Finally I have chance to review how AWD system works in my Superb (Haldex4 with electronic diff lock).

 

First of all – there is no possibility to disable stability control, only traction control. So you cannot have full use of AWD, because ESP stops car from drifting. ESP is very aggressive when driving on straight road and trying to provoke car to drift from its trajectory by applying aggressive moves with steering. However when going into corners it is possible to make rear end drift to some extend – you need to apply move power for front wheels to loose traction, then as soon as back axis gets more power – to apply even more power with gas – and then rear end starts to slide. After some time ESP kicks in, so do not expect 45 degrees drifts.

 

When setting off on snow with full power – rear end starts to slide a bit, but nothing dramatic. Still the traction is amazing, both with TSC of or on (by the way there is no major difference if TSC is on or off).

 

One thing which you cannot forget in any circumstances – is braking. It is the SAME as for all other cars. It is so easy to forget it when traction is so good.

 

So, drive safely

 

Nice review![emoji4]

All i all, is 4X4 worth it? I did not choose it for my car, and I'm having second thoughts. HNY!

Sent by Tapatalk

Shame I can't read the review/font on my phone :(

Yeti_Man - how about now? I am quoting first post. 

 

Finally I have chance to review how AWD system works in my Superb (Haldex4 with electronic diff lock).

 

First of all – there is no possibility to disable stability control, only traction control. So you cannot have full use of AWD, because ESP stops car from drifting. ESP is very aggressive when driving on straight road and trying to provoke car to drift from its trajectory by applying aggressive moves with steering. However when going into corners it is possible to make rear end drift to some extend – you need to apply move power for front wheels to loose traction, then as soon as back axis gets more power – to apply even more power with gas – and then rear end starts to slide. After some time ESP kicks in, so do not expect 45 degrees drifts.

 

When setting off on snow with full power – rear end starts to slide a bit, but nothing dramatic. Still the traction is amazing, both with TSC of or on (by the way there is no major difference if TSC is on or off).

 

One thing which you cannot forget in any circumstances – is braking. It is the SAME as for all other cars. It is so easy to forget it when traction is so good.

 

So, drive safely

 

Edited 1 January, 201511 yr by LS108

Shame I can't read the review/font on my phone :(

 

Here you go...

 

Finally I have chance to review how AWD system works in my Superb (Haldex4 with electronic diff lock).

 

First of all – there is no possibility to disable stability control, only traction control. So you cannot have full use of AWD, because ESP stops car from drifting. ESP is very aggressive when driving on straight road and trying to provoke car to drift from its trajectory by applying aggressive moves with steering. However when going into corners it is possible to make rear end drift to some extend – you need to apply move power for front wheels to loose traction, then as soon as back axis gets more power – to apply even more power with gas – and then rear end starts to slide. After some time ESP kicks in, so do not expect 45 degrees drifts.

 

When setting off on snow with full power – rear end starts to slide a bit, but nothing dramatic. Still the traction is amazing, both with TSC of or on (by the way there is no major difference if TSC is on or off).

 

One thing which you cannot forget in any circumstances – is braking. It is the SAME as for all other cars. It is so easy to forget it when traction is so good.

 

So, drive safely

Well, it depends

 

Previously I had FWD cars and winter time was not the happiest season for me, because both of them were powerful cars and had wide winter tires (235 and 245 wide). So on slippery surfaces I was suffering to find grip. From other hand - now winters becoming more and more mild, so I could survive with FWD Superb as well. But I have to add, that  AWD adds more driving pleasure for me. Car feels different, I can start from traffic lights with full power and having no thoughts about wheel spin. And I like how it feels - its more like RWD car when you push it hard. Also going into corners car is more stable. When it rains and there are lots of water on the road - car is also more stable. I would go for AWD version next time as well. 

 

 

Nice review![emoji4]

All i all, is 4X4 worth it? I did not choose it for my car, and I'm having second thoughts. HNY!

Sent by Tapatalk

Edited 1 January, 201511 yr by LS108

Thanks guys.

Thanks LS108.

 

I find the Superb's Haldex 4 4x4 system really good in the wet of South West England, very noticeable difference when I go back to a FWD car.

 

Pity there is no information on the system in the owners manual, the Tiguan Haldex 4 self study guide has more info.

http://victorborisov.ru/professor/haldex/SSP_414.pdf

 

Most interesting is the car is in full 4x4 mode when you pull away from a standing start up to 10mph, not sure of the torque split likely to be 55% front and 45% rear.  

