RCZ in the snow!

[Anonymous]

Quick note to say that my comment wasn't meant to put anyone off from driving in the snow, just a realistic post about the experience that I had on my first time in the snow with this car.

I think the main problem that I had was that the Tyres very quickly got clogged up with fresh snow.
This then leads to a snow on snow / ice contact, which unsurprisingly sees you sliding off in every direction with little to no traction - hence the ESP going mad.

As there is no way to clear / clean the tyres, the problem exacerbates the further you travel.

I think we all realise that there are other cars out there that will also struggle.

On the day in question on the Dual Carriageway, a Porsche had already pulled into the Lay-By (unfortunately consigning himself to a long wait as there was no way he was going to get back out again with all the snow there) and a Cinquento (spelling ?!) in the next Lay-By well and truly stuck.

Maybe if the initial pull away had seen less snow, the tyres wouldn't have got clogged up and I would have experienced a more pleasant journey ??

When I got to my friend's drive however, I couldn't get on to the drive.
Her other friend turned up in a Jag, cruised straight in, reversed, dropped off the Bread and Milk, smirked at me stood there with the shovel and pulled straight out again.

There's gonna be better cars in the snow than ours, there's gonna be worse cars in the snow than ours.

Useful to share experiences though - and you have to take the different weather conditions into account.

:greetings-wavingblue:

 

[Anonymous]

oh eck.... mine has been in the drive all weekend but need to go out tomorrow. Bit nervous hearing all you lads struggling with the rcz in the snow :-(

You know, I actually don't think the RCZ is really any worse than any other FWD car, perhaps the low centre of gravity makes you feel the understeer and that a bit more :eusa-think:

Just be sensible, get in a high gear and take it easy (pull away in second if need be). You will be fine. I hate to say this but perhaps cos we dont get that much snow some people have forgoten how to drive in it... :eusa-whistle:

I agree - RCZ doesn't seem worse than other FWD drive cars, although I suspect the 156 petrol will handle best as more control over the amount of (low) power going to the wheels.

Problem, I suspect, is the tyres which are clearly designed for road performance/looks rather than off-road/snow. Again, we're hardly different from most cars out there but I notice that it tends to be older cars without sports wheels that manage better.

The other issue is simply too many people on the road (actually, on all forms of transport). We rely on travel. So many people commute 10 miles+ to work (and often even to school). Then we spend the weekend or Christmas travelling the length of the country or abroad by plane, train and car. It's okay when only a few people do it but when half the population is on the move something has to collapse.

So the first question I would ask is why do you "need" to go out. Is it essential or something you can work round with a decent pair of boots and a willingness to walk for up to an hour. That's what served people 20 years ago, and why we didn't have anything like the same problems.

 

[Anonymous]

I know most people will already be aware, but it hasn't been mentioned yet, but when conditions are slippy, try to use the gears as much as possible to decelerate.

 

[Anonymous]

agreed you are correct, afraid some of the younger drivers dont use gears to slow down, but it comes with experience.

 

[FGRob]

agreed you are correct, afraid some of the younger drivers dont use gears to slow down, but it comes with experience.

They usually use the car in front :helpme: :crazy:

I had one the other day, iced up roads, car in front stopped, I stopped but the 207 two cars behind did not - ended up level with me on the opposite side of the road :wtf: fortunately nothing was coming the other way. :shock:

Rob

 

[RCZ1]

One other very important thing to do, especially in this bad snowy/icy weather is to make sure that your tyres are correctly inflated.

I checked mine at the weekend (first time I've done it since I've owned it - bad I know :helpme and the pressures were all over the place. The rears were over inflated, the fronts were low - SO CHECK THEM TODAY :!:

 

[Anonymous]

One other very important thing to do, especially in this bad snowy/icy weather is to make sure that your tyres are correctly inflated.

I checked mine at the weekend (first time I've done it since I've owned it - bad I know :helpme and the pressures were all over the place. The rears were over inflated, the fronts were low - SO CHECK THEM TODAY :!:

Good point, but on the same subject someone told me that they put some extra air into their low profile tyres during snowy conditions. Sounds like a dodgy practice to me. What's the opinion of forum members?

On a lighter note, that crunching sound you might hear isn't the snow underfoot...it's me eating my words. On another thread I distinctly recall writing that Bangor gets nothing worth talking about re snow. Not any more! I think the Big Guy upstairs must be a forum member and thought, "Right, I'll show HER!" :lol: We had a snow fall yesterday evening onto compacted snow/ice which made getting into my driveway a challenge, then at 6.30am today I called a 'snow day' for the first time in 36 years of driving because I simply couldn't risk the condition of the local roads after we'd had another 4" overnight . Possibly the main route would have been fine but I wasn't prepared to risk it. I generally love the snow but this is just craaaaaazzzzzyyyyyy! Take care, everyone. :thumbup:

 

[Anonymous]

Snow tyres

After too many scary moments in the last week I decided to put snow tyres on my RCZ but I have now been informed that "Europe has sold out" of snow tyres, certainly the 19" ones on the RCZ. It was suggested I try to put some 18" ones on. :?

