General How good is the 500 in the snow!!!

[Fred Mumford]

A few weeks ago I sold my long suffering 45 year old Land Rover.
The guys I work with had a good laugh about that when the snow started falling.
I have to say though, I felt as confident in my 500 as any other car I've driven in snow and ice.
I have the Abarth version which has big fat tyres. But then, so did my old Land Rover and I used to let them down to 15 psi in snow.

 

[keeforelli]

Is yours a 500c? I have the 500c and yesterday the roof was creaking and groaning like mad when I was driving it along. Must admit I am a bit worried that the roof being frozen for a long period of time is not good for it I have kept the snow off it but even so it is frozen solid poor thing.

I also found that when I put her into reverse the parking sensors shrieked constantly. Inspection revealed ice over the sensors causing the problem!

I have not been out much past few days but during the little local journeys I have made the Fiat has been really impressive, especially getting out of my driveway which is not great. She is far more reliable than the silly old Merc Estate which just slides around and is totally useless!

Not sure I am brave enough to tackle anything but getting to local shops though - am too scared of Fi Fi getting hurt

i dont have a 500c...but i do have the reverse sensors...and i did have the same issue with them!

 

[deba]

A few weeks ago I sold my long suffering 45 year old Land Rover.
The guys I work with had a good laugh about that when the snow started falling.
I have to say though, I felt as confident in my 500 as any other car I've driven in snow and ice.
I have the Abarth version which has big fat tyres. But then, so did my old Land Rover and I used to let them down to 15 psi in snow.

That makes me feel a lot better. I am scrapping my 20 year old Landrover for a 1.3 multijet and I was terrified I'd done the wrong thing. I pick it up next Saturday. Thanks!!!

 

[rallycinq]

I have a 19 year old Land Rover and a 1.3 multijet.

I have been using the Fiat since the snow turned to ice. I have all seasons tyres in the Fiat and ATs on the Landy.

Cheers

SPD

 

[mikeegee]

I must be the only person who's terrified of driving the 500 in the snow.
I had a Saxo VTR before my 500 and have never had to put carpet under my wheels or carry a spare pair of pants in my glovebox.
I've considered winter tyres for the first time.

 

[YouKnowWho]

Has anyone tried Auto Socks with their 500?

Promise to be better than winter tyres, but easier than snow chains

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/car-snow-socks/autosock-faq.php

 

[loadswine]

I've ordered a couple of sets, one for my 500 and another set for my Seat Altea. Waiting on stock delivery at the moment, but I bet all snow and ice will disappeear when they arrive! lol
Not sure exactly how much use you can actually put them to, as they are marketed as a temporary ,"get you home" kind of item.
I reckon tarmac use might be an issue if used too much.

 

[nottsfiat07]

Has anyone tried Auto Socks with their 500?

Promise to be better than winter tyres, but easier than snow chains

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/car-snow-socks/autosock-faq.php

Saw these on the back wheels of a BMW the other day... I wondered what they were!

 

[Daniyella]

My little 500 has been amazing in the snow, my boyfriend cant catch up with up in his renault sport megane R26 i keep outrunning him in the snow or ice on my road!

 

[YouKnowWho]

A few weeks ago I sold my long suffering 45 year old Land Rover.
The guys I work with had a good laugh about that when the snow started falling.
I have to say though, I felt as confident in my 500 as any other car I've driven in snow and ice.
I have the Abarth version which has big fat tyres. But then, so did my old Land Rover and I used to let them down to 15 psi in snow.

I am feel alot less secure in my 500 than the 4x4 I have been driving past few weeks. I was back in my 500 today, and just getting onto the main road with all the slush was noticably more of an issue than the 4x4 which just chewed up bad conditions.

Not only that, despite getting 5* NCAP - you have to remember that is against stationary objects ... i.e. if your 45 year old Land Rover was to smash into the back of your 500 at Motorway speeds, you would absolutely no chance.

I am alot more wary of tailgators in my 500 - especially as most large 4x4 (I am thinking Range Rover Sport) and Vans seem to think they have super-duper ceramic brakes or something

 

[YouKnowWho]

My little 500 has been amazing in the snow, my boyfriend cant catch up with up in his renault sport megane R26 i keep outrunning him in the snow or ice on my road!

That's a worrying comment ... are your racing in these conditions?

 

[306maxi]

My little 500 has been amazing in the snow, my boyfriend cant catch up with up in his renault sport megane R26 i keep outrunning him in the snow or ice on my road!

