Better performance in snow (rather than off the mark) would be what I would see as the benefit of AWD (if indeed there is much advantage of the R in that respect). I know we don't get much of the white stuff these days but did miss a weekend away couple of years ago as couldn't get out of town.....
The AWD maybe useful to get moving in the snow but as already said, it's the stopping that's the issue with the white stuff!! Or as I found out, large icebergs dropping out from a lorry wheel arch and ripping the entire of my oil sump off at 50mph!!

I'm not sure if it being plastic limited the damage or if a metal one wouldn't have be so catastrophic.... either way a Golf R on a tow truck is a very sad sight..... even worse when it's your own!!
