Well, after singing the praises of the vRS last winter when I had no problems at all I am working from home today after a couple of scares yesterday. We had about 3" of snow in central Scotland and the roads were shocking. I completely lost the back end on a roundabout (10mph, 2nd gear, no brakes) on the way to work, and then stopped about a foot from a wall whilst sliding down an ice covered hill (5 mph, 1st gear). I also couldn't get up the small hill out of my garage, and another hill out on the roads, the traction control just wouldn't let the wheels turn then when I switched it off they just spun and spun. I'm running Goodyear Eagle F-1s which although excellent tyres have a 1/5 rating in the snow. So take care out there people, don't get your pride and joy dented !

Try driving in the snow with Revo turned on.... :thumbdwn:

Snow is great fun.. not sure what the problem is?

I was supposed to do a bit of journey today but did not fancy my vRS with the snow and ice (Quote: "Would not want to dent my pride and joy.").

Snow is great fun.. not sure what the problem is?

Yeah, yeah, yeah Mr Haldex Man

Never had a problem in mine :confused:

How are the Kumho's fairing in these conditions?

Lovely! They're not a bad tyre actually. Give it another week or so and I'll do a review.

So take care out there people, don't get your pride and joy dented !

Too late! I allready dented mine a month ago... :(

Couple of pics there: http://www.ultimatevw.com/autot/?cmd=auto&id=1340

I've got decent (studded) winter tyres but too much speed on an icy freeway and this is what happens. Not my fault though, "opponent's" insurance company paid the bill (~12k eur). Octavia RS Combi costs here in Finland about 32k euros.

BTW, we've got nice winter temps at the moment: it was about -20

Too late! I allready dented mine a month ago... :(

The noise the 1.8T makes when you turn it on below -20

Snow is great fun.. not sure what the problem is?

no problems here either, in fact quite fun when you press the little esp button and play in big open areas

-20 degrees

My staff are in panic mode over 2mm of snow and-0.5c

They don't know they are born

Snow is great fun.. not sure what the problem is?

Not a problem, more a case of interesting, putting 220+bhp through the front wheels on icy roads, takes a bit of self control

Its not fair, after watching the news last night I thought id wake to 10 foot of snow this morning. Instead its just rained a bit... :(

Not a problem, more a case of interesting, putting 220+bhp through the front wheels on icy roads, takes a bit of self control

I tried it once, on an icy night, tricked the haldex to turn off and booted it, first, second, third... hmm still spinning and EDL going nuts... think we'll have 4wd back

I tried it once, on an icy night, tricked the haldex to turn off and booted it, first, second, third... hmm still spinning and EDL going nuts... think we'll have 4wd back

how do you trick it, heard this mentioned before but didn't find how to do it

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=441&highlight=2wd

i take it the car knows the hand brake is engaged by a microswitch on the lever? if so would it not be possible to install a well secreted switch to fool the car rather than actually using the handbrake?

Yes it would, and then silence the buzzer..... but not really worth the effort IMO

just a random thought that wen through my head, can't honestly see a decent reason for doing it though either

Never had a problem in mine :confused:

Let's face it though, you had snow and mud tyres fitted to your old Octy (and got pulled over by the police for "mindless" driving in the outside lane of the motorway last year whilst everyone else was trundling through the snow in lanes 1 and 2, IIRC).

Here in South Hampshire there has been bugger all snow (as is to be expected). I do remember last year a bit of slush caused my Octy to activate ABS and effectively deny all braking capability whatsoever. I'm scared of snowy roads these days, having smacked my last car up a kerb and bent the suspension after failing to turn a slight bend on a Ayrshire snow-packed road. (Proper snow in Scotland, none of this poor Southern attempt at snow we get down here!)

yeah greg i live in central scotland too and the roads have been terrible. ive had a few scares in the car this week too, the snow has been quite wet and seems to have added to the problems!

For us poor peeps on two wheel drive, what is the general opinion of winter tyres (talking specifically about the UK). I couldnt find any tyre place with winter tyres in stock, and whilst one said he could order them (Michelin Alpin's), they were quite expensive at

I'm running Goodyear Eagle F-1s which although excellent tyres have a 1/5 rating in the snow. So take care out there people, don't get your pride and joy dented !

The Eagle F1's are good tyres but only in the dry from my experience of them on a car with no traction control what so ever... i never drove so slow in the snow as i did running them.

we havent really had any decent snow yet in Brum/Walsall but its apparently on the way, although i will be taking it steady i'm not worried about "loosing" it with the standard Conti's seeming to do their job fairly well (which i was suprised about tbh).

i dont think theres ever been much call for winter tyres in the UK cause we just dont get the winters that other EU countries do that use that sort of tyre more. tyre places wont stock something they are not going to sell, its something you'll have to order and thus pay extra for. tbh i think if your steady and your tyres have a decent level of grip and a fair wet weather rating you'll be fine.

obviously those haldex users amoungst us have an advantage, but its just not the same as massive wheel spin and understeer is it !? i mean wheres the fun in AWD in the snow !?

obviously those haldex users amoungst us have an advantage, but its just not the same as massive wheel spin and understeer is it !? i mean wheres the fun in AWD in the snow !?

Fun is watching the rear wheel drive boys in the snow