This is an interesting test, and some cars will do better than others, it doesn't reflect real world conditions unless the potholes in China are this massive. You could get a vehicle that aces this test and fails on the road.
It's a pay to play challenge, called the "Foam Pit Challenge" Drivers pay a fee to enter the pit and try to drive out while they pour slippery foamy water If they get stuck, they stop the foam, rinse with water, and you just drive out
I absolutely LOVE my A4. When I had it for a month I took a road trip one night from Seattle to Reno, through multiple mountain passes, through a heavy snow storm, and had a blast.
Assuming that the tyres are good, you mostly can test 4wd with top differential settings. I do own a Fiat Sedici that is said to become 4x4 (with a "lock" mode of you press the dedicated button long enough). --> climbs pretty well on snowy road ... BUT, I had two bad experiences on flat snowy road : One wheel starts to spin and another one does the same (diagonally) (cause open diff front AND back and no electronics to limit / contain the excess spins... ).
I would assume it's whatever the dealer has on them as they sell them but that doesn't say much since even a Dacia dealer puts very expensive tires on their cars nowadays.
A lot of those expensive tires that come standard on new vehicles. Are usually made at a different factory and made cheaper with less tread. They do the less tread to save costs and also lighter tires cause less resistance and give better mpg results.
Pretty sure it is. I remember driving up a steep hill to our hotel in my Peugeot 405 but my front wheel just spun. Then I drove up said hill backwards and I managed it without a problem. During a walk I watched, from a large distance, some tiny car drive up that hill without any problems and I just didn't get it. When getting back to the hotel it turned out to be a Subaru Jumbo. One of the few Subaru's back then you could get with just 2WD, but this was obviously an AWD version...
For real. Was in a German minivan today that shot off with a 0-60 of I don't even *know* the fuck how fast and then casually kept over 100mph for a bit just for fun. Apparently a turbo diesel minivan, for WHATEVER fucking reason.
Yeah he almost gets to the top and instead of letting his momentum bring him out, he tries to steer out. I'm guessing I would probably fail it too though
Driver>tires>car Yes the car helps, but I feel an excellent test driver could get out with just about any vehicle that can maintain the proper speed for their position in the bowl to cancel out lateral g's and thus maintain turning and acceleration traction
While I agree it looks like tile... I think the car ramming into the rim would obliterate actual tile. I think this might just be concrete with a smoother than normal finish. Still would make it slicker most likely but I just can't imagine tile taking that kind of abuse.
tbf, this vid is of a volkswagen, it's the same group of companies, they use the same AWD systems across the brands. Generally either a Torsen or Haldex system - all made by a third party.
super slippery conditions of ice, oil, wet leaves or dust-oil-mixtures are not that uncommon and here simulated with soapy water...and losing control of the car on a slope be it up- or downhill is always dangerous...sure, its an edge case, but if it allows to actually sort out the bad cars, so be it...
Mmmm I mean this is meant to show how well traction holds up driving in a situation that makes having good traction very difficult. Where my grandmother used to live in rural PA, there was a road that turned up a steep hill that that was known to fuck up cars and people who ignored signage & went too fast in wet or icy conditions. I bet this test would tell you pretty well which cars, tires, and driving styles would handle those conditions well. It's a bit niche, but still a good test to run.
MapleSyrupMafia
https://youtu.be/5QbMOtl_SRo?si=B7LLfkOHnfCFO7gs
TigerThong
seems more like a tire test
wadatahmydamie
And a driver test
GeminiDreams
It still went into the lava.
dohcohv
This is an interesting test, and some cars will do better than others, it doesn't reflect real world conditions unless the potholes in China are this massive. You could get a vehicle that aces this test and fails on the road.
thechelonianshelmet
Funny you should mention that: /gallery/thursdump-0KR3dTC#apKeR9H
ByThePowerOfSCIENCE
it can simulate a curve in the opposite direction - just have a g-meter on board
OhIfIMust
Ladies and gentlemen...!!!
fartser
I feel like this is just a place for people to play with their cars.
HavelTh3Rock
It can be two things.