 

Cruising in a straight line torque split is 96% front 4% rear (2% to each rear wheel), which helps fuel consumption.

 

Up to 90% of the torque can be sent to the rear if the front loses traction the system reacts to wheel spin within 1/8th of a wheel's rotation.

Torque can also be sent pre-emptively to the rear based on steering and acceleration input.

When braking and at parking speeds the rear is disengaged (might still be 4%)

 

If only one wheel has traction the torque will be directed to front or rear then the Electronic Diff Lock (EDL) will apply the brakes on the spinning wheel on the same axle as the wheel that has traction.

 

If you want more sporting 4x4 you can upgrade the Haldex controller, which will allow full time 50/50 torque split etc.

http://www.hpamotorsports.com/product_haldex.html

 

In dry perfect conditions FWD/RWD is fine but soon as it gets wet, greasy, poor roads, gravel etc 4x4 makes a huge difference, with snow/ice 4x4 still needs the right tyres.

 

Here's a Skoda 4x4 clip, what's good about this long (19m) version is the in-car shots showing the amount of steering required between 4x4 and 2WD.

 

 

 

Hi LS108!

 

Depending on model of ABS unit installed in your Superb, it may be possible to update the coding of the ABS controller with VCDS to enable switching both TSC and ESP on / off.

 

On my 4x4 Superb I have made it possible to switch off ESP to enable drifting in snow. The only problem is that what little snow we had melted away today :(

 

/Joakim

Yes

Stopping wise people seem to think 4x4 is better.

But no.

Its the type of tyres that makes the difference.

RWD with winter tyres is better at setting off and stopping than FWD with summers as well as 4x4 with summers.

Hi LS108!

 

Depending on model of ABS unit installed in your Superb, it may be possible to update the coding of the ABS controller with VCDS to enable switching both TSC and ESP on / off.

 

On my 4x4 Superb I have made it possible to switch off ESP to enable drifting in snow. The only problem is that what little snow we had melted away today :(

 

/Joakim

Same here - the roads are now just wet. The snow left only on forest roads. However it will be snowing again in two days :-)

And thanks for the tip!

Yes

Stopping wise people seem to think 4x4 is better.

But no.

Its the type of tyres that makes the difference.

RWD with winter tyres is better at setting off and stopping than FWD with summers as well as 4x4 with summers.

In our climate it would be suicidal to use summer tyres on any car :-) As well as illegal.

In our climate it would be suicidal to use summer tyres on any car :-) As well as illegal.

Do u have the same legislative as some European countries such as:

Must have winters on at certain months

Tyre treads much be no less than 3mm?

Yes, from Nov 10th until Apr 1st winter tyres is a must. And yes, 3 mm.

But in real life we put them on mid October and take away mid April.

Edited 1 January, 201511 yr by LS108

We had a taxi back from a ski resort to the airport in a Peugeot 807 2wd, the roads were covered in snow and ice . The driver when passing many 4x4's stopping to chain up muttered that they were parisiennes and tourists. He didn't seem to have any problems driving in the snow unlike all the others

Edited 1 January, 201511 yr by peterposh

We had a taxi back from a ski resort to the airport in a Peugeot 807 2wd, the roads were covered in snow and ice . The driver when passing many 4x4's stopping to chain up muttered that they were parisiennes and tourists. He didn't seem to have any problems driving in the snow unlike all the others

 

Yes, sometimes people think, that 4x4 is all you need in bad road conditions. But the reality is that here in winter quite often you see SUV in various accidents. That is because some of drivers of SUVs  do not invest into good winter tyres - they drive with all season tyres, meaning that they never have good grip. Also the tyres in SUVs are wide - so grip is worse. And finally - center of gravity is high, it is not unusual to see SUVs lying on the side, after their drivers underestimated their speed vs grip. 

I made my purchase decision purely on practical bases - the place my home street goes into main road is sharp uphll. Previous winters were quite gambling, trying to melt into traffic without incidents on my one wheel drive cars (well, front WD).

Now it`s pure fun. I think I will never go back to two wheel drive again. 

My old (2008) Octavia Scout has an earlier version of Haldex (Gen 2) compared with the Superb. Turning off the traction control (using the ESP button) makes it far easier to get yourself out of deep snow when stuck, much to my surprise!

Yes, it is general rule - if you want to go through deep snow, turn traction control off (also in FWD or RWD).