Volvos in snow

[Tangy]

I had an 95 850 T5 wagon, the first winter I used the All Seasons and it was terrible, the second winter I used snows and it was a great winter car. I have an WAD V70 now and plan to put snows on it this year, forward traction is not too much of an issue with the WAD and all seasons but cornering and braking sure are.

 

[MAtzori]

The DSTC option is worth it's cost

in the snow. It's pretty incredible a

Is that the W button???

 

[Stephen M. Henning]

Is that the W button???

No. It uses the brakes and the throttle rather than the transmission to control the onset of instability.

 

[Timo Kiravuo]

Subaru wagon or a Volvo, used. Assuming I put snow tires on, how will I do in the snow in an 850 wagon or sedan?

Volvos are designed in Sweden, a country that knows about snow.

Basically, as far as control and braking are your concern, the tires and braking system (ABS) are the main issues. Decent studded or friction snow tires designed to your geographical area make the most difference. ABS helps you to control the car when the brakes are not stopping you fast enough.

As to the drive system, I prefer FWD over RWD, since I am not an especially skilled driver and the RWD can cause your rear wheels to try to overtake if you overaccelerate, while the FWD just plows straight. Also I kind of feel that the FWD digs better into snow, but that is just a feeling.

However any AWD is much more better than two wheel drive in snow. There is no difference when braking or cornering, but there is a big difference when accelerating or when trying to get going at all. I have wished for AWD several times, like when I got one of my driving wheels on some slippery stuff or nothing at all (like when they plow the road over a ditch or when I drive past the plowed stuff into the ditch).

The fancy direction control and stability things they have invented the past few years are nice. Very nice.

So about the Volvo and Subaru, for winter use I would pick an AWD, after that I would take etiher one. I have a Volvo, but when the time to change comes, I might as well pick a Subaru.

My current car is FWD V70 classic (2000 model, the last one of the 850 tradition) and I do most of my winter driving over main roads that are plowed and salted and I have studded winter tires. If I lived in the rural areas, I would definetly look for an AWD. Even now with my skiing and climbing trips I feel like getting one, if I could afford it.

 

[Rob Guenther]

The W button locks the transmission in 3rd gear to reduce torque to the wheels... I have never had to use it in my life... the limited slip differential and snow tires make short work out of getting out of the snow...

Volvo 960... lots of power to twist those rear wheels ;-).

 

[Rob Guenther]

FWD is aweful sometimes. There are only a few cars with a limited slip differential (on the front).... so you accidentally park on a patch of ice, all of a sudden your left wheel is on concrete, and the other wheel is on that ice... The car isn't going anywhere... A rearwheel drive with limited slip would send power to the other wheel and the car would unstick itself.... Works great. Front wheel driving cars also like to plow their nose heavy bodies forward when cornering slightly too fast in snow and wet weather.... I prefer having the option of "kicking the tail" if I really need to get around a corner I misjudged for speed of entry in the wintertime.

I learned how to drive in snow in a 960, and a 5 speed VW Golf... each had their own pros and cons... I prefer the Golf overall because it isn't heavy, and doesn't understeer much, the brakes are decent in snow, even with no ABS... isn't really needed. I have a 99 Turbodiesel Golf right now... automatic... too much torque for its own good in the snow, no limited slip... I much prefer the Volvo.

 

[Stephen M. Henning]

FWD is aweful sometimes. There are only a few cars with a limited slip differential (on the front).... so you accidentally park on a patch of ice, all of a sudden your left wheel is on concrete, and the other wheel is on that ice... The car isn't going anywhere...

That is why Volvo has TRAKS available to those that do winter driving. It applies the brake to the wheel with the least traction so it doesn't spin. Volvo also has the Winter position in its AT which starts the car out in 3rd gear so it won't have too much torque.

 

[Rob Guenther]

I wish I had some front wheel drive traction control...

 

[Ritchard Findlay]

When it's that deep, I stay home.

What I noticed about driving in deep snow no matter whether you have snow tires or chains is that if it is deep enough the car will ride up on the snow and you lose the traction. Bill the I

 

[Stephen M. Henning]

I wish I had some front wheel drive traction control...

Next time you get a Volvo, get the winter package. It has TRAKS which is the FWD traction control.

 

[squirrely]

I'd agree 100% with this post
I drive a S70 FWD
Wife drives XCountry

S70 is kind of touchy starting out due to tires, even a wet heavy duty traffic strip causes wheel spin

XC is rock solid with all seasons. Of course the laws of physics still apply to AWD as u well know

 

[chuffer]

I have a 98 R, and man nothing comes close.
There have never been a problem with the snow. I have the Gislaved on 15 inch. In Montreal we have serious snow and this is much better than my old truck. I am however getting a suburban(getting rid of my Grand Caravan) keeping the R. The I will be able to give a better reply, but if you can get a R, I would get it. It's worth the extra few bucks.

Jamie