I personally prefer driving my diesel car in this weather as the torque is all low down and you don't have to rev the nuts off it to get anywhere, which of course is counterproductive in this weather.

My car and the Toyota both have 205/55/R16 tyres, so no differences in profile to account for.

Quite the opposite - I think both SWMBO and I are glad she's only got 89 lb-ft to handle rather than my 320!

Diesel will often have more weight over the front wheels which can help.

Diesel, because if it's slippery I can ignore the throttle completely and move off on the clutch alone.

I don't have Winter tyres on, and have set the traction control off three times (ABS once that I've felt). Twice on patches of black ice (on tarmac that's polished looking to start with) and once climbing a hill that had had a similar track gritter up and down it, but was near on fresh snow when I went up.

Petrol. Warms up much faster.

Although it may be warm, we couldn't get the Yeti off the drive last week due to the standard summer tyres which are absolutely useless in snow/ice.

And yet I managed 4 days commuting to work at 0400 each morning, 100 miles round trip, in my Yeti with summer tyres without any problem

Hmm...

Even taking care, I managed to spin the wheels momentarily when accelerating on the frosty motorway last night - IN FIFTH GEAR!!!

Mmmmm...... I like snow but then again I like ice..........FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited 7 December, 201015 yr by taff170

Both Ice and snow can be a lethal as each other! In terms of diesel or petrol, I have only driven a petrol in the current conditions. Diesels are more torque so maybe worse? I just take it very easy when starting off, using 2nd gear in mine.

Which ever one has winter tyres fitted.

I find diesel is easier; although I haven't had two otherwise identical cars to compare. My petrol Passat, Primera & Astra were all useless in the snow, whereas my Octavia II and Fabia (especially the latter) were excellent (both diesels, plus the 185 tyres on the Fabia would have helped). My current Octavia has been off the road since before all this snow so I don't know what it would be like, but I'd imagine better than the Octy II as it has narrower tyres (the Octy II had 225 section tyres).

I expect a fairly simple rule of thumb could be worked out as I suspect the basic factors are the narrower the tyre width and the greater the proportion of the weight of the vehicle is on the driving wheels the better the grip will be in snow. Obviously tyre pressures, tyre type (winter, tread depth etc.) will factor in too. I'm not sure about ice, though.

different perspective, I have driven both alot recently, the petrol 500 while having less power and tq and thus less likley to wheelspin ect may seem easier, my GPS with 314lbs/ft was actually easier, for the sole fact the 500 has no traction control or ESP, and the GPS has both, so in the end the GPS is easier to drive, aas it behaves better when the going get s really tough!

And yet I managed 4 days commuting to work at 0400 each morning, 100 miles round trip, in my Yeti with summer tyres without any problem

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Now you know why I prefer my 4x4s.

Our Yeti isn't, as you know.