Quattro Driving Techniques

[Bob Nielsen <bobnielsen@sprintmail.com>]

Hi All,

I have been driving a '91 qc for about a year now.  It is the funnest
(is that a word?) car I have ever owned!  I have driven high performance
fwd and rwd in all conditions (street,track,autoX,rally,ice)for years.

I seem to remember that one of the drivers in the SCCA Quattro campain
remarked that the quattro was the hardest car to learn how to drive
fast.  I AGREE.

I am amazed at how fast it can change from fwd understeer to rwd
oversteer.  This is most liekly due to the variable front to rear torque
distribution.  But once learned this characteristic can be used in one's
favor!

The car loves to be tossed about and w/ power applied !  (Please don't
practice on the public streets, at least not around me !!)

I learned that the fwd handbrake turn doesn't work on the Q.  When you
grab a hndfull of brake the torque bias sees the rear wheels getting
more bite and transfers power (now you are really plowing).  It would
probably work with the clutch in, but who cares by then.

Also found that left foot braking w/ power on does more then put the
weight on the front wheels but also transfers torgue up front.  Still
learning the best use for this one.

Been trying to avoid using the inside berm (snow or whatever) to toss
the rear out by catching it with the inside rr wheel, but it works well
with the Q.  This technigue used up rr wheel bearings on the GTI so I
can imagine the cost of rr bearing, tie rods, ball joints for Qc !!!

I would be interested in hearing other's Q high performance driving
techniques or if any good material exists on the subject.

thanks,

bob nielsen  (bobnielsen@sprintmail.com)

'91 qc  (lots of snow and loving it)
'83 vw gti (autoX w/ all the tricks)
'79 alfa sedan
'73 914/6 2.7 rs 
'68 alfa spider