The "BMWs are crap in the snow because they're RWD" thing...

[Steve748]

This must be the fastest growing thread for ages, contentious subject eh? I last looked 30 mins ago and there were only two replies

[ALawson]

FWD Accord has been fine until people stop in front of you on an incline, seems both FWD and RWD cars tonight have been coping well it more down to the driver than anything else, obviously winter tires will be a sinch to drive in moderately bad snow.

[Lost soul]

aeropilot said:

They're crap in the snow because the vast majority are running summer tyres,

BINGO

As i said on the other thread mine is fine in the snow :smug:

[thetapeworm]

5 cars "stuck" or getting in the way this morning in the snow in Leeds, 4 were BMWs and the other was an Audi being abandoned by a tearful lady who seemed to be out of her depth with the whole driving thing.

Last week the only cars I saw struggling were also BMWs, 3 of them on a 30 minute walk... wheels spinning, high revs.

On the news tonight, Z4 being pushed along by people in Manchester... wheels spinning, high revs.

I don't blame the cars at all though, on each occasion the driver seemed to be clueless. The snow and roads aren't the issue in the UK, it's the people.

(But I'm still too scared to go out in the Supra and take the FWD Zafira option)

[Lost soul]

thetapeworm said:

5 cars "stuck" or getting in the way this morning in the snow in Leeds, 4 were BMWs and the other was an Audi being abandoned by a tearful lady who seemed to be out of her depth with the whole driving thing.

and the 4 Beemers were held up by the woman i guess

[sevenzero]

somewhat off topic but what would be better in the snow, assuming same tires:

audi quttro RS4/RS6 (engine in front of the front axle) or porsche C4 (engine behind the back axle)

im gussing the audis with more weight and that (i believe) the 4WD system is more front wheel biased

thoughts anyone ...

[theironduke]

I've just completed a 30 min (usually 5) journey in the snow, coming down steadily and about 5 inches deep. The car is a E36 318...she performed very well. Took it steady, literally first and second all the way with barely any throttle and she was quite happy. Had a couple of steep slopes to deal with but no dramas. Only came close to sliding once but just eased off and gently corrected.

Definitely would not have wanted to do the same journey in my Porsche 928 though, with its 255 rears and tower of torque.

[thetapeworm]

Lost soul said:

thetapeworm said:

5 cars "stuck" or getting in the way this morning in the snow in Leeds, 4 were BMWs and the other was an Audi being abandoned by a tearful lady who seemed to be out of her depth with the whole driving thing.

and the 4 Beemers were held up by the woman i guess

No, they were quite spaced out over the 8 mile trip, the Audi had done the decent thing and pulled in to the side, the BMWs were at jaunty angles across the roads.

BTW I like BMWs, I want one.

[John D.]

Purely anecdotal but the last time the snow came down heavily (not today!!) I happened to be behind a nice 535d stuck in traffic ascending a bridge in a stop/start manner. This being a bridge the slope was not very great at all but the 535d driver was having lots of fun trying to keep his nearside rearwheel away from the curb everytime the traffic shunted forward, he seemed to get as much sideways motion as forward! Meanwhile in the Clio I had no such problems.

That said I did see plenty of FWD cars struggling up the otherside with throttle pinned. Operator error at play there I suspect

[kambites]

I've actually seen more SUV type vehicles stuck than RWD things so far this year.

[gib6933]

I had wheel spin at tickover tonight

[Lost soul]

John D. said:

Purely anecdotal but the last time the snow came down heavily (not today!!) I happened to be behind a nice 535d stuck in traffic ascending a bridge in a stop/start manner. This being a bridge the slope was not very great at all but the 535d driver was having lots of fun trying to keep his nearside rearwheel away from the curb everytime the traffic shunted forward, he seemed to get as much sideways motion as forward! Meanwhile in the Clio I had no such problems.

That said I did see plenty of FWD cars struggling up the otherside with throttle pinned. Operator error at play there I suspect

I think that will be a monkey machine interface type problem

[Blue Meanie]

Urban Sports said:

Blue Meanie said:

If anyone tells you fwd is better than rwd they are talking nonsense. Tyres are the main factor as to how good your car is. Give me a rwd car in the snow over a fwd car any day of the week. I have my control over 4 contact patches, not 2.

4WD?

This is the key to what I said, Urban. Nowhere in that quote did I mention AWD, because we are talking FWD vs RWD. I hope that is clear now, and your little confused head can continue with its day unabated.

[bigfatnick]

Dont bmw's have some of the widest tyres of any normal car on the market as a rule? Wide tyres=bad. Plus bmw drivers are often unprepared, and will have had so many people tell them bmw's are ste in the snow they left the house with a defeatist attitude.

Here in canada, bmw's are everywhere, all fine, all managing. Infact, the other day whilst waiting for a bus i saw some guy drifting a fast corner in an old merc, 2 massive roosts behind him. As he passed, i saw he was drinking from an open topped mug, whilst power oversteering said auto merc. Positive mental attitude overcomes all!

[Urban Sports]

Blue Meanie said:

Urban Sports said:

Blue Meanie said:

If anyone tells you fwd is better than rwd they are talking nonsense. Tyres are the main factor as to how good your car is. Give me a rwd car in the snow over a fwd car any day of the week. I have my control over 4 contact patches, not 2.

4WD?

This is the key to what I said, Urban. Nowhere in that quote did I mention AWD, because we are talking FWD vs RWD. I hope that is clear now, and your little confused head can continue with its day unabated.

Sorry do I know you?

I bet you don't go about your day to day business with an attitude like that.

Maybe I am wrong.



ETA: I never said you did, your post seemed to me like you were talking about 4WD (or AWD whichever you like to say).

Edited by Urban Sports on Tuesday 5th January 21:25

[TomS146]

Load of cars have just came onto the island off the ferry and up a hill, have helped 2 BMW's out of the way (both on what looked like 18-19" wheels which wouldnt help). Looks as though they have been abandoned for the night.

[Blue Meanie]

bigfatnick said:

Here in canada, bmw's are everywhere, all fine, all managing.

Yup, seems to be the fact that folks in the UK just have no idea when it comes to driving in slippy conditions.

[hairykrishna]

I think it's mainly the weight distribution and wide tyres. My 944 was st last year until I wedged a few bags of gravel in the boot.

[dome]

My e34 M5's been OK so far, apart from nearly getting stuck in my mates cul-de-sac the other night-I drive off road quite a bit (not in the M5...) so the preserving-your-momentum and only-using-enough-throttle thing comes in handy. And it's fun sliding about when it's safe to do so;)

Brian

[aeropilot]

varsas said:

The perfect 2WD snow car would have:

Decent tyres (thin, proper compound and tread), low weight, engine in the back, RWD. Like a beetle.

Those things, but be fwd, with a longitudinal engine in the front just behind the front axle line. Like a Saab 96 V4