First of all hello everyone and I hope 2010 is a great year for you.

I've not been on here for a couple of months so i've got a bit of catching up to do

I just wanted to say in this horrible weather weve had over the Christmas holidays i've been so impressed with my Octavia 4x4. Even with 18" alloys and sports tyres i've not got stuck once and had minimal traction problems. I've even (on purpose) gone off the beaten track in deep snow where no other car has been (side roads, car parks etc) to test the traction limits and on minor/medium hills i've had no problems at all. I'm not quite daft enough to tackle any of the big hills, of which there are plenty in Sheffield, just in case. I have been caught out when the snow has fallen and caused major chaos on the roads. Including one night when my flight was cancelled at East Midlands due to the weather and I had to get back to Sheffield after 5 hours plus of snow. Only one lane on the M1 was open so the conditions were shocking. I didnt get stuck once and actually went past several people who were completely stuck. The car also felt very planted and inspired confidence that you could continue with the journey despite the weather.

In comparison I got stuck trying to park the fabia yesterday on an almost flat road. I had to go and rescue it from where the wife had left it when she couldnt get home. The fabia has been awful in the snow and you really do have to work at it. Although they are sports tyres they are almost new and have done less than 1,000 miles so I did expect more. The octavia has caused no concerns at all. Just thought i'd post my thoughts and see if any fellow 4x4 drivers think the same as me :yes:

It's times like this when I envy you 4x4 people. The vRS is a great car, but no match for you in these conditions. :(

I miss mine, even with 350 bhp it was great at getting going in the snow although no better at stopping.

I now have 500 bhp RWD & that hasnt been allowed out of the garage, the trusty old Octy 1.9tdi FWD is managing somehow

My VRS coped pretty well today. Had a really bad vibration on the way home from work though, I'm hoping its just ice and snow stuck on the suspension/wheels/drive shafts.

Thanks for the info. My sister is considering one of these, so its good to find out what its like in the snow.

I've been using my 4x4 Octavia commuting between York just outside Harrogate on the hills. It has been good, have had a few little slips on tight roundabout corners on untreated roads but nothing major or surpising. There was an untreated hill on Monday that I don't think a 2wd car would have managed (a few cars were abandoned rather than try it) but the Octavia was great on it. You still have to be very careful but I have confidence in the car based on how it has performed.

Have noticed that if you give a bit of abuse it is very tail happy.....but sooo much fun

Yes - agree - have just spent new year visiting family in Thurso (near John O Groats!) - 450 miles round trip in heavy snow. 2001 4x4 Octavia Estate coped admirably - made the journey enjoyable - even with Pirelli P6000s - I can't decide if I like these tyres or not! Our 4x4 Octy is the best car we've had!

Got to agree my Octy 4x4 has not skipped a beat in the snow in County Durham, leaving many of my friends jealous as they were stuck at work

have done 95 miles around South Wales today with no issues at all. Deepish snow (4-6"), Slush, packed snow, all handled with "ease". The key is not to enjoy it toooo much very easy to get carried away when trying to provoke the Haldex to kick in :D I am amazed at how bad the general standard of driving in this country is though, loads of people that think they can carry on at the same speed as normal and brake at the same point they always would ??????

I so wish I had 4 x 4, my VRS is currently stuck down my side track in all but a few inches of snow and will not move, I even made sure I parked it where I was sure I would be able to move it if it snowed...How wrong was I? In comparison, my wife's BMW Mini is parked 50 yards further down the same track, managed a three point turn and drove out with no problems. I have never owned a car that is so useless in slippery conditions, got decent tyres too..This is our second round of snow. In the first lot before Xmas I quickly realised I was in trouble, even more so now as since then, my ASR and ABS are giving me much problems (all well covered amoung these forums). So, the little Mini is my car of (no) choice this week and an A4 quattaro on the shopping list before next winter..Not sure if Santa will fit it down the old chimney though...

I looked at the A4Q when I was shopping for a good sized car for work but chose the Octavia over the A4 as it is a hell of a lot cheaper and more economical to run as well. In real world driving there is not a lot to choose between the Quattro system and the 4Motion/Haldex as used in the VW/Skoda/Seat range. Next on the shopping list is a 2.8V6 4Motion Caravelle with all the toys (need to get a new job first though )

My vRS is no good to me if it can't get me to work. Looks like a 4X4 for me next....

