View Full Version : And how was your journey?
Stuart_D
31-01-2003, 01:00 AM
I don't know what the weather is like in the rest of England or Europe but in London it snowed most of the day. We knew it was going to snow today since Monday, yet for some reason none of the roads had been gritted anywhere.
Needless to day, that today was possibly the worst day for travel around London in history.
Many train stations closed because of the snow and the sheer weight of people and roads were (and still are as I type this) at a 100% standstill.
I left work at 4:45pm today to drive the 22 miles home to Northwest London. This journey usually takes me about an hour. Tonight it took me 7 hours door to door and that was with one rest stop for 10 minutes. During this time I contemplated sleeping in my A2 for the night; or abandoning my A2 and walking a mile or so to the nearby hotel (which I have now looked online and discovered all would have been full!).
All I can say is that with my A2, I switched off the traction control which made the journey a lot easier and I hardly lost grip once on the whole trip.
How long did it take you get home?!
2001 TDi SE | Cobalt Blue Metallic | Open Sky Roof | Kenwood Mask CD
www.Audi-A2.co.uk | www.A2Forum.net
runboy
31-01-2003, 01:07 AM
Snow bad in the east but there is no traffic around here so although your driving slower, it is a non-stop run so actually nearly as quick!.
But still bad-I've heard of up to 7 inches in Lowestoft!.
Feel sorry for you though Stuart!
Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit
deheld
31-01-2003, 08:37 AM
It's snowing quite heavily here too but our highways are nicely clean. Too bad I have to travel on secondary roads to get to my client. But I must say that the wintertires provide more grip than the normal ones. I leave the TC on to prevent the wheels from loosing grip and it drives like a charm. Yesterday there was a patch of ice in a turn and the car started sliding, but the ESP corrected everything nicely.
I always feel very safe and in control in the A2.
Dennis de Held
Amulet Red 1.4 Tdi
daveyjp
31-01-2003, 09:38 AM
What is this snow you're talking about? Absolutely none in Leeds/Bradford areas.
Stuart, why would switching off traction control make your journey easier?? I would have thought this was the time
it could be put to use.
We had our share here in Belgium.. but the A2 handled it with ease.. contrary to the expensive Merc CLK Coupé in front of me,
who barely made it through a bend.
Werner Huysegoms
Stuart, why would switching off traction control make your journey easier?? I would have thought this was the time
it could be put to use.
We had our share here in Belgium.. but the A2 handled it with ease.. contrary to the expensive Merc CLK Coupé in front of me,
who barely made it through a bend.
Werner Huysegoms
runboy
31-01-2003, 11:23 AM
I understood that if the roads were that slippery, the traction control would become "confused" as none of the wheels would have grip and therefore it would just make a funny noise and not go very far!.
Could be wrong of course.....
Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit
Stuart_D
31-01-2003, 11:30 AM
That is exactly right Runboy.
That is the very reason why you would want to switch traction control off as on a slippery road you would never get anywhere!
2001 TDi SE | Cobalt Blue Metallic | Open Sky Roof | Kenwood Mask CD
www.Audi-A2.co.uk | www.A2Forum.net
My commute home last night took an extra hour (usually 45 mins). No major problems on the B and unclassified roads (drove a bit slower (only overtook 2 cars), and I knew where to be really cautious). Once I got on the A25 though I got into a stream of cars at 10mph... Until we got to the North downs (4 miles from home). Once over the downs (~40 mins ~2 miles) things were fine - had expected the jam to continue, but was relieved to find it clear. Yesterday morning we'd had some snow, but it didn't slow me going to work at all. This morning I did it in 1hr 10 mins, but the A25 was still worse than cross country on the whole. Had a few small slides, nothing scary - a few were on move off uphill puling to the right. Definatly an advantage to have a small, light front wheel drive car with skinny tyres!
7 hours is awful. Think of how much fuel gets wasted keeping all those cars warm. I hope you had some emergency rations etc. I hope it's better tonight (for those brave enough to try going to work!)
