[V8] V8 winter performance comparisons and questions

[qshipq at aol.com]

 Bryan
You have identified 3 different systems here.  First, let's address the v8.  The only torsen in ALL v8 quattros is the rear.  The Manual v8 uses a Torsen Center as well, all Automatic V8's use a electromagnetic 'on-off' clutch, center lockup controlled full time awd center diff based on input from ABS sensors.  

To your SLX, it uses the Borg-Warner 44-22  Torque on Demand (ToD) system that uses no center diff, that is to say it's a part time 4wd system.  It's rear wheel drive until the ABS sensors sense spin on the front axle, then uses computer controlled electromagnetic clutch to lock up the front axle at 10% increments until 'slip' is equal at all wheels.  It's basically the same as Ford's "Control-trac" in the exploder.  The advantage to the ToD system is that it also controls transmission shifts as well (i.e. 'winter mode' starts the truck in locked center mode trans in 3rd gear).

To the Toyota Landcruiser (TLC), the U100 '99 Landcruiser of your ex's is a full time awd truck with the ability to lock the center diff and the ability to lock the rear diff (rear locking option on u100).  It uses the HF2A transfer/center awd diff, which is actually a step back from the HF2AV transfer/Center awd diff found in the FZJ80 (1993>1997), that also adds the viscous coupling to the center diff in 'non-locked' awd mode.  IMO, the FZJ80 had the best AWD system built:  Full time awd with VC center diff/ABS, Locking center diff ability, and (optional) front and rear lockers = Unimog+

I currently own a 92 v8 (5th v8 I've owned), as well as, a TRD Supercharged FZJ80 (+2 urq's and a 4k20vtq).  I drive both in Chicago winters, and have snows for both.  I put Blizzack DMZ3 on my 80, and found it not only unstoppable (without front/rear locking option), but also took it to the Gruppe-q Steamboat ice track and it was the fastest 'quattro' on ice, including camera chases with a 400atwhp urS car and the venerable LT1Q.  

Back to the v8...  Second to the TLC, it is my favorite winter drive.  The awd system is phenomenal, and the key word is transparent.  By that I mean, I enjoy the lockers in my urq's, but the v8 ability to retain ABS and not be 'actively' involved in traction effort, has a lot of benefits.  Get in a drive it.  

To your question on tires, it depends.  I put DMZ3 Blizzacks on my Landcruiser and have run them for 60k (yup, as of today), and will be replacing them with the DM-V1.  They are a very good winter tire, and a very good all season.  I debated the OE Michelin LTX, but I can't justify the extra 150bucks when my experience with the Blizzies were so good. I routinely tow broken quattros with a tandem axle trailer, and the tires have proven quite good to excellent.  They can not be uses for anything beyond light/med duty off road if that's your cup o' tea.

Anyhow, hope this answers your questions.  

HTH and Best Regards

Scott aka "torsen-boy" J
1992 V8 ABT chipped
1995 FZJ80 TRD Supercharged
'83 urq
'83 urq track car
'84 urq
'87 4k20vtq




*Questions:*

*

*

1) So does anyone know how (mechanically) the AWD system on a V8 TLC

compares to our Audi system?



2) Anybody understand how the late generation Isuzu system works?



3) Do all Audis (current generations included) all use the same Torsen

system like we have, or do they build some more robustly than others, like

Toyota and other manufacturers do?



4) If I get some better M+S rated AT tires or something for the SLX/Trooper,

will I get good snow/ice performance or should I just get dedicated snows?

 Not a big deal here, I can actually run them year-round since it's so mild

in the summers.  I have on my V8 a few summers (I don't drive huge mileage

so I was just too lazy to swap the tires).



I know I can go Google and find some of this stuff with hours of study, but

I know some of you guys can simplify the heck out of it for me by making

comparisons to the V8 system, which I do understand how it operates.  I'm

kinda a newb to SUVs despite having that TLC a few years. I just worked so

perfectly all the time it never challenged me to worry or think about it

other than maintenance.



Overall I'm really happy with the SLX/Trooper, especially for the low price

and high quality.  I'll use it happily a few years until I can replace it

with a nice used 100 series V8 TLC.



Bryan