Snow

[wull]

Aye, we had a bit on Thursday night, and a bit more on Saturday.



I managed to get around in my old Renault Clio though

Way back I was kicking about in a wee Pug 106 when we had that horrendous snow in 2010 iirc, that car was awesome, getting about no probs at all whilst fuck nuggets in their Range Rovers and the likes who couldn’t drive worth a fuck, useless tits.

[porter_jamie]

Just checking for the you dont need winter tyres in the winter brigade. Only a couple, must try harder.

[wull]

Just checking for the you dont need winter tyres in the winter brigade. Only a couple, must try harder.

I was wanting some last year because of the street where we live, I manage out and about but our street is unreal, I have to properly clear it first before making any attempt, the gritters don’t come near.

[Count Steer]

Fresh snow is quite grippy.

I live on top of a rise in the road, quite gentle in one direction and a bit steeper in the other and once the snow is packed and polished I'd guess only studded tyres/chains would work. The road doesn't get gritted so I keep a large bag of road salt in the garage for emergencies, otherwise the edges of the road (or pavement) usually work. Only remember getting 'proper' snow twice here though.

(At the previous house I did once get my LWB Land Rover going sideways in the snow....but I had to try quite hard to get it to do it ).

[Jody]

I woke up very cold in the shed on Thursday. When I went outside, it was trying to snow

I like my snow in the Alps thank you very much.

I'm heading to France today !!

[Mussels]

Way back I was kicking about in a wee Pug 106 when we had that horrendous snow in 2010 iirc, that car was awesome, getting about no probs at all whilst fuck nuggets in their Range Rovers and the likes who couldn’t drive worth a fuck, useless tits.

Those people in decent 4x4s that can't drive in snow have got something wrong with them, the cars almost drive themselves, you'd have to try really hard to get stuck in one, so I think they must actually just stop and decide not to go on, rather than actually be stuck. My missus can drive in horrendous conditions in the Range Rover or Defender, not because she has any special skill, but just because these cars are so good at dealing with slippery conditions that it's very hard to get stuck.

The something wrong is usually tyres, a few years back I was driving my Jeep on AT tyres with no problems watching RR sliding all over the place. My tyres had some sips and it made a huge difference.
My Jag is almost impossible to find winter tyres for, it might have improved but last time I looked they were unobtainable. I think a lot of RR have similar wheels.
I bought studded snow shoes for the back tyres but they are nowhere near as good as they look, I think it's because they are too narrow and the other side of the tyre sits on the ice.

[Jody]

Way back I was kicking about in a wee Pug 106 when we had that horrendous snow in 2010 iirc, that car was awesome, getting about no probs at all whilst fuck nuggets in their Range Rovers and the likes who couldn’t drive worth a fuck, useless tits.

Those people in decent 4x4s that can't drive in snow have got something wrong with them, the cars almost drive themselves, you'd have to try really hard to get stuck in one, so I think they must actually just stop and decide not to go on, rather than actually be stuck. My missus can drive in horrendous conditions in the Range Rover or Defender, not because she has any special skill, but just because these cars are so good at dealing with slippery conditions that it's very hard to get stuck.

A 2wd car with winter tyres will easily pass a 4x4 on summer tyres, especially if the 4x4's tyres are more than half worn!!

[Jody]

Way back I was kicking about in a wee Pug 106 when we had that horrendous snow in 2010 iirc, that car was awesome, getting about no probs at all whilst fuck nuggets in their Range Rovers and the likes who couldn’t drive worth a fuck, useless tits.

Those people in decent 4x4s that can't drive in snow have got something wrong with them, the cars almost drive themselves, you'd have to try really hard to get stuck in one, so I think they must actually just stop and decide not to go on, rather than actually be stuck. My missus can drive in horrendous conditions in the Range Rover or Defender, not because she has any special skill, but just because these cars are so good at dealing with slippery conditions that it's very hard to get stuck.

The something wrong is usually tyres, a few years back I was driving my Jeep on AT tyres with no problems watching RR sliding all over the place. My tyres had some sips and it made a huge difference.
My Jag is almost impossible to find winter tyres for, it might have improved but last time I looked they were unobtainable. I think a lot of RR have similar wheels.
I bought studded snow shoes for the back tyres but they are nowhere near as good as they look, I think it's because they are too narrow and the other side of the tyre sits on the ice.

Try Maxxis or Michelin for winter tyres. Both have a large range now.
If you're in the southwest, call Tyremarks in Tavistock.