Fiona
31-01-2003, 02:32 PM
I saw some of my neighbours returnibg home after sitting at the end of the road for 45 mins! So I decided not to bother and put the kettle on instead, isn't day time TV awful! Left home at 11am for the 3 mile journey which took 20 mins, not too bad as it took the other half nearly an hour earlier. My rather bored Father phoned from his lorry at 8.45 and said that he'd left home at 7 and done 8 miles!
I live in near Guildford but the Hogs Back was closed so everyone had to get round it so came thru Aldershot. It's better today but the Hogs Back is still closed due to drifts and an overturned lorry, so all the surrounding areas are busy.
Mad isn't it? It was forecast and still we can't cope!!
Fi
2002 TDi Sport Cobalt Blue
Mal2002
31-01-2003, 06:48 PM
Up here in central scotland it was sunny and warm all day yesterday, makes a change !:D
2002, 1.4, azure blue, 2 tone leather, concert II single cd. Member of A2OC site.
Rob Earl
31-01-2003, 06:56 PM
The wife of a colleague started her return journey from Cambridge to Maidstone at 3pm yesterday. She arrived home at Midday today. Ouch...
1.4SE petrol in Merlot Red, Biege interior, 16" 5 spoke alloys, DIS, Open Sky, Elec rear windows.
quickbow
31-01-2003, 07:33 PM
east northants ok just had a few snow flakes yesterday, hope things get better soon for you boys and girls
2003 se tdi ebony black, black leather,sky,dis,lumber,climate , w-pack, 5 spoke alloys
quote:Originally posted by Fiona
I live in near Guildford but the Hogs Back was closed so everyone had to get round it so came thru Aldershot. It's better today but the Hogs Back is still closed due to drifts and an overturned lorry, so all the surrounding areas are busy.
I heard that a gap large enough was left in the road closed sign, and some crazy people decided to try and get through. Of course a little down the closed road were the police happily giving out points and turning round the ignorant mototrists!
The hogs back closure on thursday morning also affected the A3. I live on the other side of Guildford and drive the other way - my journey was normal. But my girlfirend who has to go that way (it's about 0.2 miles or less on the A3) to the Royal Surrey County Hospital (a 15 min drive) took 1hr 15min as a result. Good job she stuck with it as she was the only midwife on the clinic who got there!
Of course today we have bright sunshine - I hope it stays for a while!
Bartman
02-02-2003, 09:47 PM
I live in Herts - on Thursday night I left St Albans at 11.00pm to go to Welwyn Garden City about 10 miles in all . I arrived home at 1.45am.
I am running the sports pack with 17 inch alloys. These are no good in the snow. I got stuck on the flat in about 3 to 4 inches of lying snow with or without traction control - could not work out what was best.
Many thanks to all the people pushed me along.
Bartman
A2 1.4 TDI SE, Amulet Red, Sport Pack, Sky Roof, Sport Seats, BOSE, DIS, Special Rusty Brake Drums.
Mal2002
02-02-2003, 10:04 PM
I shouldn't have mocked you all as we've had 3-4 inches of snow today where I stay, and it hasn't stopped yet.
My sincere apologies [B)]
2002, 1.4, azure blue, 2 tone leather, concert II single cd. Member of A2OC site.
Actually you're supposed to keep TC always on, EXCEPT if you're stuck in the snow and need to accelerate.
We had snow here in Holland too - it was a great opportunity to test the TC. Tried several things, like accelerating fast, braking fast, taking fast curves - and the computer corrected me all the time. Ofcourse the wheels did slip sometimes (I was really testing the car to see how far I could go), but once the computer corrected me, it pulled straight right away.
runboy
03-02-2003, 01:12 AM
OK, lets play devils advocate............
How many people take a faster approach to driving knowing they have TC and hoping/thinking/praying it will get them out of trouble?.
Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit
Hi I'm new to the forum and driving/owning an A2, a week in and twice last week had long journeys from St. Albans being gridlocked. Last monday was due to the M1 accident, took 1.5hrs from London Colney to home in Redbourn. Thursday after the snow, took 2.5hrs to travel 4.5 miles from St. Albans city station to home. I used the traction control and drove slowly the car did slip a little and while trying to get out of the station carpark wheelspun for a bit till back up and took a run at it. Left a smart car stuck. I have noticed that the fan comes on alot after switching the engine off even after short journeys, is this common?
2001 1.4 SE TDi, Azure Blue
shezlee
03-02-2003, 12:48 PM
Runboy...
NOT me, a good friend did this thinking TC is all that, it didn't help much when going sideways, the TC can do what it likes but when your sideways your just a passenger till you stop.
It was a vauxhall vectra so no real harm done:)
Lee,
TDI SE,
Dolphin Grey,
6 Disc Changer (Fitted by me)
ecoangel
03-02-2003, 07:20 PM
I disagree on the traction control side - keep it on unless on sheet ice!
Oh and get some winter tyres like the rest of the europeans! They are fab and only mean 4 to 5 mpg more on diesels.
The key is anticipation - leave double your normal stopping distance and change into a higher gear - eg: 3rd instead of 2nd - another advantage of the diesels here is the low down torque (minumal revs).
If it looks like you'll slide into something try to steer into any skid and aim for the gap not the obstacle! Use maximum foot pressure on the brakes if ABS comes in else try to use gears to slow down before using brakes.
A2 1.2 TDI best in tiptronic downhill!
Lukas
First A2 1.2 TDI in UK
Style pack + Chorus + Advance pack + winter wheels + iRiver MP3CD
FACtOR
03-02-2003, 08:20 PM
Oki guys if you want my opinion the TC is absolute pants and just an expensive gimmich as it does nothing expect in mediocre conditions like rain and minor snow its useless on ice up a hill (a minor one at that) as i found out on thursday was going up a hill and the car begin the wheelspin it woudlnt move the wheels were going wild tried raising the gears and still nothing, turned off and on TC and still nothing in the end needed someone to get behind and push me so i could get moving, the wheels just spun like mad and i woud not of gotten up the hill if i wasnt pushed, TC is pants dont rely on it as one of the options above goes pray that it works, btw there was nothing wrong with my TC it just coudlnt cope, btw was drivng the tdi with only 1 passenger.
1.4SE petrol 2001, Dark interior, Sat cloth, Brilliant Silver, 3 spoke Steering wheel, Rear electric windows and Panasonic MR555 stereo, Panasonic 8CD changer, 10 speakers (2 extra 13" 190 watt each.)
1.4TDiSE 2002, Biege interior, Brilliant Black, Concert II.
Errrm Factor... TC is not meant to drive your car up icy hills. It's supposed to prevent slipping wheels resulting in a spinning car. This can for example happen if you accelerate too fast, brake too fast or if one of your wheels gets into the shoulder while the other wheels are still on the road (many cars will become uncontrollable once that happens).
TC does not give you more grip on the road, and grip is what you need on icy hills. Buy some snow chains instead :)
No disrespect, but it's the driver not the car! All the gadgets in the world can't make up for the brain behind the wheel. Having driven up 2 steep hills in last nights ice/snow, TC is of use, it does help by stopping uncontroled spin when grip is lost on 1 wheel without needing to drop revs even further! By the same merit ABS is only any good if there's grip available!
Andrew - 2003 1.4 TDI Silver Climate
ianjohnsonws14
04-02-2003, 10:15 AM
abre is correct about traction control, the ABS allows you to steer while braking without spinning the car and the ESP is intended to keep you out of the ditch if you corner slightly too fast - it is still subject to the adhesion limits so it will not prevent you visiting the ditch if you are travelling too fast, you will just go in a little further round the bend than you would without it!
Ian
2002 1.4 Petrol SE, silver with climate control.
Why are all the A2s in Lichfield are silver ? ? ?
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