Winter Weather

[Stuart Hardy]

Well Chaps

Took the better half to the shops today and decided to take the C2. Although cold (-1C) the sun was shining and all was well until the return journey home. By that time we were experiencing sleet and snow and temp had dropped to -3ish. What a nightmare, car was almost unmanageable on the ungritted twisty A/B roads. Did not enjoy the drive home at 30mph max.

Maybe I'm a wimp but I've never driven a rear-engined car in the snow before (at least, not since a 1972 Skoda that went to the breakers in 1980). Don't think I'll be doing it again soon.

Its a shame really because we were going to visit Cornbury House tomorrow.

Anybody else feel the same way?

Regards

 

[Spy]

If its any compensation, all rear wheel drive cars are terrible in the snow.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

If its any compensation, all rear wheel drive cars are terrible in the snow.

So all BMWs, Mercs, Porsches in Germany? Old Volvos, Saabs, Skodas.....[8|]

Plenty of RWD cars have come from countries with far worse winters than we ever get. The difference is that they have winter tyres as standard, and are experienced in driving when conditions are poor.

Witnessing a Transit tonight driving at around 80MPH in the snow-filled outer lane of the M40, you do wonder how natural selection resulted in him getting to the age where he got a driving license! [&o]

One of my most frightenting drives was as a passenger in Prague, an old Fiat driven by a complete loon. After a few minutes on icy cobbles and tram lines I realised studded tyres are very different to our summer tyres.

 

[DavidL]

Tyres make all the difference it seems. 4wd helps too.
On summer tyres at the first sign of inclement winter weather my 944 stays in the garage.

Its not just you!

 

[rich mich]

today in wales we had about 3 cm of snow , saw a ambulance answering a 999 call, it had got stuck on a side road with a incline of about 25% ,it called for another ambulance that also got stuck(ambulance was rwd ) in the end a gritter lorry towed them out and gritted the road . luckly i put new tyres on the focus yesterday ( summer tyres) and with it being fwd ,and a diesel it performed well in the conditions today, if we had really deep snow i would have used my enduro bike.

 

[Buddy]

Strange but I know several people who hate to drive FWD even in snow due to a lack of feel. As Paul says lots of RWD cars come from countries with far worse winter weather than this little bit of snow, winter tyres, studded even better are a good recent innovation but a light touch on all controls is still necessary even with them fitted.

Of the Porsches I've driven in snow the worst was a 968 with Tiptronic and a 986S fitted with Pirelli summer tyres.

Temp when I went out this morning was -5C

Rear engine will be a bit more difficult if it breaks away so be light on everything. Only an idiot expects to drive as normal in such conditions RWD or FWD.

If it gets too bad I'll get the skis out.

 

[AlexBell]

I don't know if you change tires for winter, if you don't I can understand if you struggle. But on winter tires (studded or not) RWD is no problem, it's actually great fun. But if you only have 5 days of snow a year it's hard to practice I guess..

You should join one of Tuthills Norway Ice trips, that looks like fun.

Here's one from Germany:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zirXvjxXqzw

 

[chrishak]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

If its any compensation, all rear wheel drive cars are terrible in the snow.

So all BMWs, Mercs, Porsches in Germany? Old Volvos, Saabs, Skodas.....[8|]

Plenty of RWD cars have come from countries with far worse winters than we ever get. The difference is that they have winter tyres as standard, and are experienced in driving when conditions are poor.

I was stuck on a closed M25 last night for 5 hours - it took 9.5 hours to travel from Essex to Dorset. I was travelling in the daily driver C Max with traction control, which had no difficulties whatsoever (driven in a circumspect manner, of course). Once we got moving, the roadside was littered with abandoned vehicles - the vast majority of which were artics, BMW's or Mercedes. Watching the antics of some, RWD cars were far more difficult to control but I guess the abilities of some of the drivers had to be questioned...I assume that none were on winter tyres or had LSD's fitted.

 

[chriscoates81]

ORIGINAL: chrishak

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

If its any compensation, all rear wheel drive cars are terrible in the snow.

So all BMWs, Mercs, Porsches in Germany? Old Volvos, Saabs, Skodas.....[8|]

Plenty of RWD cars have come from countries with far worse winters than we ever get. The difference is that they have winter tyres as standard, and are experienced in driving when conditions are poor.

I was stuck on a closed M25 last night for 5 hours - it took 9.5 hours to travel from Essex to Dorset. I was travelling in the daily driver C Max with traction control, which had no difficulties whatsoever (driven in a circumspect manner, of course). Once we got moving, the roadside was littered with abandoned vehicles - the vast majority of which were artics, BMW's or Mercedes. Watching the antics of some, RWD cars were far more difficult to control but I guess the abilities of some of the drivers had to be questioned...I assume that none were on winter tyres or had LSD's fitted.

