economical-ish 4x4? HELP

Stigy

I must have been imagining all those 4x4s last year that seemed to cope so well then...

Hintza

Hammyman wrote: »

especially when trying to get in and out at the local supermarket, .

I find they move the smaller cars out of the way quite easily.......:rotfl:

MrsE_2

scotsman4th wrote: »

At work a couple of winters ago, we had a 4 by 4. Everyone moaned about it having normal road tyres and would be no use whatsoever if we got any snow.
The snow came and guess what? When the works transits were laid up, and people were lying everywhere not able to move, the 4 by 4 coped no problems. Not only could it keep moving, it could go onto the now sodden snowcovered verges and get past people that way too.
When we DID choose to help, tow rope on, pulled people out no problems.
Driver ability and the correct tyres (Never had correct tyres) probably go a long way but give me a 4x4 with rubbish tyres over a 2WD vehicle any day when theres REAL snow on the ground.

My 4X4 (Suzuki Grand Vitara) coped fantastically last winter. DH had trouble getting off the drive when it was really bad, DD didn't even try & move hers. I park in the really arkward bit on the drive & could still get up & over the hump & then up the drive:D

optimus_primera

Hammyman wrote: »

Not quite. Old clunky Landrovers, Range Rovers and Toyota Landcruisers have the ability to drive all four wheels regardless of traction but not modern 4x4s. Your average modern 4x4 without a Landrover badge on does not have the ability to lock both differentials and transfer box. Instead they have a control system that sends drive to the wheel with the most grip. You can then end up with all the drive going to one wheel which is real beneficial in snow, not! And as the BMW X5 amply demonstrates, it is a cack system once you're in anything other than slightly bad conditions.

Ah yes the 'blessing' of modern driving aids ...... such as the the traction assist thingy on new Rangies/Disco's etc ..... Motor up to its axles in mud, all four wheels spinning, but computer thinks its driving, so NO traction assist, give me a proper clunky lever to push anyday ........


As i said before, whatever the OP decides to get,go find out how to use it properly and safely.
Don't wait until you need it.

PsiDOC

OP: If you would consider the Suzuki Grand Vitara they are very capable on and off road and with the 1.9 DDIS they can return 35+ to the gallon with a surprising level of comfort.

Hammyman wrote: »

Not quite. Old clunky Landrovers, Range Rovers and Toyota Landcruisers have the ability to drive all four wheels regardless of traction but not modern 4x4s. Your average modern 4x4 without a Landrover badge on does not have the ability to lock both differentials and transfer box. Instead they have a control system that sends drive to the wheel with the most grip. You can then end up with all the drive going to one wheel which is real beneficial in snow, not! And as the BMW X5 amply demonstrates, it is a cack system once you're in anything other than slightly bad conditions.

I am in full agreements about the X5 I shake my head sadly at them and yes with those bling alloys and ultra low profile tyres I'd rather take my chances with front wheel drive and snow tyres.
However for the sake of correctness.. Most landrovers do not come with front and rear difflocks as standard. The transfer box lock, yes and very handy it is too! The newer independant suspension models (Disco 3,4 Rangie 233 etc) all use a traction control system like the X5 but a lot better thought out as it uses all 3 viscous diffs and the brakes simultaneously.
The only 1 I know of that comes with front, centre and rear lockers from the factory is the Landcruiser from 1991 on, but NOT the colorado or the Short wheel base 70 series.
All the above said there is no substitute for training. If anyone does buy a 4x4 SUV I recommend going to your local off road centre and pay for a days training using your own car. That way you can see what happens and how your own vehicle responds in a controlled environment with a trained professional for guidance.
That's the way I was taught, yes I am a keen off roader and NO I do not own a landrover... Spent too much time fixing the d*mned things!

Hammyman

I stand corrected. Its been a long time since I've had anything to do with them and I've not been in the newer models.

MrsE_2

PsiDOC wrote: »

If anyone does buy a 4x4 SUV I recommend going to your local off road centre and pay for a days training using your own car. That way you can see what happens and how your own vehicle responds in a controlled environment with a trained professional for guidance.

I thought of that but I was told insurance might be a problem (does your insurance cover things like that???).

Strider590

101 wrote: »

You ever been offroading? You'll soon find out how much more traction a 4x4 has over 2wd.

Rally cars? They only have 4x4 to be faster off the line I suppose?

I refer you to my first post in this thread......

And why do rally cars have 4x4?
It's because of the neutral handling when sliding through corners sideways..... A 4WD has the qualities of a FWD when it comes to recovering from oversteer and tends to be a lot more controlled/balanced at high speed with all 4 wheels sliding. A 4WD also means the driver can put power down out of a corner much earlier than in a RWD (which would oversteer) and without the understeer of a FWD.

They used to rally VERY successfully the old MK1 and MK2 Escorts, which were front engined rear wheel drive, and they didn't seem to have much trouble in snow did they? In fact neither did the Mini Cooper....

Just got to have the right tyre's for the conditions!

Now as for 4x4's, if you see one power sliding through a corner on your way to Tesco's.... You might want to duck for cover.

Lum

I did allright last year too, even though my car isn't proper 4WD, just RWD with part time 4WD and an open diff on the front. Oh and summer tyres too.



edit:

OTOH, on an earlier day it was less sucessful. Our driveway is quite a steep hill and my GF parked her RWD car in front of me . Sure she can manage just fine on a public road by drivig uphill at a 45 degree angle, but no so good on a narrow driveway with a wall.

PsiDOC

MrsE wrote: »

I thought of that but I was told insurance might be a problem (does your insurance cover things like that???).

With dedicated off road centres they can have their own insurance policy which covers you, or you can purchase off road insurance for the day. It's best to enquire with the off road centre or if arranged by someone else for a group, the organiser.

Psi