It's overconfidence like this that will have you in a hedge or a kerb. I can't be bothered finding it but someone in a 100hp had a very low speed incident with a kerb last year and found themselves needing basically needing new everything on that corner of the car. Slow down ffs.

 

[Daniyella]

It's overconfidence like this that will have you in a hedge or a kerb. I can't be bothered finding it but someone in a 100hp had a very low speed incident with a kerb last year and found themselves needing basically needing new everything on that corner of the car. Slow down ffs.

Thanks for your advice Dad

 

[FireballXL5man]

Thanks for your advice Dad

My concentration was distracted for a moment a couple of days ago. It was a toss of a coin whether I went to work in the 500 or my old Mondeo, very fortunately I chose the Mondeo. I applied a little too much brakes on what appeared to be merely a slushy B road on the approach to a slight bend at around 15mph. The car snaked to the left, mounted the thankfully angled kerb stone with a bang, bounced back onto the road and swerved towards the opposite side of the road nearly towards the path of an oncoming Transit van. Fortunately, I just managed to straighten the car up in time and the only damage was a scuffed alloy wheel rim. The car's ABS was totally worthless in such conditions. It could have been very much worse. I've been driving for 32 years and it was one of the closest calls I've ever had. That close one happened at around 15mph in snow and took me completely by surprise.

Your "Dad" is absolutely correct, how would you feel if you pranged the 500?


I don't think the 500 is particularly good in the snow. We have three cars in the family, a Focus a Mk 2 Mondeo and the 500. The Focus is clearly the best in the snow.

 

[Mark Elvin]

Your "Dad" is absolutely correct, how would you feel if you pranged the 500?

I suspect he'd probably say "I told you so", I would.

I like to think of myself as a reasonably good driver, been racing in on form or another for 25 years, as well as having helped test & setup Aston Martin DBRS9 & DB4 race cars at Spa & the 'Ring, however, I always slow dow and respect the snow/ice, you never know quite what the road is going to throw at you in these conditions.

 

[306maxi]

I suspect he'd probably say "I told you so", I would.

I like to think of myself as a reasonably good driver, been racing in on form or another for 25 years, as well as having helped test & setup Aston Martin DBRS9 & DB4 race cars at Spa & the 'Ring, however, I always slow dow and respect the snow/ice, you never know quite what the road is going to throw at you in these conditions.

You know the funny thing? I wouldn't actually say "I told you so" My wife had a tiny little fender bender (nothing to do with the snow btw) in the Subaru the other day and she was shaken up enough by that let alone an accident where you're out of control so although I like to say I told you so about most things I wouldn't when someone had a scary accident. I did tell everyone so about winter tyres though

 

[YouKnowWho]

Thanks for your advice Dad

Maybe you should take heed of the comments made. They might just save your life.

 

[Daniyella]

Maybe you should take heed of the comments made. They might just save your life.

I was driving perfectly normally down the road with lots of care as funnily enough it might surprise you but i dont want to crash my baby, it was actually my boyfriend that commented that he couldnt keep up as traction control kept kicking in as he has very thick tyres with no traction.

 

[trphil]

I don't think the 500 is particularly good in the snow. We have three cars in the family, a Focus a Mk 2 Mondeo and the 500. The Focus is clearly the best in the snow.

I agree, I was most surprised to find my S-Max much better in the snow than the 500, although the 500 is significantly better than my Triumph (not that it's been out in the snow for a good few years).

The car's ABS was totally worthless in such conditions.

Previously I'd have agreed with you but last Saturday whilst driving slowly along the compacted snow on my parents' road my son asked me why I was driving slowly and not braking so on a nice straight bit with no other cars around I slammed on the brakes from 15mph and the car came to a very undramatic stop. Needless to say I didn't change my driving style to take account of my findings!

 

[306maxi]

I agree, I was most surprised to find my S-Max much better in the snow than the 500, although the 500 is significantly better than my Triumph (not that it's been out in the snow for a good few years).



Previously I'd have agreed with you but last Saturday whilst driving slowly along the compacted snow on my parents' road my son asked me why I was driving slowly and not braking so on a nice straight bit with no other cars around I slammed on the brakes from 15mph and the car came to a very undramatic stop. Needless to say I didn't change my driving style to take account of my findings!

ABS can be a blessing and a curse. Overall I'll still take it rather than leave it.