|
General Volvo and Motoring Discussions This forum is for messages of a general nature about Volvos that are not covered by other forums and other motoring related matters of interest. Users will need to register to post/reply. |
Information |
|
Ice and snow driving, what are you techniques?Views : 1944 Replies : 24Users Viewing This Thread : |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
Dec 12th, 2017, 07:33 | #1 |
VOC Member
Last Online: Yesterday 22:25
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
|
Ice and snow driving, what are you techniques?
With the current weather people will be out and about in the snow/ice. I’m no expert in snow driving but I would say I’ve had my fair share of experience. I was taught to bring a car to an allmost stop only using the clutch and gears from a steady speed if you were traveling in the snow. Obviously this takes a lot of planning and reading the road ahead but it works. As we know if you use the brakes it normally ends in disaster.
But what about if you have an auto? I’ve not driven an auto in the snow before, it’s ok getting going but it’s the stopping that’s important and a lot of our volvos are auto especially the awd models. So what techniques do you use to get around safely?
__________________
Previous -03 S40, 04 V70 D5, 04 V70 D5 Sport, 05 V50, 07 S60 D5, 09 V70 D5 R design, 12 XC60 DrivE, 15 V60 D3 Current- 05 XC90 D5 Exec, 12 XC70 D4 AWD Se Lux, 14 S80 D3 Se Lux |
Dec 12th, 2017, 07:41 | #2 |
Old Rocker
Last Online: Yesterday 15:50
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Tring
|
If I have to drive in these conditions, I use as high a gear as possible, and touch the pedals as little as possible.
Thankfully my Volvo is diesel, FWD and manual, whereas my last car (Lexus hybrid) was RWD and CVT auto,so didn't even have a 'proper' manual mode. HTH Malcolm ps. The three wheeler is fun, by the way, a very light car, RWD through the single rear wheel, making it a 3x1 configuration, but having a short stroke high revving bike engine.....
__________________
Just my opinion, please don't shoot me if it doesn't match yours! 2011 C70 D3 (now sold)and JZR 3 wheeler Last edited by Baxlin; Dec 12th, 2017 at 07:46. |
Dec 12th, 2017, 07:47 | #3 |
Premier Member
Last Online: Sep 14th, 2021 17:03
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Market Harborough
|
I used to deliberately cycle in really bad snow and ice and believe it's good experience for when you begin to drive a car.
Smooth inputs of the controls, braking very gently and in plenty of time and don't 'provoke' the car at all.
__________________
2005 S40 T5 SE - Manual. Bilstein B4's. (For Sale) 2010 Citroen C4 1.6 HDi (bizarre Gearbox model). 2010 Renault Twingo (refreshingly simple) 2018 Infiniti Q30 1.6T Business Executive (what's this button do?) |
Dec 12th, 2017, 08:30 | #4 |
Member
Last Online: Jan 17th, 2022 16:20
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Zürich
|
Everything as smooth as possible, braking/accelerating/steering. Yes, it needs planning and looking out ahead, no way around it. My XC90 is auto, any downward slope (snow or not) and I shift to manua-mode to apply some engine braking.
__________________
2014 XC90 D5 Executive | Black Sapphire |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to bokabil For This Useful Post: |
Dec 12th, 2017, 09:19 | #5 |
Premier Member
Last Online: Feb 9th, 2020 20:04
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Doncaster
|
That is all.
__________________
ex police V70 T5 '53' loadsa miles! Now gone ex police V70 T5 '07'. Now gone I have now left the stable and have an Audi |
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to owyn For This Useful Post: |
Dec 12th, 2017, 10:12 | #6 |
Volvo S40
Last Online: Yesterday 19:38
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Chichester
|
Im with owyn, all about momentum. With road tires I needed to keep the speed up or I got stuck and just looking far ahead
put on my winter tires straight away and its just like driving normally, passing a lot of 4x4's out there on the country roads
__________________
----------------------------------------- Current: 2009 Volvo S40 T5 Progress Thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=271945 Previous Volvo: 2008 S40 SE Lux R Design 2.0D |
Dec 12th, 2017, 10:12 | #7 | |
VOC Member since 1986
Last Online: Yesterday 23:59
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Leicestershire
|
Quote:
Apropos cycling: I used to have a 'winter' bike, equipped with a fixed wheel, which gave a much greater degree of control in slippery conditions than free. Regards, John.
__________________
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana ..... |
|
The Following User Says Thank You to john.wigley For This Useful Post: |
Dec 12th, 2017, 12:18 | #8 |
Premier Member
Last Online: Feb 29th, 2024 15:46
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Barnard Castle
|
The smooth driving technique reminds me of the concept I saw some years ago regarding economical driving. The 'mindset' is to image you have a dinner plate stuck on the bonnet with a football sitting on it. You then drive in a manner so as to keep the football from rolling off. Yes, its' a crazy idea in practice, but as a mindset to encourage smooth driving, it works wonders for both economy and safety on winter roads.
__________________
2015: XC60 D4 FWD SE Lux Nav 190hp manual, Osmium Grey, 17" Segin, Tempa, Winter Illumination, Security, Family, DSP, 4C, HK Sound, Subwoofer, Front Parking, Rear Camera, Dark Tinted, Power Passenger Seat, Speed and Heated Steering. |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to NigelDay For This Useful Post: |
Dec 12th, 2017, 15:40 | #9 |
VOC Member
Last Online: Apr 1st, 2024 11:23
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Rosyth
|
Totally agree with previous posts especially about thinking ahead, much further than "normal" driving. I also look for the untouched snow seen next to the kerb or road edge when driving up an incline, get your nearside wheels on that and it usually gives a bit better grip than the compacted snow on the rest of the road - but doesn't work if the snow is more than six or seven inches deep!
Lastly, I always advise it is better to arrive twenty minutes late in this world rather than twenty years early in the next. |
The Following User Says Thank You to DeeJay For This Useful Post: |
Dec 12th, 2017, 16:13 | #10 |
Premier Member
Last Online: Apr 11th, 2024 09:21
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Ffos y Ffin
|
Smooth inputs, use gears and engine to slow the car and brakes at the last moment, if in traffic brake gently against the engine to show those following I m slowing.
Momentum is important so plan ahead. Down hill lower gears and not touch the brakes. I find when teaching off road driving newer engines which rev freely less capable of holding the car back when decending so advocate gentle brake against the engine. My 300 TDI landrover will decend a 25% slope in low box with no brake input at tickover, if I tried it with the D5 it would be screaming it's nuts off. Paul. |
The Following User Says Thank You to green van man For This Useful Post: |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|