4x4+Snow=good, 4x4-Snow=bad

[RonA]

Just been reading in the daily press praising several civil minded 4x4 owners ferrying stranded NHS workers into work to keep the NHS moving along.
No doubt as soon as the snow disappears those newspapers will be back to vilifying those same owners of “Chelsea tractors”, It’s quite easy to see how those same journalists can hold their heads high.
RonA

 

[rtcosic]

Just been reading in the daily press praising several civil minded 4x4 owners ferrying stranded NHS workers into work to keep the NHS moving along.
No doubt as soon as the snow disappears those newspapers will be back to vilifying those same owners of “Chelsea tractors”, It’s quite easy to see how those same journalists can hold their heads high.
RonA

If it's anything like this area then those doing the ferrying will be farmers and other rural workers and a few 'serious' off-roaders with 'real' 4x4s.
The soft-roaders can't get off their own drives and if they ever actually manage to get out of the estate they wouldn't think to stop to help some-one in trouble.

 

[Browser]

They have to keep their heads up Ron, keep their noses away from the stink of the offal they trowel out on a daily basis.
Anyway, you'll find that these are 'proper' 4x4's owned by honest, hard-working farmers and other sons of the soil rather than school-run mums out to make an impression on their friends, something like that

 

[sako243]

I think you'd be surprised at the kinds of people getting involved - especially with the 4x4 response. The group I used to be a member of I don't think had a single 'farmer / rural' worker in it (probably because it was in the SE), from what I can see they've been quite heavily involved between the council and the NHS to get stuff going here.

That being said I am no longer a member because I really didn't like the way it was heading. It was diverging from why I joined in the first place - a bunch of like minded people willing to help out in these sorts of situations. I realise as things become a bit more official more red tape is inevitably going to be involved but I felt people were more interested in putting flashing lights all over their vehicles than actually helping out. I think the crucial point is it got to the point I was embarrassed to be associated with them, hence leaving.

That being said I'm sure they're doing good work. Although in my experience in more rural areas (such as when I was in the Highlands in January and we had 2ft in 3 days) people are more willing to help each other out. Down here people just aren't that considerate to others.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

(such as when I was in the Highlands in January and we had 2ft in 3 days) people are more willing to help each other out.

That's just how we roll - and there doesn't need to be snow etc either. Just don't expect to keep any secrets though......

 

[Kent]

Messages on social media where flying round my area last night, trying to help each other out.
Its strange to imagine if you live in town but round here somebody eight miles away in another village is still classed as a neighbour if there is hardship.
We have a war memorial in the village and the numbers lost are far too high as these people thought of each others more as family than mates. It would not be any different today.

 

[sako243]

That's just how we roll - and there doesn't need to be snow etc either. Just don't expect to keep any secrets though......

Not just how you roll, I think it's how everyone other than the SE rolls. Certainly the same approach, even more so in Wales I think.

 

[Ruffian]

Don' need to be a full 4x4 though,

4wd on winter tyres worked a wonder for me this morning

 

[Tinbasherdan]

first time in 12 years i havent had a 4x4 too sako, i agree with your points RE the 4x4 resonse groups. theres some good guys there, but for the most part they seem to be overrun with guys in combat pants, rigger boots and hi viz jackets fitting ridiculous amounts of ambers to their motor and thinking they are gods gift to mankind

 

[RonA]

Just had a thought, should all 4x4 owners petition the government for a reduction in Road Tax on the basis of contingency planning. Is that a squadron of Suidae taking off in the backgrpound I hear you say.
RonA

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Just had a thought, should all 4x4 owners petition the government for a reduction in Road Tax on the basis of contingency planning. Is that a squadron of Suidae taking off in the backgrpound I hear you say.
RonA

Never going to happen.......next!

 

[armalites]

Don' need to be a full 4x4 though,

4wd on winter tyres worked a wonder for me this morning

Subaru are very good, low centre of gravity. There's a guy in a scottish territory of my company who runs a Legacy on winter tyres. There was a story a few years back where he managed to get to a job in the snow. He had gone back roads and got to one point where there was a police 4x4 across the road. Officer questioned how he had got that far and even went as far as having a go in it. In the end he said as he'd got that far he may as well let him past.

 

[armalites]

That's just how we roll - and there doesn't need to be snow etc either. Just don't expect to keep any secrets though......

Everyone in Herefordshire can keep a secret, it's the people that they tell who can't.

 

[zx9]

If it's anything like this area then those doing the ferrying will be farmers and other rural workers and a few 'serious' off-roaders with 'real' 4x4s.
The soft-roaders can't get off their own drives and if they ever actually manage to get out of the estate they wouldn't think to stop to help some-one in trouble.

When the M20 was down to one lane on Wednesday I was been held up by a git in a Volvo XC90 driving at 20mph. What better car to buy for winter travel than a Swedish four wheel drive estate but why tiptoe around holding up all the traffic.

 

[Dieselman 63]

When the M20 was down to one lane on Wednesday I was been held up by a git in a Volvo XC90 driving at 20mph. What better car to buy for winter travel than a Swedish four wheel drive estate but why tiptoe around holding up all the traffic.

They're not as rugged as they used to be - and they don't have the little wipers for the headlamps anymore!

In the eighties my uncle got warned by the police for driving at 30 on the motorway in thick fog - think he had a Fiesta at the time, no fog lamps so he was taking it steady.

 

[daleyd]

Went out to pick the kids up from the inlaws yesterday in the wife's car (VW Tiguan) - this is probably the first time it's been used in really bad conditions and to be fair it was very sure footed for a soft roader. It got up the hill where we live no problem, my car (FWD) was struggling quite badly going up the same hill earlier. OK your not going to be troubling a Defender any time soon in the off-roading stakes but I was pleasantly surprised....

 

[slim_boy_fat]

When the M20 was down to one lane on Wednesday I was been held up by a git in a Volvo XC90 driving at 20mph. What better car to buy for winter travel than a Swedish four wheel drive estate but why tiptoe around holding up all the traffic.

He/she/it was probably on Summer rubber.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

When the M20 was down to one lane on Wednesday I was been held up by a git in a Volvo XC90 driving at 20mph. What better car to buy for winter travel than a Swedish four wheel drive estate but why tiptoe around holding up all the traffic.

Bane off my life the last few days. People toodling along at 10 mph on gritted wet tarmac. All the snow had been ploughed away by traffic.
Talking of traffics my vans been sterling in the snow. The turbo lag helps with traction too. Few hairy moments when it got on boost unexpectedly and spot on on deep hard packed snow.

 

[zx9]

He/she/it was probably on Summer rubber.

It was a 50 / 60 year old bloke, I checked when I finally got the chance to pass him in my RWD van on normal Avon van tyres. Further on I passed a bloke on a sports/ tourer bike he was going faster than the Volvo, mind you I think it was the only bike I have seen all week.

 

[dannyp]

4x4 response what a bunch of muppets they are, all they seem good at is getting in the way followed by extorting donations out of those that don't know any better while polishing each others egos and admireing there flashy lights, the amount of fuss and bother they can make out of a minor issue is just incredible