economical-ish 4x4? HELP

Hammyman

Hintza wrote: »

Obviously one of those southern rural counties.

You can't drive in snow if it is higher thn the underside of the car.

East Yorkshire actually and on the wolds so quite high up and when it does really snow and close the roads, they're over 6ft deep in places so nothing is moving. As you'll recall, we were one of the hardest hit areas this last winter and we had a total of 2 days where you couldn't actually get anywhere and a 4x4 was of no help either. And it includes two winters where I worked in York on nights and had to come home in the snow well before the ploughs and gritters had been out.

You can't drive a 4x4 if its higher than the underside of the car either.

I can count on the fingers of one hand with four and a thumb spare the number of times since I passed my test 23 years ago that a 4x4 would have been of benefit over a car with winter tyres on.

It is far cheaper buying a spare set of rims and winter tyres (WHICH YOU'LL STILL NEED WITH A 4X4) than funding the additional cost of running a 4x4 per year. And in addition to that, a 4x4 of the type the OP is thinking of has longer stopping distances and can't corner as well as a normal car so you're actually exposing yourself to a higher risk of being in an accident, especially when its wet. Big heavy high center of gravity vehicles aren't noted for their handling. Bet the OP hadn't considered that.

Gloomendoom

I live in a rural area and we get more than average snowfall. For winter commuting I just bung a set of chains in the boot of our diesel hatchback. Over 50 mpg and just having the chains in the boot virtually guarantees that we will never have to use them.

If it gets too deep I use the Land Rover... or more likely bung another log on the fire and ring in.

mustrum_ridcully

I've said it before and I'll say it again

Winter tyres are what you need.

I know a few people who live and work up in the mountains in Germany who have to deal with levels of snow that are almost unknown in the UK and they all drive normal cars and use winter tyres (and chains if needed).

Hintza

We actually found the 2wd Panda with its narrow tyresto be excellent in the snow. And as I implied theonly time we goyt stuck was when I beached with all four wheels of the ground.

But the Jeep with it's higher clearance was fine. Now if anyne can persuade my missus that the horses are too expensive then I could get back to my 300C.

Gloomendoom

Hintza wrote: »

We actually found the 2wd Panda with its narrow tyresto be excellent in the snow. And as I implied theonly time we goyt stuck was when I beached with all four wheels of the ground.

But the Jeep with it's higher clearance was fine. Now if anyne can persuade my missus that the horses are too expensive then I could get back to my 300C.

In the snow? Unfortunately, you can't get chains to fit those.

BillScarab

These would also be a good option

http://www.autosock.co.uk/

easier to use than chains as well.

Flearoy

After the last time I made a big effort to get to work after a reasonable snowfall I was I hadn't bothered. The roads were so gridlocked that nobody else was in work so there was nothing to do anyway. If the roads are bunged up with abandoned cars with summer tyres, you aren't going anywhere, 4x4 with winter tyres or not.

Imp

Last winter, I found that it didn't really matter what tyres/how many wheels drove your car, the thing that really worked was getting a bunch of people to work together, pushing, digging as necessary to get everyone through the snow and on to the destination. The people who just sat in their cars and didn't try to keep going just got stuck and blocked the road for everyone else.

anewman

101 wrote: »

The defender at home went a hell of a lot further through the snow than my rwd 240bph s2000...

RWD without mid or rear engine spells the end when it comes to the snow. You see all the people in their expensive BMW's getting into difficulties as soon as the road gets slightly slippery. Plus power and torque are NOT what you need when you want to drive through the snow, you'll just wheel spin and get no traction at all.

anewman

101 wrote: »

RWD > FWD > 4WD

Need to distinguish between rear engined RWD, and front engined. Know someone who rated a Skoda Estelle in the snow which was rear engine RWD.