Cars and the beach

[Atomised]

Hello ,

What type of cars handle sand well? An old Astra coped , a new Clio was crap
I wont be buying a car until next year but would like a car that was able to drive a beach and not sink or get stuck! Not ovious cars like Jeeps ,4x4 s etc Just normal , average cars that aren't mini truck sized.
There was a mini cooper on a beach I vistited last week , I don't understand why that was ok buta clio(less than a year old) struggled? OH tried to explain but I was miles away.

Also , is it true that insurance is invalidated once you are on a beach?:confused:

[frugallass]

surely it boils down to the type of beach / sand you want to drive on as to the performance of the vehice :confused:

[jeannieblue]

I could be being a bit thick here, but why would you want to drive on a beach?

I hope you don't live near me and drive over our beaches - I'd be rather fed up if you did.

[ariba10]

And the may the Lord above help the person that buys the rust bucket after you.

[harveybobbles]

Do you drive on the beach a lot...?
Seems a strange thing to look for in a car.

The best car however for driving on a beach is a hire car...

[anewman]

I think you should get one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110279002222&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=001

I think it's mostly about the size and quality of the tyres than anything else though. Perhaps also the quality of the sand has something to do with it.

[jeannieblue]

Do you drive on the beach a lot...?
Seems a strange thing to look for in a car.

The best car however for driving on a beach is a hire car...
Thats put a :D on my face!

Salt = corrosion

[vikingaero]

My mums old Corsa was brilliant in the sand and snow. It was a 1.4 automatic which had a winter button to allow start off in third gear. The light kerbweight and narrow tyres gave it excellent traction. When the usual 2cms of snow paralyses the South I can still get around safely in her Corsa.

[bartman]

I think the only beach I've ever driven/parked on is Pendine Sands, South Wales. It does have quite a history involving cars though.
http://www.birminghamuk.com/pendinesands_photo.html

It's obvious Conor's not about today, or Atomised might have found out in no uncertain terms what he's likely to do to his unfortunate car!:D

[Atomised]

I think the only beach I've ever driven/parked on is Pendine Sands, South Wales. It does have quite a history involving cars though.
http://www.birminghamuk.com/pendinesands_photo.html

It's obvious Conor's not about today, or Atomised might have found out in no uncertain terms what he's likely to do to his unfortunate car!:D

I am female and currently taking lessons. Not sure who conor is but await his reply if he has advice about what cars are best on sand.

[moonrakerz]

Ask this guy !

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1048993/Holidaymaker-watches-brand-new-Land-Rover-sink-sea-reversed-boat-water.html

[cyclonebri1]

I am female and currently taking lessons. Not sure who conor is but await his reply if he has advice about what cars are best on sand.


You really don't want to know:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Bet it's a lorry;)

[movilogo]

The best advise I can give that don't take your car to beach.

It will probably invalidate your insurance (as it is not a public road can be treated as off-road driving) unless you specifically confirm with your insurer.

Many breakdown organizations (eg RAC/AA etc.) might also refuse recovery from beach as they are not public road.

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

My mums old Corsa was brilliant in the sand and snow. It was a 1.4 automatic which had a winter button to allow start off in third gear. The light kerbweight and narrow tyres gave it excellent traction. When the usual 2cms of snow paralyses the South I can still get around safely in her Corsa.

Narrow tyres will just sink in sand.

To the OP, you want the widest tyres you can find, preferably with good tread depth. Try and wash the underside when you return home.

[epninety]

Narrow tyres will just sink in sand.

To the OP, you want the widest tyres you can find, preferably with good tread depth. Try and wash the underside when you return home.

Wide tyres, of the largest diameter to increase the available contact area and ground clearance. Low gearing and an engine with good low end torque. Soft compliant suspension to keep all tyres in good contact on uneven sand. Tread depth of most road tyres will be irrelevant as they will clog at the first sign of wheel slip. If they don't clog, the tread will encourage the tryes to 'dig' down, which won't help at all.

Choose your gear and speed before you reach the sand, drive smoothly and don't try to change gear if the sand isn't very firm. Plan your route (ie know where you are going to drive, and where you will stop). Think about how you will get back - don't park leaving yourself to do a three point turn on sand a couple of hours later on when conditions may have changed a lot. If you get stuck, don't spin the wheels, you just make it worse.

