aj84 Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 OK I don't know if it's me, the car or or what but I went through 4 of the new models for Volvo (S40, S60, S80 and C30) 2 years ago and when it snowed similar to this in 2007, the car (S60 at the time) had NO problems in the snow. OK it got stuck on one of the roads but we were messing around doing a few moves as it was empty and with about 7" of snow. Fast forward...got into my car which is an 08 plate 2.7 tdi A6 Le Mans (19" wheels) and the car couldn't really handle the snow. The brakes were terrible and grinding constantly. The sliding around was quite embaressing (typo?) considering the smaller corsas and fiestas were doing a better job keeping straight But most importantly, I got to work and I got stuck half way in the car park trying to back into the space. The car just could not get out of where I was - by now blocking a lot of traffic and at the barrier so no one could get in or out. I removed the snow from around the wheels...still couldn't- just kept spinning Finally I used the "rocking" move and went forward ... while the wheels were spinning, I switched into reverse. After about 10 attempts, I got into the space. The corsa behind me..no problems...got into the space and she even asked if I needed a hand! It could be the torque in the car is just so much that even a light touch got the wheels into a spinning notion but if its not that... who knows! Any of you have the same issue today? As a quick summary of conditions: Average speed was 5mph reaching 10 sometimes Snow depth: 6.5 inches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger5 Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 mines excellent.. uber wide tyres and snow however are not a good mix. thats why thin tyred little cars cope so well. they have more effective grip from the narrower tyres cutting thru the snow. (more local pressure I guess) turn the esp crap off and drive it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj84 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 I did turn off ESP in the end but I still couldn't get out of the situation I was in It was only by rocking it that I managed to get it out of the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZURES3 Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Front wheel drive, wide low profile 19" tyres and a heavy car. Not a good going to be good in the snow. AZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 My A6 is great in the snow.............but it is a quattro! The big wheels do not help in the snow. Spreads the weight too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountains Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 my s4 is great for grip but abs is crap in the snow wish i could switch it off my partners cvt Jazz is brilliant. best car i ever drove in snow was a Triumph 1300 fwd it could go anywhere in any snow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 It's all to do with your tires... I have a mate who has a Landrover 90 and with road tyres it's as crap as anything else.. put a mixed tyre on and he's pulling people out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Oh, and in Audi's I was told to turn off the esp in snow.. if i remember correctly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj84 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 I know in the volvo I had to turn that off... when I got stuck in the car park I did but it did not help at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Tyres, it's all about tyres. We don't seem to use winter tyres over here, if we did traffic would just keep moving around as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonbrown Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Look at any footage of rallies in snow and you all find they are running skinny tyres. Admittedly with studs in though ...saw some chav type trying to get into the car park in Ashton Court in Bristol this morning when taking the tripe hound for a walk... his X5 didnt make it up the hill but my missuses Micra did.. had to laugh trying to get 2.5tons of drug dealer wagon up a slight incline on his 20s and 255s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj84 Posted February 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 BMW's were the least sighted car for a 9mile stretch yesterday for me And I know from past experience, a friend's dad had a 3 series back in the day and in 2002 I think, he was supposed to be coming to my house (slight incline) after 20mins, they turned back saying they could not get up the hill! Maybe because of the RWD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishbloke Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I have the same car (58 plate Lemans Avant 2.7 TDi Multitronic). It SUCKS in the snow! I can't get onto my own drive ESP off and the snow is compressed to ice with the spinning tyres which then starts to burn and rip the tyres! God knows what its doing to the poor auto gearbox! Now I wish I went for the Quattro...although its slower and the MPG is worse I guess its the wide tyres. Oh well, wait for the summer...lots of fun then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Now I wish I went for the Quattro...although its slower and the MPG is worse Hardly any real world difference in reality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 i only got stuck once in the A6 yesterday and a nice couple gave me a push, it was uphill but i know that you really need quattro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger5 Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Oh, and in Audi's I was told to turn off the esp in snow.. if i remember correctly! i thought it was turn off the abs in snow not esp.. thinking behind it being it pulls up faster if it pushes a wedge of snow up in front of the tyres as opposed continually rolling on top whilst it cant lock up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SINGH Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 BMW's were the least sighted car for a 9mile stretch yesterday for meAnd I know from past experience, a