New to RWD - snow driving
Discussion
I have just bought my first car (MX-5). I haven't driven for a few years since passing my test and when driving before these were all FWD cars. I'm planning on practicing on how much grip you can get, what to do etc in a big carpark. However I was wondering about that the best things to do are generally - obviously change up gear as soon as possible and don't accelerate hard - but things like getting up and down hills - what is the best thing to do if I start sliding back down a hill I was driving up? What is the best thing to do for coming down a hill with snow/ ice on it? And if I start to slide? From when it is safe it seems the best thing to do is just let off the accelerator gently if the back starts to slide when on the flat - would this help coming down a hill? The car has a limited slip diff if that makes a difference to what to do.
You'll not be too surprised to learn that most of these questions have been asked before:
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
I had looked at those posts, but my conclusion from reading what was posted was that it depends very much what you're doing (up/down hill), if it's FWD or RWD, has limited slip diff, type of handbrake etc (electronic on or off/ "analogue" one), and with people compplaining about the general public not knowing how to drive in the conditions! I was looking for answers more about the techniques, rather than preparing the car. It has winter tires on it.
Edited by Jerwatt on Thursday 10th February 14:41
The best way to find out how your car handles is to drive it.
You could book a track day or similar. Its mostly wet all the time at the moment so it will give you an idea how it will handle with bad traction.
The other option is to (*puts on flame retardent suit) go to an industrial estate or somewhere else late at night when its very quiet and put your foot down a bit round some corners without breaking the speed limit and making sure there is no-one / nothing for you to crash into. Just to get a feel for what the car will feel like when its about to let go.
You could book a track day or similar. Its mostly wet all the time at the moment so it will give you an idea how it will handle with bad traction.
The other option is to (*puts on flame retardent suit) go to an industrial estate or somewhere else late at night when its very quiet and put your foot down a bit round some corners without breaking the speed limit and making sure there is no-one / nothing for you to crash into. Just to get a feel for what the car will feel like when its about to let go.
MX5 with winter tyres driver here - and I live on the mother of all hills. 
It's all about smooth throttle control. Make sure the throttle cable isn't slack for starters - you can adjust it where it clamps to the intake.
Up hills:
Rule 1: DO NOT STOP.
Rule 2: Drive slowly and smoothly, no jerky steering or throttle inputs.
Rule 3: DO NOT STOP.
Rule 4: If you're making progress up the hill in this manner, resist the temptation to accelerate, you'll just lose grip.
Rule 5: DO NOT STOP.
Follow the above and you should be ok most of the time. On a steep hill I try to keep my wheels in someone else's tracks if there are any.
If you do end up sliding backwards you're a passenger until it stops one way or another. But if you DO NOT STOP you won't slide back in the first place.
Downhill: Clutch in. Brake. Half walking pace or slower. Seriously - on my hill it's the only safe way down when it's covered in ice. It's agonizingly slow and boring, but keeping your momentum down to nothing is the only way you'll keep it under control and be able to stop if you need to. This is particularly critical on my hill which has a 90degree corner just before the bottom. If you go too quickly you will - and people always do - crash. If the hill in question has straight run-off when you get to the flat bit it's not so critical. Use your judgement. Where will you end up if you lose control?
Having an LSD makes no difference for descent, but it's great for ascent...and even better for flat carparks.
It's all about smooth throttle control. Make sure the throttle cable isn't slack for starters - you can adjust it where it clamps to the intake.
Up hills:
Rule 1: DO NOT STOP.
Rule 2: Drive slowly and smoothly, no jerky steering or throttle inputs.
Rule 3: DO NOT STOP.
Rule 4: If you're making progress up the hill in this manner, resist the temptation to accelerate, you'll just lose grip.
Rule 5: DO NOT STOP.
Follow the above and you should be ok most of the time. On a steep hill I try to keep my wheels in someone else's tracks if there are any.
If you do end up sliding backwards you're a passenger until it stops one way or another. But if you DO NOT STOP you won't slide back in the first place.
Downhill: Clutch in. Brake. Half walking pace or slower. Seriously - on my hill it's the only safe way down when it's covered in ice. It's agonizingly slow and boring, but keeping your momentum down to nothing is the only way you'll keep it under control and be able to stop if you need to. This is particularly critical on my hill which has a 90degree corner just before the bottom. If you go too quickly you will - and people always do - crash. If the hill in question has straight run-off when you get to the flat bit it's not so critical. Use your judgement. Where will you end up if you lose control?
Having an LSD makes no difference for descent, but it's great for ascent...and even better for flat carparks.
Edited by Doniger on Thursday 10th February 14:58
I'm no expert at all in this, but from helping a few people who were stuck and driving in snow myself the number one thing that I've noticed is this: Do not give the car more throttle than it needs; so if the wheels start spinning, back off, don't floor it! On one occasion a girl was stuck in the snow and couldn't move, so I offered to help. I can't push cars because of my back, but after a bit of pulling (very good for my back!), we gave up. She then suggested that I try and drive, and I drove out of the rut quite easily; purely by tickling the throttle and not allowing much slip. It took all of about ten seconds to get the car free.
Oh, and the other thing is winter tyres - they really help in the snow.
Oh, and the other thing is winter tyres - they really help in the snow.
As others have said, smoothness is key.
Also don't be afraid to get on the throttle (smoothly of course) to help the car around a corner if it starts to understeer. Practice that one in a safe place first though as it will respond quite differently to a fwd car.
If you lose traction going up a hill and start sliding backwards, just like any other vehicle grab reverse asap and if possible apply some throttle to drive it down in a (semi)controlled way instead of sliding backwards with the wheels locked and no steering.
Also don't be afraid to get on the throttle (smoothly of course) to help the car around a corner if it starts to understeer. Practice that one in a safe place first though as it will respond quite differently to a fwd car.
If you lose traction going up a hill and start sliding backwards, just like any other vehicle grab reverse asap and if possible apply some throttle to drive it down in a (semi)controlled way instead of sliding backwards with the wheels locked and no steering.
Edited by GravelBen on Friday 11th February 04:46
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