Volvos in snow

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Jack McCullough, Dec 7, 2003.

  1. Jack McCullough

    Tangy Guest

    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.
     
    Tangy, Dec 9, 2003
    #21
  2. Jack McCullough

    MAtzori Guest

    The DSTC option is worth it's cost
    Is that the W button???
     
    MAtzori, Dec 9, 2003
    #22
  3. No. It uses the brakes and the throttle rather than the transmission to
    control the onset of instability.
     
    Stephen M. Henning, Dec 9, 2003
    #23
  4. Jack McCullough

    Timo Kiravuo Guest

    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.
     
    Timo Kiravuo, Dec 9, 2003
    #24
  5. Jack McCullough

    Rob Guenther Guest

    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, Dec 9, 2003
    #25
  6. Jack McCullough

    Rob Guenther Guest

    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.
     
    Rob Guenther, Dec 9, 2003
    #26
  7. 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.
     
    Stephen M. Henning, Dec 10, 2003
    #27
  8. Jack McCullough

    Rob Guenther Guest

    I wish I had some front wheel drive traction control...
     
    Rob Guenther, Dec 10, 2003
    #28
  9. When it's that deep, I stay home.


     
    Ritchard Findlay, Dec 11, 2003
    #29
  10. Next time you get a Volvo, get the winter package. It has TRAKS which
    is the FWD traction control.
     
    Stephen M. Henning, Dec 11, 2003
    #30
  11. Jack McCullough

    squirrely Guest

    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
     
    squirrely, Dec 14, 2003
    #31
  12. Jack McCullough

    chuffer Guest

    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
     
    chuffer, Dec 17, 2003
    #32
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