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Original poster

A car for winter weather

44 replies

Bunbaker · 30/09/2013 19:09

I know this is an emotive subject, but I am seriously considering buying a 4 wheel drive car.

We live on a hill in a rural area and the bad weather over the last two winters left us housebound on a number of occasions. I have been looking at a Ford Kuga and wondered what the opinion was. Or what else can anyone recommend?

OP posts:
CruelAndUnusualParenting · 30/09/2013 19:50

According to various forums I looked at over the last couple of winters an ordinary car on winter tyres will do better than a 4WD on all season tyres. I don't know how true that is. Swapping to winter tyres from November to March will definitely be cheaper than buying and running a 4WD.

WMittens · 30/09/2013 20:44

4WD doesn't have to mean "SUV" - Audi and Subaru are well know for their 4WD saloons, and there are many other manufacturers who offer 4WD versions of their models. Hell, you can get a 4WD Fiat Panda (with locking differentials). The Jaguar X-type is well thought of in 4WD flavour.

an ordinary car on winter tyres will do better than a 4WD on all season tyres.

Quite possibly; a 2WD car on winters will almost certainly outperform a 4WD on 'summer' tyres though.

Original poster
Bunbaker · 30/09/2013 21:05

That is certainly food for thought. I will have to give that serious consideration.

OP posts:
BlackMogul · 30/09/2013 21:30

Really depends if you want a 4 x4 and the style of them. We live up a very steep hill and "baby" 4x 4s do not make it in winter snow and ice judging by the numbers abandoned at the bottom of the hill. Difficult to know about winter tyres as no- one has them. In Scandinavia wheel storage or tyre storage is normal for the season when the tyres are not in use but not here. Also winter tyres may add to the noise in the car and may alter the handling on normal road conditions so it may not be a simple answer. At least 50% of our village have 4 x 4s but the ones that really work on all surfaces are the ones you would expect. Land Rovers of various types. The hill descent control and the choice of terrain mode are brilliant and make the car safe and reliable in bad weather or other off road surfaces. I think if you need to get out, buy a car that will do the job, not half the job. Also great for muddy car parks. Not sure what "out perform" above means. Range Rovers etc are quick and assured on the normal road. Don't fancy an Aston Martin with winter tyres personally.............!

Original poster
Bunbaker · 01/10/2013 06:52

We don't have lots of cash and Range Rovers are out of my price range, and I don't want a Landrover as they are so unreliable. Our hill is very steep and we have the difficulty of the turn off into our cul de sac being steep as well so it definitely needs to be something that can handle well in bad conditions.

I don't intend to take it off road, I just want to avoid the misery of the last two winters.

OP posts:
NickyNackyNooNoo · 01/10/2013 06:56

You know what will happen, don't you? Winter tyres/4 x 4 in place and we'll have the mildest winter on record Wink Grin

duckyfuzz · 01/10/2013 06:57

Get winter tyres, much cheaper than a new car and they have seen me through the last three winters in my rwd car when dh's 4wd struggled

Original poster
Bunbaker · 01/10/2013 07:07

I know NickyNackyNooNoo Grin
The thing is that my current car is getting long in the tooth and is ready to be replaced, hence the dilemma.

What does your OH drive duckyfuzz?

OP posts:
elastamum · 01/10/2013 07:13

I have an XC90 with winter tyres on as we have some amazingly steep single track roads her that never get gritted. Tyres are called grabbers and brilliant.

Turn off the traction control and it will go up most things in the snow. It is an absolutley fab family car. It also has 7 seats, can take 3 big dogs in the boot and also pulls 2 tonnes of horse trailer without any trouble.

I love it Grin

elastamum · 01/10/2013 07:14

Sorry, meant to say its a volvo XC90!

Original poster
Bunbaker · 01/10/2013 07:17

I don't need a 7 seater, but thanks for the recommendation.

OP posts:
WMittens · 01/10/2013 18:10

BlackMogul

Also winter tyres may ... alter the handling on normal road conditions

Yes, but the same goes for buying Linglong, Triangle or Sunny summer tyres instead of Bridgestone, Continental or Pirelli summers; unfortunately we can't stop people fitting their cars with shit cheap tyres.

Not sure what "out perform" above means.

Really I was referring to most important things any tyre helps you to do: stop and turn; the ability to stop crashing into someone/something, or being able steer around the person/thing you're sliding towards.

