Traction control or 4x4 in ice and snow?

espresso

Pink-winged wrote: »

I am definitely not trying to decide on a new car. We have two cars available on the driveway...three actually, but the third is a Ford Ka with summer tyres so it doesn't come into the equasion.

All I was asking for was advice on which one is best to drive in ice and snow. If it helps the 4x4 is a Nissan X-Trail.

Pink

Actually you may be very surprised just how good a Ford Ka is in the snow and ice! Probably much better than your other two options and cheaper to get repaired in the case of an accident.

You could always get a Snowcat

Lum

I'd pick the Ka simply because it's lighter and thus there's less inertia to overcome under braking.

I'd stick some winter tyres on it too, but possibly a bit late for that.

Pink.

Wow! I didn't even entertain the idea of the ka. But come to think of it (we live in a cul-de-sac at the bottom of a small hill), it was the only car in the neighbourhood that was able to get out in the snow last winter. All the bigger cars had trouble and required digging out or pushing by any neighbours who were around at the time. Made for good craic though!

Thanks to all for your replies.

Pink

Lum

Have fun in the Ka, don't forget to wave at all the people in pretentious 4x4s with 24" bling bling alloys and summer tyres who are stuck sideways at the side of the road.

Also, if you do end up stuck sideways in the Ka, it will be a lot easier to push it by hand into the correct direction.

marlot

Pink-winged wrote: »

All I was asking for was advice on which one is best to drive in ice and snow. If it helps the 4x4 is a Nissan X-Trail.

The X-trail will have traction control as well as 4x4.

Assuming they both have summer tyres with about the same amount of tread...

If its just a bit slippery and you're going locally on mainly flat roads I'd drive the Ka - its front wheel drive and lighter so easier to stop.

If you're going further afield, to remote areas or up/down hills I'd take the X-trail. The extra traction of the 4x4 will allow you to get yourself out of scrapes. The braking distances may well be further than the Ka though.

muddyl

As said. For around town, unless snow particularly bad, id use ka, further afield the 4x4 as long as it doesn't have sport tyres on.

kaya

a 4X4 can be either awd or 4wd , a proper 4wd will have a low range box and a diff lock, an awd puts power to all 4 wheels as it sees fit given the circumstances, traction control senses when a wheel is spinning and adjusts the power accordingly between the 4 wheels to gain traction again, i had a mercedes estate which had traction control, worse than useless in the snow , rwd is rubbish, fwd is better, awd better still, 4wd is king of the hill in the snow, but regardless of any of the above its mainly down to the skill of the driver-last year i witnessed many awd cars(freelanders,quashqai's , x-trails) which are supposed to be capable vehicles fail to get up a hill where i live and give up , my shogun and a friends range rover cruised up it as normal, although i do find it a little worrying that the op and many others who are going to be on the road this year dont know the answer to such a basic question yet have a full car licence and might be behind or in front of me in the snow when i have kids in the car !

Paperbird

Marlot the OP has said the Ka is out because it has summer tyres so we can take it the others have either all season or winter tyres so both would be safer than anything with summer tyres.
Pink Winged, if the X Trail has all seasons with plenty of tread that's the one I would use.
We have a Saab with traction control and an old Freelander that doesn't even have ABS, guess what stays at home when the roads are covered in snow and ice.

Flearoy

For me, an ideal snow car would have in order of priority : not rear wheel drive, tyres with lots of tread (even if not proper winter tyres), manual gearbox, narrow wheels (cuts into the snow well), light in weight (useful if you crash as you do less damage to others!), not too much torque, and a good heater. I think that describes your KA. I personally would not definitely not want traction control or any of that gubbins, or even ABS if I could switch it off.

Pink.

Thanks marlot, All three cars have regular tyres, and I am very particular about making sure that all of the tyres are well within legal boundaries. I know that winter tyres would be far better, but we definitely can't afford three sets at the moment.

I work in the community, often visiting patients in very remote country areas, which is why I repaced the ka with the Xtrail after a few hairy moments last December. I hung on to the ka as it's in great condition, has very low miles and I have kids who are learning drive so thought it would be a great car to pass on to them once they have passed their tests.

Pink