What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Is there a training programme that will teach me to drive my new Mazda 6 confidently in snow and ice?
You advised me of problems with Saab diesel engines and also potential problems with the DPF on a 1-year-old ex-demonstrator Subaru Legacy. After more research I purchased a new Mazda 6 TS2 with the 2.2 diesel engine. I am very pleased with it, but the one disadvantage from not getting a Subaru instead is the lack of AWD. However, I have noted your comments on many occasions about the benefits of winter tyres. I have a major storage problem so do not want to go down that route. But I wonder if part of my problem of driving on snow and ice is because I have a fear of sliding. Is there a driving course that can replicate those sort of conditions and therefore give me more confidence?
Asked on 22 April 2011 by AH, Groombridge
Answered by
Honest John
The best is this one: www.porsche.com/silverstone/ The reason is, not only does it have a kickplate skidpan, it also has a simulated 'ice hill' descent. However, I would urge you to consider winter tyres. If not full winter tyres, then compromise all weather tyres such as Bridgestone A001s that can stay on all year round, yet comply with the winter tyre regs in France, Germany and Austria.
Similar questions
Having just bought a BMW 320d xDrive Touring I am starting to think about winter tyres. BMW recommend I have 16-inch wheels against 17-inch fitted as standard. They are offering four steel wheels with...
At the end of this October my wife and I drove to Stockholm to visit our daughter. I panicked about possible bad weather conditions a couple of days before we set off, so had two new tyres fitted to the...
What's the drill with winter tyres? Do I put them on the car on the first of October, and then take them off at the end of March? Supposing we have a very mild winter? Do I keep them on regardless? I was...
Related models
Neatly styled, entry-level models a good balance of ride and handling, excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine.