If the ESP or ASR etc is activated the light will flash on the dashboard to tell you that you have exceeded the vehicles limits of adhesion.

My Superb used to go sideways pretty well in the wet (as much as a FWD can, which isn't much fun) if I turned off the ESP so it definately does switch off.

The Mondeo's ESP has 2 modes of off, press the button and it disables the traction control, press and hold and it turns everything off.

I got to the end of my road saw a car in the railings, turned around, got my Nissan terrano2 on the go and whent to work, simply because of other muppets I thought if you hit my Vrs ima be angry, if you slide into my truck ima laugh.

Mine went like this in the snow

not at all

I tried to get to work in the family fun bus, but had to give up due to trucks and all sorts of incompetent English drivers blocking the A41. Left at 6am in the morning and returned at 8am again at home. Did 12 miles in total :(

My recipe for winter is Michelin Pilot Alpin tyres all round, ESP off in deep snow to allow some wheel spin and keep discs free of contamination from salt/additives. With ESP on and all discs dry, Octavia 4x4 very impressive cornering on black ice at sensible speeds. I prefer not to exceed 205 tyre width

Cheers JJ, that would answer my main reservation about ESP.

I didn't findthe VRs too bad in the snow. I didn't turn off ASR either. I completely forgot about it. Although I'm sure mine doesn't kick in properly. It only seems to work once in a blue moon!

I tend to react a lot quicker than the car does to wheel slippage. I don't have ESP, so never known what its like or whether to have on or off.

There were some seriously rubbish drivers out though. I'm not surprised you took the Nissan 4x4 out. Too many liabilities on the road for my liking. Shame mine is the only car I own!

Normal tyres are pants in snow. You need some nice chunky winter tyres.:)

Like I've got :D:D:D

Went to the Alps last year in mine and it was good.

Softly softly catchee monkey..........

Found the diesels are generally good on snow. Keep the revs between tickover and 1200rpm, and all is good usually. I've found myself able to keep better reliable speed, than someone revving the nuts off their car and spinning the wheels.....

Having said that, it's been ages since I've driven in the white stuff. That's global warming for you.

My 4x4 is probably the best car I've driven in snow or ice. If you turn the ESP off it appears to be off, not half on. If it operates you get little yellow lights on the dash. If you turn it off you can slide it all over the place:) Normally on all the time unless "playing" as my wife says. By the way I've got bog standard tyres/wheels.

Normal tyres are pants in snow. You need some nice chunky winter tyres.:)

Like I've got :D:D:D

Vredestein Wintrac xtreme, nice tyres I have them too and they are very good.

I was going to say that my vrs is quite good in the snow but then i got within a 2 min walk from home on my way home from work and that was it, I wasnt going togo any further. Just to make me feel even more downhearted I saw DaveH with his Octi 4x4, he was helping get my wifes fabia vrs off the road, he had a laugh then got in his octi and went home. Wish I had a 4x4 octi now