Rich_P Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 What about an Audi Quattro? A4 2.5 TDi V6? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hiatt Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 XS 110 with an auto conversion. I would strongly suggest you also take a days training with LR experience as it's highly unlikely that you have the skill level required to get the best from you new Defender. Ah... the door thank you, keep the coat I'll send you an email explaining how to wear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Serenity Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Ill second that my rs6 is awesome and SAFE even with the missus and her lead right foot on corners Last winter an RS6 wrote off my wife's car. It came up to a junction, couldn't stop on the icy road and hit her side on. Great car but because it is such, people tend to take the mickey and go too fast in it and it doesn't have good engine breaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Serenity Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 if I had the money I'd buy a Range Rover or even a RR Sport. I just really like them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicks90 Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 stick with the bmw and buy some proper snow tyres for it. The old man has a house near Tignes and used to have a bmw 530 that he left out there all year to use instead of a hire car - fitted a set of vredestein snow tyres and never ever had a problem in any of the blizzard conditions going from chambrey airport to his house and any driving about between tignes and Val D' Only very occassionally did he ever have to resort to fitting the snow chains, that was mainly when he was going up the extremely steep and winding road to st foy with more than a foot of snow on the road. it just doesnt make sense to sell a car which you obviously love, for something that will probably annoy the snot out of you for 10 months of the year.just buy a set of skinny snow tyres and away you go good example of what can be done with PROPER snow tyres. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 XS 110 with an auto conversion. I would strongly suggest you also take a days training with LR experience as it's highly unlikely that you have the skill level required to get the best from you new Defender. Ah... the door thank you, keep the coat I'll send you an email explaining how to wear it. ^^^^ :rofl: Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
q-rover Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Yes but he is the worlds best driver, and doesn´t need to listen to mere mortals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I must say, I've been very impressed with the set of Vredestein winter tyres fitted to our Mini. Although being a Cooper of the S variety causing wheelspin is still easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PITBULL Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 my vote is a Audi Quattro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ludylandy Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I'm a Paramedic and our service purchesed a load of Volvo XC70's during the year. All are ex demonstration models so have all the toys. Can't speak about the economy or reliability as I don't have to fuel or fix them but they are supremely comfortable and performed well in the recent bad weather. Whatever you decide it's a nice problem to have - I love shopping for new toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longlandy Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Last winter an RS6 wrote off my wife's car. It came up to a junction, couldn't stop on the icy road and hit her side on. Great car but because it is such, people tend to take the mickey and go too fast in it and it doesn't have good engine breaking. Its a auto which mucks up engine breaking hence when conditions are a bit funny I have it in tiptronic. The problem with ALL 4wds in bad weather is the basic fact because it pulls away ok the drivers think it will steer and brake ok as well then accidents happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.G.P Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Hi Nige, Don't know if your still looking but I have an XC90 fitted with general UHP's all round and it hasn't put a foot wrong either this year or last. I am a farmer with a farm track that is about half a mile long with a couple of hills and it just eats it up in the snow. It's my wifes car but which is getting about 35mpg running about town, on a long run it gets 40ish. It also has a VERY large load bed and space for 7 if needed. As for servicing costs they are on a par with what you'll be used to with the BMW, and in two years servicing is all it's needed. Compared to my dads 530d the seats/ seating position is a pleasure. To be honest if it's particularly cold and I don't fancy freezing in the 90 i'll take it up the fields and it only got stuck when a water main had burst and I didn't see it! Hope this helps (and not adding too many vehicles into the equation!) Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Our XC60 was great in the snow last year, nice and comfy too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Nige, I have just seen your post, I was "given" a Freelander 2 S as my company car in early December, I must say although I have wanted to hate it, I can't, the build quality is spot on, it has a shore footedness in the snow and ice that it really shouldn't have and even though it is a basic model it is good. I thought it would be a "toy car" compared to the 110 but it has not been, We live in a small village where even with rainfall can make the tree covered roads hell. I am 4k miles in to it and after getting it because I have Land Rovers in my blood, and couldn't bring myself to get a Prius but didn't want to pay the tax on a Disco, I wouldn't put my family in anything else it has been great, heats up quickly doesn't leak has a great drive and feel, I do around 2k-2.5k per month and have found it to be a great edition to the fleet so far, not as much character as my old Series One but you can't have everything!! Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 No surprise the Volvo XC's are good - they borrowed the Freelander2 drivetrain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 No surprise the Volvo XC's are good - they borrowed the Freelander2 drivetrain Yep, a Haldex Coupling based system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haldex_Traction#Third_generation_-_2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I have only just seen this post (no idea how i missed it!!) I have driven quite a few of these options this winter/last winter and here are my thoughts . . . BMW 535 M sport - my own car, and with Pirelli P zero tyres on it, it is quite frankly useless. One day there was only 1/2 an inch of snow and I managed to get stuck on my own flat and level driveway! Agreed not the best tyres (and they are on really wide rims). BMW has been super reliable Mother in Law's Audi S3 (280bhp) - Despite the BHP and wide tyres the Audi's clever 4x4 system never seemed to struggle - plenty of flashing lights on the Dash but no other warning signs - it just worked. This has also been really reliable with no problemss whatsoever. i'm guessing its not quite big enough though compared to the BMW Father in laws old car Audi RS4 (480bhp) Ditto to the S3 except fuel economy is "suspect" performace awesome though :-) Father in Laws new car 10 plate Ranger rover TDV8, Fits the bill for all occasions, is reasonably quick, comfortable etc etc. HOWEVER - In 6 mths it has broken down 9 times all down to an electrical problem that Land Rover have absolutely no idea how to fix!! So if I were you I would go for something from Audi - build quality like the BMW (and the speed!) but the 4x4 system really does make a huge difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
q-rover Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I bet proper tyres would make the performance akin to driving on wet tarmac. But who's listning to me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenmobile Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I must agree with the suggestions for changing to 'proper' winter tyres. Cost wise, you can only wear out one set at a time, so you're only forking extra for another set of rims. My sister also lives high in the Surrey Hills and drives an X5 and regularly has problems which wouldn't even register here. If you're determined to change the car then a 4x4 car variant would be best eg XC70, 4 motion VW/Audi or Beemer...oh hang on! Regards, Sweden (with 4 months a year driving on snow/ice roads in a 110 or....2WD V70, with winter tyres). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 Righty Ho then SWMBO has decided that whilst she has loved the 2 x Mazda MX5s she has had she now wnats a 4x4 Can't blame her, be happier with her in something more robust should a prang ever happen Problem now is what to go for, and heres the rub. She has had 2 x Mazda MX5, a BMW, and other similar cars, all from new. With the Mazdas she has had 6 Years motoring with NOTHING AT ALL EVER going wrong / breaking / needing Dealership visits etc other than just basic servicing, I have reminded here "Strongly" that not many cars are as realiable as MX5s ?? So She has a shopping list, I would be interested in views from the membership on owning any of these especially around RELIABILITY - from new good meaning NEVER expect it to go wrong Running Costs - servicing & Fuel economy Performance (She had long time past a Sierra 2.8 Twin Turbo 4x4 and "Used it" It had the fingernail marks from me in the dash from the passenger seat position ) Anything else worthy of note So the 4x4s she is thinking around (all new) in no particular order are : Freelander Diesel XS Manual Suburu Forrester Diesel Top rnage Kia Sportage Top of range Volvo XC60 AWD Mid Range Toyota RAV4 Diesel Honda CRV Diesel And Yes, she will prob get a set of winter tyres too for "Maximum Enjoyment" Which and why, and am I right when I hear people say about the freelender not "They are fab and NEVER go wrong" more they say "The reliability is much improved" ?? I sort of feel this is more like "They aren't as dreadfull as they were........ " She wants total reliability - I may be a LR die hard fan, but Reliability ? Hmmmm Thoughts please, this has been hugely helpfull so far Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Sparkes Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 You haven't mentioned the modern Skodas, like the Yeti and Octiva(?). There are some on 4x4Response speak highly of them, although I've no personal experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 From your list, Subaru, Toyota, Kia, in that order. My dad has a Hyundai Santa Fe (same factory as Kia), 120K and nothing but a rusted oil cooler pipe bursting -or was it a monkey in the dealership hitting it with a hammer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Serenity Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 A friends dad has had a Subaru Forrester for years and it's never had anything done to it other than servicing. He's used it hard too, often goes to Scotland camping with his dogs so it's done plenty of milage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgnas Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 My wife had a Subaru for 7 years ~120000miles. Bought new. Only thing it ever needed other than routine servicing was a battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazelle Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Freelander Diesel XS Manual Suburu Forrester Diesel Top rnage Kia Sportage Top of range Volvo XC60 AWD Mid Range Toyota RAV4 Diesel Honda CRV Diesel Honest John Review of Freelander XS Honest John Review of Subaru Forrester I am sure you can work out how to do the rest. BUT when you get the new car - get some winter tyres...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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