Whats been the worst car in the snow ?
Discussion
I was really supprised at how bad our little Audi A1 TDI has been in the snowy conditions and to be honest the A3 hasnt been much better,I thought the wife was being silly when she said how bad it was,however after driving it myself I agree even mild gradients are a problem supprising really for a small FWD car its even got stuck on the flat a couple of times.
Any one found similar? Or any nightmare tales?
Any one found similar? Or any nightmare tales?
Gary11 said:
I was really supprised at how bad our little Audi A1 TDI has been in the snowy conditions
My immediate reaction to your comment was: Tyres!I would ask what tyres each car has, but I looked up to find that some Audi A1 models are fitted with 225/35 R18, which seems stupidly low and wide for such a small lightweight car. But it would also be instructive to know the tyre model as it may be they are optimised for low running costs.
I think it's a feature of the general trend for wide, low profile tyres, which are the exact opposite of what actually works, plus I suspect that the features which make a 'performance' tyre are the opposite of what makes a good snow tyre (i.e. tread blocking, compounds etc). I remember years ago my father having a saab 9000 - that was rubbish in snow (compared to the earlier 900 which had 175's IIRC), and we thought the 205's were absurdly wide; and that's on a big, heavy car.
The other factor is that torquey and turbocharged engines are also the exact opposite of what you need - It's rather harder to maintain traction as the delivery isn't terribly linear.
FWIW my boxster is hilariously, hopelessly bad. I could put winter tyres on it, but hardly worth it for 2 days / year that I'd actually need them, I just manage without the car.
The other factor is that torquey and turbocharged engines are also the exact opposite of what you need - It's rather harder to maintain traction as the delivery isn't terribly linear.
FWIW my boxster is hilariously, hopelessly bad. I could put winter tyres on it, but hardly worth it for 2 days / year that I'd actually need them, I just manage without the car.
A delivery driver got stuck outside our house in a RWD Sprinter, had no chance up the hill until he had help. About an hour later a MK4 Mondeo was really struggling. Seemed to be more down to the driver than the car though. Kept giving it loads of revs, not going anywhere, then getting out and scratching his head.
The rest of the people in my street seem to actually have a brain and the guy in his E46 managed the hill just fine.
The rest of the people in my street seem to actually have a brain and the guy in his E46 managed the hill just fine.
I have to say my 3 series on normal Dunlop (nrf) tyres is fine. I was expecting the worst. I have ballast in the boot but I'm getting good traction and not been stranded yet. My old accord was just plain awful. Not sure why as it was on decent bridgestones but I could never seem to get going again after stopping.
tbc said:
all cars will be a bit s
te in the snow unless they have winter tyres
Not so, my old Fiesta 1.3L on regular tyres was ace, so much traction and grip, it could take on inclines that left most cars sliding backwards with locked wheels, and stop halfway up before moving off again. The braking was good, and it didn't have any lairy traits under cornering. While you obviously had to adjust your driving style to suit the conditions, it never felt at any risk of getting stuck.te in the snow unless they have winter tyresOn the other hand, my current Civic Type R is dire for a FWD car. On snow or ice, the power assist makes the steering vague and nervous, and while hill climbing is ok, if I have to stop on a snowy or icy slope getting moving again is a gamble. It's too powerful even at the biting point for the tyres it's on, so the wheels just slowly spin without finding any grip. Unlike the Fiesta, when the weather is really bad I'd probably just leave the Civic at home.
tbc said:
all cars will be a bit ste in the snow unless they have winter tyres
Rubbish, my wife's company Astra diesel was fantastic in the snow, going places a lot of others couldn't. te in the snow unless they have winter tyresBig turbo diesels with auto & RWD seem to be the worst. My Jaguar S-Type was completely useless, hence why I now own a Jeep Grand Cherokee on General ATs!
Mastodon2 said:
Not so, my old Fiesta 1.3L on regular tyres was ace, so much traction and grip, it could take on inclines that left most cars sliding backwards with locked wheels, and stop halfway up before moving off again. The braking was good, and it didn't have any lairy traits under cornering. While you obviously had to adjust your driving style to suit the conditions, it never felt at any risk of getting stuck.
I'll vouch for that; skinny tyres make a huge difference. My worst car in the snow has to be my current one - Rover 75 with the optional 215 wheels, and the fronts have about 3.5mm left. Didn't like hills much, but was fine with snow chains. Once it was moving it was good as gold, just had to plan in advance.
Not a car strictly speaking, but a lightly loaded Isuzu Luton van I tried to drive today.
Completely unable to propel itself on an icy 1 in 1,000,000 slope. Usual driver came out and told me I clearly didn't have a clue how to drive, and proceeded to fail to move it either.
What I can't get my head round the mechanics of is the fact that it was noticeably more capable of reversing uphill than going forwards. As it is RWD, surely reversing uphill would result in even less weight on the rear axle than going forwards?
Completely unable to propel itself on an icy 1 in 1,000,000 slope. Usual driver came out and told me I clearly didn't have a clue how to drive, and proceeded to fail to move it either.
What I can't get my head round the mechanics of is the fact that it was noticeably more capable of reversing uphill than going forwards. As it is RWD, surely reversing uphill would result in even less weight on the rear axle than going forwards?
I haven't dared even try my E34 540. I've done it before, and ..no, quite hopeless if amusing 
(But the best everyday car I've driven in snow was the then-GF's old Mk.2 Polo 1.0.
Long-travel throttle pedal and sensitive/willing engine meant you could accurately modulate all 45hp, and the tall skinny tyres (145s IIRC) just bit down through anything enough to control the 720Kg. Snowbound steep hills in Bath held no terror. For all sorts of reasons it's one of those cars I really quite miss in retrospect.)
(But the best everyday car I've driven in snow was the then-GF's old Mk.2 Polo 1.0.
Long-travel throttle pedal and sensitive/willing engine meant you could accurately modulate all 45hp, and the tall skinny tyres (145s IIRC) just bit down through anything enough to control the 720Kg. Snowbound steep hills in Bath held no terror. For all sorts of reasons it's one of those cars I really quite miss in retrospect.)
I had a E90 318d a couple of years ago. Got stuck at the bottom of a small hill, run flat tyres no grip. Came back the next day to find an even icier hill, thought for a bit and reversed up the hill which worked fine.
RWD not great in the snow due to pushing, however it was no doubt compounded by tyres. 255 section run flats not good.
RWD not great in the snow due to pushing, however it was no doubt compounded by tyres. 255 section run flats not good.
I drove a Prius through some pretty rubbish condition today, for an auto with no gear selection, it was alright. It does have those skinny eco tyres on, it never seemed to struggle, until the check engine light start flashing repeatedly and the engine was juddering like mad, though I doubt that was snow related. Glad it's a company car and not my personal car - not that I'd ever own a Prius.
A walk this afternoon proved to me that A) modern cars, especially diesels with fat tyres are diabolically bad in the snow, and B) terrible drivers don't help matters. It would be a great time of year to sell new clutches though!
A walk this afternoon proved to me that A) modern cars, especially diesels with fat tyres are diabolically bad in the snow, and B) terrible drivers don't help matters. It would be a great time of year to sell new clutches though!
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff