General Croma 2005 in Snow

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General Croma 2005 in Snow

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For the second time in two days I've had to traverse the current snow covered roads. Generally not a problem, but today whilst trying to climb a 1 in 5 hill to our house the old front wheels just would not get enough traction. Other lighter cars seems to manage OK but the old heavy croma just didn't want to play ball. 2nd and 3rd were not much help either.

Solution!!!!

Roll back down. Change direction and reverse back up the hill. Worked a treat much to the disgust of a rear wheel drive BMW also suffering. :)

I'll leave the reader to work out why. :p

Better still here is the reason ( worth noting for future )

Front engine and rear wheel drive equals heavy front end with, up hill, a modest weight transfer to the rear wheels. Sadly not enough.

Croma, front wheel drive, heavy front end, but going up hill there is a weight transfer to the rear thus reducing front end load and traction.

Turn to old boy around and you have, heavy rear end, weight transfer to rear and light back end. :worship:

All tongue in cheek but I must admit it took me a few minutes of failed climb attempts to recall the mechanics of moving my caravan up our sloped drive.

Unless you have actually experienced the huge traction differences, even on dry sutfaces, then it is quite staggering.

Now you know why Italian "Croma" Tanks have six reverse gears and one forward.

Nick /////
 
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Also discovered yesterday that all the ASR/EBD/ABS/DSC/Hill Holder technology in the world is **** all use when something the weight of a Croma starts to slide on snow & ice, something to do with the laws of physics I imagine...

(It's OK, there was nothing in the way :D)
 
Also discovered yesterday that all the ASR/EBD/ABS/DSC/Hill Holder technology in the world is **** all use when something the weight of a Croma starts to slide on snow & ice, something to do with the laws of physics I imagine...

(It's OK, there was nothing in the way :D)

unfortunately i wasn't so lucky and i've hit a bmw nearly head-on very low speed (about 20mph) so no damage to beema, croma suffered only a scratch on a bumper and cracked glass on a fog lamp
 
There was me thinking my original Croma reversing up hill post would attract negative comments or no comments at all and we already have some interesting replys.

The socks sound/look neat. A poor performance of ASR/TC/ etc. is nice to see confirmed.

Proves that what you think may be a dumb post is may actually be a catalyst for other great stuff.

Keep them coming.
 
Also discovered yesterday that all the ASR/EBD/ABS/DSC/Hill Holder technology in the world is **** all use when something the weight of a Croma starts to slide on snow & ice, something to do with the laws of physics I imagine...

(It's OK, there was nothing in the way :D)

Could not agree more. Our roads where not gritted when gods opened up with snow fall. I am disappointed with the traction of the Croma. Even braking at low speeds the the front wheels lock up and the traction warning light flickers on the dashboard. By switching off the ASR, the traction slightly improved in 1st and second.

Overall compared to my last car an Alfa 156 Sportwagon in the snow is far superior which had no wheel slippage or locking up when braking at low speeds.

These problems you cannot see during a test drive, unless you live in Scandinavia, unless Fiat did some Croma testing there?? :rolleyes:

Overall disappointed with Croma in snow.:mad:
 
By switching off the ASR, the traction slightly improved in 1st and second.

Bum, I never tried turning off ASR in my recent experience.

Was I panicing.....was I too keen to impersonate an Italian tank?

I only want basic motion controls on a car. Steering, gear, handbrake, throttle, brake and clutch. Now what does this button do :eek:
 
At least you've got a clutch :eek:

It's not the most sure-footed of beasts in the snow, I thought it was just me getting old(er) but FiatFleetFamily seems to have the same concerns.

Fiat didn't need to do much testing on the Croma, they just copied the Vauxhall Signum results then put their name at the top :ROFLMAO:

I suppose if a car's not known for its fine handling qualities in good weather conditions it stands to reason it may turn into a 'pig on stilts' when there's snow & ice around :rolleyes:

Will try the 'ASR off' option (if I remember) to see if it makes a difference - got to be worth a try.
 
Found my Croma quite steady in the snow this week. Got into an argument at work over my assertion their is a whole generation of drivers who have not driven on snow and couldn`t cope! They asked me what was different then to now( after bringing up driving in the winter of 1976) and I said "Town &Country Tyres". Driving in the foothills west of Sheffield these tyres were an essential. They were like 4x4 tyres are now but for normal size rims. Everyone had a pair on some wheels in the garage and swopped them for the Drive wheels in November and swopped them back around Easter. Has anyone found out where you can still get some for 17" wheels????? THe "weight on the front end of theCroma would be A boon if you could get these tyres.
 
If you have ever been on an off-raod driving course then they turn off all electronic gizmo and teach you "au naturel".

For traction in slippy conditions, use the brake pedal to stop the slipping wheel. This will transfer more drive to the wheel(s) with more traction. I was stunned at how effective and simple it was.

BUT!!!! that was on a course and not having driven off-road since then I had sort of forgotten all about it. Just like failing to turn ASR off.

Sometimes I wonder why nature designed us the way we are so we can't give ourselves a good kick up the backside. Would solve a lot of problems in life :)
 
For traction in slippy conditions, use the brake pedal to stop the slipping wheel. This will transfer more drive to the wheel(s) with more traction. I was stunned at how effective and simple it was.

That's what the ASR does...supposedly :rolleyes:

Personally I find it more difficult to regulate the power delivery of an automatic diesel (with 295lb ft of torque at not much over tickover!), and usually leave it to the electronics to sort out. Getting going wasn't a problem, stopping was slightly trickier though :D

First time in 22 years of driving I've watched helplessly as the road I was wanting to turn right into went past my driver's window :eek:
 
That's what the ASR does...supposedly :rolleyes:

Personally I find it more difficult to regulate the power delivery of an automatic diesel (with 295lb ft of torque at not much over tickover!), :

I find this as well with manuals. Trouble is with diesels is that below certain revs they are totally gutless....then a few rpm more they supply loads of torgue, which in slippery conditions is just what you don't want.

Classic stall is waiting in a road ready to turn right, gap appears, gently take off turn the steering wheel and the low revs and sudden power steering loads results in that embarassing stall.
 
anybody heard of "Mud & Snow " tyres yet, or only snow tyres. Helps a lot
 
anybody heard of "Mud & Snow " tyres yet, or only snow tyres. Helps a lot

What a fine idea! Now if I could just find the spare £400 for that set of tyres I'll use once in 18 years, living in south Lincs :D It'd almost be as cheap to get an old 4x4 and store it 'just in case', apparently nobody wants them any more for some reason :rolleyes:

I think the point here is the Croma's performance (or lack of) in snow relative to other previously owned vehicles. Personally it's easily the worst car out of perhaps ten cars I've driven in snow. And before the question is asked, tyre tread depth is 5mm and the tyres are goodyears. HTH.
 
Well you and my neighbour and his 07 plate Vectra Estate who could not get anywhere in the snow on several occassions. His tyres are too wide and too low a profile which is what affects most large cars. You need skinny wheels with low ground pressure tyres.

My Doblo managed to climb up 1 in 5 snow covered hill every morning, only hindrance was avoiding idiots sliding down the hill towards me. I found my 105 bhp Multijet perfect for pulling away without wheelspin.

I have driven a new type Croma Multijet in snow in Italy in December and that came with spiked tyres and was fantastic in the snow.
 
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