I knew it was good and much better than my previous VRS as while i've owned i've been out in some proper bad weather especially all of the east mids meets i've been to. Mines not standard and is running more than 300BHP but it was still driveable in the wet. I've never had a 4x4 before and especially not one with Haldex and i've been very impressed with it. As mentioned i've been off the beaten track to learn the limits and it is great fun when the back end gets a bit too wild (especially in an estate). In the right conditions when you use the power its just like a rear wheel drive

My 4x4 has been faultless so far, but it's worth mentioning that 4WD is useful for getting you going, but it doesn't make any difference when it comes to braking.

But, I have 4 * Nokian WR tyres on mine (winter tyres, sort of), which I think is as much to do with my car's great performance in the snow/ice as the 4WD!

Totally agree with most of the above - our Octy II 4x4 has been fantastic in the snow both this year and last, even on non-winter tyres.

What I still haven't worked out though is how long it stays in 4x4 mode... initially it's obviously fwd until some slight slipage occurs when it clearly swithes to 4wd but when does it go back to fwd - when it's turned off?... when it stops slipping?... after a set period of time?... I can't seem to tell.

It just seems bloody good whatever the weather.

Totally agree with most of the above - our Octy II 4x4 has been fantastic in the snow both this year and last, even on non-winter tyres.

What I still haven't worked out though is how long it stays in 4x4 mode... initially it's obviously fwd until some slight slipage occurs when it clearly swithes to 4wd but when does it go back to fwd - when it's turned off?... when it stops slipping?... after a set period of time?... I can't seem to tell.

It just seems bloody good whatever the weather.

From what I understand, slippage causes oil pressure buildup which locks the clutch, hence switching you to 4WD. I *guess* that with all clutch plates now rotating at the same speed, the pressure drops and returns you to 2WD, the rate at which this happens is probably designed to give a reasonable compromise... bear in mind though that this isn't a simple ON/OFF system, there will be gradual transition between ON/OFF as oil pressure increases/decreases.

i live in the middle of nowehre.... my vrs is much better than my brothers s type r. but i really really want the volvo s60r for the fact it has awd.... 4wheels driving ftw

We have Octavia 4x4 (-03, 2.0 petrol, electric traction control in front, haldex for rear) and Legacy (-04, 2.5 petrol, full time awd, visco in mid differential). I have to say that in Finnish winter conditions on minor roads (snow and ice covered gravel roads, with real studded winter tires) Subaru is a bit faster, but… Skoda has more traction when it comes just to get it going through 6 inches of snow, or from driveway back to the street through the wall caused by plough. I think even this old generation haldex is a very good choice for you guys in Britain!

P.S. And I have learned to make use of the lift-off-understeering habit of the Octy.

All I can add to that as I drive around. Having soooooo much fun

I think even this old generation haldex is a very good choice for you guys in Britain!

Which generation Haldex do you have, is it gen1? I have gen2, the latest version (e.g. Yeti) is gen4. Although there are probably a few other beneficial tweaks, I think the biggest advantage with gen4 over gen2 is that it can build up oil pressure in advance of it being needed, so if you floor it, the axles can be locked together instantly. With gen2, even if you floor it, there will still be a delay in the axles being locked together because slippage MUST occur to build up the oil pressure to lock the clutch plates first!

Or in other words, from my understanding, the benefits of gen4 are performance-related, rather than having greater traction.

From what I understand, slippage causes oil pressure buildup which locks the clutch, hence switching you to 4WD. I *guess* that with all clutch plates now rotating at the same speed, the pressure drops and returns you to 2WD, the rate at which this happens is probably designed to give a reasonable compromise... bear in mind though that this isn't a simple ON/OFF system, there will be gradual transition between ON/OFF as oil pressure increases/decreases.

Hmm - sounds reasonable - I just wondered if there was some from of "electronic over-ride" that kept it in 4WD...

Works regardless of how

Hmm - sounds reasonable - I just wondered if there was some from of "electronic over-ride" that kept it in 4WD...

I don't believe there is. However, the electronics can override the oil system to keep it in 2WD, via a valve that can open and prevent oil pressure build-up (e.g. if ABS is operating).

With gen2, even if you floor it, there will still be a delay in the axles being locked together because slippage MUST occur to build up the oil pressure to lock the clutch plates first!

Or in other words, from my understanding, the benefits of gen4 are performance-related, rather than having greater traction.

I have gen 2 in Octy, and you are correct. Subaru full-time-system acts more like gen 4, there the performance advantage!

Guys, this is an interesting thread - I've got my eye on an 1.8T Elegance 4x4, 2002 - 150bhp - what would I need to take this up to 180bhp the same an a VRS ?

Thanks