Snow.. Christ (and help!!)
Discussion
Had a "fun" drive home in the Boxster (2.7 987, first Porsche/RWD/Mid-Engine/All the bad in snow stuff you can think of).
Main A-Roads were fine, sensible speeds, light on the brakes etc. and no worries. Then I hit town.
Basically I spent quite a bit of time squirming sideways (and pissing off everyone behind me) no matter how light I tried to be on the revs, PSM on/off, 1st gear second gear etc. all seemed to just produce the orange "you're in the shit" light.
So am I being a div in how I was trying to pull away (once going in a straight line things seemed controllable) or is it literally a case of "you got bit, learn your lesson and stay at home next time this happens"?
Main A-Roads were fine, sensible speeds, light on the brakes etc. and no worries. Then I hit town.
Basically I spent quite a bit of time squirming sideways (and pissing off everyone behind me) no matter how light I tried to be on the revs, PSM on/off, 1st gear second gear etc. all seemed to just produce the orange "you're in the shit" light.
So am I being a div in how I was trying to pull away (once going in a straight line things seemed controllable) or is it literally a case of "you got bit, learn your lesson and stay at home next time this happens"?
9hellheaven said:
Is it worth the risk mate?
If you have alternative..as long as its not a Bugati veron thingy!
Wouldnt be without my trusty 110 Defender to be honest..
If you have alternative..as long as its not a Bugati veron thingy!
Wouldnt be without my trusty 110 Defender to be honest..
Hands up I got caught out because it was alright yesterday and alright this morning so I got complacent and didn't leave work early enough to miss the roads and the weather. I've never had to deal with anything like how it was this evening in 11 years (hardly a lifetime but not just passed my test IYSWIM).
I've learned a lesson, but I would also like to know what I was doing wrong in not being able to get anything other than a) the wheels spinning and b) sideways.
Edited by hutchingsp on Friday 9th February 19:33
Its unlikey you did much wrong..think cambers..slopes and even a mild breeze is all it takes to blow you off course.
I think if you crash through error or over pushing things is one thing..but to slowy slide into something is really rather anoying.
If you want to travel in the snow skis are the best mode!!
I think if you crash through error or over pushing things is one thing..but to slowy slide into something is really rather anoying.
If you want to travel in the snow skis are the best mode!!
I can only relate to your experience in case you're still on Summer tyres. I rarely had an issue with my old Boxters in the snow. Only real wet sludge would be a horror as it would immediately clog up whatever profile there was and traction turned close to zero. Else I found them fantastic with neutral handling. I used to turn PSM off in the snow as it reacted a bit late/slow, cutting into my corrections.
SImple!
I mentioned this yesterday I think it was but get out there next time fast!!! In a Disco...
Was up on the common again today and there was nobody about at the pub in the center so hared it up the lane to the pub and nearly managed to spin the tractor! Managed a bit of a controlled four wheel slide as well when coming back out. Fantastic.
We were the onlypeople in the local pub and when I rang to see if the staff had turned up and the kitchen was open, the reply was .....
" have you got a four wheel drive?"
We were in Tractor so he thought we may get in and out of the car park. The C4 stayed very safe under a light covering of snow all day! Exactly where it should be with the muppets out there on our roads. (especially those idiots in high performance rear wheel cars) :-)
I mentioned this yesterday I think it was but get out there next time fast!!! In a Disco...
Was up on the common again today and there was nobody about at the pub in the center so hared it up the lane to the pub and nearly managed to spin the tractor! Managed a bit of a controlled four wheel slide as well when coming back out. Fantastic.
We were the onlypeople in the local pub and when I rang to see if the staff had turned up and the kitchen was open, the reply was .....
" have you got a four wheel drive?"
We were in Tractor so he thought we may get in and out of the car park. The C4 stayed very safe under a light covering of snow all day! Exactly where it should be with the muppets out there on our roads. (especially those idiots in high performance rear wheel cars) :-)
Just hoping I haven't stuffed the clutch - in the grand scheme of things I have no idea how much wear/damage a couple of miles of very dodgy pull-aways will cause?
As for tyres don't recall off the top of my head but they are the tyres on the car from new (5k ago). Michelin I think so presume they are all-season.
