DB9 in the snow - tips!

DB9 in the snow - tips!

Author
Discussion

bunnyman

Original Poster:

61 posts

184 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
Hi All,
I have had my DB9 for around 18 months but have never had to drive it in any conditions like the current snow and ice.
Subject to the snow I am due to drive down to Devon from London mid week and even if conditions improve I know its still going to be tough going in some places. Does anyone have experience of a DB9 in these conditions? How does it handle? Any tips?
Thanks.

FlashmanChop

1,300 posts

212 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
bunnyman said:
Hi All,
I have had my DB9 for around 18 months but have never had to drive it in any conditions like the current snow and ice.
Subject to the snow I am due to drive down to Devon from London mid week and even if conditions improve I know its still going to be tough going in some places. Does anyone have experience of a DB9 in these conditions? How does it handle? Any tips?
Thanks.
Buy a RangeRover..

FlashmanChop

1,300 posts

212 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
Or some Pireli SottZero tyres

Munter

31,325 posts

247 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
Hire a car if the conditions are looking tricky?

I'd sooner return home missing the wing off a rental Mondeo, than my own car.

jonamv8

3,176 posts

172 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
Looking at the news report from Devon my tip would be to leave the DB at home. Get a 4x4!

3200gt

2,727 posts

230 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
is it due a service? put it in and get a courtesy car to use.

famoussas

641 posts

189 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
I tried to drive the Rapide into London on Friday but turned round after 30 minutes. ABS was kicking in a lot and the car was sliding when changing lanes. If I put a cm to much pressure on the throttle then back tyres would spin and the rear end would step out. I don't think I got above 35mph and that was on the A1(M). I then finished off by going sideways round a large round about.

The only plus side is no one goes near a squirming Aston Martin so chances of hitting some one are slightly less..

I would strongly advise against it unless you know your journey has well treated and clear roads.

V8LM

5,237 posts

215 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
famoussas said:
I would strongly advise against even if your journey has well treated and clear roads.
EFA.

V8LM

5,237 posts

215 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
V8LM said:
famoussas said:
I would strongly advise against especially if your journey has well treated roads.
EFA.
EFA again.

andyxxx

1,197 posts

233 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
bunnyman said:
Hi All,
I have had my DB9 for around 18 months but have never had to drive it in any conditions like the current snow and ice.
Subject to the snow I am due to drive down to Devon from London mid week and even if conditions improve I know its still going to be tough going in some places. Does anyone have experience of a DB9 in these conditions? How does it handle? Any tips?
Thanks.
You know when you see someone driving up a slight incline with the wheels spinning at a million miles an hour and you think 'idiot can't drive in snow' - You will be like that, cos no matter what you do you will not manage any traction in snow.

I took mine out for a spin to charge the battery. The roads were clear, but it took me two hours to get it up the drive - which is only a slight incline!

Jasandjules

70,413 posts

235 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
Do you like your NCB? Are you descended from a Finnish Rally Driver?

If yes then no, leave her at home.

It's really not worth the risk, bear in mind it's not just you losing control in these conditions, some other muppet in a cheap saxo with pram wheels might well lose control and smash into your P&J...

tonyhall38

4,194 posts

222 months

Monday 20th December 2010
quotequote all
i can vouch for that.....not in my Aston but my jag estate.....while i was parked was hit 3 times by 3 different people...all of em going to fast for the conditions......so now have the insurance hassle of 3 seperate claims....2 x passenger doors on rear , 1 x new rear bumper and reverse sensors....and a stiff neck where the dick head rear ended me....roll on the summer..!!!

MichaelV8V

650 posts

267 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
Do you like your NCB? Are you descended from a Finnish Rally Driver?

If yes then no, leave her at home.

It's really not worth the risk, bear in mind it's not just you losing control in these conditions, some other muppet in a cheap saxo with pram wheels might well lose control and smash into your P&J...
Its true - the greatest threat is someone that doesn't know how to drive in the snow. That saxo with narrow wheels is much safer than your DB9, it has low weight, engine over the driven wheels, narrow wheels that dig into the snow, whereas our fat tyres work like snowboards, and he doesn't have an extra 200 Nm torque jumping through the back tyres with every twitch of the accelerator.

Keep the Aston in the garage and hire something !

michael gould

5,692 posts

247 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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agree with most of the above........just leave it in the garage

bunnyman

Original Poster:

61 posts

184 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
Thanks to everyone who replied. Seems everyone was advising me against it but I really had to make the journey and have been keeping a close watch on the weather forecasts for Devon. Left London at 10am this morning and had a breeze of a drive down the M4/M5 then on to the A30 getting to East Devon around 1pm. The main roads are fine and if you take it easy on the A roads it's not too bad at all. The DB9 handled like a dream. Relieved I took the risk now. Merry Christmas to all.

simonpieman

366 posts

192 months

Thursday 23rd December 2010
quotequote all
bunnyman said:
Thanks to everyone who replied. Seems everyone was advising me against it but I really had to make the journey and have been keeping a close watch on the weather forecasts for Devon. Left London at 10am this morning and had a breeze of a drive down the M4/M5 then on to the A30 getting to East Devon around 1pm. The main roads are fine and if you take it easy on the A roads it's not too bad at all. The DB9 handled like a dream. Relieved I took the risk now. Merry Christmas to all.
You gave me courage. I have just driven my DB9 home, safely. It had been stuck at work since the snow came on Saturday.

nicke999

398 posts

209 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
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i drive mine in the snow - and i can drive anything in any conditions and it is the worse car around.

even the handbook advises not to drive.

but with all that said there is a tip for you all.

when driving at very low speeds, the rear wheels continue to drive even when you are on the brakes - this then make the car slide sideways even when you are stationary at the lights - not very nice - the tip - keep your hand brake on a little, it just knocks off the power to the rears - great when parking and reversing

Zod

35,295 posts

264 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
Narrower wheels and winter tyres will solve the problem. Mine has been laid up in the garage for the last month, but my M5 (a car with similar issues) on winter tyres has had no problems.