Is anyone else thinking

[pauldaf44]

Its time to get a 4 wheel drive.

I am absolutly dreading having to get the daily out tomorrow as its none too good in the snow. One Retro is buried and the other really struggling with carb icing due to the cold.

I am so tempted to blow some cash of some shed of a 4x4 with a couple of months MOT and break it afterwards. It probably doesn't help that I live in the back of beyond and going to most places meens ungritted single track roads with lots of hills. I even saw a tractor stuck this morning

How many people are having similar thoughts.

[scoobypete]

ive already got one lol....just ordered some snow tyres for it tho as its starting to get a bit spin happy

[Mystery Machine]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. A bit of snow and I need myself a 4x4.

Oh...what am I saying??

I'm currently using the A52 Punto because it seems a waste using a Delica when it's not needed....despite the snow half melting then freezing to sheet ice.

[Mr Lobster]

Nope. My daily SEAT Toledo has winter tyres and is managing just fine so far!

[will]

Nah, RWD for fun and shoval for trouble

*edit* Get your daf out ;D

[bortaf]

Nope my lucida with it 4 odd summer tyres is managing perfectly well ta, only winter mod it has is me behind the wheel

[Deleted]

Nah do what i did and sell all 3 of my 4x4s in the last month , good time to sell tho .

[Brian Damaged]

Dec 19, 2010 21:32:38 GMT Mr Lobster said:

Nope. My daily SEAT Toledo has winter tyres and is managing just fine so far!

Same here. The Van of Doom has 59bhp and crappy just-legal 165x14 tyres, yet yesterday I managed several hills in 6-8" of snow that were defeating most everything else. I even passed a near-new Mitsi doublecab pickup on one of them that was sat there spinning all four. He looked pretty shocked when I overtook him in a 13 year-old Peugeot van..... ;D

Be smooth, be steady, let the engine's torque do the work, allow MASSES of stopping distance and don't worry about holding everything else up. Above all, 100% concentration's the key.

[RobinJI]

I did the sensible thing this autumn and bought a rear wheel drive convertible, glad I did too .

Only winter mods so far have been to stick an army-surplus folding spade in the boot, which I haven't even had to use so far. I've not got stuck yet, although I've had to reverse back to the bottom of a couple of hills to get a run up when I've had to stop half way up them.

I have been considering some winter tyres to go on a spare set of wheels I have though. I've been put off by the lack of stock and inflated prices so far though.

[pauldaf44]

I suppose I could fit a grille muff and use the DAF cardboard would work. It has got decent ground clearance proper skinny tyres. Yes its RWD but the vario makes it cope well with slippery surfaces. The main problem is SWMBO who is flatly refusing to let me take the car out in it and wants a 4wd.

A wize man said to me that. A 4x4 is good for getting you going but doesn't help you stop again.

I just wish some of the nutters in freelanders around here would take note of that and slow down abit

[Mystery Machine]

Dec 19, 2010 21:46:41 GMT @pauldaf44 said:

The main problem is SWMBO who is flatly refusing to let me take the car out in it and wants a 4wd.

This makes me think you need to man up a bit and make your own choices.

Do YOU want a 4x4? You rave on all year about how amazing these rubber band cars are, yet first bit of snow and you're bleating for an off roader! If your Mum/Sister/GF whoever must be obeyed really wants a 4x4 then maybe they should dip their hands in their pockets.

I want to see photos of your DAF out in the snow in the very thread you started. Prove it can handle it and prove you're your own boss.

Carb's icing? If that's all that is stopping you then you obviously aren't trying hard enough to enjoy your car in the snow.

4x4's are great but it doesn't mean you have to rush out and buy one....as said, I've been using the A52 Punto in the bad weather & slippery stuff despite having a 4x4 myself.

[retrowagen1234]

Nope just enjoying driving everywhere slightly sideways.... ;D

[optima21]

don't forget that with rear wheel drive and a handbrake on the back wheels, you can apply the handbrake if one wheel starts spinning to give it some work to do. (just don't leave it on)

[TurboDieselWeasel]

Snow and AWD - yes ;D

But it would have to have at least 65-70% power distribution to the rear (and 100% mechanical, without stupid oh-so.smart computer gizmos) ;D For easy sideways-fun with added grip. Awesome!!

I'm open for a hint in the right direction of what to buy^

Though I have to admit, I've not had any troubles with RWD so far - en contraire it's a hell of a lot of fun. It's just that a good AWD can add that extra heap of fun.

[Bob the Fish]

If you can find a cheap 4x4 and stash it just for winter, or use one as a daily all year, why not.

The cheap tyres on my Minx are useless, I've had to sand outside the garage as it gets stuck in a tiny dip there. Other things have just wafted in without a care. Still taking it every day though, even if the missus' Surf is available. Thankfully hills are kind of rare round here...

The other problem is dodging the idiots, the number of cars about revving the tits off, sliding out of side roads, nosed in a ditch etc etc. Can understand someone wanting a 4x4.

4x4s do stop a bit better, with difflock. And drifting a great fat truck in 2wd is fun

[Lopez]

Absolutely no intention of buying a 4x4.

[retrowagen1234]

My dads still driving the DS everyday ;D

Gotta admit he is a bit nuts.....

[MiniDan]

The Jetta with standard just legal tyres and my rwd Transit are working brilliantly. Surprised about the van, though it would be horrible. Seen so many BMW's and Merc's and quite a few 4x4's just sitting there spinning while I'm just happily chugging past.

Did think about a Disco at the end of summer, but it ment selling either vehicle, which I wasn't doing

[retrowagen1234]

Dec 19, 2010 22:50:19 GMT MiniDan said:

The Jetta with standard just legal tyres and my rwd Transit are working brilliantly. Surprised about the van, though it would be horrible. Seen so many BMW's and Merc's and quite a few 4x4's just sitting there spinning while I'm just happily chugging past.

Did think about a Disco at the end of summer, but it ment selling either vehicle, which I wasn't doing

Jerremy clarkson wrote in his page in the sun the other week about this. Saying that everyone would be fine if they just drive normally, But treat all the controls realy gently.
Its so true. I can just plod along up a round because I'm in 3rd letting the car do the work , with my foot just resting on the throttle, While some twonk in a 4wd is revving the tits off it trying to move and wondering why he isnt going anywhere...

[megzy]

here mine not been moved till tonight (been usuing car) its all about control and planning yout route and postion on the road