4x4s and bad weather

oldhand

Strider590 wrote: »

He was travelling around a corner when suddenly out of nowhere a ditch jumped out and attacked his car

He was distracted trying to put the top back on the bottle........:cool:

Lum

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Seriously? - You think putting your foot to the floor in a 4x4 will make them go faster? - I'd say it'll make their wheels spin just as fast as a normal motorists. 4x4s were not designed and built for snow, they were designed and built for off road driving. I've no idea why people continue to think that the snow/ice and off road mud go hand in hand.

You can only send X amount of power through a wheel before it loses traction, where X varies depending on the circumstances.

So if you can do that to 4 wheels, rather than two, you can put double the power down and get away quicker.

Of course, you don't need an off-road style vehicle for this to work. It works just as well in my 4WD 4 door saloon. Having the correct tyres makes a much bigger difference though.

The basic point is true however, all other things being equal, having 4WD rather than 2WD, on an otherwise identical vehicle will mean you can set off quicker (or at all) in low traction conditions.

Limey

sunshinetours wrote: »

No they don't necessarily help you stop on icy roads. They might do if they are also snowflake marked winter tyres with the softer compound as well as being M&S marked tyres.

Part of the problem with some 4x4 drivers is that they haven't got a clue how best to use the equipment they do have at their disposal. Many 4x4's are superior at getting away and getting up slopes etc than your average road car but you still have to steer and stop which they are no better at by default

:rotfl:On an iced up road nothing's going to help you stop bar dropping the engine to the floor with a chain attached.

TBH of all the cars I've driven in snow/slush/ice the best has been my MR2, followed closely by my old Saab 96.:D

Also most 4x4s on the road have standard road tyres fitted which kind of defeats the object IMO.

pitkin2020

niggyp wrote: »

Today on my way to work i saw an accident..well when im saying accident there was only 1 vehicle involved
a mitsuibishi shogun ended up on its side in a field just after a slight bend in the road..everyone else was taking it easy what with the icy roads and all..but not mr 4x4 he must have been of the mindset that he was immune from all the snow and ice in his big shiny 4x4 and he could carry on as normal...epic fail

im not saying that all 4x4 drivers are like this (although i work with 2 that also believe they are invincible) but some obviously are

i await the tirade of abuse..............

A lot of people who have 4x4s don't know how to drive them and do have the mindset that nothing will stop them from driving in any condition because they have a 4x4 but unless you actually saw the accident unfold you have no idea or evidence to back up your assumption.

A car may have been coming towards them forcing them swerve or even an animal, it could be one of several factors that you have no idea about. Guess its easier to assume and decide that because it was a 4x4 driver it must have been a chelsea tractor driver.

vax2002

The police round here have had to issue please to 4x4 drivers to remember they will take longer than a normal car to stop in a skid as they are heavier and that 4x4 drivers pushing their luck are making up the bulk of accidents they are attending.

sunshinetours

Limey wrote: »

:rotfl:On an iced up road nothing's going to help you stop bar dropping the engine to the floor with a chain attached.

TBH of all the cars I've driven in snow/slush/ice the best has been my MR2, followed closely by my old Saab 96.:D

Also most 4x4s on the road have standard road tyres fitted which kind of defeats the object IMO.

Apart from winter tyres you mean....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEMH10Z4s

Stopping and steering are pretty important I would say in cold weather?

Hintza

But you are all missing the point, when in your 4x4 and you end up in the ditch you can at least get yourself out.

nic_santorini

I had to get to work at 5am and took my Honda CRV out and drove it like any other car I have had, it was the first time in the snow and I just took it easy. It has 4x4 capability but not a true '4x4'. I did see quite a few muppets driving their 4x4's like there was no snow. What wolly's - perhaps I am the minority with my careful driving.

niggyp

the main point of the thread is that some people assume that just by driving a 4x4 in this weather means they can carry on driving as normal..they cant and have to take care and drive sensibly just like the rest of us

take care in the snow everybody!!!

pitkin2020

nic_santorini wrote: »

I had to get to work at 5am and took my Honda CRV out and drove it like any other car I have had, it was the first time in the snow and I just took it easy. It has 4x4 capability but not a true '4x4'. I did see quite a few muppets driving their 4x4's like there was no snow. What wolly's - perhaps I am the minority with my careful driving.

Its not just 4x4 drivers though, bad drivers are also driving cars and think the snow doesn't some how apply to them. I suspect some 4x4 drivers do believe they are driving a magical vehicle that will compensate for their poor ability similarly to those that also think winter tyres mean they can drive at normal speed and the snow doesn't apply to them either.