ESP- On or Off in snow?

[Tonybolony]

Here in South Wales, we missed the snow last year, and the two winters previously I had a Ur and S2 to play with (using difflocks to great effect when necessary).
Consequently, I've no experience of my current A6 (C6) Quattro Avant in snow- and should the snow reappear this year, I have a proper steep hill to ascend to reach the house, with no intention of abandoning it at the bottom as everyone else seems to do.
So- the question is, ESP- On or Off? (By the way- it's an Auto)

[Cottis]

Traction wise, your Quattro should get you moving better than 2WD car. In my opinion, ESP can sometimes stop the effectiveness of a car pulling away in really slippy conditions. Guess it depends on how sensitive the system is but I find it gets in the way mostly. For me, I would say basic 4WD and snow tyres would be the way foward and ovvo driving to conditions. In the snow, very slowly. 4WD gives you better traction but not necessarily better control. If the think goes sideways, it is going to go sideways. I prefer going up steep slopes rather than down them in those type of conditions.

My S2 will be safely tucked away though and my Seat Leon's ESP will no doubt be playing silly ******s as I struggle through any snow we get in Oxfordshire (which is normally minimal) Probably go baltic on me now I have said that.

[s2driveruk]

ESP off from memory as it will interfere and cut power but worth checking with the manual to be honest

[anthonys2]

I've always kept it on and my newer A4 is only 2wd and its helped in the past

[piotr]

my preferences in snow- ESP OFF (ABS OFF if you can)and just enjoy

[shaun5]

ABS off, if enough snow
ESP on, its a safety feature, does it cut power?
Traction control on,

you don't need power in the snow? spinning wheels doesn't equal movement, its amazing the amount of people who rev the nuts out of a car when its stuck
stick it in as high a gear as you can and let the torque do the work (bit hard in an auto)

[piotr]

sorry chap but i can't agree .
traction control is a part of ESP anyway.on normal road,fast cornering etc.when car start to slide ESP is fantastic but in snow its just going crazy.

[Error404]

It's software at the end of the day, not written for snow conditions.
All "driver aids" are useless in those conditions in my expereince.
Nothing beats the correct tyres, skill & judgement.

[piotr]

[Monkeymagic]

On my a4. Fwd it's a pain in *** at in cuts power leaving you with zero forward motion. However the wife's old TT Quattro used to drive quite happily with esp on. In my opinion modern abs and esp if far too sensitive in the snow. But somr people's driving ability is sub standard

[Tonybolony]

[QUOTE=shaun5;824133]ABS off, if enough snow
ESP on, its a safety feature, does it cut power?
Traction control on,

My previous 2 quattro's had difflocks, which (you all know) cut the ABS, which is no bad thing in snow.
My concern is that the ESP will prob cut the power when on hills- the very time when you want to keep momentum going.

[Big Lee M]

On most newer car all the ESP does is cut the power, the same sort of thing happens when.you left foot brake. It feels the same anyway, but I've always run with it off on 4wd cars. It all depends on the conditions really, make a judgement and hit the go peddle.

[M_GORDON]

Always Off

[Tonybolony]

I've always run with it off on 4wd cars. It all depends on the conditions really, make a judgement and hit the go peddle.

That's exactly what I'm thinking.

[treebirch]

On/off, whatever, the most important thing, if you are worried, is to get some snow tyres, this will ensure your safety. I drive in the snow almost daily during the winter months, I would not be without them Nov - May.