Cars, cars, aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhsssssss

Lum

Oh, I forgot to add to that snow picture. Here's a picture from the exact same location the previous year, where I went up there running summer tyres, namely Goodyear Eagle F1



I ended up having to do a 3 point turn as I couldn't make it up the hill that is just behind the camera in that shot, and I got stuck, my partner had to get out and push the front end of the car to get it to actually move and turn us around.

Cost wise, I paid £68 per corner, which is a little over half what I paid for the Goodyears, and a one off fee of £22.03 for a set of wheels off eBay. The trick is to buy the tyres around September before the first snowflakes send everyone into panic buying mode and the price doubles. The time I spend driving around on the Nokians, not only am I safer but I am actually saving money as I am wearing out a cheaper set of tyres.

andy8442

Just to add to what everybody else is saying, WINTER TYRES!

My rear wheel drive Merc sailed past everyone in the 3 inches of snow we had the over week (remember? that snow that was forecast accurately for days yet the country still ground to a halt for 24 hrs).
More impressively though it never failed to get up the very steep road to our ski apartment in deep snow and ice. All down to the tyres.

£300-400 on tyres is way WAY cheaper than running a 4X4.

What's this website called again?

Notmyrealname

blue_monkey wrote: »

So, winter tyres, I just store them and change them when the snow comes?

No. You use them throughout winter. They have a compound that stays softer at low temperatures. They grip better when it is cold.

That's going to cost me £4/500 isn't it? And I can I use them when it is thawing? Never thought of that before. I think I'll get some for our day to day car then.

Yes to all the above. They don't cost you any more in the long run because whilst you're putting mileage on those, you're not on your normal tyres. So per mile, they don't cost you any more. Don't want to be running them in summer though because you'll eat through them in no time.

pinkteapot

We have a 52 plate Astra and a 10 plate Mondeo. Neither has winter tyres. We've driven both in the snow we've had in the last two winters.

Only thing you don't want to buy is a rear-wheel drive car. Avoid those and you'll be fine in snow if you drive sensibly.

A few weeks ago my husband had fun at work in the snow. Their car park hadn't been gritted or anything and all the sales-people turned up in their rear-wheel drive cars, drove into the car park and started spinning all over the place. He had to help push them to the edge of the car park so they didn't block it up completely.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Strider590 wrote: »

Just add winter tyres and your sorted..... Don't forget where they make those things..... I've been there (Volvo Torslanda SWEDEN), snow is the norm.
It'd be a damn site cheaper and more effective than a 4x4 on standard summer tyres.

The V50 is made in Belgium.

CrazyRatLady_2

Agree with everyone - 4 wheel drive certainly isn't necessary in Hertfordshire. Winter tyres are the way to go.

I have a '94 Volkswagen Golf CL with budget normal tyres - drove that 70 miles to London in the snow with no problems to pick up a '69 1.6 auto ford capri with regular (but decent) skinny tyres - that made it back fine and only wheel spun pulling out of a road once.

People are far to panicky about snow in this country, more of it is down to how you drive than what you're driving.

bungle4by4

i'd be looking for the same car, but with a lot less miles on. as a rule of thumb i try and find one with less than 10,000 miles per year on. when it comes to selling them on, they sell better and faster.

its not the mileage, some of these modern cars will do a quarter mill on the original engine, its the perception of mileage to the people buying. you get a better, faster sale with a low mile car.

for instance, 2 mins and one for the same money, half the miles. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-Volvo-V50-2-0-Sport-R-Design-D-5-door-Estate-/260948762406?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cc1c21f26

i know you find car hunting a drag, but you can waste of lot of money if you don't put some effort in. If you can give details of your location, and preferances im sure theres people on here who will hunt around and give some suggestions

C_Mababejive

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

The V50 is made in Belgium.

And many of them are really Ford Focus..

Strider590

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

The V50 is made in Belgium.

You missed the point.......

Sgt_Pepper_2

Strider590 wrote: »

You missed the point.......

And you got the country wrong.