I would have thought traction control helps too, i remember a video of a jag on top gear trying to get up a small icy incline once, with TC off it couldnt get up but once it was switched on there was no problem. Its amazing what all these little gadgets do. Also psm makes a big difference if youve ever been to you drive at silverstone.

 

[andyjwhit]

Hi all, we run a fleet of old Merc W124's and dirve down to Austria every other month or so. from Nov to March you have to run winter tires. So this last night I took the Merc insted of the 996 to drive down to Hinhead from Guildford. The winter tyres make so much difference, the Merc weighs a few tonnes but is rear wheel drive and automatic but just sits there without any deviation. If I had the funds I would definately buy a set of winter tires for the 996 and proceed with caution, there is aways something magical about driving in the cold weather...winter tyres are a lot cheaper in Austria but stil a bit of luxury as UK is only snowed up for a week or so a year.

Bst

Andy

 

[thirteeneast]

Electronics on = no drive in snow.
Electronics off = easy peasy in snow.

 

[chriscoates81]

ORIGINAL: andyjwhit

Hi all, we run a fleet of old Merc W124's and dirve down to Austria every other month or so. from Nov to March you have to run winter tires. So this last night I took the Merc insted of the 996 to drive down to Hinhead from Guildford. The winter tyres make so much difference, the Merc weighs a few tonnes but is rear wheel drive and automatic but just sits there without any deviation. If I had the funds I would definately buy a set of winter tires for the 996 and proceed with caution, there is aways something magical about driving in the cold weather...winter tyres are a lot cheaper in Austria but stil a bit of luxury as UK is only snowed up for a week or so a year.

Bst

Andy

I would have thought that being an auto, its the worst kind of gearbox to use in winter but i suppose with your winter tyres it makes all the difference.

 

[Peter_Bull]

Last year when I had my 996 C2 it was downright dangerous in 4cm snow and could not get up the 10 degree incline of my drive! I had good summer tyres on so I guess that was the main problem. When I eventually got it in the garage it stayed there until the snow cleared. The 3.2 I had years ago was just as bad too.

Since I got the 997 I put on a set of winter tyres (and wheels) on in November because I don't want to have any more heart in the mouth experiences. To date we have had no snow in the Fylde Coast area of West Lancashire so I can't tell if there is any benefit yet! But at least I am prepared this time.

 

[jamescharnley]

previous years, never been able to get my wife's rwd cars ( BMW's etc ) off the drive in Snow ... even my ML has struggled due to daft tyres that are on it. This year, fitted some winter tyres to the wife's Merc C-class as she has a 100 mile round trip to do each day. What a difference .... good layer of snow up here in North Yorks & not even a bit of wheel spin or slippage at all. Can't believe I've not gon e down the winter tyre route before.

Of course today we have sheet ice everywhere & the A1 is closed due to ice & accidents [] ... dont think winter tyres are going to make a massive difference when on an ice rink

 

[thirteeneast]

Not knocking winter tyre's but most people you see stuck in the snow in there BMW or Merc have still got ESP, ESC etc still on!
Or tyres on a 911 are a little wide for any surface contact obviously

Switch it all off and you will get away will using your all year tyre's.

Its not like we are in Canada is it.[8|]

 

[vitesse]

I agree-I totally disengage DSC in the BMW (hold in the button for over 16 secs until the yellow light goes out) then drive in Steptronic manual keeping it forced into 5th if possible-however it is still difficult getting started in snow over frozen ground or ice on even reasonable inclines,although I apply the handbrake a couple of notches to try to limit rear wheelspin.
If all else fails,open the drivers door,keep the front wheels straight,engage Drive,jump out (don't slip),& push to get the car rolling then jump in quickly(don't slip)-or let your wife/girlfriend etc take charge .[8|]

 

[thirteeneast]

LOL Love it.

 

[jamescharnley]

ORIGINAL: thirteeneast

Not knocking winter tyre's but most people you see stuck in the snow in there BMW or Merc have still got ESP, ESC etc still on!
Or tyres on a 911 are a little wide for any surface contact obviously

Switch it all off and you will get away will using your all year tyre's.

Its not like we are in Canada is it.[8|]

In the snow & ice on our 120d Msport with daft big wheels .... didn't make any difference wether esp etc was on, semi on , or fully off .... it was crap in all cases []

 

[vitesse]

James ,
Agree about a 120d with the big wheels-our daughter has one & it is difficult-I think it is the "big" wheels that cause the problem-narrow wheels with narrow tyres certainly improve things.

 

[Buddy]

If you get a set of winter wheels and tyres best to have the smallest and narrowest option available, as for electronics off/on well my brother in law can't get his Merc up the drive with it switched off. It would help if he had the patience to clear the drive though.[8|]