MauroMolinero
for science!
gablestout
It very much is.
It's a pay to play challenge, called the "Foam Pit Challenge"
Drivers pay a fee to enter the pit and try to drive out while they pour slippery foamy water
If they get stuck, they stop the foam, rinse with water, and you just drive out
EDoPur
DrinkMoreMrBrown
I absolutely LOVE my A4. When I had it for a month I took a road trip one night from Seattle to Reno, through multiple mountain passes, through a heavy snow storm, and had a blast.
WeaponizedJerk
I don't remember vehicle performance tests having an audience and presenters....
rebelft
Testing performance? With what criteria exactly? Seems just like a place to fake drift and do donoughts
Titilve74
Assuming that the tyres are good, you mostly can test 4wd with top differential settings.
I do own a Fiat Sedici that is said to become 4x4 (with a "lock" mode of you press the dedicated button long enough). --> climbs pretty well on snowy road ...
BUT, I had two bad experiences on flat snowy road : One wheel starts to spin and another one does the same (diagonally) (cause open diff front AND back and no electronics to limit / contain the excess spins... ).
IWantedOneOfThoseLongUsernamesTooSoIGotOne
SHHHHHH don't give it away! This shit is super fun but we have to pretend it's Serious Business or we won't get to keep doing it!
NotAllowedToArgueUnlessYouPay
Traction control system was working its ass off. I imagine there are ways to quantify the effectiveness.
draginator
I don't see how the car did anything special here, the driver just knows how to use momentum.. N
DavedandConfused
Then the Audi’s oil was really low and had to be filled up for the second time that day.
superman0000
I feel like the driver should get as much credit as the car.
Jandegrote
You telling me they aren't using ling longs?
PorneliusHubertII
Yea, if u really want to test it, toss in an average driver.
Uskaanax
This makes the Stig dizzy.
philogogus
It's not the Stig, it's the Stig's Chinese cousin.
TsubakiTragic
more. just use centrifugal forces or (believe it or not) orbital dynamics to get out of the pit.
presswc
Probably more credit. Just watching the braking and accelerating, there’s a lot more going on here than car performance.
Lonewolfing
Well, yes. But assuming they used the same performer for multiple cars.... I suppose it would still accurately measure car performance.
BeardedWonder82
Plus the tires used
Beardedgeek72
If the car comes with the standard equipment then no, not really.
Krytture
Yeah the driver knew what to do and those tires were working overtime.
textilelover
If they are what comes standard off the lot wouldn't that sort of be included in 'the car'? I honestly don't know.
Jandegrote
I would assume it's whatever the dealer has on them as they sell them but that doesn't say much since even a Dacia dealer puts very expensive tires on their cars nowadays.
Isthe4thtimethecharm
A lot of those expensive tires that come standard on new vehicles. Are usually made at a different factory and made cheaper with less tread. They do the less tread to save costs and also lighter tires cause less resistance and give better mpg results.
choppedliveraldente
Using the same tires on all of the cars would be a like a control on a test group.
xj4low
I drive through 2 of these a day when commuting for work and have been looking for a car that works better to shorten my commute time.
NotAllowedToArgueUnlessYouPay
Chinese traffic circles are next-level.
76000BatteryLlamas
I would think so long as you have good tires, nearly any vehicle would be able to do the exact thing
sadurdaynight
Looks like soapy water
gablestout
It's foam. It is 100% amusement, 0% "testing"
RecurringNightmare
nah, suspension has huge impact, as well as all the electronic helpers...
Keitterman
I don't know a lot about cars, but I'm "pretty sure" all Audis are all-wheel drive? Is that a factor here?
ricpaul
Pretty sure it is. I remember driving up a steep hill to our hotel in my Peugeot 405 but my front wheel just spun. Then I drove up said hill backwards and I managed it without a problem. During a walk I watched, from a large distance, some tiny car drive up that hill without any problems and I just didn't get it. When getting back to the hotel it turned out to be a Subaru Jumbo. One of the few Subaru's back then you could get with just 2WD, but this was obviously an AWD version...
