Yes they much better Stan, given the driver knows how to drive them. 3 things that make it better than a Zed even with performance tyres - skinnier tyres (std Evo tyres are 235, 4cm each side skinner than my rear tyres) so more pressure per tyre on the contact patch cutting through the snow, 4WD splitting the power 4 ways not 2 ways, so half as much to each wheel as ours. Finally as they are turbo'd they have sod all torque at low revs (no boost), meaning its very easy to apply little power - even at low revs in 2/3rd gear, my Zed was spinning my wheels when stuck.
To prove the point, my Zed couldnt get up the drive which has a very slight incline. Ben's Evo pulled my Zed up the incline with his car starting on the incline itself! Way way more grip than the Zed has. Saying that, driven properly, the Zed is no worse than most of the muppets in FWD cars
I was fully with you Chris up to your "no worse" comment in the last sentence. There is no way a RWD is as good in ice and snow as FWD (or rear/mid-engined cars for that matter) and even a novice driver in a FWD is likely to get an icey uphill road better than an experienced one in a RWD. Yes, there are too many muppets out there who don't how to drive in these conditions - period. In slippery conditions any car with the engine over the driven wheels (aside from 4 x 4) will be a safer and better bet for getting anywhere. You only have to look at classic and production car trials to verify the difference.
Nope, June's Jazz is working overtime at the moment while the ZED is sitting there piled up with snow.
+1
The good old Punto is been driven the same on the snow as if it was not there at all. Superb little car in these conditions Infact i am having rather alot of fun in it at the moment