Replacing the old boat

[Noel Tidybeard]

we have ONE set of sno sox (between10 cars!) which we are supposed to request from manager/team leader when required

 

as i work the "south" patch i am minimum 5 miles from base which is where the sox are   

[stuboy]

skoda octavia turbo 4x4

[Pete-M]

I'm enjoying my X type.

[forddeliveryboy]

Indeed. But just saying 4x4 is unnecessary isn't true either. I've still not had a chance to test winter tyres in PROPER snow. Every year I have some, it barely snows. That's one way of avoiding getting stuck I suppose. 

 

Happened across the pic of your BX when searching for images for the black and white images thread, whoops!

 

[rml2345]

What you really need in snow is a bus pass...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0xDMzS9fHg

 

Anyway. I'd probably sort the Omega out if it's that handy and you like it. If you're set on a change then a big Saab or Volvo would probably be my choice.

Or an XM.

Naturally I'd set out to buy something sensible and come back with an utter dog of a SIII Land-Rover or a Sherpa or something.

[twosmoke300]

What most people forget in snow is to let your tyres down to about 10 psi . Makes a huge difference.

[Ian_Fearn]

Has to be said, my Legacy was a nice old bus. Typically I got bored with it. 27mpg didn't help.

 

Omega V6 = 22mpg normally, 28mpg on a VERY long gentle run. Heavy old bus with a slushbox.

 

The biggest issue with the Omega is that its tatty, it'd need over a grands worth of body repairs to make it clean and straight. Not something that bothers me but it does bother the mrs but i'm not against repairing it providing the £££££s aren't ridiculous.

 

Just wondered what i'd head to ebay for if I get the death call from the MOT station. I have the option to buy a clean cheap 2003 2.5i Legacy estate but i'd hoped for something with a bit more grunt.

[Lacquer Peel]

LDV CUB.

[cort16]

For me proposing to buy a 4x4 for winter has nothing at all to do with it's capabilities in the snow it's a just an for me to buy another shite car.

[dollywobbler]

Happened across the pic of your BX when searching for images for the black and white images thread, whoops!

 

1.PNG

2.PNG

 

Ok, we did get some snow that year! I forgot how much we had then. But as I didn't need to get anywhere, I didn't really try the BX with winter tyres on the same terrain as when I'd got stuck. For fear I might get stuck again.

 

Funnily enough, I did get the red BX (with winter tyres) almost stuck very close to where I'd got the stripey BX stuck - at that point we cancelled the gig we were putting on that night. FWD on a steep gradient is always going to be a challenge.

 

That's the year that the Maverick got very stuck, for the reasons Mat_the_cat mentions. It just beached itself. To show how bad things were when I got stripey stuck, I was having to stop every few miles to clear the rear wheelarches. They were so packed with snow that it stopped the wheels turning.

[forddeliveryboy]

Indeed. But just saying 4x4 is unnecessary isn't true either. I've still not had a chance to test winter tyres in PROPER snow. Every year I have some, it barely snows. That's one way of avoiding getting stuck I suppose. 

 

No idea what to believe, you write in a very engaging manner but there are so many half-truths and misleading bits in your blog - get that sorted and I think you'd be onto a winner!

 

 

mat_the_cat's right, lack of ground clearance can halt anything, no matter how much grip. I once lay in the snow and wound my 2cv up on its springs to get home one night, having been stuck in some drifts twice. Fortunately the threads turned easily. Made a note to take the CX next time it was windy and snowy.

[dollywobbler]

I can't really see what you're on about. I wrote that post ages ago. It still seems to make sense to me.

[Asimo]

Legacy on good tyres is astonishingly good on snow. Modern "summer" tyres are really awful in snow, optimised for cornering G in the dry. Anyway, for a building project friendly car, my favourite big barge of cheepness this week is the Chrysler Voyager V6. Loose the 3rd row of seats for a massive boot, loose the middle row as well and you are in van land.

 

This one is £800 on Autotrader, 6months mot n all.

