4WD question

[MadcapMagician]

I'm a tad confused...

People on here keep saying that you should not use H4 whilst on tarmac because it will cause axle wind-up.

The owner's manual says "use this for normal driving on wet, icy or snow-covered roads".

Now, I've had the back end step out whilst driving on wet tarmac (in H2 mode) and because of all the comments about axle wind-up I'm fearful of driving in H4 mode when it's raining, even though two tonnes of car moving sideways is even more scary.

So.....what do you do? Obviously, when it's dry outside, one should only drive in H2 mode; but what about when it's pi$$ing stair-rods (like today!)?

[stormforce]

I'm a tad confused...

People on here keep saying that you should not use H4 whilst on tarmac because it will cause axle wind-up.

The owner's manual says "use this for normal driving on wet, icy or snow-covered roads".

Now, I've had the back end step out whilst driving on wet tarmac (in H2) and because of all the comments about axle wind-up I'm fearful of driving in H4 mode when it's raining.

So.....what do you do? Obviously, when it's dry outside, one should only drive in H2 mode; but what about when it's pi$$ing stair-rods (like today!)?

i only put mine in h4 when its snow/icy and off roading and have never needed it in the rain.Perhaps you need decent tyres if they are causing the back end to slide

[MadcapMagician]

Perhaps you need decent tyres if they are causing the back end to slide

I don't think it's the tyres....I think it's cos I still think I'm driving a racing-engine-equipped Mk 2 Golf GTI.

[joker??]

as richard says sounds like you need different tyres

[MadcapMagician]

But what about what the manual says....?


(And it's only slid twice, while booting it round a corner.)

[stormforce]

By all means you can do as the manual says but we all advise not using 4wd on tarmac unless its sippery ie snow ice.
You just need to take things steady when driving in the wet

[MadcapMagician]

You just need to take things steady when driving in the wet

Yeah; like I said, I still tend to drive like I'm in my Golf which is almost certainly where the scary back end motion comes from.

[Maverick]

I only ever use 4WD when one of the front tyres can lose traction, mud, snow (I wish), ice.
I'd advice better tyres, easing off the right pedal a bit whilst cornering, or (and this can be most fun) learning how to power slide.

Forgot to add I've always owned (with one exception which I hated and sold) rear wheel drive cars, they have a completely different driving feel and require a different style. Once you are used to it, you'll find that you can feel everything that you vehicle is doing, in a controlable manor.

[bezrq surf]

i think u need to suck it up and drive like u are in a surf(especially in the rain) because it aint no fing vw bro. im used to an ISUZU I-MARK RS with LOTUS handling and i drove it like a retard( to the point were i couldnt go any where without cops following me) and im fine in the surf. get some tires maybe?

[ABE]

what tyres you got on the back just out of interest?

[MadcapMagician]

power slide

In a Surf? Nah - too scary!

If you're gonna power slide, this is the car that's built for it:



My old baby! I bought it as an original 1300cc and changed it to a 1700cc with two Dell’Orto twin 40 carbs and a 1600 gearbox. I didn't change the rear diff so it only had a top end of 93mph but, my god, it got up there quickly!

[ABE]

Great googly moogly How old are you?

[MadcapMagician]

39 in 8 days time.

[ABE]

Poor B@gger next step is out to pasture

[BUSHWHACKER]

Yeah; like I said, I still tend to drive like I'm in my Golf which is almost certainly where the scary back end motion comes from.

In a front wheel drive car??? You must have been driving it like it wasn't yours then!