I've driven on beaches in Africa, and in the Sahara dunes (and got stuck!), but I didn't think there were any beaches in the UK where it's legal to drive (except for the odd tidal ford)? Where is this beach?

[BillScarab]

Well Pendine in Wales is one. More of a park on the beach idea than actually drive on it though.

I'm sure when we were kids we parked on Weston Beach as well but I may be confusing it with somewhere else.

For driving on sand you want low ground pressure so wide tyres, preferably wothout an aggressive tread are the best idea. A lightweight vehicle will also help.

[photome]

This is crazy...salt and cars should not be mixed. If you have to drive on the sand regularly buy a very old "obvious" 4x4

[epninety]

Well Pendine in Wales is one. More of a park on the beach idea than actually drive on it though.

I'm sure when we were kids we parked on Weston Beach as well but I may be confusing it with somewhere else.

For driving on sand you want low ground pressure so wide tyres, preferably wothout an aggressive tread are the best idea. A lightweight vehicle will also help.

I thought I'd read that Pendine was the last one, and public access had been blocked. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendine_Sands) agrees, but without corroboration I give it no more credence than the bloke in the pub :rolleyes:. After a quick google, it does appear you can still drive on Black Rock Sands though, and Southport as well?

[vikingaero]

Probably the ideal car would be a tiny Suzuki Jimny 4x4.

[jeannieblue]

I still want to know where this legal parking beach is.........

and am still worried about the salt.........

I'm such a worrier.............:o

[goldspanners]

Probably the ideal car would be a tiny Suzuki Jimny 4x4.

i would whole heartedly agree with this or the older version sj 410.

the best off roader by miles.with the correct tyres these can go places land rover drivers only dream of.

but the op didnt want 4x4's so i would imagine this to be out of the question. :rolleyes:

by the way my sister has a jimny and running costs are comparible with most small cars.

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

This is crazy...salt and cars should not be mixed. If you have to drive on the sand regularly buy a very old "obvious" 4x4

So what do you do in winter then?

[photome]

I have a joke with my boyfriend about those cars. I wouldn't drive one if you paid me! They are like Smart cars and people carriers to me-don't like them at all. I expect to visit the beach a couple of times a year , so buying a car jsut for beach use would be silly.

I can't believe how contentious my question has been! What about people who live close to beaches ?
Maybe their cars don't last as long as in other towns where people live inland
You are right, cars that spend their lives on the coast, rust quicker.

[epninety]

It must have been amazing driving on Saharan dunes!
I would be too nervous of sand storms and sinking:eek: :D


Big sand dunes are good fun - you have to use just enough welly to get over the top without changing gear, but not enough to launch you off the top. If you get stuck, it's out with the sand mats and shovels and dig yourself out, or get a tow from another vehicle. It doesn't matter how long it takes, you aren't going anywhere anyway :rotfl:. At least in the desert, you've got a while before the tide comes in.

Like that clown someone mention earlier who left his Freelander on the beach - that looks like it would have driven out with about 5 mins spadework and some mats. Top tip - If you have nothing else to hand, the footwell mats will help in a pinch - I once left a set buried on a muddy track in Normandy, after getting my Citroen stuck.

Salt corrosion isn't too much of a problem for the occasional trip, as long as you take care to wash the underside thoroughly soon afterwards. Sand is a bear though, it gets in the brakes and bearings and acts as grinding paste.

[cyclonebri1]

The message is generally the same from one and all;

Don't take any carthat youparticularly value on to the beach. Sound advice I think,;)

[vikingaero]

I have a joke with my boyfriend about those cars. I wouldn't drive one if you paid me! They are like Smart cars and people carriers to me-don't like them at all. I expect to visit the beach a couple of times a year , so buying a car jsut for beach use would be silly.

I can't believe how contentious my question has been! What about people who live close to beaches ?
Maybe their cars don't last as long as in other towns where people live inland

In that case just buy a normal car and put a shovel and some old matting in the boot of the car!

[JohnFB]

I still want to know where this legal parking beach is.........

and am still worried about the salt.........

I'm such a worrier.............:o

Hi Jeannieblue

I'm sure there are quite a lot of legal parking beaches around the UK.
Weston super Mare, and Brean Down in the South West, for instance.
Not that I agree with it though, I think it spoils any beach to have cars parked on it.

[davethetaller]

The best car however for driving on a beach is a hire car...

Dont you just love it!

And if the tide is coming in, the HIRE the better!!!:rotfl: