MECCANO Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 went for a gentle run up a nearby lane to be greeted by this: me and the jeep squeezed round, but further attempts once we had passed the truck slid sideways onto a bank. The jeep thought he could pull it off... Isn't it pretty... the snow that is: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exmoor Beast Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I'd rather drive most things than my 110 on compacted snow. Mud tyres, lots of weight, high CoG and an LSD back axle make it horrid at times. We've got a Mini Cooper now and thats a hoot in the snow with the TC turned off, with it on it kills the power too much. The best car I have driven in the snow was our P38 Range Rover, me and a mate raced across the moor a few years ago him in an impreza and the Range Rover seemed to have more grip than the scooby by a long way. We had a Freelander last winter and that was excellent too. Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MECCANO Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 the appropriate action is to put it in 1st and sit at 5000rpm spinning the wheels With the smell of hot clutch to add! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eds Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Well I went for a maiden voyage in the snow last night!!!! It was all excellent until we took a wrong turn and ended up on a steep slope down hill. We ended up sliding half way down and having to abandon the Landy next to a bus for the night as it was all ice and no traction. As you can see from the pics the snow plough sailed straight into us both and squashed me. Nooooooooooooooooooooo What a disaster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eds Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 More sorry pics!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 the X5 is completely embarrassing in the snow. Have to agree with this. A colleague came into work this morning in her X5, slinging Fs everywhere as she abandonned it in the middle of the car park. "Effing P.O.S. car!", went for a scary slide twice in a residential road Having stolen the keys this morning for half an hour I can say it seems much less sure footed than my Ninety and less traction too. Pulling out of the car park in 4" of fresh snow caused it a lot more trouble to get moving than I would have expected. The X5 may have traction control and an LSD, but tyres that are a foot wide are a distinct hindrance in this weather. On the other hand I watched a chap in an old bullnosed Saab, in that lovely 70's yellow, having a great time hooning around the car park over the road. Plenty of control from what I could see Now can't wait to finish for today to go and play practice driving my Landy in the snow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveSIIA Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 There's still a little across the Peak. The plough turned round at the Cat & Fiddle, so the road towards Macclesfield was impassable. On the return journey, snow had blown back in to the road even though the plough was ~10 minutes ahead of me. Minor roads and back lanes are even more entertaining. No need to go looking for lanes when the tarmac ones offer some interesting opportunities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway_Star Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I think the Fiesta would surprise you with how well it can handle these conditions, unless it's got wide tyres on. Wee front wheel drive cars cope with most conditions well. My Focus is driveable with extreme care, it's problems are caused by the big fat tyres. Ideal on even wet tar, but severaly compromised in this. Wifes Corolla feels a lot more sure footed than the Ford, and in some ways more sure footed than the RRC. That said, none of our 3 cars has failed to get us where we needed to go. Back in the day the Austin Mini was remarkably sure footed, the only time I remember struggling was due to height of car vs depth of snow piling up against front bumper! Wee skinny tyres that bite into the surface, rather than polishing it until it's like wet glass. Totally agree about the X5s etc, seen a lot of them strugling in this. Seen a lot of newer Range Rovers and Discos struggling too, although I suspect that's more down to tyres and drivers relying on the electronics over common sense. Mate of mine has a D3 on road tyres and he's doing fine, but he can drive. I went round a Mitsubishi L200 this morning, 4 wheels doing egg beaters so fast you could smell the tyres. My 1.6l FWD Focus made it round said L200 and up the same hill without fuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team gunit Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Just pulled a volvo FH 12 loaded with the Disco 3 no problem! (team gunit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggie27_3 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 had bout 3 inches in tidworth and still falling. so i went for a drive on salisbury plain around sidbury hill. very impressed with the disco with AT2s in the fresh stuff! the first pic is taken from where every one parks for the comp safari. i apoligise for the size of the pics, not learnt to resize yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatboy Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Ploughing..... Our drive, elderly neighbours etc. Great Fun but suprisingly hard work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Only had about an inch here in Suffolk this time , had about 3" before Xmas. I'm on AT2's at the moment and am quite impressed with grip in the snow and ice , usual rules apply though big heavy 4x4 = go very carefully ... Nice to have a proper winter , so many are just grey and dark ...we may have more later cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtbox Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Got to say that I'd take my 90 out any day in this weather. Just getting out of our shared drive (Thats now polished up like glass!) my 90 on ATs in low with diffs locked i dont really slide about all that much while all the neighbours cars slide about everywhere and take a good 20 mins to get out! If you want the reliability to get somewhere take the defender, if your planning on driving like an idiot, dont bother! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazelle Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 usual rules apply though big heavy 4x4 = go very carefully ... Agreed. Ventured out briefly earlier and found myself giving the TC and ABS an exended workout! Gently on the accelerator caused a squirm from underneath! Take it easy out there all of you. Safe driving! Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajh Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 In the end traction is down to having the correct tires, proper snow tires, even studded, in a 235/85-16 will get you through a lot. Hearing about all these 'traction' problems is kinda funny, but I know you guys run summer tires year round there and of course they just don't grip on snow/ice. Even my 1986 MR2 was fine in the snow until it got up over the airdam, with the proper tires. Here our problem is higher speeds, longer distances, and people who just won't slow down enough for the conditions as it means their 4h drive becomes a 10h drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milliejasper1111 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 All good fun in Hungerford, West Berks!!!!! very impressed with the AT2s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godlykepower Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I once did a work thing for charity, and BMW sponsored us with an X5 and an X3......and I have to say, after doing a couple of thousand miles in both of them, I found them to be completely rubbish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacks906 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 none of local but had fun in van last night trying to work in wales ended up getting stuck in the mountians/hills aint no landy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MECCANO Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfy Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 towed a rangie sports stuck on a hill this morning with my 90 and this after noon towed in an artic with a huge container shame i didn't have a camera it looked quite impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsr341 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 EDs sorry to hear you 110 got damaged mate really surpprised you struggled on that road in a 110 though , got my disco up my steepish drive last nite in around 15" of snow , wouldnt quite make it up the second part to the house but the 90 walked it and in reverse just to see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Been out again today, everyone seems to have got home & stayed home so only those out to rescue abandoned cars or those who needed to travel. Lots of 4x4's, the burger van on Portsdown hill said he'd had nothing but 4x4's and walkers all day, plus all the locals on sledges. According to the news, hundreds of people slept in their cars last night on the A3M at Butser Hill, sod that for a game of conkers. I did stop and ask a Policeman if they needed any help from 4x4's and was told no they had it covered, but from what I've seen they ain't got it that covered. They're drafting in army cranes to clear the abandoned cars & trucks off the motorway Exploring down the back of Portsdown Hill: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fekete Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Went for a play....couple of lanes around Cheshire Went for a play today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Davies Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 We've had about 8" here in West Wales, seems to be sticking as well and now freezing. Went out for a bit of 'white laning' on the way to panic buy some milk (well the guys fitting our new windows were in danger of not getting another coffee so I had to!!). I can confirm that BFG trac edges are great in the fresh stuff and on the compacted stuff. We had a 4WD tractor sliding all over the yard today but the 90 drove across with no fuss at all. Some pics - hope this works, first attempt at posting pics . . . . . . . and yes that is the moon in the second picture, taken about 7am yesterday morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgnas Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I live semi-rurally in Hampshire. One of the local farmers did way to thorough job of clearing the backroads from around 6am. So there was no fresh to play in. Unsuprisingly, my Michelin XCLs were pants in the snow. The power of the 2.5td broke traction in 2nd and 3rd when the turbo picked up Suprisingly, when I took them off (swap for some part worn bfg at) they are marked up M+S. Things are still slippery on the bfgs, they just seem to hold on a bit longer and the slides are a bit more controlled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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