Some of you will know I don?t go a bundle on too much electronics in cars as I reckon 8/9 years down the road it will be a potential scrapping issue when they go wrong and the repair costs more than the cars worth but last week I had to re evaluate this somewhat.
Overseas trip well north, lift failed to arrive at the airport, so I had to rent a car. Normally no problem, Focus Zetec 1.6, one or two winter add on goodies but on normal "summer" tyres, Continental EcoContact in fact. But the electronic goodies it had were ABS of course but also traction control and some sort of ESP stability system,
In the drive north it rained hard then froze, so it was really patchy, one minute wet roads, next minute it all went quiet and you were on sheet ice. Careful driving kept it on the island, the only real difficulty being the Focus' lousy sticky throttle action.
On the night before the trip back south it dumped 9" of fresh snow overnight and was still snowing hard as I set off. During the week the locals had been rushing about putting spiked tyres on due to the forecast. Folks had taken two hours to get in to the office on a normal 20 minute journey, so I was not looking forward to a drive normally taking two hours.
Conditions were bad as even the locals were going off, and there was at least one bad accident that required someone to be cut out by the fire brigade. But in summary,
Tyres:- EcoContact, excellent traction, good lateral stability on soft and packed snow, quite good on slush, not much grip on ice of course. Good tread clearing ability. Only downside was the lack of shoulder meant they did not dig in too well on tight bends in soft snow thus giving mega understeer even at 10 mph.
That was when the ESP cut in , which seemed to apply the inside rear brake and helped to pull the car round just as I was reaching for the handbrake. Magic!
In more normal driving the ESP was fairly unobtrusive in service, and kept it all in shape as you crossed from the semi clear areas across the deeper stuff in the middle of the road to overtake somebody stopped, stuck or just creeping at 10/20 kph. Again it didn't operate in anger too often, but must confess to a play or two, and when it did cut in it was early enough to say steady up sunshine pushing the envelope a bit here.
Traction control:- Worked well, did not cut in too often but when it did, like where the snowploughs had removed the soft grippy stuff leaving packed icy surface it was a real help.
ABS worked fine, not used in anger, but some experimentation on traffic free roads, could stop in a straight line, steer round things even if it did take a very long time to stop.
Overall pleased didn't go off, didn't hold anyone up and no real heart in mouth moments. Journey took 4.5 hours which included 1 hour sitting in a queue following two ploughs @ 20kph..
Fairly impressed with the Focus, seats not that comfortable though.
Realised just how much reactions and appreciation of the car balance sharpened up in only that one drive. That was without the opportunity to have too much of a play not that I was too keen on that in the circumstances.
Resolved to invest in a session at a skid school as a result. Anybody got any recommendations for a good school? Based Midlands but to be honest distance is not really an issue. What are the relative merits of those using a greasy rink as opposed to those using a cradle?
Sorry if I?ve prattled on a bit, as usual.
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Don't apologise - good stuff and worth reading.
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If you were to have an accident in Germany with Contieco tyres you would take 20% of the blame automatically ,we have to change to proper winter tyres also insurance companies almost compel you to change as any claim when you have the wrong tyres on would not be looked on favourable.I have just fitted Goodyear winter contact cost 900dm 205 65 15 fitted
Regarding the ESP it is brilliant on my Z3 and realy does what it says.
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Prattling? It it is I'm right on topic...
I'm amazed when the bad weather comes how little people seem to know about basic car handling in slippy conditions. Classic example, went down to Nottingham to visit no. 1 daughter, took the caravan for its maiden voyage, met up with the in-laws in a very muddy field. There are huge brown ruts everywhere, every vehicle is mud-spattered and the caravans are up to the wheel-rims in the soft ground. Anyone who is about is wearing wellies. There is a metalled track running through the field which stops at a gate.
Into this drives a Sierra with 4 folk inside, completely lost, so he needs to turn round. The car reverses off the track into the mire and promptly and predictably gets stuck. OK so the driver missed all the visual clues which should have prompted him to keep the rear wheels on the track while turning round, but what next?
Noone gets out of the car to help, instead the driver puts it in gear and floors the throttle until the Sierra is resting on the diff.
"Go and help" says Madame, from behind a magazine.
"*@**#*" I replied, 'cos you always get splattered on these occasions, but went anyway. I pushed with bum on bumper, kinder to the back and cleaner than pushing the corners.
10 mins later, self and father in law have got him mobile again. But - noone ever actually got out of the car ... too muddy I suppose.
Driver waved his thanks and disappeared.
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