How good is the 7 R in snow?

[VWcezGTI7]

There has recently been a fair amount of black ice and snow in my area and considering I had a FWD (First time owning one), I was, to some extent, at ease. I was very confident and assured I did not particularly need a 4WD/AWD this time of season (The dealer also stated so but that could just be false advice as the R was not available when I purchased my car). Thought I'd go for a cruise one late afternoon and have regretted that immensely. My house is on an almost 11 degree slope increasing to about 17 degrees at the top. It was horrible. I had just gotten 50 meters away from the house and it took me 15 minutes to get back. No matter how light I go on the throttle, wheel-spin happens instantly and the car starts going sideways (even backwards at times). I did not expect that at all as I saw small Nissans and Hyundai's give less effort to get up and over the hill in those conditions. Maybe it's just my driving but I'm curious to know how good the 4motion system is. Is it as good as a Subaru or Evo? Also, has any body tried studded tires on their GTIs?

[Mr Savage]

FWD cars are not good in snow at all. Much better than RWD but not exactly ideal.

The reason you see smaller cars like little Nissan Micra's ect not struggling is because they have very skinny tyres and low torque which is better in snow. To really drive the GTI comfortably in snow you need winter tyres.

The R on the other hand is brilliant on snow, take a look at Top Gears review where they literally drive it in thick snow for the entire duration of the test. AWD will of course always be superior as the Haldex system is able to transfer 100% of its power to any of the wheels that have the most traction.

[mjh_056]

Now cannot talk for my GTD or the 7 as not had to cope with snow yet thankfully but had 6 years of driving an Audi Quattro and in at least 2 bad winters for snow and do not be fooled by 4WD making you the sure footed one as everyone slides about around you.

Sure there is some better traction and does help you get moving if stuck as the BMW drivers do some kind of stationary, rear end snake dance (work car park was littered with them abandoned at end of days)

However you can slide and drift just as much as anyone else if misjudge the conditions or look to go faster than all around as you have the 4WD. Do not let the 4WD draw you into complacency.

See the reference to the Top Gear testing in snow and have seen that test but the note will make is that is not driving around roads with gradients, pot holes and with traffic and parked cars in close proximity.

Off road 4WD have the appropriate tyres the MK7 will have standard road tyres and that is where the issue really lies as the 4WD will only give as much grip as the tyres are offering them and that was my experience in that still had to be very careful.

Now if put winter tyres on then sure that improves markedly but if stay on the original tyres do not get complacent.

So it is better having the 4WD gives you an advantage in getting away or where others may get stuck but once moving along you are still at the mercy of the grip tyres give.

[p3asa]

Agree with both posts above.
I live in a semi rural area which is littered with 4x4's. It was hilarious to watch them on a particular hill that you had to stop half way up to give way as you you couldn't see. The owners presumed because it was a 4x4 it would deal with it perfectly but loads were getting stuck and just slipping to the side. Several had to be pushed up it.

Like you say smaller cars were dealing with it a lot better. My Golf Mk6 would also struggle with it. So I invested in 4 winter tyres. What a difference. It was as if I was driving on a dry road.

[corgi]

A few years ago, I was caught in a snow storm near Ribblehead in my Ed30...

It was on normal summer tyres. I could not take the normal route back to Ingleton, the hill was iced up... I had to go through Horton-in-Ribblesdale (hardly ideal)... but with anticipation I made it home. At one point, I passed a BMW X5 on a hill, spinning its wheels - I didn't stop or I'd have been in the same situation... I made it home, eventually, the biggest issue was a downhill stretch to a T-junction...

4 wheel drive might help you get going but it will not help you stop.

The appropriate tyres are key... my mate's 2WD Skoda Felicia Rally Car with snow tyres on will go places in the snow that he can't get to in his road-tyre shod VW Touareg...

[Flintymutt]

4 wheel drive will get you going better in the snow but once you're on the move the car is pretty much exactly the same as any other car on normal tyres.  The rule in snow and ice is 'winter tyres first, 4 wheel drive second'.

[itavaltalainen]

The R is only as good as its tyres... if you have winter tyres even a steep snow covered slope will not stop you.

With summer tyres even a full AWD will get stuck while I blast past in my plucky diesel FWD Golf estate on winter tyres....

[monkeyhanger]

14C up in Newcastle today - who needs winter tyres. 

[Greg_ED35]

I have a GTI and my drive is mega steep, i have Toyo Snowprox s tyres (205/55 R16) which helps but with deep snow it struggles. We can get half a meter or more overnight here and -10 to -20 so makes it interesting (Council clears the roads throughout the night)! I thought about the R for the same reason that i would need the grip but i haven't been in a situation as yet that i regretted not having 4wd.
Personally its all down to the tires and being gentle on the throttle (up to a point of course) handbrake helps compensate the dreaded ice understeer .

My wifes car (Hyundai i10) has studded tires and it only really helps on black ice or polished snow but not massively noticeable plus the noise drives you mad !

Hope that helps !

My drive !

[itavaltalainen]

@Greg_ED35..... you're winter is winter :p
Lived in Finland for a few years, I actually miss proper winter with -20 degrees (must be a masochist)

Was just in Austria and luckily there was snow and I got to drive on it  Was happy like a small child on christmas eve (christmas day for uk).