Cheap 4x4

Lum

Depending on terrain and amount of snow/ice, being able to drive properly will only get you so far.

I've been out in the snow in a variety of cars, 4WD scooby, RWD Volvo, part time 4WD Nissan, the snow has gotten worse over the years and eventually we managed to get stuck, mid 3-point turn one wheel had traction and 3 were spinning as apparently the front diff on the Nissan is open, and the centre diff can only go as far as sending 50% power to the front. Pushed the car around and made it home without incident.

Had winter tyres this year and despite the snow being even worse had no such problems, had some lovely trips into the Brecons and such like. The difference really is amazing.

This year we have some winter tyres ready to go onto my GF's RWD 200SX. That will be fun, I'll be sure to post a trip report once we've used them in anger.

fivetide

Lum,

understood but terrain isn't really an issue for the OP - could be if you were serious about it of course.

Actually, I did get stuck once in the Merc - an un ploughed car park and about a foot of snow left her a bit beached. Just kicked the wedge of snow out from the tyres and chucked some gravel down (no salt left) and motored off no problem!

On the lane the OP mentions the issue of ice shouldn't be as bad as it won't have all the traffic compounding the snow. Winter tyres are great, i did put some on the scoob but when it comes to driving in a light flurry some of the shenanigans you see defy logic. If the weather is so bad it will stop a scoob then IMHO it is too dangerous to go out, mainly for fear of some idiot piling into you.

5t.

Lum

That is the big problem with winter tyres, all the people who don't have them, but do have a pretentious 4x4 and thus think they can drive normally.

Had a situation where I had to brake hard to avoid someone who stepped out without looking, then had to dive into the unploughed outside lane to avoid being rear ended by the X5 behind me that went into an instant slide when they braked. Fortunately the pedestrian got out of the way.

Was fun as the X5 driver got out to check their brakes or something, and I gave them a nice coating of snow as I went past in the unploughed lane.

At the end of the day all cars have 4 wheel brakes (except Reliant Robins, obviously) and having those actually be effective is far more important than the improvements in setting off that 4WD offers, therefore having good winter tyres is superior to having 4WD.

fivetide

Another point on the slide thing - I never had an issue but a lot of people do pull the fuse from the ABS system on scoobies in the snow, it really doesn't like it.

The reliance on technology over skill is terrible.

5t.

Lum

I thought disabling ABS and other driver aids on snow was a fairly common thing to do, and a lot of newer cars have a button for it.

Happy to say I never triggered the ABS once I had winter tyres on. I did trigger the part time 4WD when setting off though. Might try pulling the fuse for that this year, just to see what it's like.

split_second

i activated the traction control on mine accidentally a few times last winter, mainly when the road was particularly hairy

oh and when i went to see my fiance before we got engaged and got stranded with the back end literally 1 inch clear of the electric barrier for the car park lol

Chimpofdoom

Surplus army 4x4??

http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/,25,/37043/Land_Rover.htm

Might get some dodgy looks however.. but given the recent riots, the armoured glass might come in handy

Ghostrider

I was looking for a cheap runabout for £1,000 last winter, I opted for a Shogun in the end, worked a treat but probably cost me as much again to keep it on the road for 6 months - was a bit overkill really.

This year, i'm spending half the money on winter tyres and running the Audi (avec 4WD) through the winter - i'm sure it'll deal with the worst of what we're likely to get - I also bought a collapsable shovel for the boot!

Lagopus

A snatch land rover would be excellent - great for the school run!

My old Defender was great in fresh snow but twitchy on ice, the best motor I had for winter was a Subaru pick-up with snow tyres - it would go anywhere.

I'll price up a set of winter tyres and steel rims and compare.

andy8442

My cousin bought an old 2ltr Subaru Imprezza last year. The non turbo, pretty dull looking thing. £450 from your classic little old lady , then £300 on 4 winter tyres. They insure it only for 6 months of the year and I think it was less than £150. They live in the Pennines outside Huddersfield, where everyone lives on a hill, and he says it was "awesome". Never got stuck!

The answer to your problem is winter tyres. A small FWD or a small 4WD are unstoppable. Even my 2 ton RWD van NEVER got stuck last year with winter tyres on.

People in this country and forum have a real problem with them, but go into europe and people fit them as a matter of course.

We wonder why the world grinds to a halt when 2" of snow falls in London, and we moan, and the rest of europe just laughs.