Whenever it rains is SoCal, driving is usually a chore. Because we don't get much precipitation, the streets get slick with oil. And to be frank, a lot of drivers don't take any caution in the wet weather.
But my morning commute was no bother. I was driving the Audi A4 and except for the pit-pat of raindrops on the roof, you wouldn't even know it was raining. This AWD car felt just as sure-footed as always. No slips. No hydroplaning. Raindrops barely touched the windshield. They just rolled right off. The rain-sensing wipers are quiet and unobtrusive.
This is a great weather car.
Next time, I'll tell you about the A4's weird speedometer.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor @ 6,099 miles
(My camera is down, so no rainy photo. I went artisic instead.)
rick8365 says:
02:08 PM, 01/22/09
Great shot.
We seem to have the opposite problem here in central Jersey....when it rains, people drive like they used to when it was snowing. Now, when it snows....fogetaboutit!
joefrompa says:
02:10 PM, 01/22/09
I can't remember. Does Audi's system drive more than 2 wheels without slippage? I.e. Is the drivetrain mechanically connected to more than 2 wheels at all times, or only activated by slippage?
Joe
adavis2493 says:
02:10 PM, 01/22/09
Rain or no rain, people here in Maryland drive like idiots all together. Anyway, does this one have the frameless doors? I know the A5 does and wind noise it prominent.
cx7lover says:
02:15 PM, 01/22/09
Quattro is all the time-wheel drive. It's not a reactive AWD system.
dderosa says:
02:54 PM, 01/22/09
No, it does not have frameless doors.
canadaphant says:
03:43 PM, 01/22/09
In the absence of actual seasons, SoCal residents still manage to find a way to blame the weather for poor driving. I'm sure I'd be doing the same if I were down there, but you must realize how pathetic it sounds to the rest of the country/continent!
mercedesfan says:
03:56 PM, 01/22/09
All-weather driving was one of the few positive attributes I will give the one Audi I have owned. The car was sure footed and planted in all situations due to Quattro. The few times I drove it in snow, the thing tracked straight and true. The thing is though, that I rarely ever drive in snow and my car now is just as planted and secure in the rain without needing a heavy AWD system. It is amazing what modern stability control technology can do for a rear-wheel drive car.
BMW4me says:
04:40 PM, 01/22/09
It is quite amusing how dramatic you SoCal people get over rain. Seriously, rain. WOW FRICKEN EPIC
cah11705 says:
05:14 PM, 01/22/09
adavis2493, i couldnt agree with you more
people here cant drive when its dry and sunny and its aweful when it rains
and if theres any snow on the ground at all people panic and the school buses dont run and everything
it's aweful
briancam says:
05:42 PM, 01/22/09
me thinks somebody's jeaaaalous (*whisper* bmw4me)
ddark13 says:
06:19 PM, 01/22/09
Wait until you drive it in the snow. Leave ESP on and you can floor it even around turns (in wide open spaces) and it just sorts it out and goes, pretty amazing.
huyracing says:
07:32 PM, 01/22/09
Definitely ddark13, its amazing stuff. I can't believe anyone would pass on this car for snow use...
estreka says:
07:45 PM, 01/22/09
I would love to see rain. *sniff* Btw, we got another 3" of snow today...
BMW4me says:
08:37 PM, 01/22/09
briancam "me thinks somebody's jeaaaalous (*whisper* bmw4me)" Lol. I did have quite a sudden outburst. (looks down shamefully) ;)
cah11705 says:
04:18 AM, 01/23/09
i think that car actually needs a front plate
it looks weird with the big flat open space in front without one
dougtheeng says:
06:15 AM, 01/23/09
"i think that car actually needs a front plate
it looks weird with the big flat open space in front without one"
If the car has a built in front plate spot, I'd definitely fill it. It looks strange to have that empty plate sized opening.
farvy says:
09:43 AM, 01/23/09
It's California, so you need a front plate. And it's not because Edmunds hasn't gotten plates for it yet & are using a temporary sticker in the rear window. The December 29th post shows the rear plate. The January 5th post shows the front plate. Now the front plate is gone in this post. Donna notes that her camera is down, & that she didn't actually take this shot. So perhaps she took an earlier photo from when they just took delivery & did her "artistic" thing.
If your state doesn't require a front plate (like here in Michigan), you simply remove the front mounting bracket if the car came with it installed. Note the two screws holding it on the photo. I would not "fill it".
dderosa says:
12:26 PM, 01/23/09
We have a front plate on it. You can see it in some of the previous blog posts. I took an image out of our files.
compliance says:
01:04 PM, 01/23/09
I think the problem is socal drivers taking too much caution in wet weather. Everyone goes half speed when it's a little wet. Of course, they do this because half of the cars here are on bald tires. It's not really the weather that screws traffic, but peoples' over reaction to it and the lack of tire maintenance.
bpf says:
07:14 PM, 01/23/09
I have an 06 Audi S4 and this thing is just incredible in the snow. I have driven in a foot of snow on unplowed roads and the nose of the car actually pushes the snow to the side.... the stability in slick conditions is just amazing, now about that reliability and Audi service.......
roadburner says:
07:21 PM, 01/23/09
"I think the problem is socal drivers taking too much caution in wet weather."
I think that's the case almost everywhere. American automobile operators-"drivers" is much too generous a term-have been dumbed-down to the point that they think they need AWD or FWD to be able to drive in any sort of precipitation. I can't tell you how many times I've heard/read some brain-dead moron comment that they can't buy a RWD car because they "need to be able to drive it in the rain".
Imbeciles.