Audi: Questions about quattro in audi 80,a3 etc

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 15:53:52 -0800, John Opezdol
<au> wrote:

All 80, 90, 100, A4 and A6 have Quattro with a centre differensial with
50/50 split forward and rear. Older models have possibilty for locking
central diff. (for low speed use). Recent models have Torsen type centre
diff. This will always distribute a minimum torque to the non slipping
pair of wheels (front or rear). The centre diff. will adjust for
different wear of tyres front and rear. Towing with with the front or rear
end lifted of ground can not be performed over distance without uncoupling
the axle to the rear differencial.

Th A3 have the "Golf" system, i.e FW drive with add on RW drive. Slipping
front wheels will generate torque to the rear wheels. More easy to drive
as the car will always act like a front wheel drive, i.e understeer.
Quattro's are described as a bit vague, and can switch from understeer to
oversteer. Not that I would now, as I have never driven other than FW
Audis. Driving on snow or ice, there has ben no need for quattro, neither
in the 80 from 86" or the A6 from 97"

more info can be found at www.audiworld.com

regards

--
Ottar Tverberg
note, remove "-no-spam-" to reply

Ottar said "Quattro's are described as a bit vague, and can switch from
understeer to
oversteer" - nope! Only had one Quattro, an A6 Avant - fantastic car, and
most certainly not vague in any way. No transition between under/over steer,
all it ever did was go round corners, very fast, like it was on rails.

The only time it misbehaved was when it went sideways having lost grip on a
freshly gravelled road, on a corner. Even then, it just "stepped over", and
came back under control easily and safely.

Superb system - reliable too I understand as it's vastly over-engineered.

Mike.
Ottar Tverberg <no> wrote in message
newsnline.no... 

Ottar Tverberg <no> wrote in message news:<online.no>...
 

Well I *do* know, having driven Quattros for over a decade, both on
track and off. Quattros aren't 'vague', they're wonderfully
*neutral*, at least at higher speeds. They are understeerers at
substantially lower speeds (like when I *really* want some power
oversteer in an autocross). The 'switch' comes over a fairly wide
speed range, so you can be pretty sure what you'll get, depending on
your speed, when you push it near its limits.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; drove that)