Snow...

[00slk]

.... and you can only drive as far/fast as the car in front.

That’s why it took me an hour to do a half hour journey this morning. I knew it would so set off with time to spare and arrived early.

You guys have got no zest.......

 

[EmilysDad]

You guys have got no zest.......

Last time it properly snowed around here I had the R Class (4x4) and it took me bl**dy ages to get to work as every which way I tried to get there was blocked by halfwits that had no idea how to drive ..... many of them RWD BMWs & Mercs

 

[Rory]

.... do you mean that you've never driven a RWD car in snow before .....

Your E Class will be as good/bad as any other RWD auto with all season tyres

Mercs have a reputation for being particularly bad though, especially the estates. Collegue who'd driven a 5 Series without any issues through the 2009 and 2010 winters got stuck in the first bit of snow he encountered when he switched to an E Class estate.

 

[00slk]

Last time it properly snowed around here I had the R Class (4x4) and it took me bl**dy ages to get to work as every which way I tried to get there was blocked by halfwits that had no idea how to drive ..... many of them RWD BMWs & Mercs

Yes I can wholeheartedly agree with you EmilysDad, been there myself following 3 mph drivers in snow
It's a bit different though when I was on my Motorcycle in the snow when my car was off the road, stay on the fresh stuff

 

[LostKiwi]

The best 2wd car I've ever had in snow was a Citroen BX14RE. Absolutely went everywhere and totally sure footed.
The only car I've had to abandon in snow was an Audi S3.
The most fun car in snow was an A8 Quattro Sport on knackered rear tyres. Made you feel like a rally god....

 

[A.J.]

The best 2wd car I've ever had in snow was a Citroen BX14RE. Absolutely went everywhere and totally sure footed.
The only car I've had to abandon in snow was an Audi S3.
The most fun car in snow was an A8 Quattro Sport on knackered rear tyres. Made you feel like a rally god....

Never had to abandon one in the snow, even my old Sapphire Cosworth 2WD got me home............eventually Never touched first gear though, nerves in tatters when I got home

 

[John Laidlaw]

Drove past many a 4wd vehicle many years ago (when we had REAL snow) going up and down to Aviemore/Cairngorms in a Ford Escort 1.6L, nice skinny tall profiles , FWD just drove through everything!

 

[LostKiwi]

Never had to abandon one in the snow, even my old Sapphire Cosworth 2WD got me home............eventually Never touched first gear though, nerves in tatters when I got home

Only reason I left the S3 was because I was on a steep downhill road with drystone walls either side and a 90 degree bend at the bottom and road was covered in ice with a light topping of snow. I didn't fancy the odds of getting round the corner at the bottom of the hill....

 

[rf065]

Drove past many a 4wd vehicle many years ago (when we had REAL snow) going up and down to Aviemore/Cairngorms in a Ford Escort 1.6L, nice skinny tall profiles , FWD just drove through everything!

Part of the problem now is FWD cars don't have skinny tyres anymore and are almost as useless as RWD cars.

 

[ZZZZ]

I suppose it would be interesting to see how my little FWD on Michelin Alpin A4 MO tyres handles the snow, but it's been cancelled for Wellingborough, at least for now

The winter kit is in the car, including snow socks and a set of glorified orange cable ties, hopefully I won't need to use either (nor the fancy folding snow shovel) ...

 

[Blobcat]

I suppose it would be interesting to see how my little FWD on Michelin Alpin A4 MO tyres handles the snow, but it's been cancelled for Wellingborough, at least for now

The winter kit is in the car, including snow socks and a set of glorified orange cable ties, hopefully I won't need to use either (nor the fancy folding snow shovel) ...

Be careful with snow socks, I’ve known 2 people who ripped off brake lines when they came loose...

 

[ZZZZ]

Be careful with snow socks, I’ve known 2 people who ripped off brake lines when they came loose...

Thanks! That wasn't in the glossy card they arrived with
I'll convert them to store some potatoes in the shed!

 

[rf065]

I suppose it would be interesting to see how my little FWD on Michelin Alpin A4 MO tyres handles the snow, but it's been cancelled for Wellingborough, at least for now

You do realise that Scandanavian countries that see much more snow than us fit winter tyres and don't bother so much with 4WD, they just don't need it!

 

[Blobcat]

You do realise that Scandanavian countries that see much more snow than us fit winter tyres and don't bother so much with 4WD, they just don't need it!

Agreed, I first came across them in Canada, cars driving around like there was no issue on hard packed snow. In the UK everyone would have been in the ditch...

 

[sonic]

I have been running both our cars on winter tyres Oct-Apr for the last 15 years. Its not just driving in snow that makes a difference, its any road condition under 7C. Particullary noticeable on wet roads with a temp of a about 2-3C.

 

[fabes]

Back up to Worksop next week.
Winters helped me out up there early Feb and left other Germans struggling, even the odd Audi.

Last couple of trips up north due to changes at work so they'll be up for sale late March / late Sept (got to decide..)

But yes, a E class on summers in the snow must be testing....
Bridgestone do all seasons in staggered sizes now......

 

[sonic]

You do realise that Scandanavian countries that see much more snow than us fit winter tyres and don't bother so much with 4WD, they just don't need it!

There are some good YouTube clips comparing 4X4's on summer tyres against 2 wheel drive on winter tyres.

 

[00slk]

The best 2wd car I've ever had in snow was a Citroen BX14RE. Absolutely went everywhere and totally sure footed.
The only car I've had to abandon in snow was an Audi S3.
The most fun car in snow was an A8 Quattro Sport on knackered rear tyres. Made you feel like a rally god....

I was returning home after dropping off some friends, came to my turn off to find the police had closed the road because of heavy snow fall and I was still 30 kilometres from home, a quick word to the young man (On call tonight, ambulance) and the barrier was moved and I continued my way, the Volvo soldiered on in treacherous conditions until 2 Kilometres from home I chickened out going down the last hill before my town in my Volvo 245GL because of sheet ice on the road. So I abandoned the car and gingerly walked down the road thinking 'good call' it was only 30 minute or so before I got home No call outs that night either

My very first experience in snow was in '80 when I bought a '68 Oldsmobile mid winter drove down the street applied the brake near the stop sign, car carried on at the same speed, went passed stop sign across the intersection and straight on down the road another 4 car lengths before it slowed enough to stop where it should do So 30 mph is a bit quick on snow but not for summer braking

 

[LostKiwi]

There are some good YouTube clips comparing 4X4's on summer tyres against 2 wheel drive on winter tyres.

People keep comparing 2WD with snow tyres to 4x4 with summer tyres but I'd guess most of the comparisons are for soft roaders or road biased tyres.
I never had any issues in snow in either my Defender or my Land Cruiser. The Defender wore mud tyres and would claw it's way through pretty much anything below 6" deep snow with ease. The Land Cruiser was on Bridgestone H/T689 summer A/T tyres. Also never had an issue, even managing to rescue 5 stranded vehicles in a blizzard in the Peak District. Again 6" snow wasn't an issue for it and it was always stable and capable of stopping.
The best addition for snow in my experience is a healthy dollop of common sense coupled with an understanding of what effect any manoeuvre performed will have on the balance of the vehicle.
I'm pretty sure those of you with Defenders or with serious off road experience know what I mean.

 

[EmilysDad]

.....
The best addition for snow in my experience is a healthy dollop of common sense coupled with an understanding of what effect any manoeuvre performed will have on the balance of the vehicle. .....

This .....
How many time do you see people driving way way too fast for the conditions? And then wonder why they've run out of road