I don't know a all that much about cars but I am learning very quickly from being on this forum. But from what I have read the quattro loses 25% of the horsepower when it gets to the wheels because of the AWD. So would that mean if you drove the fronttrak version it would be faster? I first learned about this because my parents damn 04 corolla can beat my 99 a4 of the line, thats what made me curious about it.

 

you are correct sir. But even though slower the quattro is a force to be reckoned with in the snow or rain. Today it was raining hard. I was in the left turn lane in an intersection. The light turns green I floor it and cut the wheel HARD. The *** end slidesout at about a 55 degree anglethen just cut the wheel back and SNAP. Rightback in a straight line. And by snap I dont mean like a noise, I meanno oversteer or understeer you just point it and it goes there. I might as well be controlling the car by way of telechenesis. Kick ***!! But yeah front trak would be faster but way less fun. Just go to google or yahoo and look for videos of A4's in the snow or rain. All AWD and all look like the drivers are having blast.

 

Let's say you have 320CHP with FWD and I have 320CHP with Quattro.
You lose 15-18% to the wheels, I lose 25-28% to the wheels.

From a launch, unless you are skilled at dealing with torque steer and traction issues - the Quattro will get you.
Just as we're closing in on the first turn (and the extra ponies have helped you catch up) we hit the turn and I'm pressing the pedal down further while you try to figure out the moment when the ***-end is going to break loose and take you into the haystacks.

......All the while, I'll have a big 'ol $hit-eating grin on my face and enjoying every second.
You may be behind me, next to me, or in front of me - but no matter where you are - you're working you azz off to be there.

Quattro FTW.

 

Ok awesome, glad I have a Quattro then! I get it now, that was very helpful, thanks guys.

 

either way, powerloss or not, when you get into the high horsepower, quattro will smoke FWD straight line or not. when u get lots of HP, you accellerate harder, making mroe weight shift to the back, taking weight off the front wheels, giving them less traction. ever seen a 9 second FWD car without HIGE A$$ tires up front? nope. but ever seen a 9 sec awd car without hige a$$ wheels? sure thing

but thats an extreme. even in lower HP., 300-350 ish. you cant put all the power to the ground when you start, and you cant put it all down when you shift. with AWD, you need a crap load of power to break all 4 loose for more than a chirp. and even then, youll accellerate like a bat outta hell.