 

 

[RichL]

Legacy 2.5 on winter tyres will be a winner.

 

I worked at a Subaru dealer in the early '00's and remember the MD going off to France for a spot of Ski-ing.

Standard rims were swapped for a set of gold (naturally) 17" inch multispoke's with Vredestien Wintrac tyres.

 

A good time was had by all and when asked if he wanted the tyres changing back over when they returned, he said:

 

"No leave them on"

 

He lived, and probably still does, in rural Derbyshire.

[Cavcraft]

I can't really see what you're on about. I wrote that post ages ago. It still seems to make sense to me.

 

 

I wouldn't bother, it's like trying to swim through concrete.

[forddeliveryboy]

I wouldn't bother, it's like trying to swim through concrete.

 

Easily confused?

 

"I've still not had a chance to test winter tyres in PROPER snow. Every year I have some, it barely snows."

 

"when the snow is blowing into 4ft deep drifts, the only sensible thing to do is chuck more wood on the fire, get the kettle on and stay at home. But once things had calmed down a bit, it was a good opportunity to put the Riken Snowtime tyres on the BX TXD to the test"

[Micrashed]

Which reminds me if it stops pissing down (Preston seems to have been under biblical monsoon conditions since last night) I will lob the chunky Conway M&S tyres onto the Micrashed (well assuming it doesn't fail the MOT too disgracefully tomorrow).

[rml2345]

Easily confused?

 

"I've still not had a chance to test winter tyres in PROPER snow. Every year I have some, it barely snows."

 

"when the snow is blowing into 4ft deep drifts, the only sensible thing to do is chuck more wood on the fire, get the kettle on and stay at home. But once things had calmed down a bit, it was a good opportunity to put the Riken Snowtime tyres on the BX TXD to the test"

Man in forgot something he wrote earlier shock...

[dollywobbler]

Indeed. The point was, despite how bad it was that year, I wasn't out trying to drive in it other than to check whether main routes were passable. It was nothing like trying to drive home when it was still snowing. And also sub-zero. It was -15 at times during that first winter here!

 

(apols Mr Fearn for the epic thread drift).

[forddeliveryboy]

Man in forgot something he wrote earlier shock...

 

Yep, bloody journalists! So many words, WCPGW?

 

DW will have forgotten by now his 2cv's been rebuilt at least twice in the last dozen years, making original build quality look not bad...

 

MOAREPIKFREDDRIFT

 

[dollywobbler]

Oh don't worry. I know all that's original on my 2CV is the speedo head and some very small parts of the body. Which almost gets us back on topic, because I first met Ian_Fearn because of 2CVs.

[forddeliveryboy]

They're also great in snow, deep or not. Plus adjustable ride height...

[dollywobbler]

Actually, that first winter here, even the 2CV got stuck on our driveway. It must have been low temperatures that were to blame. That was the night the BX's heater matrix froze up. And the CX's entire engine. 

[Cheggers]

Anyways, assuming you're not living in Scandinavia or the high Alps and therefore need a 4x4 equipped with snow-booties made from unicorn pubes, have you thought about an Alfa 159 Sportwagon? - I'm really impressed with mine.

[dollywobbler]

Or a 156 Sportwagon 2.4JTD. Blissful noise and MPG.

[Ian_Fearn]

(apols Mr Fearn for the epic thread drift).

 

No worries, its what I come here for

 

I've got a Defender 90 for when the bad weather comes (1 day per year = full justification for 4x4 ownership)

[Ian_Fearn]

Can you get a 159 V6 estate? I wouldn't want a diesel or 4 cylinder pez.

[Cheggers]

In short, yes, they did make V6 Sportwagon

[dollywobbler]

If you can, I bet it's OMG TAX LOL.

[Ian_Fearn]

Just ebay'd one. £500 a year to tax is only twice what i'm paying now for the Omega so I can live with that.

 

 

This is what I really want though despite the price.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-MG-MGF-ZT-T-4-6-V8-260-Estate-/301176154600?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item461f7f69e8