A 4x4 will not stop any quicker on summer tyres compared to a 2WD car on winters from a given speed (especially if the 4x4 waighs over a ton more than the 2WD car). An AM on winters would stop quicker because it weighs less and has more grip.

If you can't turn your car then you have next to no control. Any car can understeer into a tree if you have no grip on the front wheels.

It really doesn't matter how quick an RR can be, in snow (or other treacherous wintery conditions) you may not be able to go more than 20mph safely.

There are plenty of YT vids of powerful winter tyre-shod RWD cars out-accelerating, -turning and -stopping well-respected 4WD cars (Subaru Forester being one example that springs to mind) on normal/summer tyres.

WMittens · 01/10/2013 18:12

Don't fancy an Aston Martin with winter tyres personally.............!

I do! That would be fucking amazing fun!

BikeRunSki · 01/10/2013 18:17

Bunbaker in exactly the same situation as you, my FiL bought a Skoda Yeti a couple of winters ago and loves it. He is in the Cotswolds. I think you' re fairly near me, and u have noticed a lot of Yetis about in.the last few years. I'll certainly consider one for my next car. Or a Panda 4x4 if budget does not allow.

PastaBeeandCheese · 01/10/2013 18:18

We live rurally and have a BMW X5. We still put winter tyres on it. That's far more important than the style of car.

You just swop them back and store them when the warmer weather comes so it only relies on you having space to store 4 tyres.

Original poster
Bunbaker · 01/10/2013 18:21

I am even more confused now. I want to be able to get back up the hill to my house in the snow. So is it winter tyres on my aged Focus or a 4wheel drive?

OP posts:
PastaBeeandCheese · 01/10/2013 19:07

I just double checked with DH and he said you'd be just as well to put winter tyres on your Focus provided you don't actually want to off road ie under the ice and snow on your hill there is actually a proper road.

They really do make a massive difference.

WMittens · 01/10/2013 20:25

Bunbaker

I am even more confused now. I want to be able to get back up the hill to my house in the snow. So is it winter tyres on my aged Focus or a 4wheel drive?

Best option: 4WD and winter tyres.
2nd best (including cost): existing car on winter tyres.

I was actually looking for a video comparing a Porsche Cayman (RWD sportscar) on winter tyres getting up their ice hill, but the 4WD Cayenne on summers failing.
Original poster
Bunbaker · 02/10/2013 07:03

Thank you WMittens. I was beginning to think that. My car has stupidly low profile tyres and is useless in snow. I didn't even want low profiles but that is what came with the car.

OP posts:
duckyfuzz · 02/10/2013 07:09

Sorry bunbaker I was out all day yesterday, the 4wd was a passat estate. If you need a new car anyway id do as mittens suggests and go for a 4wd with winter tyres.

Fairydogmother · 02/10/2013 07:16

I have to say that the best non expensive 4x4 for me the last 2 winters has been my father in laws older style Suzuki vitara. We had several feet of snow drifts and getting to my horse was a nightmare but it plugged on in low 4 wheel drive where nearly everybody else got stuck.

The old thing saved my bacon on several occasions and it's not bad to drive the rest of the year either. I've used it for towing the horse box and rally car tonnes of times too

KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 02/10/2013 07:23

I've driven a lot in bad weather, lots of snow and ice etc. I have had one accident where the car slid (not skidded) into a crash barrier, at the time I was driving a 4x4 so TBH I don't think they are any better or worse than other cars, I've got out of such situations in ordinary cars without an accident. Once a 4 x 4 is sliding down a hill into a crash barrier it's not going to give you the time to direct the car elsewhere - which I've been able to do in a smaller, lighter car.

PastaBeeandCheese · 02/10/2013 07:28

To be fair to SUV style 4x4s they are very good if you genuinely go off road which we do as our lane is unmade.

octanegirl · 02/10/2013 09:54

OP if you give us a budget and so on we can help you better - but yes, 4wd on summer tyres is better than 2wd on summer tyres if you want to compare apples with apples, but winter tyres are the way forward (pardon the pun).

I have a 4wd estate car with summer tyres in summer and winter tyres in winter. I've not got stuck yet....

Original poster
Bunbaker · 02/10/2013 15:04

Budgetwise I think I would be looking at no more than £15,000. It doesn't have to be a new car.

OP posts:
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