is this proof that RWD Autos are not the problem, but actually the drivers being muppets.
this RWD auto has no problem.
[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motoringvideo/8191628/Is-this-the-Stig-of-bus-drivers.html ]RWD Auto[/url]
The weight of the bus would be a signicant factor with better traction.
our rear wheel drive auto isn't fairing too badly all things considered.. I wish I hadn't put off buying new tyres though..
The engine is in the back of buses as well ,which will help no end.
My auto C Class Merc is considerably better in snow than the manual BMW 320d I had previously- not had to put chains on it yet. I think it might be that the tyres on it are better in snow than the run flats on the BMW plus the traction control appears to be more effective. Don't think the auto box helps that much but it makes nice gentle starts easy and the changes are smoother than can be done with a manual box. Still think I may go for winter tyres next winter.
It still takes good judgement and very careful throttle work (an engine 13 meters behind you is hard to hear)
MrOvershoot PSV Class 1 (now PCV Category D) learnt on a 1957 AEC Routemaster
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My Merc C-Class Coupe is a rear-wheel drive automatic and I can confirm that it is indeed crap in the snow. I've got autosocks for it though and with those it's coped better than a lot of front wheel drive cars I've seen.
My wife and daughter both have small front wheel drive cars with fairly narrow tyres (both Honda Jazz's) and I reckon those are probably better in the snow than some 4x4's!
Beetles are good in the snow.
Look at that beautiful thing...
Is that the W203 Steve? My missus has one and it is indeed crap in snow. My W204 is much better.
Beetles?
A pal rescued a woman from work from the bottom of the valley by driving her Beetle up the hill the other day - no great problem. Next day she managed to get stuck in the same spot but he couldn't get it up the hill.
She eventually told him she had switched on the traction control - switched it off and problem solved.
I used to have an RS2000 and drove it in the snow in the 70's/80's. Traction was rubbish with a RWD and widish tyres. It was good to learn about how a car handles in snow.
My first car was a Fiat 128 and this was totally different in snow.
My sister had an ugly FWD Peugeot 304 with it's spindly tyres gripped a treat though.
Most 4WD's out there are specced up for road use (for the poseurs), so the shallow tread of the tyres fill with ice and then spin like slicks - advantage of having all that complicated, heavey and expensive 4WD technology --- Nil! Not helped by the idiot's who often choose such an inappropriate vehicle.
A set of winter tyres will make all the difference to any car!
A 2WD car with winter tyres in snow will beat a 4WD with summer road tyres, hands down!
A 4WD with winter tyres is the ultimate for the snowy conditions, but is overkill in all but the hilliest of areas.
They should create another class. You have genuine 4WD - geared for proper offroad use, fitted with suitable all terrain tyres and driven by competent people who have a genuine need for such a vehicle.
Then a whole new category: "CWD"- "Cock Wheel Drive" - for all the pointlessly oversized heavy 4WD vehicles with unsuitable tyres, driven by arrogant and unduly self-reassured stupid people! 😆 😆 😆
Is that the W203 Steve?
Yip - the 2.5 V6 one, which might be the worst of all in this weather. I was out in it last night, driving my daughter into town, and the traction control seemed to be kicking in all the time.
Lovely car the rest of the time though!
I know the camera and windscreen probably don't flatter, but it looks like Glupton's put on a bit of weight. 😀
I always remember, when I worked on site and had a 110 Landrover, in Southampton one snowy winter seeing 5 or 6 cars stuck trying to get up a rather steep snow covered hill without any success. The Landrover just went up, without even the need of a gear change. Oh how I laughed.
It was almost as good as the time when, again in the 110 Landrover seeing a "rep" stuck in a small dip along a country lane in Kent. I laughed even more as I drove past him and off to work.
What a nice chap I used to be. 😀
Auto my bum, 4x4 with a decent driver and proper tyres is here its at.
Then a whole new category: "CWD"- "Cock Wheel Drive" - for all the pointlessly oversized heavy 4WD vehicles with unsuitable tyres, driven by arrogant and unduly self-reassured stupid people!
+1