What's in you winter car kit?

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

Does it have a magic button that turns your tyres into winter tyres?
Thought not....

I'll be sure to wave when your stuck in the nearest ditch

Therein lies the problem.

Its usually not the abilities of my own car that stop me in snow, but its someone else who has broken down or cant get their car up a hill.

In the very worst of the snow here a couple of years ago i was travelling home in an old vectra 1.8i running on ditchfinder tyres and it got me home. Genuinely thought it wouldnt. The biggest problem was others not being able to get up hills in front of me, not my own car. I'd have got home no quicker in a Landy or a 4x4.

Iceweasel

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Think there's a pair of gloves in the car. Fortunately though i only do a 3.5 mile each way trip so it's highly unlikely I'll be getting stranded anywhere.
Struggling to find a 'cheap' 4x4 though for my winter car.

I don't understand what 3.5 miles has to do with anything???

You are as likely to get stuck as anyone else - on any journey.

And a set of winter tyres and wheels for a normal car is much cheaper than buying a 4X4.

WTFH

...oh and a bit of driving skill goes a long way.
Anticipate, leave a good gap to the vehicle in front and do everything gently - no hard accelerating, hard braking or sharp steering.
A front wheel drive car will get you most places if driven well. I've seen 4WD cars in ditches because the driver didn't realise that 4WD only makes a difference when you're on the throttle. If you're braking, it's just the same as a 2WD. If you're steering, it's just the same as a 2WD. And if you've got low profile economy summer tyres on it, well you'll be worse off than someone with winter tyres on a front wheel drive car.

goonarmy

Iceweasel wrote: »

I don't understand what 3.5 miles has to do with anything???

You are as likely to get stuck as anyone else - on any journey.

And a set of winter tyres and wheels for a normal car is much cheaper than buying a 4X4.

3.5 miles is walkable in worse case though. Id rather buy good boots than winter tires in the uk.

motorguy

goonarmy wrote: »

3.5 miles is walkable in worse case though. Id rather buy good boots than winter tires in the uk.

In the context of the post we were actually commenting on, the poster said they had a pair of gloves in their car but they werent too concerned as their commute was only 3.5 miles.

[Deleted User]

Exactly, work is only 4.5 miles away so if I got snowed in I'll just walk home. I've walked much further.

Some people these days won't walk further than the end of their street even on a good day.

aileth

A bottle of antifreeze for topping up or for drinking if really stuck.

Iceweasel

aileth wrote: »

A bottle of antifreeze for topping up or for drinking if really stuck.

If I remember correctly Italian wine and antifreeze are interchangeable - aren't they? LOL

alastairq

What's in you winter car kit?

.....a thick cardy?

scheming_gypsy

motorguy wrote: »

3.5 miles is a long way to walk, in the dark, in the snow. :eek:

I'll get drunk before walking home. A beer coat will help.

Iceweasel wrote: »

I don't understand what 3.5 miles has to do with anything???

You are as likely to get stuck as anyone else - on any journey.

And a set of winter tyres and wheels for a normal car is much cheaper than buying a 4X4.

3.5 miles means that I'm highly unlikely to get stuck any distance from somewhere. The most I'm going to be is 1.7miles from home or going back to work, but my commute is straight through the town centre so the chance of being stranded anywhere is slim. Especially as if bad weather starts to hit, we'll get kicked out of work early.

and i have to disagree on the tyres part. you're looking at about £80 a corner for the tyres and then you have the wheels and fitting etc to pay for. But unless I'm putting winter tyres all around my car they'll only give me more traction and won't stop other people hitting me.
No 4x4 for me though, just pretty much sealed a deal on an ex police V70 for £450. Can leave the convertible at home during the bad weather and the estate will come in useful next spring when I'm doing my garden and need to do a few tip runs.