AWD? Pah!

[brightside]

Snowed quite heavy last night by me, so now I can comment on how the passat handled in the snow. I was very nervous at first after everyone saying how poor they are in the snow, but I had no problems at all!:beerchug:

Was driving along in about 4-5inches of snow, then on ice, then on compacted snow. I went past a 4X4 that was stuck trying to get up a hill!:biglaugh:

I was well impressed! My Seat Leon was crap in the snow last year, this time it was a doddle:approve:

Anyone else have any similar verdict's or Is my car just that good? :aargh4:LOL

[patomlin76]

Initially I complained about my Passat in the snow, but it turned out to be my technique of driving.

Also it does depend on how you drive. Even in a 4x4 if you're going to floor it or drive normally and spin the wheels, you'll soon get stuck. Plus once you've spinned and compacted the snow to ice, you're in a right lot of bother...

[Chrisman]

Yup certainly agree with the above.
Also I've learned pretty quick that there are moments when the ESP is best switched off then on once momentum is established again. ;)

[newb1e]

i had an awful day. black ice made it almost impossible to travel. at one point my ESP kept on going and i kidded backwards on a roundabout.

[Chrisman]

Oh no bad one mate.
Black ice a nightmare! :aargh4:
Is the motor ok????

[logiclee]

Well mine on brand new 235/45X17 Conti Sport 3's is quite happy to sit at the bottom of our road spinning the tyres on tickover.
My wife's Fabia with 185/60X14 Uniroyal Rain Experts drives right by.

I'm waiting for my 205/55x16 winter tyres and steel wheels to arrive.

So while I'm waiting I'm using this.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/logiclee/Snow13.jpg

Cheers
Lee

[johnloaderuk]

Well mine on brand new 235/45X17 Conti Sport 3's is quite happy to sit at the bottom of our road spinning the tyres on tickover.

Same tyres on mine. Haven't even bothered getting mine out of the garage as I know it won't go anywhere. My wife also has a Passat - on Conti Sport tyres. I really like the Conti's at all other times of year, but a definite no no in the snow. How I wish I'd kept my Discovery for times like this.

[DSG4ME]

I've been out in mine tonight, wouldn't say she's any worse than anything else, things I did notice as this is my first dsg in the snow year was the autohold wanted to grab on early, the esp being turned off made things worse imo, and as long as you gave it some respect at the corners there was no drama.

[logiclee]

I've been out in mine tonight, wouldn't say she's any worse than anything else, things I did notice as this is my first dsg in the snow year was the autohold wanted to grab on early, the esp being turned off made things worse imo, and as long as you gave it some respect at the corners there was no drama.

What tyres do you have fitted?

[logiclee]

While looking for winter tyres I've noticed the German manufacturers especially have a very defined line between summer and winter tyres.
Even Michelin give this advice for their top touring tyre the Primacy HP.

While Primacy HP tyres are designed to offer reliable traction in dry and wet conditions for drivers of luxury sport sedans, they are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

Cheers
Lee

[ToMBoY_C]

I also think the Passat ain't too bad in the snow, if you drive to the conditions! If your ESP is flashing like a disco light, lay off the power, plus while it's flashing you will have no steering what so ever. Engine braking is also key as these cars are like 2 ton sledges, dab the brake pedal and ABS fights to stop you with little effect! Another tip would be DO NOT engage Auto Hold as when you do stop, the brakes hold you until you have enough power to move forward, this in my experience means the front wheels just skid until you have made a nice ice patch under your two front wheels! Try not to use the handbrake as that's just as worse! Hope I've not told anyone to suck eggs, however it's just MY experience! In this weather though guys, bambi has nothing on me!! :)

[brightside]

I only wish It still had a conventional handbrake as I wanted to go and have a play on a car park :p

[Chrisman]

I also think the Passat ain't too bad in the snow, if you drive to the conditions! If your ESP is flashing like a disco light, lay off the power, plus while it's flashing you will have no steering what so ever. Engine braking is also key as these cars are like 2 ton sledges, dab the brake pedal and ABS fights to stop you with little effect! Another tip would be DO NOT engage Auto Hold as when you do stop, the brakes hold you until you have enough power to move forward, this in my experience means the front wheels just skid until you have made a nice ice patch under your two front wheels! Try not to use the handbrake as that's just as worse! Hope I've not told anyone to suck eggs, however it's just MY experience! In this weather though guys, bambi has nothing on me!! :)

Think any tips for us b6 drivers in the snow/ice is great Tom!
Reckon we should have a thread devoted to techique where we can all add a bit of our experience and mistakes to avoid. ;)

Chris

[martin1810]

I only wish It still had a conventional handbrake as I wanted to go and have a play on a car park :p

Did that today in the wifes non vag car. Slid sideways into the kerb with her in it. OOPS! She is not amused. I just hope I haven't bent the suspension. Can't go out in the passat because we have about 5mm of snow which is way over anything my passat can cope with. Toms guide is great but my wheels just go round and round on the spot, so nothing I do helps. I have never known a car as bad as my passat in snow and ice. On one ocassion when it couldn't get up a slight incline. I stopped and it slowly slid back down the hill...Nightmare. I guess we have the "wrong sort of snow" in Norfolk.

