4 x 4s

[madkayaker]

The mrs runs winter tyres on her doblo in winter. Got a spare set of steel rims (from my mate who bought my old van off me also a doblo) it's an hour job in winter just to swap the alloys off and steels on

 

[dannyp]

had a few few vw synco's 4 motion and the odd audi quattro over the years one of them would be my first choice for romping through snow and ice.

if thoe can't get about you don't want to be getting about, they'll pull till there grounded as said stopping is a problem

 

[TAITSIE]

Now this is probably a bit of a tame question for here, but what's the cheapest most reliable 4 x 4 for pocket money prices.
I am thinking of getting one due to aged infirm parents who won't move somewhere more sensible.
But will sit outside rather than bother the neighbours when they lock themselves out, or stay on the floor all night so as not to be a nuisance.
Therefore not getting there in the middle of a blizzard is not an option. No one gets out of their road in the ice...
And I think we'll be having a blizzard or two this winter.
I kind of need one that will just work, and not be in constant need of care/ welding.

I'm kind of thinking of a Nissan Terrano 2.7 LWB pre 2001 for cheaper road tax and laying it up through the summer. Does diesel go off like petrol does?
I'm also 6'5" and find some 4x4s like defenders impossible to drive.
But I do like the idea of a simple 2 lever system with 4 x 2 or 4 x 4 high/low as on my old Vitaras.
Just after your thoughts at the moment.
Thanks.

Terranos (and Ford Mavericks) are ok but they are bad for rust on the sills, front bulkhead where it meets inner wings, rear inner arches/floor and rear body mounts and no repair panels are available

 

[normspanners]

I also forgot re the lucidas mine was M reg and still has no show of any rust, brother in law has a J reg, its the same still mint, he had to have a head on his though, he cooked it. The only thing they are a bit heavy on fuel, 28mpg but will run 50/50 on veg oil/ diesel.

 

[rtcosic]

I have to admit never even considering snow tires. I think a couple of new steel rims for the driving wheels would be the most economical way forward.

Please, please - WINTER tyres on ALL FOUR wheels!! You do not want 'Snow' tyres. You do not want them on driven wheels only.

You will be astounded at the difference winter tyres make in cold weather wet grip and ice/snow.
BUT they cannot overcome the Laws of Physics, so you can get overconfident/complacent at how you can set off when all other are uselessly spinning their wheels. Your braking will still be much poorer than on a clear surface and you can simply have an 'off' at much higher speed!

Winter before last eldest was running an MX-5 on winters in Sheffield. Got to work and back every day, unlike most of his colleagues.
Middle one ran a Śkoda Octavia on winters around Birmingham - guess who got to Castle Bromwich every day.
Youngest running an ancient Rover 800 on winters in Nottingham. Do I need to tell you he had no issues either??

All three of them waved at various numpties in soft-roaders on summer tyres as they cruised past them.

In case things get really desperate we bought a set of Lidl chains for £20 for the old Rover. The limit to the conditions is the depth of snow that will cause the front bumper to act as a snow plough - around 200mm depending on the vehicle.

 

[dannyp]

probaly not that helpfull but snowchains tho they would probaly be more problems than they are worth in this case, but for anyone considering chains ceep ones are wose than useless they snap with littel effort and cause lots of damage to cv boots and brake flexis and fall apart in 100 miles even if your nice. or find some proper old oe ones the chins on that car have all in proably done 2000 miles now pitty they ony fot a 13" wheel but they will stick everythign the saxo can throw at them

 

[Wendelspanswick]

We recently bought a field which is only accessible up a steep stone track after traversing a boggy lane, I bought a set of 16mm snow chains for my VW Transporter and they have been invaluable, especially pulling a trailer with a ton of logs across the grassy field.

 

[wookie]

Even on snow where there's decent grip, driving like a plonk can spin or tail slide any vehicle. I'm sure there are plenty of 4x4'ers on here who've had a play in the snow and can attest to that.

Yup, I drive a Toyota Hilux MK3, even with bigger off-road tyres I can be a hooligan in the snow especially in rear wheel drive only. Biggest problem with a pickup is the lack of weight over the rear wheels. I always end up sticking about a 1/3 ton in the back.

I can't help going playing when it snows :-) It's so I know where the limits of grip are .... honest :-)

 

[TAITSIE]

Yup, I drive a Toyota Hilux MK3, even with bigger off-road tyres I can be a hooligan in the snow especially in rear wheel drive only. Biggest problem with a pickup is the lack of weight over the rear wheels. I always end up sticking about a 1/3 ton in the back.

I can't help going playing when it snows :-) It's so I know where the limits of grip are .... honest :-)

My son is always hanging the tail out on our Hilux but he does drive rally cars for a hobby !!!

 

[PhillipM]

Empty LWB transits are the best, allegedly

 

[Splatterer]

Please, please - WINTER tyres on ALL FOUR wheels!! You do not want 'Snow' tyres. You do not want them on driven wheels only.

Why is this please?

 

[Robotstar5]

Why is this please?

Because the non-winter tyres on the other "axle" will loose grip first, so a front wheel drive car will swing the back end out or worse you'll have plenty of traction and no steering on a rear wheel drive

 

[octo0072000]

Empty LWB transits are the best, allegedly

bit of transit drifting for you

 

[Robotstar5]

bit of transit drifting for you

Wonder how many minutes a set of back tyres last?

 

[octo0072000]

Wonder how many minutes a set of back tyres last?

not long

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

Winter tyres on a 2wd will get you most places if both driven wheels are on a metalled road, but 4wd is a big advantage if you need to turn round in narrow lanes, or move onto the verge when meeting another vehicle. A small 4wd will usually manage a 3-point turn where a 2wd may need a 23-point turn in order to keep driven wheels on the hard surface.

As Composimmonite said, the Panda 4x4 is excellent on snow and ice. Perfectly good for general motoring as well (as long as you don’t need to carry large adults in the back seats, or tow a horsebox), with cheap insurance and good fuel economy. However, they don’t sell for “pocket money prices”, so might not be a possibility for the OP.

Re MoreWellie’s point about height, it can be really awkward for old folk to haul themselves up into a Defender, whereas something like a RAV or Vitara is often ideal for pensioners, who can slide in and out without climbing up or down.

I met somebody who complained bitterly about his 4x4 Yeti sliding around in last year’s snow and ice, while my Panda had no problems. He reckoned the Yeti tyres were too wide for the vehicle weight. Was he right?

 

[PhillipM]

More like just the wrong tyres full stop.

 

[garethp]

Why is this please?

I think technically snow tyres are different to winter tyres, years ago I bought some tyres that were specifically snow tyres, they had holes for studs to be fitted, the tread was 20mm deep and the rubber was really really soft. They were fantastic in the snow and on mud but on Tarmac it was like driving on jelly tyres. Didn't use them for long and never bought any more.

 

[garethp]

He reckoned the Yeti tyres were too wide for the vehicle weight. Was he right?

Most cars now have wheel and tyre combos that are based on styling alone, amounts of grip in grotty conditions doesn't sell cars in showrooms...

 

[zx9]

Most cars now have wheel and tyre combos that are based on styling alone, amounts of grip in grotty conditions doesn't sell cars in showrooms...

Very true, took me a while to work out why all the local high spec. Mercs and BMWs you see in ski resorts run relatively narrow steel wheels and have no trouble dealing with snowy inclines whilst similar GB plated cars on alloys needed chains to get anywhere.