[iwBen]

Last year I braved the snowy winter with my FWD 1.6L 2009 A3. Cracking car, got me to and from the airport when the motorways were reduced to single lane convoys.

As much as I love Quattro-equipped cars, it was out of my budget for last spring's purchase of my A5. So again, this snowy winter was tackled with another FWD Audi... and I've gotta say, I'm really impressed with how well they cope.

Obviously anyone even factoring winter performance should take Quattro without a second thought, but for the 1 day a year when it snows and I don't really _need_ to go anywhere... twice now I've been really impressed with my FWD Audis.

Here's some snaps from a little trip today - 10 miles of rural Kent roads with 15-25cm of snow.











Back home and ready to go another round if old man winter comes back this week

[Socrates]

I came from a 1.6 A3 too seems we have a similar recent history of cars

[TimChan]

are you using 3000k headlight and 6000k fog light?
I am currently using 8000k headlight and found it to be a little bit weak at night and I will see if my fog light goes to 3000k will improve the sight.

[iwBen]

Originally Posted by Socrates

I came from a 1.6 A3 too seems we have a similar recent history of cars

Haha, awesome

Again... wish I could have stretched to spec Quattro, but this won't be my last A5! (not if I can help it anyway!)

[iwBen]

Originally Posted by TimChan

are you using 3000k headlight and 6000k fog light?
I am currently using 8000k headlight and found it to be a little bit weak at night and I will see if my fog light goes to 3000k will improve the sight.

Sorry Tim almost missed your post.

The headlights are OEM, not sure what temperature they are. The fogs are basic LED H11 replacements, those are 5500k (if I remember correctly!)

The fogs aren't anywhere near as effective as the halogen ones that they replaced, however I rarely drive in low visibility conditions anyway (and my A3 didn't have fogs, so I'm used to it!). The only reason I changed them is so that they look better when unlocking the car at night

[ChristopherPovey]

A friend of mine took great delight in telling me he had just seen an A5 spin in his road with all four wheels started spinning on the ice. I personally would not both with or miss Quattro for the 1 week a year it snows in the UK it adds cost, weight and reduces MPG for the other 51 weeks of the year.

[tannerpp]

iwBen - interested to see that you are using a car cover in your pictures. What success have you (and others) had in avoiding the frozen window issues that seem to be a feature most winters on the forum?

I have a 2012 facelift on order and was wondering whether to purchase a cover - which do you have and would you recommend?

Thanks in anticipation.

ps - I also have an A3 FWD (2.0 TDi 170 DSG) and it had no problems in the snow yesterday - but the new car has Quattro!!!

[iwBen]

Originally Posted by tannerpp

iwBen - interested to see that you are using a car cover in your pictures. What success have you (and others) had in avoiding the frozen window issues that seem to be a feature most winters on the forum?

I have a 2012 facelift on order and was wondering whether to purchase a cover - which do you have and would you recommend?

This is my first winter with the A5 and I've not had any frozen window issues at all (though I am near the coast and it hasn't been less than -5°C here so far).

Ideally I'd keep my car in a garage but that's not possible at the moment- hence opting for a cover. As I said recently in another thread, I rarely spend less than 3 hours cleaning my car, so it's nice to keep it spotless for at least a few days afterwards (so the cover was purchased more for rain and dust than for ice).

With that said, I didn't have to defrost anything after digging it out of a snow cocoon yesterday!

It's a large heavy duty all-seasons cover from Halfords. Has 3 layers and is (supposedly) breathable. I think it was about £70 - which to me sounded expensive, until I went on the hunt for an "official" cover and found that tailored solutions were upwards of £150, most of which are basic indoor only ones!

To my knowledge, there is only one "official" A/S/RS5 cover, and it is an indoor dust cover, hand made in Mexico weighing in at something like USD $400!

[RGBArgee]

I think Chris your comment about a Quattro are wrong! You experience superb handling all year and the enjoyment is significantly greater IMHO. You could argue a cabriolet is a 51/1 ratio too! My view is that I do not plan to own a large FWD car and a Quattro Cabriolet suits me 52 weeks a year, although an A7 could tempt me in the current weather.

mrs RG has an A3 Q and that performed superbly in recent snow too.

Cheers

RG

[tannerpp]

Originally Posted by iwBen

This is my first winter with the A5 and I've not had any frozen window issues at all (though I am near the coast and it hasn't been less than -5°C here so far).

Ideally I'd keep my car in a garage but that's not possible at the moment- hence opting for a cover. As I said recently in another thread, I rarely spend less than 3 hours cleaning my car, so it's nice to keep it spotless for at least a few days afterwards (so the cover was purchased more for rain and dust than for ice).

With that said, I didn't have to defrost anything after digging it out of a snow cocoon yesterday!

It's a large heavy duty all-seasons cover from Halfords. Has 3 layers and is (supposedly) breathable. I think it was about £70 - which to me sounded expensive, until I went on the hunt for an "official" cover and found that tailored solutions were upwards of £150, most of which are basic indoor only ones!

To my knowledge, there is only one "official" A/S/RS5 cover, and it is an indoor dust cover, hand made in Mexico weighing in at something like USD $400!

Thanks for the comprehensive reply - It wasn't until I'd measured the garage that I realised just how big the A5 was compared to the A3! We'll need a big sort out before the new car arrives (hopefully on 3rd March) but the sheet you quote was the one I was looking at in Halfords the other day

[Mediaboy]

Winter tyres v AWD

Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice - YouTube

[ecrew16]

Great shot of the car under the car cover with the DRL's on. Glad you have had a good Winter experience as well, drive safe!

