Well having watched Tiffany use the handbrake on an RS4 last night I have a couple of questions.
Will it **** the centre diff on a high friction surface?
Does it depend on the type of centre diff (will a haldex be OK)?
Will it affect my warranty ?

The last is particularly salient, because a couple of months ago in either Top Gear magazine or Evo there was an advertisement article. This was a Subaru (read IM) article about a driver skills competition. The final heat was carried out in a scooby, with the contestants being judged in several categories.

The article also stated that the finalists were treated to a passenger ride in a scoob with Tiff driving, during which he performed faultless J turns and handbrake 360s.

If IM are condoning Tiff doing this, then it must be ok for me to do it.

I think we should be told. :confused

 

Somewhere, when I was doing my research into buying my STi V5, I read a very emphatic article that stated you SHOULD NOT EVER use the handbrake to pull turns etc on a AWD/4WD car .
Remember, Tif etc isnt exactly restricted by budgetry issues.
(So I tend to bounce the corner of the car of slow pedestrians.)

 

Wot no handbrake turns ???

I went for a play to 3 sisters, and used the handbrake extensively to curb cronic understeer. Fantastic powersides.

It was wet though...
Just used a "dab" of handbrake to start the rear sliding, and used the throttle to keep the slide

Daren't do it in the dry though.....

Mark.

 

Have a look at

 

Forgot to mention the gearbox I needed to have replaced a couple of months afterwards....

Purely coincidental

 

Paul

I was lucky enough to be at the Top Gear event you mentioned. Had a great day in a selection of Subarus, including proper off-roading and a number of speed and skill tests.

Some of the instructors did take us out and did a number of serious handbrake turns at high speed. Don't know about ******** the centre diff, I reckon they knackered the tyres / gears and brakes

The car seem to handle it very well. Don't know if it would be a good idea to do it on a regular basis though.

Chris