Replying to SUBARU VS. AUDI

How about No. Subaru (and coming in a close second Mitsubishi) have the most advanced AWD systems on the domestic market. Audi (praised for it's saftey and luxury) have devoluped what you may call a "safe a comfortable" AWD system.

Now, depending on what you taste is (either luxury or sporty...maybe a mix of both) the transmission can be setup vastely differant.

Now to the differance among the transmission:

Subaru has three unique advantages on it's side:

1. DCCD (Driver Controled Center Differential) - This enables the operator to distribute the power from front to rear to where he/she may see fit. This could range from 70% rear 30% front to 40% rear 60% front. This will give you a hand on drag (where power is more useful at the rear) to everyday poor wheather driving eg. ice, snow, sleet (where the power up front will help with traction on less-then-optimal surfaces.

2. Semi-lock and Full-Lock Differentials:

This allows the driver to lock his/her front differential. This helps pull the car out of snow as well as added traction on slippery surfaces. Grip on the front "pulls a car." This means less hassle and squirming on slippery surfaces. Very handy for ice packed snow or black ice.

3. A. Sequential gearbox
B. Front Limited Slip Differential
C. Center Viscious Culping Differential
D. Rear Limited Slip Differential

Before I go any further I understand this is a skiing form and not a car forum. Thus I do not expect everyone reading this post to understand exactly what a "Viscous Cupling Differential" is. So I will give you the cliff notes on how these work.


A Limited slip differential operates off two opposing wheels. For example: the front two tires and the rear two tires. The differential sences loss of traction on one side, pulls power form it, and applies it to the other side.

A viscous cuping differential works in conjunction with the front and rear limited slip differentials. It sences loss of traction on either side, pulls it, and applies it to the other side (front or rear) with more traction. Then it is up to the limited slip differentials to decide which wheel to put a certain percentage or that power to.

Make sence? Hope so.

Now on to Audi:

Audi has none of that.

.....Well, I will give Audi a break, they DO have Limited Slip and Viscous Cupling Differentials but they are nowhere NEAR the performance and engineering that a subaru AWD system has to offer.

Audi has devoluped a AWD system that is more luxury oriented. You don't need to you with it or chance it's settings. It just does it's job and that it.

Bacically, it's better for grocery getting if you don't know shit about cars. Nuff said.

Now let's break it down:

Subaru: Rally bred AWD system optimal for race situations.

Audi: Simple AWD...still very good, but cannot even be compaired to Subaru's AWD system.

Cliff notes: Subaru > Audi