Anyone fitted snow tyres to the RCZ?

Anyone know if 18" tyres will be OK when it's 19" at present. The fuill size on my tyres is: 235 40r 19 96W. Black circles and Kwik fit and all the local dealers don't have these sizes for snow tyres.

 

[FGRob]

Re: Snow tyres

After too many scary moments in the last week I decided to put snow tyres on my RCZ but I have now been informed that "Europe has sold out" of snow tyres, certainly the 19" ones on the RCZ. It was suggested I try to put some 18" ones on. :?

Anyone fitted snow tyres to the RCZ?

Anyone know if 18" tyres will be OK when it's 19" at present. The fuill size on my tyres is: 235 40r 19 96W. Black circles and Kwik fit and all the local dealers don't have these sizes for snow tyres.

Here in the UK it's not required to have snow tyres so the requirement is very low, then this happens and the whole place turns into a giant snow ball :helpme:

You can fit 18" wheels to an RCZ as they are standard on the sport model sold in the UK, it will make buying your snow tyres very expensive at first because you will need to buy the alloy as well.

Are you based in the UK or Europe - I'm not sure from your sig.

Thanks
Rob

 

[Anonymous]

I have the Sport with the 18" wheels. Does anyone know anything about the snow chains or anti-slip tyre covers available in the accessories brochure? Quality, price, likely wait time?

Or for that matter do any of the Peugeot bods who occasionally post on here know a suggestion for make/model number for winter tyres (the alternative rubber compound, not the studded snow tyres)?

Or should I give my dealer a ring?

 

[Anonymous]

Grrrr took me nearly 2 hours to drive 4 miles from Birmingham City centre to where I live... bloomin traffic and bad road conditions!! Mind you, I was still seeing other cars getting stuck on minor inclines when I wasn't - dont people know how to pull away in 2nd gear when it's icy? :eusa-think:

 

[Anonymous]

Are you based in the UK or Europe - I'm not sure from your sig.

thanks Rob. I am based in Aberdeen, UK. I'll see if I can track down some 18" snow tyres and see how they drive...

So you'er based in Europe then :dance: :dance: :wave: :wave:

How's the weather up there, it's been a while since I've been up that way, spent many a happy hour around the high street.

Rob

 

[GT RCZ]

Hi if you have the 200 thp model the 18" wheels will not fit as they are fitted with larger brake discs so 19" wheels are a must

 

[Anonymous]

Another issue with the RCZ - has anyone had the windscreen washer water freezing. Went through some fog - anyway, the temparature sensor read -9 and the washer stopped working - stayed like that until I got above -2. I'd have thought the engine should be keeping it warm but appears not.

 

[FGRob]

Another issue with the RCZ - has anyone had the windscreen washer water freezing. Went through some fog - anyway, the temparature sensor read -9 and the washer stopped working - stayed like that until I got above -2. I'd have thought the engine should be keeping it warm but appears not.

That's not an issue just for the RCZ - I think most makes will struggle as most premixed washer fluids are only good for -5C, that's one good thing about the RCZ the washer jet are inside the bonnet not like most cars which sit on top of the bonnet making a nice little freezer nozzle. My wife's Toyota stops working for most days when it's below -2C

Rob.

 

[Joske]

Hi if you have the 200 thp model the 18" wheels will not fit as they are fitted with larger brake discs so 19" wheels are a must

I think I've seen a picture with 18" on an RCZ with the large calipers. It's a tight fit, but it fits.

Can't find it at the moment, but I keep searching.

 

[Anonymous]

Another issue with the RCZ - has anyone had the windscreen washer water freezing. Went through some fog - anyway, the temparature sensor read -9 and the washer stopped working - stayed like that until I got above -2. I'd have thought the engine should be keeping it warm but appears not.

In a different car I once found that although neither the water nor the nozzles had frozen, as soon as I sprayed my windshield the water froze there because of the outside temperature . Not a good experience when in the midst of moving traffic (which had caused the muck on the window in the first place!!!).

 

[Anonymous]

Another issue with the RCZ - has anyone had the windscreen washer water freezing. Went through some fog - anyway, the temparature sensor read -9 and the washer stopped working - stayed like that until I got above -2. I'd have thought the engine should be keeping it warm but appears not.

That's not an issue just for the RCZ - I think most makes will struggle as most premixed washer fluids are only good for -5C, that's one good thing about the RCZ the washer jet are inside the bonnet not like most cars which sit on top of the bonnet making a nice little freezer nozzle. My wife's Toyota stops working for most days when it's below -2C

Rob.

Yep - my old Toyota was the same - no mater what mix of washer fluid I used!

 

[Anonymous]

Yep - my old Toyota was the same - no mater what mix of washer fluid I used!

Stop living in alaska-like places, that will solve all your problems :lol:

 

[FGRob]

Yep - my old Toyota was the same - no mater what mix of washer fluid I used!

Stop living in alaska-like places, that will solve all your problems :lol:

You mean the UK :lol: :lol: :lol: