Car overrules the driver

[bobwmac]

I’ve driven in snow, ice and Canada all my life and have NEVER got stuck in snow or come to grief on ice, but going up the exit ramp from Morrison’s Supermarket this morning I thought, “This is it, you’re about to die of embarrassment”. It’s maybe a 10% incline, with frozen snow on top of ice, so I’ve got 2nd gear with no throttle to let the car drag itself up the hill – as I do on dry dry days. With hundreds of foot pounds of torque, those diesels are real stump pullers, except… Except that they’ve coupled the Common Rail power unit to 101 hi-tech gizmos and the car began to die. It went from 10 mph to creep and I hit the gas. Result? Not a lot.

I look in the mirror and the delivery van behind me has a driver mouthing – and you don’t have to be a lip reader to know what he’s sayin’ – his hands are off the wheel making move gestures, so I took my hands of the wheels in apologetic surrender gestures. By this time the car has bloody nearly stopped and the dash is flashing like a Christmas tree and there’s three different beeping noises coming from who knows where. I look in the mirror, the van has come to a halt and his *** is swinging out – he’s got terminal wheelspin. Meanwhile, the freakin’ Passat (with my foot all the way on the gas pedal) is making weird noises from all four wheels and there’s messages shooting across the dash like Times Square in a national emergency. It literally inched it’s way up the hill.

Jesus H Christ on a skateboard! I’m on a steep icy hill and the car ain’t acting like I think is normal and I get little flashing symbols and screeds of writing?

Oh, I long for the days when I rallyed my MkII Escort and any mistakes were due to pilot error.

[stevemr]

My Passet is the worst car I have ever driven in snow and ice

[johnloaderuk]

Mainly seems to be down to tyre choice, we had this on this forum last year when it snowed, with Continental tyres generally deemed to be the worst in snow.

The handbook suggests turning off the ESP when driving in snow and icy conditions - not something I've tried.

[redrolo]

It may be useful to look at the threads from this time last year. They back up what JLUK is saying. if you are running conti sport 3s good luck with traction. I couldn't move in a flat slurried car park last year.

[ToMBoY_C]

Just seen this thread, I think my Car's ace in the snow, I have Dunlop Sorts on... tried turning the ESP off and it made it worse, wheels just spin and potentially more dangerous!!

[Quatrelle]

Turn the ESP off and use your driving skills.

Ask anyone who drives in rallies: in snow and ice, either snow tyres or studs. Ordinary tyres are useless on ice, and not much better on packed snow. Great fun on fresh snow though.

[onzarob]

Its the ESP being too helpful, turn it off in snow. Also in Canada you use Winter Tyres. Summer tyres are absolute rubbish in snow...hence we all get stuck:Blush2:

[Motorway]

My estate is great on the snow, but not with the standard issue tyres. last year i had the Dunlop sports renewed with Avon ZV5. got caught out in Redcar on friday before i had changed to the winter tyres at the front. but i was surprised at the Avons really good grip for a summer road tyre. came home to stoke avoiding the congested motorways using mainly A roads and B roads. a little wheelspin at times, but never stopped. i did intentially spin the wheels a couple of times with ESP off to clear treads before starting up a snowy hill.

changed to the winter Vredestien Quatrac 3 today they have done 3 winters now about 18,000miles total. been over to ashbourne this afternoon and coming back took some shortcuts narrow ungritted roads and the tyres are still working well. but based on miles i will be replacing them for next winter.

[richiemac]

ESP off in those cases, ie. inclines.............its too sensitive sometimes ;)

[patomlin76]

In the snow my Passat is pretty much the same as any other of the front-wheel-drive, petrol engined car I have had.... except this model is the first I've had wth traction control. Today I felt up the slight incline to our house the esp was trying just a little too hard. Never thought about turning it off though!

Thinking about getting some snow chains for those untreated roads.

[RicardoA4Sline]

Yup turn off ESP, and spend £250 on 4 kumho snow tyres and mine has been amazing inthese conditions plus better at braking below 7c

[Zeb]

This will be the first time for me, to drive the Passat in the snow! Im lucky that the previous owner, put on some expensive tyres Continental sport 3 fronts, 1 Pirelli rosso tyre, and the other is a Michellin one!

[daveo138]

Mine is useless in the snow.
I have Goodyear tyres, but the combination of DSG and ESP make it incredibly difficult to get the thing moving.
Once it is moving, things don't get much better. It just understeers and I can't even left-foot brake as it just cuts the power.

[brightside]

cant comment on snow at the minute for me. Last year I had Vredestien Ultrac Sessanta's on my Leon with just under 300lb/ft and got stuck every five seconds, excellent tyre in wet/dry but useless on snow/ice.

Zeb, I've been looking at these mesh type "socks" I am tempted to get some, ideal for lowered car's also. clicky (http://www.snow-chains.co.uk/product.asp?lot=21&pnid=575&deptid=297)

[bobwmac]

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse... but this time it's my fault.

Reverse gently up the gravel driveway having cleared the snow behind the car - oops, too gently, I stalled.

Try again, a bit more welly this time and violent wheelspin caused the front end to sink into the gravel, binding both front wheels with muddy stones, ice and snow, both front arches hard packed up over the axle.

What happens when the engine stops? Yes, the EPB comes on - this idiot never noticed and tried to reverse with the rear wheels locked tight.

[adstalker]

cant comment on snow at the minute for me. Last year I had Vredestien Ultrac Sessanta's on my Leon with just under 300lb/ft and got stuck every five seconds, excellent tyre in wet/dry but useless on snow/ice.

Zeb, I've been looking at these mesh type "socks" I am tempted to get some, ideal for lowered car's also. clicky (http://www.snow-chains.co.uk/product.asp?lot=21&pnid=575&deptid=297)

I have just ordered some of these http://www.roofbox.co.uk/car-snow-socks/

When I get them I will give them a try and put up a post.

Anthony

[BenR]

I dunno what you're all moaning about, switch off the ESP and the Passat's not bad in snow as long as you drive smoothly and keep good momentum. Mine has Michelin Primacy Pilots.

[bobwmac]

On the way to work this morning (Thursday), the car was making the most awful noises so I stopped at my local back street garage. We kicked in a few times but determined it was mostly alive. I turned off the ESP to plough my way back to the main road, but it wouldn't go back on, instead my beloved Passat told me the tyres were flat.

On arrival at work, I was losing the will to live. I phoned VW and booked it in for Monday - they were most helpful and the courtesy car would be waiting.

This evening I got in the car, warnings lights told me the ESP had a fault, I tried flicking through the display but it wasn't playing ball, I couldn't tell if autohold was on or off, all I got was "ESP fault 1/1" oh, and by the way, your tyres are flat.

I drove down through the steep car park, glanced down and noticed ALL THE FREAKING WARNING LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF.

Through the deep snow at temperatures down to -10c the car was smugly warm and ever so well behaved all the way home.

I suspect the car doesn't need attention, it needs EXORCISED.

PS Phone VW, apologise and cancel.