Snowtime 09

[Lukas]

Please chaps don´t get me wrong, I don´t want to offend anybody here or elsewhere, but this moaning about a bit of snow sounds quite funny to me! It snowed a bit in the UK from what I can see in your pics, but that´s just ludicrous compared to the snow other regions for example in Europe or Scandinavia get. Most of you don´t even have winter-tires in winter (!), I hope you got some antifreeze in your car at least. It´s winter now and most of you seem absolutely not prepared for anything that´s even related to winter-conditions. There may be exceptions, cheers to you, but the main reason why there is chaos in some countrys and why there is so much complaining here too may be because people are absolutely not prepared for the current season . Get proper winter-tires on steel-wheels, take part in a drivers' safety training and you´d have fun on wheels during winter.Lukas

[55bloke]

To be fair, real winter weather is so rare here these days, it's just not worth investing in proper winter gear for the few days a year you might just need it.

[brammy777]

Well I went to Norway in the winter and compared to what were having now in the UK, Norway had about 10 times more snow. It just never melts, until summer at least. The snow was so bad at one point that our flight was delayed by 5 hours on the way back, and thats in a country where they are prepared for these things!

[Guest]

It's more to do with that we don't usually get enough snow in this country to justify having proper arrangements (except for Scotland and the likes). We've got gritters and ploughs and the likes, just not as many of them presumably.Where I live, I'd say we have on average 2-10 days a year where snow/ice might be considered a bit of a problem. Winter tyres could either be useful or a bit of a waste of money, depending on how the weather works out. Some years there's been no settled snow at all, just some light frost.It actually makes a bit more financial sense for us to have a bit of a panic every so often, get a few days off work, etc.

[seth]

Winter tyres could either be useful or a bit of a waste of money, depending on how the weather works out.

We've got a set for the Herald. Haven't been able to use them yet this year but last year they made a huge difference not only during those snowy days in Feb but also when it was just cold and wet/damp. The car felt much more sure footed.

[Lukas]

I´m very glad that I offended no-one!

... they made a huge difference not only during those snowy days in Feb but also when it was just cold and wet/damp. The car felt much more sure footed.

I can only second that. Winter-tires are definately safer when it´s cold, you don´t need snow to benefit from the additional safety.

[MrSteve]

I thought I would be adventurous/foolhardy and cycle to work today, just to see how it would turn out.Going there was fine, but coming back turned out to be a painful exercise. I am now nursing a sore right elbow and skinned right shin from the first tumble, and bruised left hip from the second one, just metres from home. Arsecakes.Car it is tomorrow then. Maybe.

[dollywobbler]

Had fun in the 2CV on the way home. Enough slip to get wheelspin in 2nd gear (and third at one point) but enough grip so that if you ease off, it all comes back under control again. A weird mix of slushy, icy, snow.Took to the back roads because I was fed up of all the plebs crawling along on the major routes - which are fully gritted and completely free of snow! It's not even freezing here at the mo, though not too much above.

[KruJoe]

Friday morning... woke up to this. Still on summer wheels - should have done the swop the night before.

 

 

 

I thought it would be fun to try the way up onto the top field to retrieve my snow tyres from in the spare car. It wasn't happening.

 

 

 

Snow tyres on the other side and in the back.

 

 

 

Nose in the shed to do the swop.

 

 

Job done, up 'round the back again just to prove I could. Malham Cove in the distance.

 

 

 

This motor surprises many in the snow. Just ace.

 

FFWD to this afternoon after more dumpings...

 

 

Number plate removed for it's own protection.

I didn't rate it's chances with drifts coming over the bonnet!

 

[trigger]

^^ Haha that's ace.

 

Here's mine from Friday in St. Evenage. Wonder how they'll look tomorrow...

 

Hey EL, Why have you not posted them here then?! Be nice to some better photos of them!

 

http://autoshite.commlm/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6459

[michiel]

The car park where the Florian lives was a lot emptier than usual, but these two Peugeots are always there:

 

 

 

Flo yesterday:

 

 

 

Inside, a little icy...

 

[Cheggers]

We had a little snow last night...

