Snow mode

[Ian Key]

We've had a smattering of snow here covering the roads with a hard crunchy icey surface so I thought I'd try snow mode. It works OK and makes it harder to spin the back wheels when accelerating.

The ABS also works and sounds like you are crushing a plastic bottle under the wheel.

 

[salty]

Yep, think snow mode work's well. Couple of times last Winter, thought it was really good.

 

[Alb]

Does it just deaden the throttle response or is it something more sophisticated?

 

[salty]

Does it just deaden the throttle response or is it something more sophisticated?

Think it just puts it in 4WD obviously. And deadens, throttle response. So you start off nice and easy. As opposed to 4WD in Sports mode, when you've got the full beans. Whatever it is, it seams, to work.

 

[mg4]

Do you use it also with good success on RWD? Also, is it benefitial also for ice or only snow?

 

[salty]

Do you use it also with good success on RWD? Also, is it benefitial also for ice or only snow?

Not sure, as mines an X Power and obviously puts it into 4WD. Wouldn't think it would be as beneficial on ICE, because on snow you have at least got a bit of grip. On pure ICE, you ain't got much, if any That's my thinking, anyway

 

[Weeble]

I found it locked the regen in [1].

 

[Jazzyboy]

Yep it did which makes sense so makes you stay in control if you slide

 

[Weeble]

Makes sense, but it came as a bit of a surprise for someone who normally uses OPD.

 

[Ian Key]

Talking to my neighbour yesterday he said he'd seen an EV going up a local hill slipping and sliding all over the place and gave up half way up before turning round and going back down again. It turns out I had gone up the same road 5 minutes before hand taking it steady in Snow mode without a problem.

Mind you it wasn't probably the cars fault more likely the driver's, engaging the Jeremy Clarkson style of driving...POWER.

 

[TimothyN]

I'm glad I got the All-Seasons when I did.

 

[Mark B]

I'm glad I got the All-Seasons when I did.

What brand did you go for in the end, where did you source them, and how much did they cost, please?

 

[TimothyN]

Michelin CrossClimate 3

A great local independent in Biggin Hill called Tollgate. I wouldn't go anywhere else, even if someone tells me I could have saved 17p by going to Black Circles.

They gave me money back for the OEM tyres, as they only had 5000 miles on them, but I think it would have been £175 each, all inclusive.

Ha ha! I just looked on Black Circles and I would have saved 4p!!

 

[Joningy]

We've had a smattering of snow here covering the roads with a hard crunchy icey surface so I thought I'd try snow mode. It works OK and makes it harder to spin the back wheels when accelerating.

The ABS also works and sounds like you are crushing a plastic bottle under the wheel.

I did exactly the same today Ian, worked extremely well, but not until I tried to stop at a local road junction and kept going, nearly needing fresh undies.

 

[Joningy]

Do you use it also with good success on RWD? Also, is it benefitial also for ice or only snow?

Yes as @Ian Key mentioned above, he and I and presumably lots of others with S5's found it very good indeed.

 

[TimothyN]

IMHO and long experience, snow is the single best reason for not having RWD.

Had I thought to ask before purchase, I probably wouldn’t have done so.

 

[Joningy]

IMHO and long experience, snow is the single best reason for not having RWD.

Had I thought to ask before purchase, I probably wouldn’t have done so.

My opinion is RWD has many benefits over Front WD, having experienced powerful front wheel drive torque steer and other negative attributes, I'd much prefer RWD or 4WD over front wheel drive.

Snow for us in the south is a rare occurrence, so it would not be in any way a decision factor in buying a car, if you have an issue with snow whilst driving, then without doubt 4WD is by far the best drive train.

There's little to compare drifting with a RWD too, not for the feint hearted though!

 

[LenEV2016]

RWD EVs are nothing like old ice rwd, EVs have near 50-50 weight distribution so don't suffer from a light rear end like old cars

 

[mg4]

I have to say, on speeds to max 50km/h, the RWD Trophy is super stable. If i drive in snow mode on the 20cm high snow with ice under it, i cannot get it to suprise me.

The throttle is super soft, almost too soft, i guess a good thing. The 1 or 2 times i forgot to start in snow mode and had to exit a parallel parked situation, with the car almost on rails, i immidiatelly heard and felt the rear wheels spin and jitter the car.

But even then, strange how much electronics tame it, it kept my imagined trajectory with maybe few cm of where i wanted to be.

Though in snow mode i immidiately feelnlike driving a truck, especially the braking trajectory, makes the car in normal conditions feel like a nimble light weight sports car. Again, electronics, safety systems, regen.. I cannot wait to get back to the fake but nimble feeling car once the snow melts.

All in all, snow driving with the MG4 feels like a joke in the flat Netherlands.

 

[Ian Key]

There's little to compare drifting with a RWD too, not for the feint hearted though!

We used to go to an empty car park just to "practice" power sliding the car. We got quite good at it and used to power turn the cars into my mates drive on the posh estate where he lived with his parents. One of the neighbours got fed up with our antics and got the council to grit the road