Last year we put the snow tires on the A6 and drove it most of the winter when it was bad out.

This year since my wife doesn't like the manual trans we put the snow tires on her A4. I hate the ESP. I'm used to driving with the throttle and traction.

Even when I turn it off it still seems to have traction control which cuts the throttle and thats what I need.

I don't want to pull the fuse or anything like that, it does have its uses but when I turn a corner and the car starts to slide I can correct and get moving faster than the ESP letting me slide 4' then correcting, then having to wait for the power to come back on, etc...

The A6 was great with snow tires, just point and go, no electronic nannies to get in the way. I had hoped the A4 would be more fun to drive but so far no good.

I didn't try holding down the button or anything like that. On my Corvette you push the button for OFF, hold it for no TC but retain stability control. On Jeeps you hold the button down for 5 seconds and it turns the system totally off.

 

something is wrong. or you really got used to that a6
esp turns off when you press that button

 

yeah, once you hit the button and the light on the console is lit it should all be off. I have no problems what so ever with the car cutting power on me once ESP is off, which is most of the winter. in a straight line, sideways, spinning in circle, doesn't matter, i can break the tires free and spin them all day long with no ESP.

any specific situations when the power is still being cut while its off that you can explain?

 

Ok spent some more with it.

Yes when its off, its off...I got some false sense it was cutting power.

Drove it some more in the snow and I'm not sure if its the shorter wheel base, a "slow" transfer case for the AWD, or converter shock but its not nearly as graceful as the A6.

My 2.7 A6 is a manual, longer wheel base and tuned not to have ESP.

I've found a lot of cars the ESP cars are not as well tuned as non-ESP cars because they have the ESP to fall back on.

Part of it might be my driving style too, easier to run the manual and you don't get the converter shock like in an auto that gets it loose.

It rotates pretty easy too. I went a bit easier on the throttle tonight and had some better luck with it.

I might throw the snow tires back on the A6