3rd Gen Handling on tarmac

[smallzoo]

Looking to buy a 3rd gen around 1996 but a local garage said that as they mostly operate in 2WD on tarmac that there weight means they are LESS stable in wet conditions and ice ( at slow speeds ) than a normal car.. ie the back can easily swing out..

Is that true ?

Cheers

[flounderbout]

Looking to buy a 3rd gen around 1996 but a local garage said that as they mostly operate in 2WD on tarmac that there weight means they are LESS stable in wet conditions and ice ( at slow speeds ) than a normal car.. ie the back can easily swing out..

Is that true ?

Cheers

So at slow speeds the extra weight over the tyres gives you less grip on the tyres?

[Koi]

Wouldn't buy one from them then.

Slow speed?, high speed yes just like every other vehicle. Remember its rear wheel drive so despite its size just like any other rear wheel drive vehicle over use of the loud pedal in the wet will get the back out. Drive it nice and smoothly and you will be surprised how good they are.

[Apache]

Nice wordy answer, but it only needs one really.

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[flounderbout]

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Cryptic... I guess what you are saying is that lots of hash makes you smile?

[shokenore]

LOL define normal car?
as oposed to a front wheel drive car that will just go straight on in the same situation?
any rear wheel drive car will spin out more in ice/wet conditions

add poor vehicle maintenance and worn tyres =recipe for disaster.

My merc has traction control abs esp blah blah and in last years snow I couldn't even get off the drive.Whereas the wifey jumped in my surf stuck it in reverse and just drove off giving me a look of "what "

I would take your money elsewhere. (imo)

[schrodingers-cat]

looking to buy a 3rd gen around 1996 but a local garage said that as they mostly operate in 2wd on tarmac that there weight means they are less stable in wet conditions and ice ( at slow speeds ) than a normal car.. Ie the back can easily swing out..

Is that true ?

Cheers

no

[slobodan]

If I am mid-corner on snow or ice and I engage the KERS system, The back does step out.
It is in a controlled manner though.

[Predictable Bob]

Give it a bootfull mid corner in the damp with crap tyres and the back end provides some great entertainment - I was really irritated when I replaced the crap tyres with GG AT2's ...

[Karma Supra]

For what it is I think he third gen handles well on tarmac... if it is too much for you get one with multi mode 4wd and use it in 4wd mode...

Because the wheelbase is so long if it does step out it is very easy to catch.

[si tate]

Can't say I've ever had a problem with the handling & I've had mine 5 years now. It's like any other car ive had, push it & it will bite you on the backside.

[leighh]

Mine can slide out at the back a little in the wet, I reckon that's largely due to the fact that it still has Japanese tyres on it - and the rear wheel drive.

I had an exciting moment last year with the heavy snows, when I slid on some sheet ice on the A5. Managed to drift round the corner, narrowly avoiding the shortcut to the valley floor - via the half-foot high slate wall. Ironically, my evasive maneuvre nearly resulted in me hitting a gritter coming the other way.

I bought seat covers after that.

[wishbone]

I bought seat covers after that.

I'd have bought new tyres...

[Predictable Bob]

What Wishbone said !

I complained about the jap rubber for ages and didn't get rid of them until they put me into the side of an Octavia ...

[Albannach]

It's a 2 tonne pendulum. If you try hard enough you'll slide the back end in any weather condition. Drive within your capability and at a pace appropriate to the weather conditions (i.e. not 50mph in 2" of snow) and you will have no issues with vehicle handling.