Should my Skoda Octavia Estate's ESP be switched off in slippery conditions?

I was wondering whether your advice regarding the switching off of both ASR and ESP in slippery conditions applies to vehicles with AWD such as the Skoda Octavia Estate. I have found that, in slippery conditions, if you overcook it (in a safe area) then providing you turn the steering wheel in the right direction, everything slows down as the power is reduced and the brakes are applied to the necessary wheel. ESP is excellent in slippery conditions. ESP is supposed to keep you going in the direction you want to go, so I don't see the point of switching it off when it is slippery.

Asked on 14 January 2012 by JM, North Wales

Answered by Honest John

Definitely, because I was in an AWD Skoda Yeti 1.8TSI on the Porsche skidpan when it was suggested to me. The difference was very noticeable. I could control the car at significantly higher speeds with the ESP switched off than I could with it on.

Tags: steering esp driving in snow

Similar questions

Steering and ESP failures on a Vauxhall Meriva

The steering has just failed on my 56 plate Meriva (its only done 18k miles ), with an ESP warning light also showing. I have noticed on your website that this seems to be an increasing problem with Merivas....

Why doesn't Vauxhall want to know about my Meriva's ESP fault?

My Vauxhall Meriva's ESP light has been coming on and off since June 24. I phoned the RAC out three times, and they said the first and second time that the steering was ok, and then 10 minutes after the...

Is a 4WD Carrera better than a RWD Carrera with winter tyres in the snow?

Which has better road-holding in the snow: a 911 Carrera 4WD without winter tyres, or a Carrera RWD with winter tyres?

Related models