[Count Steer]

A 2wd car with winter tyres will easily pass a 4x4 on summer tyres, especially if the 4x4's tyres are more than half worn!!

Which is a timely reminder that I really should put new rubber all round on the 4×4. I'll call it an expensive, but boring, Christmas present.

[Taipan]

Way back I was kicking about in a wee Pug 106 when we had that horrendous snow in 2010 iirc, that car was awesome, getting about no probs at all whilst fuck nuggets in their Range Rovers and the likes who couldn’t drive worth a fuck, useless tits.

Those people in decent 4x4s that can't drive in snow have got something wrong with them, the cars almost drive themselves, you'd have to try really hard to get stuck in one, so I think they must actually just stop and decide not to go on, rather than actually be stuck. My missus can drive in horrendous conditions in the Range Rover or Defender, not because she has any special skill, but just because these cars are so good at dealing with slippery conditions that it's very hard to get stuck.

A 2wd car with winter tyres will easily pass a 4x4 on summer tyres, especially if the 4x4's tyres are more than half worn!!

They used to say, a 4x4 on road tyres just means you have 4 wheels spinning in the snow instead of two! My car has a snow mode. Dunno what it does though as i'd not risk driving it in bad weather!

[Mr Moofo]

8 years of living 1/2 way up an Alp makes you learn quickly how well cars drive on winter tyres. There was never any excuse about being late because of snow.
Black ice, however, is a different issue

BTW - anyone want to buy some snow chains?

[Jody]

Tbf at the tyre garage in Tavistock, we are getting more and more clients who have a set of winter tyres and a set of summer tyres. It's very normal in Alpine regions of Europe, but pretty much unheard of in England until a few years ago.


NB if you're going to do this, a second set of wheels makes life a lot easier than switching your tyres each time !

[Count Steer]

@Taipan Yours is going to be more sophisticated than my old Volvo was. Snow mode just cut out the low gears on the auto box.

Haven't looked what it does on the 4×4 but assume it juggles the power delivery in some voodoo fashion. (Never used it).

[mangocrazy]

The best car (other than 4x4s) for dealing with snow is a 2CV. Skinny tyres, modest (!) power output, FWD and loadsa ground clearance.

[cheb]

The best car I had for snow was a lightly loaded 2.3l petrol Carlton estate with an old style auto box. Barely controllable fun and bangery enough I didn't care about it.

The MX5 is alright going forwards but it won't grip enough to reverse.

[Yorick]

I'm never gonna see snow again, but I bet the mighty Duster 4WD would be great. I've seen what it can do here on all terrains. And with its light weight, would be a hoot in snow.
Even my Audi TT 4WD was good in snow. Press the pedal and computer made car go forward.

And the GasGas would never get stuck

[Cousin Jack]

Most fun on snow was the daughter's old-style Fiat Panda. That was excellent fun.

The worst was an old air-cooled Beetle. OK in a straight line, weight over the rear wheels so quite good traction. Turning was another matter, once that tail started to swing you need the reflexes of a cat to catch it before it disappeared backwards into the scenery

[Greenman]

My old Scooby WRX was good in the snow. Nearly spanked the Saab i had after it into a tree as i thought on one snowy day i was still in the Scooby, that Saab was terrible in the snow but good at pretty much destroying anything that would try and damage itself. I think i sold it with 180k+ miles on it and it was still going strong.

[v8-powered]

I'm never gonna see snow again, but I bet the mighty Duster 4WD would be great. I've seen what it can do here on all terrains. And with its light weight, would be a hoot in snow.
Even my Audi TT 4WD was good in snow. Press the pedal and computer made car go forward.

And the GasGas would never get stuck

My guess is that if it does well on sand then it would probably do well in snow.
I've never driven the actual same car in both, but I've owned/driven Defenders in the desert and in snow and it was much the same, although perhaps sand is more challenging because you can dig holes for yourself if you're too aggressive.

I expect that the Duster would be good in the snow.

In my dim and distant past I've owned a couple of Lada Niva Cossack's - both were used to tow trailers with large jetski's (well SeaDoo's actually, but would probably get a few WTF are they comments!) on and off of a very loose sandy beach. They would skip over the sand easily where bigger 4x4's (I did also have a RR Classic, which would happily dig itself to the diffs) would get bogged down and often need a tractor to pull them out.
Sure the Dusters are very similar, if a little (a lot!) more refined.

The other local hero was a Panda 4x4 - perfect sand and snow tool.....

[Cousin Jack]

The other local hero was a Panda 4x4 - perfect sand and snow tool.....

Never driven the Panda 4x4p but I would really really like to try.