits, not realizing it is just this fact that keeps them on the road and not the 2 additional driven wheels.

By the way, the difference winter tyres make is indeed huge. If you ever get the chance to try a car with them on you'll see what everyone is about.

[mcmaddy]

Another thing to note is winter tyres are not just for snow and ice but when the temperatures drop too.

[The ANT]

Unless you're in extreme conditions, cooler temperatures have very little effect on most tyres for the road, winter tyres will be a softer compound to provide more grip not to generate heat in them to soften them further to generate grip. Road tyres mainly suffer because they get too hot when you're working them hard not because they're too cold, rallying on snow and ice it is surprisingly easy to overheat tyres. Cooler temperatures aren't an issue unless you're on track day/race tyres, cut slicks are used on the  monte carlo rally and that's held in January, well up in the alps, much of it on icy roads.

[mcmaddy]

So everyone in the motoring press etc is wrong when they say temperatures under 4 or 5° affects tyres?? Freezing temperatures makes the rubber on tyres hard so they are far less effective. Of course you should always change your driving style to suit the road conditions but your tyres also play a massive part.