[Agilis]

Originally Posted by iwBen

To my knowledge, there is only one "official" A/S/RS5 cover, and it is an indoor dust cover, hand made in Mexico weighing in at something like USD $400!

The cover Audi sells on their website is both indoor/outdoor. It's a great cover and it is fitted for the A5/S5/RS5. Not sure where you got the idea of the cover being an indoor dust cover.

And I'm under the impression that the continue use of a cover on vehicles that are not clean is just asking for paint correction in the future.

Chris you are way off the mark about Quattro's advantage. Not sure why you think snow & ice is the only reason to have Quattro. Rain, increase handling, power to all 4 wheels instead of 2. Just to name a couple.

[iwBen]

Originally Posted by Agilis

The cover Audi sells on their website is both indoor/outdoor. It's a great cover and it is fitted for the A5/S5/RS5. Not sure where you got the idea of the cover being an indoor dust cover.

And I'm under the impression that the continue use of a cover on vehicles that are not clean is just asking for paint correction in the future.

Cover doesn't go on if it's too dirty to give it a quick wipe down before putting it away

Just called 2 dealers to make sure - the one on Audi UK's website (8F0061205) is an indoor-only one... though it might be the $400 one made in Mexico (can't tell without a photo but it is black with the Audi logo on the hood). Audi (in the UK at least) do not have an official all-season or outdoor car cover.

EDIT: Curiosity got the better of me. Here is the one I think you're talking about on the Audi US website - it's only available in the US (something independently acquired and sold by Audi of America). Just to clear that up in case my post disappoints anyone in North America!

[ChristopherPovey]

Originally Posted by RGBArgee

I think Chris your comment about a Quattro are wrong! You experience superb handling all year and the enjoyment is significantly greater IMHO. You could argue a cabriolet is a 51/1 ratio too! My view is that I do not plan to own a large FWD car and a Quattro Cabriolet suits me 52 weeks a year, although an A7 could tempt me in the current weather.

mrs RG has an A3 Q and that performed superbly in recent snow too.

Cheers

RG

I do wonder if having an AWD car does create the placebo effect in some of the owners though. The mentality of “I have AWD therefore I can drive down this snow/ice covered road at the same speeds as if it was dry”. Hence the observed spin of an A5 owner…

[iwBen]

I must admit that the people sliding around the most were the ones in all wheel drive cars, being too cocky.

Again though, before I get flamed, no one can deny that Quattro is a fantastic technology... all that it really comes down to is the personal choice of whether it can be justified. Some people won't do without it, some people have a few higher priority options before they get to it.

No sense in having a debate about opinions :P

[ChristopherPovey]

Originally Posted by iwBen

I must admit that the people sliding around the most were the ones in all wheel drive cars, being too cocky.

Again though, before I get flamed, no one can deny that Quattro is a fantastic technology... all that it really comes down to is the personal choice of whether it can be justified. Some people won't do without it, some people have a few higher priority options before they get to it.

No sense in having a debate about opinions :P

Don't get me wrong, if I bought the coupe with 2.0TFSI or I had bought a cab with a larger engine I may well have gone for Quattro just so that the power transfer to the road is more managed. I decided that the extra weight of the cab combined with 2.0TFSI (211) that Quattro was not necessary.

[oohnoo]

Nothing wrong with fwd on any car as long as you have the "right" tires. Could very well be that awd one you say only had summer tires on it or crappy worn out all-seasons. It all comes down to tires!

Curious as to what you do with the cover once removed. How long does it take you to remove and pack away? Must be a pain when it rains.

[iwBen]

Less than 2 minutes. Would be a pain if I ever had to rush off anywhere but I work from home and have access to another car if need be.

I throw the cover in the boot, and have a method of folding it up that not only makes it way easier to throw back on but also keeps all the dirt and any moisture on the outside of the cover but wrapped up so it come off in the car.

A bit TLDR but for those interested:

I unstrap the front and back, turn the front (hood and fender) section inside out and drag it up so that the edge of the fold is at the top of the windscreen (outside section from the windscreen and hood folded back on the outside section of the roof and rear). I then turn the rear part inside out and tuck the front edge into the back edge, outside parts touching. Then fold the sides up onto the roof (so its folded into thirds, roof and sides), and finally fold it back from the top of the windscreen making it about 16" long and the width of the roof. Fold that in half, throw it in the back and when I want to put it back on it all falls down nice and quick Doing it like this is also the best way to keep it from flying off if it's a little windy!

When I bought my A3 I had to park it under a messy tree so I perfected this before I got the A5. Not the most interesting subject but if anyone wants to know more don't hesitate to ask as it can be a pain in the ass when you don't know where to start!

[Agilis]

Hey iwBen,

I had no idea about certain car covers being sold only in North America vs ROW. That is pretty ridiculous if you ask me.

Now I vote for a video! I'd like to see that folding pattern first hand. Might allow me to use my cover more often when I just got done washing it and rain somehow sneaks into the forecast the same night.

Chris: I think you're using it as an excuse to validate not getting/wanting Quattro. AWD is superior over a FWD or RWD only car. Your argument would be like someone owning a Tahoe, Suburban, etc. and when asked why they didn't buy the 4WD package, which is superior over AWD, their argument is the weight it adds when in reality, they don't want it cause it costs too much or may not use it.

Grip/traction with a AWD, FWD, RWD, or 4WD vehicle is only as good as the tires installed on the vehicle. The A5 you witnessed spinning could have been an inexperienced driver using Summer tires which comes as OE on these cars and didn't know better.

[S4 EVV]

i love the A5 'Black edition' looks better than the S5 in my opinion