Winter/Snow/icy Driving - Driver Aids or not
Discussion
Which is regarded as better?
You hear all of the stories about the latest BMW (or other general new-ish car) being stranded due to their complex TC system having a freakout, then your told of someone in their E reg Escort trundling past and up a massive hill without so much as a slip.
I understand most is down to the driver, but as this will be my first winter living with RWD (I've had RWD a fair bit but never over a winter), do i stand a better chance than most new cars as my car has an RWD and no TC Or will i flounder about like everyone else??
Also, as my car has an LSD will that help at all minimise loss of traction??
You hear all of the stories about the latest BMW (or other general new-ish car) being stranded due to their complex TC system having a freakout, then your told of someone in their E reg Escort trundling past and up a massive hill without so much as a slip.
I understand most is down to the driver, but as this will be my first winter living with RWD (I've had RWD a fair bit but never over a winter), do i stand a better chance than most new cars as my car has an RWD and no TC Or will i flounder about like everyone else??
Also, as my car has an LSD will that help at all minimise loss of traction??
Stick some ballast in your boot. The main problem comes from the rear wheels trying to push the heavy engine along, whilst only having an empty boot above to push them down.
I've never run winter tyres and have never been stuck in the M3. I did come close last winter in the girlfriends IS200 though. Nothing in the boot though.
I've never run winter tyres and have never been stuck in the M3. I did come close last winter in the girlfriends IS200 though. Nothing in the boot though.
S3_Graham said:
Which is regarded as better?
You hear all of the stories about the latest BMW (or other general new-ish car) being stranded due to their complex TC system having a freakout, then your told of someone in their E reg Escort trundling past and up a massive hill without so much as a slip.
I understand most is down to the driver, but as this will be my first winter living with RWD (I've had RWD a fair bit but never over a winter), do i stand a better chance than most new cars as my car has an RWD and no TC Or will i flounder about like everyone else??
Also, as my car has an LSD will that help at all minimise loss of traction??
Mine was fine in small amounts of snow, with the TC off, and the ABS fuse removed.You hear all of the stories about the latest BMW (or other general new-ish car) being stranded due to their complex TC system having a freakout, then your told of someone in their E reg Escort trundling past and up a massive hill without so much as a slip.
I understand most is down to the driver, but as this will be my first winter living with RWD (I've had RWD a fair bit but never over a winter), do i stand a better chance than most new cars as my car has an RWD and no TC Or will i flounder about like everyone else??
Also, as my car has an LSD will that help at all minimise loss of traction??
However, the biggest problem was the width of the tyres - it just doesn't help that they're so wide.
The MX5 was tonnes better, less power, and skinny tyres helped it cut through the snow.
Last year I found TC on my 328i was a pain when stuck (fortunately I can turn mine off) or when traction was at a premium, such as going up hills, but was very helpful when on the move/up inclines. With TC on you could floor the throttle, even going round corners and the car would remain stable but it could go sideways in a straight line with TC off.
My Stag (no ABS) could well outbreak my 328i (ABS) although as said weight/tyres make a difference.
My Stag (no ABS) could well outbreak my 328i (ABS) although as said weight/tyres make a difference.
Edited by varsas on Thursday 21st October 12:55
Correct Tyres are the best Winter/Snow/Icy driving aid......simple....
And they will become a more popular option now the Councils budgets have been slashed by the ConDems by 1/4 .....less road salting will be done...and it has been confirmed here.
In fact they never bothered last night at all......so it has started already...
And they will become a more popular option now the Councils budgets have been slashed by the ConDems by 1/4 .....less road salting will be done...and it has been confirmed here.
In fact they never bothered last night at all......so it has started already...
lescombes said:
Correct Tyres are the best Winter/Snow/Icy driving aid......simple....
And they will become a more popular option now the Councils budgets have been slashed by the ConDems by 1/4 .....less road salting will be done...and it has been confirmed here.
In fact they never bothered last night at all......so it has started already...
I saw some gritters out last night, although I don't really know why.And they will become a more popular option now the Councils budgets have been slashed by the ConDems by 1/4 .....less road salting will be done...and it has been confirmed here.
In fact they never bothered last night at all......so it has started already...
Last year I used my trusty Mondeo automatic to get me through the snow, fitted with finest oriental ditchfinders at each corner. I only had the ABS intervene once and that was through deliberate provocation. I'll admit that progress wasn't particularly rapid but given the conditions I wasn't particularly slower than anyone else on the roads and certainly wasn't holding anyone up.
I honestly believe the key to driving on snow is to 'not be a dick', whether your car has more electronics than a Dixons warehouse or is a ropey old nail on the verge of automotive prolapse.
I honestly believe the key to driving on snow is to 'not be a dick', whether your car has more electronics than a Dixons warehouse or is a ropey old nail on the verge of automotive prolapse.
Best car i have ever used in the snow was an Mr2 turbo.
The LSD in these cars and the engine at the back helped loads!!! It was awesome!
I stopped on a hill to help push an Rx8 up the hill. Got back in off i went back up the hill collecting sideways style points!
The worst was my BMW! Argh it just stopped on the slightest hill.
Both had fat summer tyres on.
