Just a thought about the original post are you sure that none of your rear brakes are binding? Weird that you've tried a lot of stuff without any luck while quite a few of us on here arnt having any problems. Just thinking as the extra drag will make it almost impossible to get any momentum going. Might be totally wrong tho!

Only had my Octy a few weeks after having a T3 syncro last year, I bought it not knowing about EDL but it really does make a difference IMHO. I also have Autosocks fitted £70 a pair but this combined with the EDL will get me anywhere ground clearance will allow. I Tried it up a sharp uphill right hander that would test any traction, second gear at just over idle and it sailed up. I think its a matter of snow conditions that present themselves under the 4" strip of of snow currently under your tyre. Somebody 10' away may have very different experience to you, its not all down to driving technique, just the luck of the draw. I helped a ford fracas up my hill. Poor sod didn't know what to do, see-sawing steering etc. I cleared a stretch of about 3' in front of one wheel gave him a helping push and he was on his way.

no probs for me, but thats cos the vrs hasn't been moved for a week lol

went out and bought myself a shogun tdi and boy has it been fun!!!

done a lot of miles last few days in the snow and the vrs has got me every were drive with out the tc on helps i recon

Just a thought about the original post are you sure that none of your rear brakes are binding? Weird that you've tried a lot of stuff without any luck while quite a few of us on here arnt having any problems. Just thinking as the extra drag will make it almost impossible to get any momentum going. Might be totally wrong tho!

Your not wrong at all mate i was taking it to the garage to get the rear caliper changed i just didnt think it was binding that bad however when i got it back i tried again and it went straight up with no probs at all.

ive been making 80 mile round trips to blackburn from manchester for the past 6 weeks on all roads motorway over the lancashire moors and a & b roads in the early morning when its dark and home at rush hour and my vrs has had no problems.i know it childish but when the road is empty enough ive been wheel spinning and skidding for fun( i think it may serve me well to have experience if i go out of control ).i just keep the esp on as thats what its there for and as stated i just feather the clutch as i am setting off no need for loads of gas. i am glad it is front wheel drive as ive seen loads of BMW and mercs get stuck.p.s you wont catch me getting my hands cold giving them snobs a push.

Your not wrong at all mate i was taking it to the garage to get the rear caliper changed i just didnt think it was binding that bad however when i got it back i tried again and it went straight up with no probs at all.

Glad you've got it sorted m8

My take on things is that snow tyres help to give you that little bit more grip and allow you to drive more normally in snow.

It's close to impossible to explain to someone who hasn't tried winter tyres what they're like as the difference would sound inconceivable. People who've tried winter tyres tend to say they never want to go through another winter without them. But in the end all they provide is some extra grip when temperatures are low and the surface is not dry. It's quite possibly to overcome the additional level of grip, but if you aren't silly with it you find you can drive a lot closer to how you would normally drive in better conditions.

But that's not to say all weather tyres won't let you drive in snow at all!

You mean 'all season' tyres such as Vredestein Quatrac 3? Those are pretty good on snow and ice as well, but I'm guessing you mean 'normal' tyres which just don't provide the same level of grip.

Additionally, I turn ASR off when driving in snow. If that makes much difference i'm not sure!?

I was out playing on Sunday. With ASR switched off on icy roads it was much easier to overcome the extra grip the winter tyres provided, so I pretty much leave ASR enabled all the time.

Well done to those helping people out I have been helping me out over the past week or so outside of work. Quite a few getting stuck, simply think they need to rev the nuts off the engine!

I changed my 17" alloys to 15" steels recently, and ideally wanted winter tyres, although ended up with all seasons due to lack of stock. They have been great, and I have been able to get everywhere in them! Even took on the work car park and it went well! Most people have been abandoning their cars down the road, and only 4 x 4's and tractors have been coming up to work lol!

!st time stuck in snow today. Vrs just was all over the place, although the barely legal fronts probably didnt help... :wonder: Had to dump it at side of road and walk in.

In this weather I miss my old Omega 2,5 V6 Auto Rear wheel drive. Went anywhere with no probs.

Against every advice I still prefer rear drive with an auto box for stability and control.

Duck for Flack LOL

!st time stuck in snow today. Vrs just was all over the place, although the barely legal fronts probably didnt help... :wonder: Had to dump it at side of road and walk in.

In this weather I miss my old Omega 2,5 V6 Auto Rear wheel drive. Went anywhere with no probs.

Against every advice I still prefer rear drive with an auto box for stability and control.

Duck for Flack LOL

Know exactly how you feel m8 miss the XR4i it was great last year drifting sideways around all the corners just needing a delicate touch on the accelerator to control it, watching the fiesta in the rear view mirror as it crashed into the lamp post when trying to keep up with me lol. It had on the limit rear tyres yet still went up the hill where my m8's is while everyone else neede pushing up lol. Don't care what people say rear wheel drive is just as good as front wheel drive if you know what you're doing.

Why else were Volvo's rear wheel drive for so long?

If rear wheel drive i so good why is it that its nearly always a BMW or Mercedes saloon that cause all the hold ups in the snow? The next time you are held up in a queue in the snow have a look at who's struggling the most. May be its just the type of driver who buys these cars.

Anyhow, my only difficulty with the vRS has been the low front spoiler. With near 12" of snow in places here in deepest darkest Oxfordshire, It has been difficult to maintain forward momentum with the snowplough effect from the front spoiler. Reversing all the way back to my drive was easy, then a quick switch to my wife Mazda 323 and away we went - no problem

If rear wheel drive i so good why is it that its nearly always a BMW or Mercedes saloon that cause all the hold ups in the snow? The next time you are held up in a queue in the snow have a look at who's struggling the most. May be its just the type of driver who buys these cars.

Anyhow, my only difficulty with the vRS has been the low front spoiler. With near 12" of snow in places here in deepest darkest Oxfordshire, It has been difficult to maintain forward momentum with the snowplough effect from the front spoiler. Reversing all the way back to my drive was easy, then a quick switch to my wife Mazda 323 and away we went - no problem

Simple answer wide low profile wheels n tyres and lack of speed

Simple answer wide low profile wheels n tyres and lack of speed

So thats why rally cars use a narrow high profile snow tyres

So thats why rally cars use a narrow high profile snow tyres

yup exactly that

wide tyres just sit on top of the snow where narrow ones cut thru it to get grip

We're used to bad winters up here, but the vrs struggles with recent deep snow. As others have alluded to, the front bumper builds up a wall of snow and eventually brings the car to a halt.

Best car I've had was a battered old 106, no PAS/ABS etc. just 13inch steelies with skinny tyres pumped up to bursting, shamed plenty of 4x4s that winter...

yup exactly that

wide tyres just sit on top of the snow where narrow ones cut thru it to get grip

I've not had a problem with the 18s on