 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
ise,
| Quote: |
They don't, it's not what you get 6-speed box for of course
|
Yours' is for snowploughing the drive 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
So what I'm realising from these discussions is that my RWD, kompressor (turbo), low-profile fat summer tyre shod, 6 speed box Merc is not ideal for mountain passes in the snow. Wish I'd have known that before last month's holiday experience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Gotta agree. Winter tires on my quattro performed superbly the last 3 weekends. I think I've done over 100km in conditions like this and this recently with no scares. On the straight road going up hill, the traction is amazing. Naturally going downhill into the corners I never push it, too much of a chicken 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'll echo what kuwait ian said about the citreon 2cv. We got snowed in years ago in the scottish borders, lots of nice (at the time) cars in the car park including a few 4x4's. Someone broke there arm and had to be taken to hospital, the only car that could get out of the place was a scabbby old battered 2cv.
I used to put Vredestien(?) tyres on the wifes Nova GTE, got to glenshe and the Lecht in all sorts of bad weather.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
winter tyres make a load of difference i have 2 cars one is a diesel vauxhall corsa with no winter tyres on -just bought it 1 month ago couldnt be bothered to put winter tyres on as no snow so far this winter however my prayers where answered a week ago and grantown on spey is now covered in a foot of snow and the corsa is totaly useless luckily the other car is a bmw 525 tds touring with winter tyres the best car in snow since i had a mini metro , the weight of the car makes a huge difference with plenty of weight at the back i take great pleasure in showing up audi quatros/low profile soft offroaders withmy RWD-the corsa will have winter tyres on next year
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
best car ive ever driven in the snow id lada niva 4x4........almost unstoppable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sequoiaboard, Yeah, the brakes were really crap 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Just add my twopennorth worth - Over half term in Switzerland and France I had an X-trail with 6speed box, 4WD, diff lock ability and winter tyres. Never had a problem and was v. impressed with the comfort, levels of grip and willingness of the car to pull up the mountain with minimal gear changes.
Back home in the snow last weekend, our estate, which has a mild incline from the bottom to the top, had about 2 inches of hard packed snow on all the roads. A guy in a new BMW 5 series was on his mobile complaining that he couldn't get off the estate because he had no grip. Not a problem for my wife or the next door neighbour who both drive Clios and not a problem for me in my 318 coupe. Oh how we laughed especially when said driver was banging on the steering wheel in frustration
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
halfhand, Last season in similar conditions my X trail was brilliant! Even on summer tyres 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| tomf wrote: |
| ..... luckily the other car is a bmw 525 tds touring with winter tyres the best car in snow since i had a mini metro , the weight of the car makes a huge difference with plenty of weight at the back i take great pleasure in showing up audi quatros/low profile soft offroaders withmy RWD |
In the dry I'd agree but can't see a RWD BMW being better than Audi Quattro going uphill in winter conditions. Saw a recent report where they tested a selection of 4WD estates in winter conditions. The Audi Quattro, Merc and Skoda 4WD drive systems came out best.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Colin B wrote: |
| So what I'm realising from these discussions is that my RWD, kompressor (turbo), low-profile fat summer tyre shod, 6 speed box Merc is not ideal for mountain passes in the snow. Wish I'd have known that before last month's holiday experience. |
my low profiled, racing slick, extra carlos fandgo wheeled X5 aint gonna be much cop either.. i think on page 175 in the manual it said something about switching off the DSC or AWD or GPS or something but i didnt want to touch any of the buttons in case i accidently switched off the digital compass in the rear view mirror and couldnt get it working again..
i wouldnt take it to the alps anyway.. it would get dirty..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
halfhand,
| Quote: |
I had an X-trail with 6speed box, 4WD, diff lock ability and winter tyres.
|
I have an X-Trail Sport, but I can't find the diff lock. Should I take it back to the dealers?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
snowbunny, I think it's the other button on the dashboard next to the 4x4 on or off (I sold mine a year or so ago) 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| JT wrote: |
| BMW's are supposed to be crap in snow but at least they are predictable |
I believe this sentence has 5 extra words, namely:
supposed
to
be
in
snow
It makes more sense without them
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
boredsurfin, I have 3 switches. 2WD/Auto/Lock. 2WD drives the front wheels. AUTO, distribution automatically between front and rear wheels. LOCK, for sandy/snowy conditions, which changes automatically to AUTO under acceleration. I did not realise that it was a differential, I thought it was a small lightweight viscous thingy
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
snowbunny, may have got the precise technical definition awry but basically put it in to lock and let it get down snowy slopes on its own? Still thought it was an ok bit of kit.
BTW not expertt advice so don't sue if it don't work!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Most BMW's are rear wheel drive. Their weight is very well balanced between front and rear (ca 50/50). In the dry they are generally some of the best handling cars in their class. In winter conditions however a front wheel drive car with most of it's weight over the driving wheels will perform better. Even the best 4WD systems for winter conditions tend to drive most of the power to the front wheels until they start to slip. Light cars with skinny (winter) tyres also tend to perform better than other cars on winter roads.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As far as I know it was the 5 door non turbo Subaru that had the low ratio option, for some reason, not the 4 door.
I've got a 1993 5 door Impreza 1.8 GL, it has lo/hi ratio lever and a "hill hold" clutch. It is also for sale!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
My x-trail was BRILLIANT in the snow over Christmas and New Year in Serre Chevalier. The snow was so deep on New |Years day that many others were digging their cars out of ditches. We never evan had to think sbout putting the snow chains on. We had a hired Hyundai (Tucsan?), from Geneva earlier in the month, with Winter tyres. OK, but nowhere near as good as the X-trail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
