the award for worst snow/ice car is?

almillar

elektra-2007 - since when was a Vauxhall Agila RWD?! Seriously? I think you'd better adjust your driving style, I'd be very surprised if they're RWD.
Anyway, I'll stick to my BMW thanks - yep, it's pretty crap in the snow, and there are plenty of hills I wouldn't want to attempt in in, but it's been a great car the other 50 weeks of the year. Bit of perspective please?!

lilac_lady

A basic question but an important one for us non-technical drivers:

Are RWDs better or worse in icy conditions?

MrF_2

Depends...if you have weight in the back then RWD can be better, but you have to watch for oversteer (which is the car turning too much and spinning out) and be able to rapidly correct, but your steering wheels aren't under engine power so can have more grip..too much weight in the back means there isnt enough weight in the front to push them hard against the road.
FWD is more likely to understeer (not turn enough, so less likely to spin out) but if you lose grip and the wheels start to spin, your steering wheels are now spinning without grip so you tend to go straight on.
Its 6 or half a dozen for many people, for less able drivers, low power FWD is better (low risk of wheel spin due to lack of power), anyone else, RWD can be fine, and 4WD when the going gets really bad
Skinnier tyres work better in the snow unless the snow packed down hard (thin tyres slice through loose snow better than wide tyres)

Millionaire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSqejCIt4bI

plane_boy2000

Been quite impressed with my new citroen c5. it has some whizzy thing called snow-motion whereby the traction control is supposed to help. Dont know how it works, but it does well. think the fact its diesel also helps as it gives you a good chunk of weight over the front wheels

rev_henry

plane_boy2000 wrote: »

Been quite impressed with my new citroen c5. it has some whizzy thing called snow-motion whereby the traction control is supposed to help. Dont know how it works, but it does well. think the fact its diesel also helps as it gives you a good chunk of weight over the front wheels

Interesting. Now you mention it my uncle has a fairly new C4 HDi which is absolutely pathetic in the snow. They got a lot this year, in rural Scotland, and live down a long private farm track. Meanwhile my Aunt's focus and my old Hyundai Accent were absolutely fine. I gave my uncle a lift in mine actually, and he commented, as it went out the driveway first time without bother, that his needed about 20 run ups to get out!

elektra-2007

almillar wrote: »

elektra-2007 - since when was a Vauxhall Agila RWD?! Seriously? I think you'd better adjust your driving style, I'd be very surprised if they're RWD.
Anyway, I'll stick to my BMW thanks - yep, it's pretty crap in the snow, and there are plenty of hills I wouldn't want to attempt in in, but it's been a great car the other 50 weeks of the year. Bit of perspective please?!

lmao after reading this I checked and found I have a fwd!!! Thats why my car gets out of the parking bay and my neighbour dosent!! Learn somthing new everyday...

hollie.weimeraner

Amanita wrote: »

My MX-5 is also appalling in snow and ice - light, RWD and with the wide low profile tyres it doesn't go anywhere if it is snowing.

Thats why mine has been in the garage for the last 3 weeks:D

bartman

Bugatti Veyron.....absolutely hopeless!

Seriously though, although some vehicles are obviously going to be better than others, it's more a question of driver input than the characteristics of the car - like the mummies in their Chelsea Tractors, as has already been stated!

angeltreats

I saw a BMW going up our hill sideways this morning. Must have been going pretty quick to get up enough momentum, it was pretty funny to watch though And I have seen a lot of cars get stuck halfway up the hills near our house. Always fairly new saloons of various types.

My ancient Micra sailed up the steep hills in our town no problem, even when I had to stop halfway up when the car in front of me started to struggle it set off again up the hill without struggling. The only day it did have a problem was when the hills were covered in sheet ice and absolutely nobody regardless of what car they had could get out. I have had one or two slides but nothing too dramatic and given the state of our roads lately it's pretty unavoidable.