 

[Milford Cubicle]

We had to call off work today, down to -15C in the woods and not getting any warmer. The snow I can take, but not these kind of temperatures in the daytime. Winter can bugger off.

[Guest]

Things are a lot better today, I got to my usual uphill parking location without any grief. Fingers crossed the snow won't come back, though I hear it was snowing in Bradford this morning so no doubt it will. I once read that global warming would result in the UK adopting a mediterranean-style climate, could do with some of that right now. Come on China, get some more of those coal power plants knocked up, we haven't got all day.The thing I hate most is returning to my car after work and finding I've got to sort it out all over again - scrape the ice off the windows, carefully ease the lock free, demist the glass. I've already been walking for ten minutes so I'm already cold and fed up by then. The exhaust blow is getting worse too, it has now reached Morris Minor levels of parpyness. My fleet never seems to end up in such a state where I end up with an appropriate car in time for winter. Oh well.Still, if the cold snap continues I'll get to use the 626 in it. That'll probably be quite good to be fair.

[RedSparrow]

Oddly, me TR7, usually the most unreliable in my stable, is working absolutely on the button in this cold snap. Can't remember which journalist said it but yes, its awful but it has a great heater.RWD and no weight on the rear wheels is GR8 4 ACCIDENTAL DRFTIN though.

[Guest]

Yeah can't fault any of my lot on their startup abilities, the Charmant had about an inch of pack ice all over it the other day and it went first time without any grief.Best ever for winter startup is the Stanza. Very early this year, it was absolutely covered in ice on the coldest evening I'd experienced for years. I'd not started it for about 6 months and thought it might be a good idea to do so. Stuck a booster pack on it and it didn't even hesitate - it was like the reaction you'd get by turning it off and then straight back on again in the height of summer. Wish I'd got that ready for winter, bet that's a right weapon at this time of year.

[mnde]

During the last few days I've got into the habit of disconnecting the battery every time I park up. Something is putting a big drain on it, and that's apart from the wipers, lights and blower.... I'm suspecting a bad battery earth. The battery itself was new in May.....Both my cars are ones that start on the button if you use them every day, but if you leave them for a week or two, there's a fair bit of churning on the starter... (any hints on how to improve this??) and a few weeks of inactivity drains the battery to the point where there's insufficient juice to start the engine. I'm suspecting the memory function of the radios.... plus the GSA has a flashing red light when the facia's removed as a fake theft deterrent.I left the battery connected up on the BX because I thought that would encourage me to start it up every weekend and drive it round the block/let it idle for 20 mins or so to keep everything exercised and put some charge in the battery. But no - a couple of weekends I didn't get a chance to start her up, and then when I tried recently - the battery ran out of puff... Mark.

[pogweasel]

SHITTINGNORA Bastard weather, bastard idiot mong drivers. Had to drive down to somerset for my grandmother's funeral. Thought I'd leave 7pm last night aiming to arrive in time for a nightcap and a decent nights sleep. As we got about 10 miles down the road the snow started up again, and it occurred to me that we had picked the only car not suitably equipped - the focus is still on normal tyres wheras the van and the BMW have winter boots. The van is also loaded with GR8 survival gear, and is actually boss in the snow - light , no power, skinny tyres...This turned out to be the last of our concerns, as comfort and a decent heater were the most important items. NINE FRICKING HOURS it took to cover the 220 miles, five of which were just to get from slough to reading. Seemingly the cause was moronic drivers either sliding into each other and/or spinning their wheels vigourously, then giving up and locking their cars to walk home, regardless of where they ended up. I would make activity like that an imprisonable offence. Sometimes, I really despair at the state of this country and the idiots that inhabit it. Could have been worse, it took my brother & mum 13 hours, and at least we all made it in ample time to pay our last respects etc.

