what car do you not want in ice and snow?

lanciaman

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E220 Cabrio (A124) - 1994
4 cars in the house.

1/ Panda 4x4
2/ Ulysse with snow tyres
3/ 124 24v Coupe
4/ SL500

Daughter has stolen the Panda. Ulysse wouldn't start as minus 8 had killed the battery, so the CE had to be taken. Not the ideal arctic vehicle but it did very well. Possibly aided by me being a total pussy (can I say that) and being as delicate as possible.

Did struggle to get the door open though, and that is it kept undercover! But started on the button. I love this car!!!
 

Frontstep

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T210 320cdi
The Panda, watched one scuttle up a hillside in Austria I think it belonged to the Postal Service.
 
OP
lanciaman

lanciaman

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Have to say, the Panda 4x4 is just fantastic. Better than the heavyweight rubbish. And with snow tyres on it as well, it can get through just about everything.

Unlike the 124 coupe!!! :D
 

Mic

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MB SL500(2003), MB SLK320(2001), Volvo V70 XC AWD(2001)
Panda.......light weight, skinny tyres, 4x4......and if the worst came to the worst I would have that nice warm feeling knowing that the SL was unharmed at home in its garage.

Actually the SL is surprisingly good on winter tyres.

Mic
 

d215yq

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Valencia, Spain
Your Mercedes
1987 W124 300D 280k miles
Always found the old 124 coupe surprisingly capable with a full tank/bit of weight in the boot. Certainly better than a lot of more modern wider tyred traction control stuff.

The only problem (and the same with my 124 estate even with winter tyres) is stopping - stops fine to about 2 mph and then unless knocked out of drive to N the car just keeps going forward constantly very slowly and will not be stopped still on slightest downhill/even flat if icy...very scary the first time and had to deliberately drive up the pavement on the verge to stop it as didn't think to use Neutral!

I really don't understand why as surely the rear brakes (both cars always passed the MOT) are plenty enough to stop the wheels, I assume it's meddling ABS but it says in the manual atleast that this is inactive under 8km/h which i was definitely way under??
 

sl7023

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CLS 320cdi with Brabus D6-111 Chip
.......not the CLS anyway !!

Trying to get out of our estate yesterday, the ESP light was flashing like a Christmas Tree ! Much prefer using my wife's Ford Kuga, complete with winter tyres, when the weather's like this - brilliant little motor.

Roll on Spring !
 

S500 Pete

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Essex
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S500 (W222) 2014. Turbo 4.7 V8 with loads of toys. Superfast luxury.
ESP/ traction light on my E500 was flashing on Tuesday going up the hill away from my house but from the seat all felt fine and if it wasn't for the light I would not have known that it was even slippery.

Surely that is what it is meant to do.
 

busters the boy!

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Argyll & Bute
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1989 W124 230e
The only problem (and the same with my 124 estate even with winter tyres) is stopping - stops fine to about 2 mph and then unless knocked out of drive to N the car just keeps going forward constantly very slowly and will not be stopped still on slightest downhill/even flat if icy...very scary the first time and had to deliberately drive up the pavement on the verge to stop it as didn't think to use Neutral!

Mine's the same. Makes me not want to go out when it's icy. I skidded across a junction once because I couldn't stop.

I was going to ask if it's OK to put the car in neutral when it's moving. I'll give that a go next time.
 

television

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2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
For me I would rather have someone else's car:rolleyes:
 
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Mic

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MB SL500(2003), MB SLK320(2001), Volvo V70 XC AWD(2001)
Ignoring the question; which was which car do you NOT want......apart from the fact that the Panda would be the best of the cars offered in the conditions contemplated.......especially on winter tyres......it is in fact a cracking fun little car to drive. Arguably the best or only decent car fiat produce.

Mic
 

d215yq

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1987 W124 300D 280k miles
Mine's the same. Makes me not want to go out when it's icy. I skidded across a junction once because I couldn't stop.

I was going to ask if it's OK to put the car in neutral when it's moving. I'll give that a go next time.

The car literally stops almost dead the moment it goes in N, makes all the difference. It's not recommended to change when moving in the handbook but i assume the 2 or 3 days a year you have to do it (and when it's creeping at 2mph) doesn't do any harm.
 

television

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2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
The car literally stops almost dead the moment it goes in N, makes all the difference. It's not recommended to change when moving in the handbook but i assume the 2 or 3 days a year you have to do it (and when it's creeping at 2mph) doesn't do any harm.

I put all my cars into N, its never hurt one yet as long as you do not exceed the limits and times. the reason is there is no rear pump like we had years ago, you could tow start back then
 

woodley_bob

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Southampton
Your Mercedes
W212 E220 Bluetec estate (2016)
Mine's the same. Makes me not want to go out when it's icy. I skidded across a junction once because I couldn't stop.

I was going to ask if it's OK to put the car in neutral when it's moving. I'll give that a go next time.

I had a "moment" on my W211 auto 2 years ago when it was incredibly hard to get it to stop when in D on an icy slope. After a bit of pondering, I got a way around it. What I think was happening was:
- brake nearly to a stop with footbrake, ABS on, all OK so far
- car nearly stops, front wheels lock up on ice, no steering any more!
- but the rear wheels haven't locked as the transmission is still turning them a bit
- cue uncontrolled descent of said slope, and general panic!

I found that putting the hand/parking brake on just a little bit stopped the rear wheels turning and let me control the car. The red warning light flashes on the dashboard but I reckon that for a short time while manoeuvring, it would probably be OK.

Good reason for NOT having an electronic handbrake!

Neutral while moving is also OK, for short bits, and you don't have to use the brake as much to stop you because the rear wheels aren't pushing you along. But that doesn't help if you can't get where you are going just by coasting.

Has anybody else tried this?
 

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