friend's dad had a 3 series back in the day and in 2002 I think, he was supposed to be coming to my house (slight incline) after 20mins, they turned back saying they could not get up the hill! Maybe because of the RWD? I had to take my A8 to my local garage to have the tracking done on it the other day and the garage is on the top of a small ramp which was covered in snow, my missus was in the A8 and I was following behind her in the BMW. She simply drove up it and after spending about a two minutes wheel spinning the BMW away I parked it there and walked up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_S Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 my a3 was okay in the snow and then i fitted studded front tyres and tr flexible wall ice tyres on the rear, and can i say here and now the difference is phenominal easily worth the price as you only have your normal tyres on for 8 months or so of the year. so go out and buy them you wont regret it, i do however recommend you buy another set of alloys if you dont have the tyre fitting and balancing capabilities p.s you get plenty of looks as well driving through the town as they do make a noticeable noise against the tarmac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allroad Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 I have already been stuck with a Skoda 4x4 and mixed tyres. Tyres are more important as any ESP or traction system, without winter tyres, the grip in snow is very bad. ESP has to be disabled only if you drive with chains or if you have to "rock". Otherwise you may let it on. Try putting 195 Tyres, or max 205 if you want maximal snow grip... or buy a Quattro. But remember: every cas has four brakes, that means tha a Quattro doesn't brake better as a traction model. Only the tyres give grip. I have equipped my allroad with 215/65 Michelin Latitude Alpin. These winter terrrain tyres are perfect for the grip but not so sporty as other models. Depends what you're looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allroad Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 i thought it was turn off the abs in snow not esp.. thinking behind it being it pulls up faster if it pushes a wedge of snow up in front of the tyres as opposed continually rolling on top whilst it cant lock up You are right. In my previous Audi 100 CS Quattro you had to turn off the ABS in deep snow. In the modern Audis, the calculator has a special snow programm and you can't turn off the ABS any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishbloke Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 So does this new 'calculator' know its snow? Do I have to activate it? How do I switch off my ABS? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj84 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 I wish I could turn off ABS especially today As mentioned on the general cars forum... I had two very hairy moments today where the car refused to stop despite PLENTY of braking distance if not more than last monday which was a lot worse on the roads! Lots of snow where I am but went straight over a ramp - thankfully no traffic on my left or right as I was joining a main road And then coming up to a major roundabout... I started braking 1/2 mile before it but soon, the lights from the traffic on the right got nearer...and brighter...and before I knew it, I was still braking but I was on the roundabout! After that, I decided to try and stop ABS kicking in by pulsating the brake pedal manually despite it probably pi$$ing off the drivers behind me who probably saw my brake light on/off/on/off Still...drivers were WAY too close to the cars in front (well some anyway) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 I wish I could turn off ABS especially todayAs mentioned on the general cars forum... I had two very hairy moments today where the car refused to stop despite PLENTY of braking distance if not more than last monday which was a lot worse on the roads! Lots of snow where I am but went straight over a ramp - thankfully no traffic on my left or right as I was joining a main road And then coming up to a major roundabout... I started braking 1/2 mile before it but soon, the lights from the traffic on the right got nearer...and brighter...and before I knew it, I was still braking but I was on the roundabout! After that, I decided to try and stop ABS kicking in by pulsating the brake pedal manually despite it probably pi$$ing off the drivers behind me who probably saw my brake light on/off/on/off Still...drivers were WAY too close to the cars in front (well some anyway) You can also use the gears in Tip mode and chuck it down a gear or 2 or 3! That also works and slows you down. It works in the A6 quattro I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj84 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 You know what? I want the opposite ! I want to be able to move UP to 2-3 when taking off from stationary. My old vauxhall and my previous new shape Volvos all had an "ice" button which prevented you going off in first gear This meant that there was less spin But I suspect you were talking about lowering the gears to slow down which is a good point! I will try this over the weekend where supposedly it is supposed to be as cold as -8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Man Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Tyres, it's all about tyres. We don't seem to use winter tyres over here, if we did traffic would just keep moving around as usual. It's all to do with your tires...I have a mate who has a Landrover 90 and with road tyres it's as crap as anything else.. put a mixed tyre on and he's pulling people out! Yep....it certainly is all about tyres.....and lets not forget you have to have snow tyres fitted by law and carry chains in countries that have to deal with these weather conditions on a daily basis every winter......and I know if your stopped by the police in the French Alps you have to prove you know how to fit these chains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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