RecurringNightmare
only the higher models are, others are front drive...but yes, absolutely a factor...
Feralkyn
Could these guys not shut the fuck up for two seconds so we can hear the car's engine??
GoodGuyGonzo
RacecarIsRacecarBackwards
Vorsprung durch Technik
Canigetbannedagain2
That guy will ride that high for years.
ByThePowerOfSCIENCE
that's impressive, though probably the truck is lightly loaded and also—
!!!!!!
implosion3
Not sure how light.. he's hauling a large loader so anywhere between 40,000 and 90,000 pounds
ForceAwakenWasLame
So a lil less than ops mum
ByThePowerOfSCIENCE
that's what I mean - at first I thought it was going light, then I saw the payload
wanderleisantosf10
We all know the truck we want to see there right?
NostocOnMyShoe
QUATTRO
WhoWantsAMustacheRide
I just drove on the 401 last weekend and every bad, entitled driver was an Audi. We couldn't help laugh: "where is the represent Tesla ans BMW?"
Currahee63
So, nobody actually dies? There's no Sarlacc at the bottom of the pit?
GoodChange
That’s the Russian death pit.
discostewsm
There is. You can't see it because it's foaming at the mouth.
StewedTomaters
Right. They're lucky to get out alive.
Anaphriel
The Sarlacc has been replaced with an AI chatbot.
BeaverOnFire
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1NHowenpjeGRlbnVkeXRrZnBxMHdmZzd5YnhubXNlZ3o5czN6dmVhaSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/L02M3FJhkF19S/200w.webp
eetsumkaus
there was, but Disney needed sequel content, so the Audi A4 got out and lived with Tusken Raiders for a while before turning a new leaf.
emu314159127001
Temu sarlacc
Turboslacker
What a ripoff!
fformulaa
"Death pit" my ass
EvilBrainSlug
There is, but it's toothless. If you stay in its intestinal juices at the bottom there though, for a thousand years, you will be dissolved.
mikeatike
Soaplacc
imgurianitarian
VegaJuniper
Everything reminds me of her
Stabunaattori
Death pit from Temu.
rezpawner
Hear me out here ...We fill the pit with acid.
wejustdontknow
"We need a giant monster in the desert for Luke to be eaten by! It should look like a giant anus!"
ThatQuietlySmirking
15 years later: "Too Anussy! Add a penis! With a tongue!"
imnotinthewitnessprotectionprogram
Is Harvey Weinstein available???
Poopoopeepeevagina
He's busy playing the roll of an Ork in return of the king.
OhIfIMust
"And change it later so it squeals like a pig, and has some weird mouth with a tongue, for no reason!"
bazzaretta
Just soap. You come in dirty and come out clean. It's like baptism.
chrispisme
It’s a car wash
Currahee63
BryanTenn
Steel? That's clearly concrete.
ChimRichaldsBud
AWD is good.
stronomer
I don't know what a soap-covered ramp has anything to do with "performance of a car".
PassionAggressive
Not sure what the big deal is, my wife does that every winter on flat roads all over my county, don’t even need that pit!
PassionAggressive
Jk I love my wife and jokes at spousal expense are low brow. Watched too much Rodney and Rickles during my formative years.
ShadowSayain
Is that a trick of the camera or is the driver stopping their wheels over and over? If so, what’s that for?
sacrosanctt
It's to test for normal driving conditions in China. As one has to regularly navigate sink holes just like this.
dooremouse
That is super neat and looks just crazy fun.
eastend666
I have an A4 wagon. It looks like a suburban dad car but drives like a demon, so it suits me - a suburban demon - perfectly.
SirRichfield
Well it's GERMAN suburban dad car, so …
Feralkyn
For real. Was in a German minivan today that shot off with a 0-60 of I don't even *know* the fuck how fast and then casually kept over 100mph for a bit just for fun. Apparently a turbo diesel minivan, for WHATEVER fucking reason.
