Great car in the snow

**maddogphysics** · 22-12-2009,05:50 PM

So up to Scotland for the holidays and of course the roads are snow covered and full of ice. Taking it easy, the ESP light occassionaly comes on but no problems.

We get to the turn off for the cottage, completely covered in snow. I can barely see the track. So, with the sun just going down, I decide to try the track as its almost 1/2 mile to the cottage. I don't want to leave the car and carry all the luggage (and presents!) all that way.

I'm really pleased with myself and then......

......the track turns right and a steep dip for 50m. Into first and let the engine brake the descent. But of course another sharp turn and the track curves steeply upwards. Half way up and the ESP light stays on with the car not moving. The children are a little scared so they get out of the car with their mother (and the dog!) and carry on up to the cottage on foot.

I reverse down the slope to the bottom, turn off the ESP and try again.

What a car! I make it up to the top with wheels spinning....but I make it up to the top!

Not bad for a 2WD estate and 170bhp.

Happy Christmas

**ravanoli** · 22-12-2009,07:33 PM

Originally Posted by maddogphysics

So up to Scotland for the holidays and of course the roads are snow covered and full of ice. Taking it easy, the ESP light occassionaly comes on but no problems.

We get to the turn off for the cottage, completely covered in snow. I can barely see the track. So, with the sun just going down, I decide to try the track as its almost 1/2 mile to the cottage. I don't want to leave the car and carry all the luggage (and presents!) all that way.

I'm really pleased with myself and then......

......the track turns right and a steep dip for 50m. Into first and let the engine brake the descent. But of course another sharp turn and the track curves steeply upwards. Half way up and the ESP light stays on with the car not moving. The children are a little scared so they get out of the car with their mother (and the dog!) and carry on up to the cottage on foot.

I reverse down the slope to the bottom, turn off the ESP and try again.

What a car! I make it up to the top with wheels spinning....but I make it up to the top!

Not bad for a 2WD estate and 170bhp.

Happy Christmas

Yes is a good car in the snow

I got back from france on friday. I had a job to deliver Fuel injectors for Mercedes. I got there on Thursday morning and i hit paris where the snow was very heavy. The car never faultered once. Not bad for 105 1.9 s Taxi

**dieseljames** · 22-12-2009,07:47 PM

It makes me laugh how snow in the south east is a major disaster for the suits that cant drive in it (according to the politicians and widespread media frenzy); but in Scotland they can cope with it and get on with daily life.....without the use of chelsea tractors!

You may think the Passat is good in the snow/ice but its probably more down to your skill/style of driving

**redrolo** · 22-12-2009,10:01 PM

I was going to start a thread with the complete opposite view and looking for advice as I am really unsure as what to do. I have a 58 170 SEL saloon with 17" alloys and Conti Sport Contact 2 tyres, with about 6mm of tread left.

I can not get the car to move from start through Slush never mind snow, the wheels just spin. Tried various options, ESP on/off, 1st gear, 2nd gear, reverse, and it just doesn't budge.

We live at the bottom of a hill and very other car in the close can get out.... from pug 206's, a mini, to old Corsa's and a 2.2 Jag estate. I just don't get it.

My neighbour is a traffic cop/trainer and he could get it to move at all either. I am somewhere near laughing stock to really concerned. I had to get towed out by a 12 year old freeloader to get out the estate.

I went swimming tonight and had to get a push out of the car park.

Any suggestions as to what is going wrong.

**Drash** · 22-12-2009,11:22 PM

Tyres and style seem to matter a lot. Last year, P Zero Rosso 2345/45/17 and I'm all over the place couldn't get out of the end of the street (first time in 12 years living here). Just replaced them last month with Michelin Primacy HP XL and they're the first I've been truly happy with on the Passat - quieter/more comfortable/sure-footed in wet than Pirelli & the Bridgestones before them, plus seem almost sure-footed in this snow. Two others at work just got Michelins this weekend and they're both impressed, one commented on how much quieter they were on his SEAT (Bridgestone previously). I've tried all the premium brands and Kumho & Falken etc. etc and I always seem to get back to the Michelin - worth the extra in my book. Wasn't too bothered either way with Pirelli, but this last set has really put me off them - tramlining, crashing into potholes, droning with no discernable upside except perhaps a bit more dry cornering ability, good thing they wore out quickly.

**Motorway** · 22-12-2009,11:40 PM

My 2.0 140tdi is good in the snow, just returned tonight from working in Cumbria for the last three days, i have a pair of VREDESTEIN SNOWTRAC 3 on the front on a spare pair of steel rims. approx £150 for the pair. i do tend to start off without touching the accellerator then build the power getting up the gears as quickly as possible and dont touch the brakes going downhill. drove past countless scoobies left abandoned and even a range rover sport going sideways near Coniston. i had to stop on the hill and wait for him to park up, starting off again a little tricky but better with the TC/ESP turned off, kept the wheels spinning to keep the treads clear, made it up the hill and all the way home without a problem.

i do think the tyres help although whilst towing a caravan back in september with my standard road tyres Dunlop Sportsi encountered mud on a campsite in Germany, and with ESP off we climbed the hill out of the field again keep the wheels spinning to keep treads clear.

i am getting close to 25k on the dunlops so some new ones will be required after i take the winter tyres off i think approx 2.5mm on the ones taken off the front last week. being well pleased with the VREDESTEIN SNOWTRAC 3's performance i may look at what they have to offer for general road tyres. had a set on the front of the last passat B5 and they wore well..

**redrolo** · 22-12-2009,11:53 PM

The road I live at the bottom of climbs approx 600ft in a 1/3 mile and it is a meandering road. Certainly think I need to relook at the tyres. Will definately look at the spare front wheels option too. Have got some snowchains coming which will get out the drive hopefully, but I need a better solution for the open road. Only had the car a month, as I changed jobs and opted out of the car scheme, so changing the car anytime soon is not an option.....

**The Fingers** · 23-12-2009,03:25 AM

see this thread https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...ad.php?t=86802

perhaps i put it in the wrong place to start with..................

I am on Mitchelin HP's witha DSG and in the snow with pressure at 34 PSI front they are worse than rubbish down to 29 PSI and its a different car.

I still have a very nice yellow dash disco quite alot though.

**maddogphysics** · 23-12-2009,11:35 AM

Just watched BBC News and seen lots of abandoned car......and yes, the one car they focussed on was a VW Passatt Estate!

**gamichea** · 23-12-2009,11:58 AM

Originally Posted by The Fingers

see this thread https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...ad.php?t=86802
I am on Mitchelin HP's witha DSG and in the snow with pressure at 34 PSI front they are worse than rubbish down to 29 PSI and its a different car.

When I got some 235/45 x 17 Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetrics (better than Primacy HPs IMO, except for wear) I found Goodyear recommended much lower pressures than VW. I've used the Goodyear pressures for 10k plus now and found the car generally rides better, handles just as well and there is no fuel consumption impact. Over time I've moved the pressure in the Pirellis (relative rubbish) on the other axle down to Goodyear level with no adverse effect.

FYI the Goodyear full /partial load recommendations are 2.3/2.2 bar front and 2.5/2.0 bar rear.