So lack of ABS, traction control and a diff seemed to help me loads!
Although skinny tyres would have been a better option!
The LSD in these cars and the engine at the back helped loads!!! It was awesome!
I stopped on a hill to help push an Rx8 up the hill. Got back in off i went back up the hill collecting sideways style points!
The worst was my BMW! Argh it just stopped on the slightest hill.
Both had fat summer tyres on.
So lack of ABS, traction control and a diff seemed to help me loads!
Although skinny tyres would have been a better option!
To achieve a hill start on a snowy hill in my winter tyre-equipped BMW, I have to switch off DSC. Otherwise the power is constantly cut. The LSD makes it easy to drive up the snow-covered hill between parked cars on both sides, making constant small steering corrections.
ABS is not a concern, given the only time it will cause trouble will be in an emergncy stop on dry powdery snow. When I slid at very low speed on a corner covered in sheet ice last winter, I was very glad of my ABS. Locked wheels would have resulted in impact with the pavement.
ABS is not a concern, given the only time it will cause trouble will be in an emergncy stop on dry powdery snow. When I slid at very low speed on a corner covered in sheet ice last winter, I was very glad of my ABS. Locked wheels would have resulted in impact with the pavement.
neil_bolton said:
S3_Graham said:
Which is regarded as better?
You hear all of the stories about the latest BMW (or other general new-ish car) being stranded due to their complex TC system having a freakout, then your told of someone in their E reg Escort trundling past and up a massive hill without so much as a slip.
I understand most is down to the driver, but as this will be my first winter living with RWD (I've had RWD a fair bit but never over a winter), do i stand a better chance than most new cars as my car has an RWD and no TC Or will i flounder about like everyone else??
Also, as my car has an LSD will that help at all minimise loss of traction??
Mine was fine in small amounts of snow, with the TC off, and the ABS fuse removed.You hear all of the stories about the latest BMW (or other general new-ish car) being stranded due to their complex TC system having a freakout, then your told of someone in their E reg Escort trundling past and up a massive hill without so much as a slip.
I understand most is down to the driver, but as this will be my first winter living with RWD (I've had RWD a fair bit but never over a winter), do i stand a better chance than most new cars as my car has an RWD and no TC Or will i flounder about like everyone else??
Also, as my car has an LSD will that help at all minimise loss of traction??
However, the biggest problem was the width of the tyres - it just doesn't help that they're so wide.
The MX5 was tonnes better, less power, and skinny tyres helped it cut through the snow.
Driver has a lot to do with it. Last year I was on my way home from work when the road was blocked by a new mondeo on a slight incline, not getting anywhere at all. I stopped behind him in my 12 year old fiesta, got out, told him to turn off the traction control and gently pull away. He mashed the accelerator to the floor and went sideways. I then told him to put it into second, which he did, and then he started moving a bit until he stalled it. He started the engine again, and when he started moving, I just pushed him to the side of the road (which was surprisingly easy to do when a car has the front wheels spinning like that), ran back to my car, and drove past him. Numpty.
davepoth said:
Driver has a lot to do with it. Last year I was on my way home from work when the road was blocked by a new mondeo on a slight incline, not getting anywhere at all. I stopped behind him in my 12 year old fiesta, got out, told him to turn off the traction control and gently pull away. He mashed the accelerator to the floor and went sideways. I then told him to put it into second, which he did, and then he started moving a bit until he stalled it. He started the engine again, and when he started moving, I just pushed him to the side of the road (which was surprisingly easy to do when a car has the front wheels spinning like that), ran back to my car, and drove past him. Numpty.
Again, I think the major factor is tyre compound. Your Fiesta will have soft, low speed rated, skinny tyres.S3_Graham said:
Which is regarded as better?
You hear all of the stories about the latest BMW (or other general new-ish car) being stranded due to their complex TC system having a freakout, then your told of someone in their E reg Escort trundling past and up a massive hill without so much as a slip.
I understand most is down to the driver, but as this will be my first winter living with RWD (I've had RWD a fair bit but never over a winter), do i stand a better chance than most new cars as my car has an RWD and no TC Or will i flounder about like everyone else??
Also, as my car has an LSD will that help at all minimise loss of traction??
An LSD will make a huge difference IMO. You'll have 2wd unlike most cars with open diffs that will have 1wd.You hear all of the stories about the latest BMW (or other general new-ish car) being stranded due to their complex TC system having a freakout, then your told of someone in their E reg Escort trundling past and up a massive hill without so much as a slip.
I understand most is down to the driver, but as this will be my first winter living with RWD (I've had RWD a fair bit but never over a winter), do i stand a better chance than most new cars as my car has an RWD and no TC Or will i flounder about like everyone else??
Also, as my car has an LSD will that help at all minimise loss of traction??
Tyres will still be a big decider though. And road camber can make a rwd car want to go sidesways rather than straight on when at low speed or trying to pull off. Once moving it should work well though. It's also worth trying to reverse such as slippery inclines instead of go forward.
TCS/ESP are all good and that, but sometimes switching them off is good too. In some situations you don't want power being restricted to the wheels. So mix and match and have a play and see what works for you in this regard.
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