SirRichfield
The reason is "BECAUSE WE CAN!" 100 mph are 160 kph ... so, smooth sailing. :)
Spylacopa68
I have a Audi A4 wagon. i call it half an antichrist because it has 333 hp. 😀
smartguy1337
other cars
MadamPuddifoot
That camera work made me dizzy.
wadatahmydamie
Other car in a different pit*
MauroMolinero
that looks fun. like skate parks for car boomers
SpicyGoober
This is totally a skill issue by the driver and/or simply having fun with it spinning out
Tomigami
First car wash to have a spin cycle
JestersWing
*Benny Hill theme intensifies *
CappucinoDrunkard
This driver aucks
InitHello
At least it's clean now.
DustyBibbles
Man, skateboarding has gotten wild
ByThePowerOfSCIENCE
hey, it's me trying to get out of debt!
MipMop
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1OWJhbmt1bmZ4bzkwN280YXdqMHhsejJvcHExZXRjNGt4MGE0d2xyOSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/OV1blc3qpmM7K/200w.webp
Andersen81
There are easyer ways to wash your car, but hardly any more fun than this.
Infinias
That has nothing to do with the car but the driver.
bitemark
Yeah he almost gets to the top and instead of letting his momentum bring him out, he tries to steer out. I'm guessing I would probably fail it too though
Grimmrog
Probably with the tires too
smartguy1337
The driver matters, but Audi’s quattro system is what allows the car to maintain traction on surface
squillis
Driver>tires>car
Yes the car helps, but I feel an excellent test driver could get out with just about any vehicle that can maintain the proper speed for their position in the bowl to cancel out lateral g's and thus maintain turning and acceleration traction
AllegedlyUncleTonton
Not sure why you'd get downvoted for saying that. You didn't say anything that isn't true here.
ostensiblystupid
Another point to be made here is that the Audi is driving on soapy concrete, while this car is driving on soapy tile.
IMakeLotsOfReferencesAndRemakes
While I agree it looks like tile... I think the car ramming into the rim would obliterate actual tile. I think this might just be concrete with a smoother than normal finish. Still would make it slicker most likely but I just can't imagine tile taking that kind of abuse.
ostensiblystupid
It’s hard to say exactly what it is, right? Tile-ish I suppose.
IDontCareAtAllButIShould
The Audi would have done no better with this driver behind the wheel.
dashers
tbf, this vid is of a volkswagen, it's the same group of companies, they use the same AWD systems across the brands. Generally either a Torsen or Haldex system - all made by a third party.
MrFancyPanzer
What's the point of this?
PballQhead
fun
OhIfIMust
Fun!
gablestout
Fun. It's actually called the "Foam Pit Challenge". You drive in and try to drive out.
thricebakedxyz
You know, the thing.
wadatahmydamie
Advertising
vatroslast
It simulates exactly zero natural conditions you could ever find yourself in!
RecurringNightmare
super slippery conditions of ice, oil, wet leaves or dust-oil-mixtures are not that uncommon and here simulated with soapy water...and losing control of the car on a slope be it up- or downhill is always dangerous...sure, its an edge case, but if it allows to actually sort out the bad cars, so be it...
RecurringNightmare
*dust-rain-mixtures i meant...
eastend666
Well, yes and no.
ThereAreChameleonsEverywhereProbably
Mmmm I mean this is meant to show how well traction holds up driving in a situation that makes having good traction very difficult.
Where my grandmother used to live in rural PA, there was a road that turned up a steep hill that that was known to fuck up cars and people who ignored signage & went too fast in wet or icy conditions. I bet this test would tell you pretty well which cars, tires, and driving styles would handle those conditions well. It's a bit niche, but still a good test to run.
Jimmah1
As someone in PA. The roads were made by looney tunes characters. Good luck.
MauroMolinero
testing how cars slip, what takes them to overcome the obstacles, if its capable to begin with, to see what breaks after, etc.
MrFancyPanzer
It's more a test of tires than cars.
ThomasTheWankEnglne
yeah id say traction control and tires more than anything.
PballQhead
And AWD system plus whatever electronic nannies are turned on
VegaJuniper
Alright, let's slap some good rubber on that Cybertruck and see how that goes!
MauroMolinero
the crappertruck is gonna explode the moment the wheels touch water.