Unbeatable for setting off.... unable to stop



[Edited by ricco - 12/1/2002 8:00:02 PM]

 

compared to fwd.

was great going up hill... just keeps on going.

slidy as any other car on the corners.

downhill is good if u go v v slowly... in low gear, or so i found.

crossing tyre tracks is also better.

as always with snow... get it wrong and ur fooked.

keep it well within ur driving ability... in my case dead slow... its good.

snowy carparks are the place for exploiting the awd in corners

[Edited by SCOSaltire - 12/1/2002 8:07:50 PM]

 

I don't want to preach - but some of the comments I've read lately are plain scary/stupid.

If you can't afford winter tires - keep the car parked when it's snowing...it doesn't matter if it's a scoob or whatever.
"Summer" rubber isn't designed for it.

Narrower tires helps, but not nearly enough - you who have driven on proper rubber knows what I'm talking about.

Stop playing with ABS thinking you will be able to stop - it won't happen if the tires doesn't have any grip.

The worst bit about the scoob that the awd fools one into thinking it isn't that slippery...which you will find out when you'll need to stop, or make a turn.

Please be sensible and leave the scoob in the garage on the snowy/icy days - or get some DECENT wheels and have fun (I have been sideways as often as I could today ).



/J

[Edited by SecretAgentMan - 12/2/2002 5:14:02 PM]

 

With the oncoming winter I wondered how many people have used their car in the snow. I drove in the snow once in an MY98 and it seemed ok, but it was only for a short distance to the main road. Now I have my MY02 and I wondered whether it will be any good. Weather forecasters are predicting a harsh winter. I welcome responses from the Nothern owners and Scottish peeps who take snow for granted.

PeteII

 

Rubbish... nearly totalled mine once, my 1L Ford Fiesta GL was better.

Dave

 

white

 

Down to tyres and driving skill.

remember 4x4 doesnt make you King of the snow.

 

If you take notice of the blurb in one of the brochures (may have been MY98/9) you could be fooled into thinking this is one great winter car. They picture a diagram of a couple of scenario's. Snow is one of them and they reckon (apes the voice of Tony the Tiger, Kelloggs Frosties advert)"They're GREAAAT"


Pete

 

Very fun to drive but only with winter tyres!!

 

Your ABS light will go crazy!!

 

Alright, if you pull the ABS fuse, much much better with winter tyres on.

 

ABS makes matters worse so I am told[img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img] Is this true ? When I last had to drive in bad snow I had a Peugeot 309 GTI and it was poor. Traction was sh1te. However it did stop fairly well because it didn't have ABS. YOU NEED THE WHEELS TO LOCK in order to cause a PLOUGH effect which helps slow you down. Please advise me if you think I am talking rubbish.

Pete

 

It's an amazing car on snow - WITH proper tires.

My scoob is a bundle of joy on the stuff - just been out for some sideways driving.

/J

 

not tried taking the fuse out ... yet.

did try stopping on the flat and activating the abs... was good enough... but i can see downhill being another story

 

Dunno, why don't you ask PSlewis....

 

WHY ?
Has he driven in SNOW ? I doubt whether he has the experience to comment to be honest. "Only just" passed his test YOU know what I MEAN ! !

PeteII

 

Lads - I learnt how to drive on the stuff.

The scoob is *built* for it - BUT you MUST sort suitable tires, without them you could just leave it parked.

/J

 

Whilst were on this topic can anyone recommend 17" winter tyres?

 

Jack, whilst I appreciate what you are saying, doesn't this necessitate the need for some more wheels
I can't afford any more

Pete

 

You cant afford them because you are a schoolboy playing on daddies PC!!!! ha ha ha - driving in snow? You have only seen 13 winters in your life you sad loser!!

Pete

 

I drove a type r with the diff totally locked and it seemed ok! It still slid round corners and braking was like any other car.

Gez

 

LOL Pavlo

 

I had a Sport for 3 years, and it was fantastic in the country lanes in the snow, and I only had Michelin AXP (all purpose weather) tyres apparently

Only once, going down a 40 degree decline, in first gear, and feathering the brakes, the car started to slide, and I could do no more cept, sit back and hope, and control with the steering

Cant wait to try out my new Turbo in the snow

Steve

 

forget it ABS and SNOW don't mix nearly totaly mine last year because of it. tried braking for a junction car didn't only just managed to stop it in time

 

I'll second the note on the tyres. IMHO, with the right rubber the Scoob is pretty much unstoppable in snow (unless very deep, of course). The issue of course being that there are many "types" of winter tyres these days. Among studless tyres a hardish compound that works on tarmac and snow will not do terribly much on ice, then there is the type that works better on ice (and could save your bacon), but is mush on tarmac.

It comes down to priorities IMHO - and everyone has their own list.

 

Depends on the snow .... get the "wrong" kind of stuff and you're in big trouble whatever you drive. Most modern cars on big wheels with wide standard road tyres, this includes AWD Subarus with all their bits and bobs, will be at a diasadvantage compared to say an old Morris Minor or even an early Mini on skinny original road tyres. Those skinny tyres will have a higher weight to square inch ratio which enables deeper penetration of the cold stuff maybe even down to the tarmac. Fat, wide tyres in the same conditions may not have that same depth of penetration. Indeed, in certain conditions hard frozen compounded snow will quickly build up on them completely blocking the treads effectively tranforming even the finest road tyres into useless slicks. Last time I saw that happen down here in the SW Midlands was that winter of 1981-2. Temperatures went down to -20C locally overnight and we had a metre of snow in our garden. There were up to three metre drifts on the roads in the Forest of Dean. I had the use of a Mini 1000 back then and was able to get about quite safely where other cars were in all kinds of trouble. Many were left where they came to rest in those near impossible conditions until the melt came. The snow covered Cotswold Hills looked fabulous in that fine winter sunshine and I got some nice photos. Had the roads all to myself then ... a very rare event nowadays....

 

The removal of the ABS fuse is a must in the snow.

Wide tyres are not the brightest in snowy conditions but you can't have it all ways. For the amount of time we experience snow, I'm sure a little caution wouldn't kill us

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/90day.shtml

Think Bill Giles disagrees with your severe winter forecast PSLewis, so wouldn't rush out and buy those winter tyres quite yet

 

From my experience, like a sledge - down to the wider tyres - need to get some of those scimpy ones they use on the Rally Sweden! Beware is parking on a hill in snow - I got out of mine and locked it, then it just started sliding down the road!!!! Horror! Quick re-entry, then did what they recommend and parked with the wheel jammed against the kerb!!! Doh!

 

>The removal of the ABS fuse is a must in the snow.

Does this turn off the ABS or just the light? (is there even a light in my car (MY99).

Any advice on how to disable ABS appreciated.