 Poster: A snowHead
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@jedster, @jedster, One of our local transfer operators uses a Skoda Scout for personal and business use. He would definitely endorse your choice and having been in it a few times so would I really like my Freelander 2 but feel the Skoda is a better bet and much cheaper to run.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@jedster, @jedster, One of our local transfer operators uses a Skoda Scout for personal and business use. He would definitely endorse your choice and having been in it a few times so would I really like my Freelander 2 but feel the Skoda is a better bet and much cheaper to run.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Looks a very nice car. I did look at the Oktavia (not 4WD) but I really needed an occasional 7 seater and my Zafira does almost the same job at half the price of the Scout.
Yes, it's not 4WD but in 13 winters in the mountains I've very rarely felt any need for 4WD and on the extremely odd occasions when good winter tyres don't cut it, I have no great aversion to slipping on some chains for a while. It's worth it to save more than enough money for several years ski trips. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@pam w,
I believe that Pam - think 4wd is generally only a modest help compared to 2wd if you have the right tyres on. It's definitely a luxury but there is this little steepish winding road that is often snow covered that can get you from Les C to St Nicholas in 10 minutes vs 40 via the long way where 4wd might be the difference. Point being that Stnicholas opens up Megeve/St gervais to us.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@jedster, I must explore that area some time - never been to St Nicholas.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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4WD isn't much better than FWD in many conditions, but 4WD is way better than RWD .. IMHO.
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@bpirkle, 4WD is marginally (or slightly more than that) better - where 4WD really wins is when you have to stop on a steep up slope - it helps quite a bit when you have to set off again (IME).
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@jedster, have hired them a couple of times. Very impressed. That said, SiL has recently acquired a 4x4 Passat which is also rather nice.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
where 4WD really wins is when you have to stop on a steep up slope - it helps quite a bit when you have to set off again
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I think that's probably right - I sometimes have to drop back and have another go at it. I carry some mats for extra traction but have never had to use them.
I would never argue that 4WD is no help but for me it's not worth all that extra money when my car will do 99% of what's required. If it were just me I might go for a 4WD Panda. But it's not just me - and my car is a big load carrier when required, as well as seating 7 comfortably (provided they don't have too much luggage!). And I dislike the big top heavy looking 4WDs which look so unnecessary in 99.7% of the situations you see them in. The Porsche Cayenne I towed out of a snowdrift looked particularly unnecessary. 
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| bpirkle wrote: |
| but 4WD is way better than RWD .. IMHO. |
Not half. My RWD Jaguar, with winter tyres I may add, got stuck on a perfectly flat road a couple of weeks ago when due to high winds deep, heavy snow had drifted onto the road. Really embarrassing to have to sit there putting on chains to get going on such a flat road, not to mention bitterly cold as the strong icy winds whipped across the open landscape straight into me.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
That said, SiL has recently acquired a 4x4 Passat which is also rather nice.
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yes I agree. Had a previous generation one many moons ago. Have looked at the latest Passat alltrack - nice but the skoda has a bit more personality, newer/better engine and is cheaper. tad smaller but not that much
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Yep, AWD estates with a set of winter wheels is the way to go. Long rather than high gives much better stability. Diesel models and you'll still be getting around 50mpg at 130km/h. You can also lay skis flat inside with one side of rear seat down.
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You know it makes sense.
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@jedster, she refuses the Skoda badge and doesn't hear my arguments re value for Money, etc. She'd rather ride in a Peoples' Car. Now if they did a Scout version of the Superb, that'd be well cool.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| sproggski wrote: |
@BergenBergen, @under a new name, I think prudence, patience and common sense trump both snow tyres and 4x4. On paper, our car is ridiculous (4x4 but 2.5 tonnes with stupid wheels) but, by stopping at the right times and places to add and remove equipment saved us loads of time and grief.
We just need to accept that fourgon homme blanc will always overtake you on blind bends and dive into non-existent gaps. It was a shame (mostly  ) to see the lunatic local who overtook us in this way on the side of the road trying to extract his broken snowchain from the front wing of his car - it looked like someone had tried to open a tin of beans with a chisel. |
Prudence and patience is necessary but not sufficient. Im not sure about local lunatics, but saw quite a few gb, nl and be plates driving like morrons because they were "prudent" on summer tyres ....
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Poster: A snowHead
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| bpirkle wrote: |
| 4WD isn't much better than FWD in many conditions, but 4WD is way better than RWD .. IMHO. |
Very much depends who is behind the wheel .... Rwd is way better if you have winter tyres and have certain driving skills
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@under a new name, you can get the Superb as 4*4
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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All this talk about summer / winter tyres .. are all-season tyres what's meant by "summer" tyres?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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My experience of 4/all-season tyres was the year I turned a corner in snow but my 4x4 didn't. At the garage later assessing the damage the mechanic shook his head and told me he saw this a lot with those tyres and I should get proper winter ones.
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FAQ