As for tyres don't recall off the top of my head but they are the tyres on the car from new (5k ago). Michelin I think so presume they are all-season.
hutchingsp said:
Basically I spent quite a bit of time squirming sideways (and pissing off everyone behind me) no matter how light I tried to be on the revs, PSM on/off, 1st gear second gear etc. all seemed to just produce the orange "you're in the shit" light.
It actually takes a fair shove to get a car moving. In the e30 yesterday (RWD, LSD (Limited slip diff)) I noticed in new snow that it was easy peasy to slide the back even on gentle starts, and of course it'll just drift into the camber. You perhaps need to leave the throttle off and just rely on the idle control in 1st to get you moving - you need the absolute gentlest touch, specially as you only have grip of the least grippy wheel (no LSD), and then appreciate you'll have to chug along to re-align before you try visiting the loud pedal again.
Just imagine if you are trying to push if from behind, would you do it or would you slip?!
I purchased a boxster S and picked it up a few years ago on that day when all the roads froze over and it took people hours to get home. I managed to get out the showroom ok, but anyone who is familiar with OPC Sutton Coldfield will know that if you are heading out of Sutton there is a steep hill to climb. I got about half way up had to stop in traffic, then simply couldn't move of again. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw the cars behind me backing off. Or so I thought until the small van behind carried on backing off, went sideways into the kirb then smashed into the car behind. I just held it there until there was a gap in traffic , then wheel span until the ice wore away so the tyres got some bite, then just kept the gas on til I got to the top of the hill. Got home only managed to get it halfway up the drive and left it there for 2 days before I could give it a thrashing.
Then a few months later we suffered some terrible gayles, slates flew of the roof at work and gave me (insurance company) 5k worth of damage. I realised that some cars are just unlucky and we parted company.
Then a few months later we suffered some terrible gayles, slates flew of the roof at work and gave me (insurance company) 5k worth of damage. I realised that some cars are just unlucky and we parted company.
911wise said:
anyone who is familiar with OPC Sutton Coldfield will know that if you are heading out of Sutton there is a steep hill to climb. I got about half way up had to stop in traffic, then simply couldn't move of again.
I know where you mean. This was on the flat though, I'd just managed it up the hill with no problems as the traffic was moving, and I don't think I'm being melodramatic in saying that if I had stopped I would either still be there or have abandoned the car.
As I type this it's parked at the bottom of our road 30 yards from the drive as we live up a very slight hill but I simply cannot get it to go anywhere.
this is what a difference tyres make:
Last year at this time I went to see my gf in scarborough, on the way there 3 in the aft it was bright sunny and pretty warm, on the deserted long straight road a happy* (No comment) speed was reached, on the way back at 2 in the morning the snow had been going for 2 hours and was only about an inch thick but was hard packed on the road, I was on bridgestones that had a few thou left in them but were far from fresh, I ended up sliding gracefully off the road at the princely speed of 5 mph, Only ended up on the verge but the car was uncontrollable over 10mph.
This year, small country roads brand new Kumho tyres for winter (lots of knobbly tread and soft) semi packed snow, certainly very slippery and the car is planted, without being daft it wont slide.
Makes a hell of a difference, just tread pattern and depth as much as much as anything else, the unidirectional semi slick treads look awesome, and offer great wet and dry grip, BUT in snow or mud they are useless.
Last year at this time I went to see my gf in scarborough, on the way there 3 in the aft it was bright sunny and pretty warm, on the deserted long straight road a happy* (No comment) speed was reached, on the way back at 2 in the morning the snow had been going for 2 hours and was only about an inch thick but was hard packed on the road, I was on bridgestones that had a few thou left in them but were far from fresh, I ended up sliding gracefully off the road at the princely speed of 5 mph, Only ended up on the verge but the car was uncontrollable over 10mph.
This year, small country roads brand new Kumho tyres for winter (lots of knobbly tread and soft) semi packed snow, certainly very slippery and the car is planted, without being daft it wont slide.
Makes a hell of a difference, just tread pattern and depth as much as much as anything else, the unidirectional semi slick treads look awesome, and offer great wet and dry grip, BUT in snow or mud they are useless.
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