Very Very pleased with my Scout in the snow no problems yet getting around on the compacted snow on the sideroads with slopes etc good job as the father inlaw is in hospital at the moment and I am doing the visiting runs with all the family. How are other Scout drivers finding the car ? ps it needs a 4x4 badge on the back now. cheers (smugly) - Stuart.

Scouts are great in the snow

Just a shame we've not really got any here!

I've always been puzzled why the Scout has no 4x4 badge outside - the cheaper/low spec standard 4x4 does!

Well, one impetus for getting a Scout was trying to get around in last year's snow in a powerful, light RWD car.

And the swap has paid off already. Dropped Foo Jnr. off at the childminder this morning, I don't think she was expecting anyone to turn up!.

I even managed to get up the road and on to my drive without any drama.

I guess my only surprise is that in my old (V Reg) A3 Quattro I could hear the Haldex (I assume it was Haldex) doing it's thing (springs twanging, clutches engaging etc.) but in the Scout it is noiseless. I quite liked to know when it had gone 4WD so I knew things were getting sketchy.

I am obliged to say that the 1.8TSI seems as good a match to 4WD as any petrol is likely to be, so long as you are in the right gear it has enough torque to keep going without having to pedal down and spin out.

Today, I am a happy Skoda driver.

From the dancing on Ice thread.

Apart from the brake judder on another thread Im happy, as you say theres nothing to tell you that the Haldex has kicked in but Im sure it is as the car handles fine on ice and snow

I think your brake judder is the ABS chucking it's toys out the pram. It has no idea what to do on ice, and seems to just hunt around the wheels looking for grip and finding very little.

If the pedal is feeding back the judder, then it is probably the ABS.

I think your brake judder is the ABS chucking it's toys out the pram. It has no idea what to do on ice, and seems to just hunt around the wheels looking for grip and finding very little.

If the pedal is feeding back the judder, then it is probably the ABS.

Thanks, that was what I was thinking as it only happens on Ice and makes perfect sense...

only happens on Ice

Drive across a nice muddy field, hit the brakes, and you'll feel the same judders

If you hit the brake hard enough on normal tarmac the ABS also kicks in. As do the seatbelt reel locks for anyone who doesn't have a steering wheel to brace off :p... The stopping distances in the rules of the road book are becoming more and more fictional...

I have to say that I've been amazed with mine over the last couple of days, car feels so planted and stable. Transfer of power is seamless and as some have mentioned a visual indicator would be useful.

I had to find a QUIET local car park to test the snowtrac3 tyres... only under spirited acceleration could you feel the power being transfered around...brilliant

Jon

The Scout is fab... similar issues to others though about not knowing when the Haldex system is doing it's job.

Here's another question... when driving in slippy and deep snow, is it better to have the ESP switched on or off??

08 Scout 2.0TDI (pre-facelift).

The Scout is fab... similar issues to others though about not knowing when the Haldex system is doing it's job.

Here's another question... when driving in slippy and deep snow, is it better to have the ESP switched on or off??

08 Scout 2.0TDI (pre-facelift).

I believe the official guidance is to have ESP on, except when initially trying to get the car to move if on Ice or slippery snow when a bit of (gentle) wheel spin is required. I've played around with ESP off when off-road in the snow, but when on the road I switch it back on again.

The Scout is fab... similar issues to others though about not knowing when the Haldex system is doing it's job.

Here's another question... when driving in slippy and deep snow, is it better to have the ESP switched on or off??

08 Scout 2.0TDI (pre-facelift).

ESP ON. For in corner safety.

My old BMW used to advise ASR and ESP off (it turned off in stages) for getting up really snowy slopes. It just let it spin the wheel more madly than with it on as far as I could tell.

I guess if I could not get up a dead straight, quiet road I might try with it off. But I wouldn't leave it off for long.

Thanks for this info... useful. I had wondered if the ESP would cut power to whichever wheel(s) was spinning and therefore, if everything was pwerless, we'd go nowhere. But I guess you're right about the safety and stability.

Will see how it does today... I think it's out on housecalls at the moment in the north highlands with the (fortunately extremely competent) Dr Badger at the wheel!!! ;o)

I've always been puzzled why the Scout has no 4x4 badge outside - the cheaper/low spec standard 4x4 does!

Oy! - less of the snobbishness!

Yep the Haldex 4x4 is great in this weather - ours has been fantastic last year and this on standard summer tyres.

In terms of knowing when it kicks in you can tell - there is ther merest of wheel slips and a very slight lurch as power shifts to the back end and you start to move that you learn to recognise.

I've always been puzzled why the Scout has no 4x4 badge outside - the cheaper/low spec standard 4x4 does!

Why not add your own 4x4 badge (the one that 'underlines' OCTAVIA) on the pre-facelift non-Scout model?

Thanks for this info... useful. I had wondered if the ESP would cut power to whichever wheel(s) was spinning and therefore, if everything was pwerless, we'd go nowhere. But I guess you're right about the safety and stability.

Will see how it does today... I think it's out on housecalls at the moment in the north highlands with the (fortunately extremely competent) Dr Badger at the wheel!!! ;o)

LOL. I made Dr. Foo (SWMBO) take her Mini. Luckily she doesn't have home visits today.

I wanted the Scout all to myself today.

I have already given my wife's experience of driving the Scout in nasty conditions on Saturday. She says the car is just brilliant and she never had a moment's cause for concern apart from avoiding all the other cars slithering around. We have bought this to replace her Rav4 (which she liked a lot) and she is well chuffed with the decision - mind you we have had 3 Octavias previously so it was a no-brainer anyway.

Oy! - less of the snobbishness!

Not me mate - I only went to a Scout as the deal was so good it worked out cheaper than my previous standard 4x4 Octavia

Why not add your own 4x4 badge (the one that 'underlines' OCTAVIA) on the pre-facelift non-Scout model?

I've got a slightly different idea - just need some spare pennies

I was driving safely home through deep snow with my Scout and winter tyres. I am glad that I bought this car, safety first!

If you hit the brake hard enough on normal tarmac the ABS also kicks in

But it more fun on a muddy field and then you also get the exercise the whole 4x4 system too

*Heads over to the Yeti forum to see how they are getting on*

Ooops.

Weve had about 5-6 inches of snow here in the Gtr Manchester area with very little evidence of gritters so my Scout has been a bonus this week especially on the outskirts where its hilly in the shadow of the Pennines, not sure if its my imagination but the 4x4 drivers are giving me the "you have no right to be here with us " kind of glance

Looking forward to my commute home by bike in the snow ... My mountain bike tyres were gripping a lot better in the snow than any of the cars :p... Just annoyed 4WD Skodas are somewhat rarer than hen's teeth second hand in Ireland so no fear of me getting one :(...

If you keep your car long enough you might find that the ESP turns itself off permamently!

pmc