[doughboy]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Simply be nice to have the choice imo then people can have either or.

Thing is take average joe public. Two blokes I know were after either a 5 Series or an A6 (diesels). Both plumped for the A6 - why - these blokes are not driving enthusiasts but I still told them the 5 Series will probably be the better drive overall, but they went on the interior looks, sound system and the quattro.

When I went to the Shetlands a few years ago I got sick of the site of quattro Audis.

Point taken on choice, more choice is better. But I meant why would the OP want one? He has an m-sport 330d, but you can't get M sport X 3ers and a 330xd would be heavier, slower, less mpg etc and price wise, unless they give the 4wd away it would blow itself out of the water compared to a 3.0tdi A4 quattro for example.

Doubtless plenty of 'regular' buyers for 4wd 3ers though, but not in the same performance vane that Audi have with their latest rear biased torsen systems.

Get what you're saying about the wet, although with my winters tyres on wet roads are a joy to behold with gently progressive slides easy to achieve in a non scary way.....there's also a lot of phsycological benefit to 4WD, the rear end will still slip out just as easily in a 4WD round a bend, that's mass, tyres & physics, but its esy to feel 'invincible' in a 4WD....

[Jules6]

Front wheels are for steering.
Rear wheels are for driving.
Any other combination is for shopping.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Jules6

Front wheels are for steering.
Rear wheels are for driving.

+1

Also the correct tyres... If we want the best for winter we should really invest in a winter wheel set. Then we can go and stop.

The problem with a lot of 4x4 drivers, they think they can get grip and drive faster, even in the wet, but forget they have no more grip to stop (on summer tyres) than the 2WD cars on the same tyres.

HighlandPete

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by doughboy

there's also a lot of phsycological benefit to 4WD, the rear end will still slip out just as easily in a 4WD round a bend, that's mass, tyres & physics, but its esy to feel 'invincible' in a 4WD....

Indeed there is and as I said before, I really do notice when driving a RWD car. Summer tyres are what they are and winter tyres you 'aint going to use for the vast majority of the years driving, even if you have gone to the expense. But having used to ride motorbikes in winter many moons ago by christ you soon learn to 'read' road conditions and respect your 'rubber' and handling, otherwise it hurts!

It's an appreciation of the laws of physics and being part of your car and understanding the limits........be laissez faire and it's your own fault imo.

Originally Posted by Jules6

Any other combination is for shopping.

Absolutely and my AWD Porsche Turbo was an excellent shopping machine.......fastest travelling food in a straight line or through the twisties.

[chris330D]

Originally Posted by Jules6

Front wheels are for steering.
Rear wheels are for driving.
Any other combination is for shopping.

Sadly I remember the outcry when BMW started selling diesel cars in the UK. people then said 'a BMW is not a BMW unless it is petrol and 6 cylinders'. Times change and things get better. Its called progress Seems like a theoretical debate as BMW don'y look like selling a 330xd anytime soon.