So I have a 2014 vrs Estate. 

 

I was driving along a country road doing 30 (busy) I looked down to adjust temp, looked up to see a corner, quickly turned right to avoid the corner! I was on a little bark/mud and the back end slid out, front end started sliding toward the other side of the road, something kicked in, assume traction / esr? Felt like the car braked steered left/right/left super quick and we were back in control! 

 

Should the rear end slide out like that? I know it depends on the situation but it felt like it happened very easily and wasn't at a super speed or super muddy etc, understand it was my driving at fault but just felt like it all happened a bit easy! Of course very grateful for whatever corrected me. Maybe I'm not quite used to driving a long car!! 

So what tyre are fitted front and rear, size and brand, and what are the tyre pressures front and rear, and are they still with a good tread, 

and is the back of the car empty? 

 

ESP will or should kick in.

 

Is it a TSI or TDI vRS, and is it a FWD not a AWD?    Makes little difference, it was tyres, road surface, lack of grip was it not? 

TDI VRS, Front wheel drive. 

 

Boot couple small bits in and car seats in rear. 

 

Tyres Goodyear 225 40 18, new tyres within couple months so good tread! 

All well that ends well then. A bit dramatic at such a low speed.

The tech did it's job and nipped the brakes.

 

Best check treads right across the tyres and look for any wear of te inside edges.

Then reset the tyre pressures for a lighter load and reset the TPMS. 

this is not normal, I have a TSI VRS and can corner it very hard without loosing any traction. 

 

The OP does say they were on a little bark/mud having turned quickly right for the corner.

 

Anyone can get it wrong on corners on gravel or mud or cow sh!te or what ever.

Especially so if not paying attention. 

4 minutes ago, nickytheshaft said:

this is not normal, I have a TSI VRS and can corner it very hard without loosing any traction. 

 

 

Im thinking, we'll hoping, the issue was that as I turned hard, I was on some mud/bark/whatever there was at the side of the road below  the trees! The right hand side wheels have dirt / mud between the rim and the tyre. 

 

I've been able to corner quite hard normally and never felt any problem. 

 

As it all happened very quick, maybe it wasn't the rear coming out but the front sliding? It basically felt like the front of the car turned hard right but slid like on ice, and the rear was going left (if that makes sense) 

9 minutes ago, toot said:

The OP does say they were on a little bark/mud having turned quickly right for the corner.

 

Anyone can get it wrong on corners on gravel or mud or cow sh!te or what ever.

Especially so if not paying attention. 

Being a new car I looked down to turn the temperature down, I don't normally do that but that split Second made all the difference! As you say though. The car did it's thing I was going a reasonable speed and all is OK, just be more mindful in future of looking away on bendy roads!! 

Any chance there was a diesel spill on the corner?

1 minute ago, GreenMachine1.6 said:

Any chance there was a diesel spill on the corner?

 

It's always a possibility I guess! I drive the road daily and never had issues, I'm also usually travelling it faster than today! I recon I just wasn't paying enough attention and then got unlucky going to close to the edge when I did a sharp turn to avoid plowing into the bank!! 

 

Here's my theory: as you turned the steering wheel into the corner you also abruptly lifted off the accelerator. As you lift off, the front end digs in and the back end goes light. Net result is a bit of lift off oversteer i.e. the back steps out. At this point the electronics kick in to correct the oversteer. It's possible this includes steering input but I've no idea if that's something the car is capable of.

Edited 3 May, 20233 yr by HappySam

?

At 30 mph in busy traffic. 

1 hour ago, toot said:

?

At 30 mph in busy traffic. 

 It shouldn't have happened at all at 30mph so anything's possible 🤷‍♀️ 😁

3 minutes ago, HappySam said:

 It shouldn't have happened at all at 30mph so anything's possible 🤷‍♀️ 😁

That's the bit that worried me. OK if I was going 60 and it happened, I'd kinda expect it. Hell maybe the speedos out too. 😂. I do actually have 3 fault codes I need to read, need to get on that pretty quick! 

Lift off oversteer combined with a slimy road is my guess.

Hi Skodanewb,

Not wanting to be a smart 4rse, and I hope you take this in good spirit, but maybe Rule125 of the highway code has the answer 🤔😉

Cheers.

Rule 125

The speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions. Unsafe speed increases the chances of causing a collision (or being unable to avoid one), as well as its severity. Inappropriate speeds are also intimidating, deterring people from walking, cycling or riding horses. Driving at speeds too fast for the road and traffic conditions is dangerous. You should always reduce your speed when

• the road layout or condition presents hazards, such as bends
• sharing the road with pedestrians, particularly children, older adults or disabled people, cyclists and horse riders, horse drawn vehicles and motorcyclists
• weather conditions make it safer to do so
• driving at night as it is more difficult to see other road users.

.

Edited 5 May, 20233 yr by ords

3 hours ago, 3rdoctavia said:

Hi Skodanewb,

Not wanting to be a smart 4rse, and I hope you take this in good spirit, but maybe Rule125 of the highway code has the answer 🤔😉

Cheers.

Rule 125

The speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions. Unsafe speed increases the chances of causing a collision (or being unable to avoid one), as well as its severity. Inappropriate speeds are also intimidating, deterring people from walking, cycling or riding horses. Driving at speeds too fast for the road and traffic conditions is dangerous. You should always reduce your speed when

• the road layout or condition presents hazards, such as bends
• sharing the road with pedestrians, particularly children, older adults or disabled people, cyclists and horse riders, horse drawn vehicles and motorcyclists
• weather conditions make it safer to do so
• driving at night as it is more difficult to see other road users.

Speed is not the issue here. OP was only doing 30mph and it was a momentary lapse of observation that caused the problem.

I think it is a slightly longer wheelbase, certainly the body work is longer but with correct tyre pressures and proper reading of the road conditions,

even with my heavy right foot I had never provoked more than a twitch.

On my old FWD estate I'd often feel understeer on corners before the rear would wander but when it went it often corrected itself quickly with a shimmy like you describe. Cold conditions and old tyres obviously made this worse and new tyres made such a difference.

I might be wrong but the vrs has independent rear suspension I think which should have helped although more sport oriented tyres  with less wet grip might have added to your woes.

On winding roads I often have the sat nav zoomed in so I can see what's coming up which also helps too.

Like Toot said, all's well that ends well ..... it's amazing how clever the tech is that is lurking in the background !

Cheers

 

As an update. 

 

I scanned my car earlier, one fault code showed an EPC error/oil pressure? interestingly just reading how this may cover traction control?! Yet I'm pretty sure it worked for me! Off to the garage for a proper check I think! 

Have you had anymore issues with sliding? 

I just bought a mk3 vrs fwd tdi and I've been sliding on round abouts and bends quite alot. I don't recognise the tire brand but the tread is brand new.

^^^how about telling us what the Tyres are, what size and what pressure you have them at? 

12 hours ago, thymaw88 said:

Have you had anymore issues with sliding? 

I just bought a mk3 vrs fwd tdi and I've been sliding on round abouts and bends quite alot. I don't recognise the tire brand but the tread is brand new.

Yes, as @Rooted said a few more details would help.  Normal things first, check tyre pressures, do wheel alignment if you have no history.  Check dampers / springs.  On the estates I've had, Mk2 FL and now a Golf Mk7 R both have the multi link rear, and they are pretty sure footed, mid corner bumps and alter the line a little but much improved compared to a live beam axle.  Wheel alignment will affect it quite a lot on its own.