[rapport25]

Did that today in the wifes non vag car. Slid sideways into the kerb with her in it. OOPS! She is not amused. I just hope I haven't bent the suspension. Can't go out in the passat because we have about 5mm of snow which is way over anything my passat can cope with. Toms guide is great but my wheels just go round and round on the spot, so nothing I do helps. I have never known a car as bad as my passat in snow and ice. On one ocassion when it couldn't get up a slight incline. I stopped and it slowly slid back down the hill...Nightmare. I guess we have the "wrong sort of snow" in Norfolk.

Oh dear Martin :aargh4: This may cheer up a little and remember "Men know best when it comes to cars" :biglaugh::biglaugh:.

With all this cold weather I have told Mrs Rappy to press the clutch in before starting. On this mornings travels she did just that pressed the clutch in and let it off. Compleltly missing the point :Blush2:. Also her car does not have the glow plug light on the dash. And for once the french have it right . "So not to inconvience the driver. Once the car is opened it pre heats the glow plugs"" Bascially jump in and turn the key :approve::approve:.

Also we have still not seen the dancing robot yet!!!:D.

[Quatrelle]

While looking for winter tyres I've noticed the German manufacturers especially have a very defined line between summer and winter tyres.
Even Michelin give this advice for their top touring tyre the Primacy HP.

While Primacy HP tyres are designed to offer reliable traction in dry and wet conditions for drivers of luxury sport sedans, they are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

Cheers
Lee
I think it's called stating the blindingly obvious, probably also because there are laws about using winter tyres in Germany. I wonder if the govt. in the UK is thinking along similar lines now? Seeing the pictures on tv I presume they don't use them on HGVs?

[brightside]

Whoops martin! Hope its ok, but you should know, never "mess about" with the gf/wife in the car..............

hope no long term damage to your hearing has been done, and your headache goes soon:D

[logiclee]

If you have 235 Conti's fitted then my advice is to forget it until the roads are cleared then dig your Passat out. :D

That's what I did.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/logiclee/Snow2.jpg

Cheers
Lee

[170diesel]

x2 - I got stuck three times last year with relatively new Conti's

The Pirelli's I am running this year are much better - and are wearing better.

I'm still not saying they are as good as Winter's though.

[bobwmac]

It's not the car - it's the tyres. Anything under 60s stay out of the snow. Madam's Passat is fitted with 60s and goes through the snow even with ESP etc engaged.

I've got these stupid low profile 45s on mine and it just doesn't want to know, what are these low profile tyres for anyway? :confused:

[brightside]

60 profile tyres arnt fitted to passat's.....

215/55/16
235/45/17
235/40/18

they're the standard size's anyway. But low profile tyres are so you can have a bigger wheel and still have the same rolling radius

:)


I think it's more to do with the width of them in the snow anyway. 'Thinner' tyre's seem to work better than wide ones.

[bobwmac]

Oh yes they are!

215/60/15

Good for 30000 miles and great in the snow, being the thinner tyres.
Us old fogies prefer smaller wheels and TALL tyres:D

As a gesture of goodwill, VW gave these ridiculous low profile things when eventually they agreed to built it without leather seats and heat the windows.

I think they're taking revenge for my first 2 B6s, both unique, and the first of which is still out there somewhere - the second one was further modified and wrecked.

[brightside]

wow. Learn something new everyday.

Always thought 15" wheels wouldn't clear the brakes lol

15" wouldnt clear the brakes on the seat with 312mm brake disc's

[brightside]

Oh yeah, I'll gladly swap you my 215/55/16 SE wheels for your 17's :p

[Quatrelle]

I wish I had AWD. Had to buy two bags of grit to grit the road out side my house. The snow is fine, the ice is not. Front wheel drive with conti sport tyres on an estate and ice makes for a bad combination.
Ordinary tyres don't work on ice, regardless of the make. If someone says their tyres get good grip on ice they're not on ice.

[maddogphysics]

my wife says "if I hear winter tyres one more time....."

then I found it challenging approaching a T junction downhill.....luckilly no traffic.


My wife said " were we sliding just then?"


"only a controlled slide darling, now, those winter tyres...."

[logiclee]

My tyres were posted out on the 17th.

All four were in sorting officing in Germany on the 19th.

Three are now at DPD Nottingham and I'll get them in the morning.

One is still at the bloody sorting office in Germany. :zx11: :zx11: :zx11:

Lee

[brightside]

bobwmac do you have a picture of the clearence of the brakes with your 15" wheels on?

What model B6 are they on?