Was going to post this on the fabia vrs section, but thought this area would probably suit it more as its more of a general car/driver topic than related to a model.

The thing in questions is ME!!! :thumbdwn: i think i must be a bad driver and doing something wrong. :(

Today at work i parked up in our company car park but struggled to park it. There was alot of wheel spinning as i went forward and back. Normally i park with my front out so that its easier to take off, but this time had to park rear out. And then when i left work today, i tried reversing out but she moved abit then got stuck. So with the help of a workmate we shoveled some snow out from under the drive wheels, got her movin a bit.He even tried pushing. I had to put loads of power into reversing and then finally got it moving. he couldn't understand why i had so much trouble. I even tried switching the traction control off but didn't make a difference.

then on the way home going along an icy road i had to pull over to the side to let another car pass coming from opposite direction. As i pulled up i let her slow down using the gears and then i gently went onto the brake and thenpulled the hand brake. All was fine stopping but found as i steered into the side it felt like i was gonna slide. I wasn't going fast at all.

I've been driving for 10 years and my previous cars have been a nissan micra,megane and ford escort and have driven in the snow in these also and remember many times where i've slid or not been able to get any traction. So i'm of the opinion its my driving. I'm clearly doing something wrong as have seen alot of smaller cars/less powerful tearing around on the snow with no problems. taking bends without slipping etc.

i'm aware that if i do slide, last thing i want to do is slam on brakes and ideally if i'm slowing down i should use the gears. if i'm in snow driving using a higher gear is best.

Edited 3 February, 200917 yr by newskoda

Just sounds like inexperience in the snow.

I would seriously check out your nearest skidpan facility, and go for a course. Will teach you all about controlling slides, and how ABS works, etc. I really enjoyed mine. Was pretty astounding to see how ABS works (car had a switch to turn it off)

Snow -haven't had a lot in last few years -it's a case of softly softly ,look and act well ahead .Tip if you get stuck going forward - go back a bit then go forward - sort of rock it out .Low revs are best and look out for uphills -anticipate to gain speed,changing down before the hill -so that you present smooth application of power to road ,rather than a change of torque to the wheels .Downhill -keep those wheels moving or lose control .As said -if you're frightened of skids -get some practice/training .I know we should avoid them ,but having the confidence to get out of one helps to let you know when one is about to occurr( if that makes sense )

Just sounds like inexperience in the snow.

I would seriously check out your nearest skidpan facility, and go for a course. Will teach you all about controlling slides, and how ABS works, etc. I really enjoyed mine. Was pretty astounding to see how ABS works (car had a switch to turn it off)

It won't "teach you ALL about". It'll give you the basics on which to build your experience.

Remember the legal tread depth of 1.6mm is not enough for our winter (or wet summer)weather either if it's mild and wet as normal or cold and snowy like in some parts just now. In Germany I think it's nearer 3mm which should be the same here IMO.

But because it's legal folk think it's fine rather than think for themselves.

Read this thread, and practice on a clear empty car park.

One of your key errors:

I had to put loads of power into reversing and then finally got it moving.

Use very little power. Ignore the throttle pedal- use the clutch alone if it's *very* slippy. You can also work the steering back and forward a little- that sometimes helps.

then on the way home going along an icy road i had to pull over to the side to let another car pass coming from opposite direction. As i pulled up i let her slow down using the gears and then i gently went onto the brake and thenpulled the hand brake.

That sounded good up to the point of the handbrake. You'd only want to be doing that to provoke a slide (eg: a handbrake turn).

However, you should note that a Fabia vRS on performance summer tyres can be a bit of a handful compared to (for example) a 1 litre Polo on skinny all-weather tyres, so you need to take extra care on what you try.

My Leon has wideish, Z rated tyres.They're also budget ones that I will get rid of as soon as I can afford it, and they are sh!t in the snow. The car is all over the place even driven very carefully.

Edited 3 February, 200917 yr by cjb

Remember the legal tread depth of 1.6mm is not enough for our winter (or wet summer)weather either if it's mild and wet as normal or cold and snowy like in some parts just now. In Germany I think it's nearer 3mm which should be the same here IMO.

But because it's legal folk think it's fine rather than think for themselves.

:iagree:

I change tyres at 3mm or so.

It won't "teach you ALL about". It'll give you the basics on which to build your experience.

It was comprehensive enough for most people in my opinion. The instructor could fake slippage of any wheel due to the trolley type setup the car was attached to. Could lift any wheel independently in one go to simulate skidding, and with ABS on or off. Was the best 4 hours of driving experience to date in my opinion.

Skid Prevention and Control

It won't "teach you ALL about". It'll give you the basics on which to build your experience.

Remember the legal tread depth of 1.6mm is not enough for our winter (or wet summer)weather either if it's mild and wet as normal or cold and snowy like in some parts just now. In Germany I think it's nearer 3mm which should be the same here IMO.

But because it's legal folk think it's fine rather than think for themselves.

thanks

I did check my thread depth and they are 6mm or thereabouts on all. the tyres are only 4 months old. They are bridgestones but probably classed as summer rather than all season.

I'll defo look into the course that was suggested and probably look into getting better tyres for the future

thanks

I did check my thread depth and they are 6mm or thereabouts on all. the tyres are only 4 months old. They are bridgestones but probably classed as summer rather than all season.

I'll defo look into the course that was suggested and probably look into getting better tyres for the future

Bridgestones are good tyres, but probably the ones you have are not the best for snow/ice. The thing is, we don't really have enough of it here to get winter tyres.

Edited 3 February, 200917 yr by cjb

i'm as bad as these guys!!! oops

YouTube - Driving in snow

Nice to see someone who thinks their driving could be improved, top marks. It's usually blamed on the car or other road users.

Golden rule for driving in slippery conditions, slow down, and use steering, throttle, and brakes very gently. Even when you get used to driving in poor weather, never forget, their will be clods out there who think they can drive, but can't.

I remember when I was a wee boy in the 70's my dad carried some old bits of carpet in the car to put under the wheels to give some traction to get ut of some slippery spots.

This video shows the before and after from that video in Portland USA.

Driving in snow can be interesting, I have been driving for to many years now, and have driven in quiet a lot. The key is little throttle, using 2nd gear to pull away. Be gentle with the brakes and throttle when you are moving.

:iagree:

I change tyres at 3mm or so.

More worrying is that apparantly vehicled over 3500kg are only 1mm over 75% of the tread :eek:

I change at 3mm and to be fair even with 6-7mm on you're going to struggle on snow or ice if you've got the wrong tyres on.

More worrying is that apparantly vehicled over 3500kg are only 1mm over 75% of the tread :eek:

I change at 3mm and to be fair even with 6-7mm on you're going to struggle on snow or ice if you've got the wrong tyres on.

:iagree:

I would agree with cjb's advice about using light throttle, and do not ever use the handbrake when the car is moving!! The most likely result of doing that is that you will lock the rear wheels, and provoke a rear-end sideslip, pretty much like you did.

I do not agree about using a higher gear for moving off though; just be very gentle with the clutch, particularly since you've got a diesel.

I have in the past extricated a car from a wet grass field, driving uphill, and, driving in snow, passed a stuck Range Rover on M&S in a Citroen ZX on 175 section Michelins, so I really don't think that talk about specialist Winter tyres for UK motoring is helpful!

When pulling away in a diesel on snow you can simply slowly lift the clutch and don't even touch the accelerator, I had to do this the other day getting out of a car park with a slope up to the exit in the snow.

I used to have an Astravan 1.7 diesel on really skinny tyres and it was the best thing ever in the snow, there was a couple of times I cut across snowy fields to get around blocked junctions!