[VWPowered]

pogweaselRank: Lancia GammaJoined: 18 Jan 2006Posts: 6666Location: OUTTA SPACE

ours has all disappeared now heavy rain filling the barn instead

[dollywobbler]

SHITTINGNORA Bastard weather, bastard idiot mong drivers. Had to drive down to somerset for my grandmother's funeral. Thought I'd leave 7pm last night aiming to arrive in time for a nightcap and a decent nights sleep. As we got about 10 miles down the road the snow started up again, and it occurred to me that we had picked the only car not suitably equipped - the focus is still on normal tyres wheras the van and the BMW have winter boots. The van is also loaded with GR8 survival gear, and is actually boss in the snow - light , no power, skinny tyres...This turned out to be the last of our concerns, as comfort and a decent heater were the most important items. NINE FRICKING HOURS it took to cover the 220 miles, five of which were just to get from slough to reading. Seemingly the cause was moronic drivers either sliding into each other and/or spinning their wheels vigourously, then giving up and locking their cars to walk home, regardless of where they ended up. I would make activity like that an imprisonable offence. Sometimes, I really despair at the state of this country and the idiots that inhabit it. Could have been worse, it took my brother & mum 13 hours, and at least we all made it in ample time to pay our last respects etc.

Arseflakes. We've got to drive to Devon on Thursday. Hopefully some melting will have happened by then, though it was ridiculously icy on the way home. I had to slow down to 30mph at one point. The Saab is rubbish on ice too. Bloomin' good heater though...

[STUNO]

heavy rain filling the barn instead

Try a ROOF, they work well

[Mr Lobster]

Meh. Still plenty of snow here. Whilst teh Sprinter might be a pretty good van, with nothing in the back it is utterly useless. Can't even get it off the drive at the moment. Oh, and yesterday was the day the battery chose to die. Not sure if its kippered or if it just needs a decent run after two weeks of relatively little activity.

[r.welfare]

Things appear to be getting back to normality again here; we were up and out at 7am to get the XMAS FOODZ, and although the Accord auto (with it's silly fat tyres) slid around a bit on the roads in the village, out on the A339 it was possible to get up to 45 or so without concern. I'm certainly glad that I changed the thermostat and flushed the cooling system a few weeks back; the heater was super-toasty and appreciated today.Still half a dozen cars abandoned around the Basingstoke ring road, too.Ho hum. Out with the snow shovel later to clear the gravel part of the drive so we can accomodate the grandparents' cars for Xmas day. Hopefully the 405 will play ball this time, trying to move it on 6" of iced snow was no fun yesterday despite M+S tyres.

[whitevanman]

Arseflakes. We've got to drive to Devon on Thursday. Hopefully some melting will have happened by then, though it was ridiculously icy on the way home. I had to slow down to 30mph at one point. The Saab is rubbish on ice too. Bloomin' good heater though...

No car is any good on ice unless equiped with chains or studded tyres

[VWPowered]

i got some snow chains for €3, went to fit them and cos the polo is slammed on its arse i couldnt get them to clear the arches studs fer next year i thinks

[CortinaDave]

After me moaning about the lack of it.. it snowed big time here last night.. here is my shite as it looks today

 

 

 

was down to -9 in Dundee last night about 7pm... around -6 in Fife where I am. Baltic!

[whitevanman]

Aye unusual for you to cop for it up there...its snowing of and on down here but it's not getting any deeper thankfully

[Rusty Pelican]

Arseflakes. We've got to drive to Devon on Thursday. Hopefully some melting will have happened by then, though it was ridiculously icy on the way home. I had to slow down to 30mph at one point. The Saab is rubbish on ice too. Bloomin' good heater though...

No car is any good on ice unless equiped with chains or studded tyres

The lowly Hillman Imp is about the best thing ive ever driven in snow even totally unprepared with no chains it was very controlable , they still use them for ice racing in Iceland , theres a whole load of them over there just used for this

[dollywobbler]

In the 2CV this morning. Great on ice! Wonderful to be able to feel how much grip you have/haven't got. Unlike my 'moderns.'

 

Anyway, have a fresh shot of my fleet. Brrrrr!

[Milford Cubicle]

i got some snow chains for €3, went to fit them and cos the polo is slammed on its arse i couldnt get them to clear the arches studs fer next year i thinks

Studs are bloody awful things unless you live somewhere where it's snowy/icy all winter.Decent conventional winter tyres are almost as good.