Anyone affected by the weather?

[r.welfare]

I spent the week in Bradford, which had less snow than Hants/Berks. For sure, Tuesday morning was a bit of a gyp - 3 hours to do the 10 miles from Tingley to Laisterdyke - but apart from that, no worries as the ring road, A650, M606 and M62 were pretty well cleared/gritted subsequently. The old 405 - with new battery that I put in over the Xmas break - was a quality conveyance, although the heater doesn't seem up to much so a coolant flush/change is on the cards.Got it stuck in the 8" deep snow on my driveway once I got back yesterday, mind...

[dollywobbler]

I had to drive about 30 miles to get the BX to a specialist. Fine to Peterborough but the roads there were quite bad - usual story that no-one dares drive in the 'fast' lane, so only one lane available on dual carriageways. I did try a 'lairy' overtaking manoever in the fast lane, even though it was very snowy. This was at all of about 45mph. However, the person I overtook too umbrage to this, accelerated and carved me up at the roundabout!! Yeah, real sensible cutting across a car that's trying to stop on slush and ice. Dickhead.Then, after a couple of blizzard-type-flurries, I ended up on a single-carriageway behind a Ka doing 30mph in a 60 zone, which then slowed down when it snowed a bit more. Overtook them - scary having to carve through the slush to get to the two cleared lines on the other side of the road - and could get up to a decent 40-50mph again. I did see a Vauxhall Astra in a ditch, proving that driving like an idiot would not be wise - but I was keeping an eye out for danger and using the gears to slow down. The BX is bloody good in snow though!

[shite_meister]

I love it, the snow is more pathetic here than on the mainland. Fitted my winter tyres to the Accordian and they're bloody brilliant.Can't find milk anywhere though

[Split_Pin]

I havent been able to go out in my Astra since 17th December when the snow fell. My street now consists of 2 deep tracks in permafrost and its simply too low to even attempt to get out. Its been sat in my garage ever since and although I've run the engine and worked the brakes/streering every week, things start to bugger up on it if it sits too long.However, the old Vectra has been starting 1st time even in -11 degrees and I recently shod it in 4 lovely budget tyres, yet it still clings on and LOLZ at drivers of 'lifestyle' offroaders.Incidentally, has anyone seen the BL promo video for the Maxi? Shows it ploughing through the snow in Norway with gusto, handbrake turns on frozen lakes and the obligatory cold start, all with that period 'British' 1960's commentary. GR10!!

[Station]

I got up at 8am this morning, watched The Two Ronnies on UKGold for a bit, and then headed out and drove the MG to my folk's driveway - four/five mile drive. Had to stop three times on the motorway due to the temp needle fast approaching the red zone.

Got there, started the work at 9am, and finished 2.15pm!

The whole system was laden in ice, the engine was fine, but no water was flowing down the seven foot long undercar pipes when the thermostat opened. I had to unfreeze the rad, the rubber pipes, and these steel pipes.

 

After lying in the snow and cold water with much faffing about with hot water from tap, blow torch, etc etc , 10 MINUTES with my mum's hair dryer cleared them out completely. Note for future: Hair dryer thaws out ice extremely quickly.

Got to get the other one going tommorow! Yay.

[dollywobbler]

I did actually get caught out on the BX this evening. We went to look at a house and I was doing 30mph on the little lane, as it was packed down snow. Felt like it was grippy enough but we crested a hill, with the house on the right. Tapped the brakes. Nope, not slowing down. Tried cadence braking. Nope, no good. Slowly slid past the entrance and decided to park up at the side of the road and make it look like I'd planned to stop there...

[trigger]

I did enjoy this CRAZY pair driving around in their Dyane on youtube, Makes me laugh when they past a stuck Audi in it!.

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I did have an old boy (most likely retired dibble) delight in telling me of how I was going to get fined and done (and that he was going to report me) in my local Tesco car park. The temptation to take the plate out of my footwell and smack him over the back of the head with it (SPLAT) was pretty strong. Then again, he was the second old giffer I'd nearly lamped that day, so I muttered something about him shuffling off his mortal coil because of his knackered central heating and bid him good day..

I'd have snowballed the fucker, back of the head with a nice hard one complete with a stone in the middle.

[Polystratus]

I did enjoy this CRAZY pair driving around in their Dyane on youtube, Makes me laugh when they past a stuck Audi in it!.

That made me smile too, good one!

[retrogeezer]

Well, this old Greenbird continues to impress. It has started 1st time every morning this week despite minus 13ish temperatures and a 7am start on a couple of mornings. No continuous turning over either, a second of cranking and all fired up.

The heater is fantastic and everything is still working....pretty amazing for a 22 year old car that had not been used for about 5 years until I got it in October.

 

I've had no issues driving in the snow and even cruised past a couple of people in Corsas stuck on the hill at the end of my road....2nd gear and low revs, straight up!

 

I'm touching wood after saying all this but when you see the much newer broken down cars all over the place it is very satisfying!

 

All hail the 80's Nissan!!

 

[scruff]

No probs at all, despite DW's assumption that cars need heaters

[dollywobbler]

No probs at all, despite DW's assumption that cars need heaters

No, no. You've got me all wrong. Cars don't need heaters - but I do!!

[Guest]

Good lord, Retrogeezer - a "Child on Board" sign?Took the Laurel out today and it performed alright to be honest, it did manage to get stuck at a point on a snowy cul-de-sac but I could still reverse out easily.

[retrogeezer]

I know....having kids changes you!! And it was the school run with other people kids in the car...

[Mash]

I didn't do too badly this week. had a shit time of it but due to the stupid schedule I was given rather than the weather.2 hour delay at Humberside airport meant I missed my connecting flight in Schipol so had to spend the night in a very basic hotel near the airport. I did however meet a rather nice young lady from Spain in the queue at the hotel desk so it wasn't all bad.... I got to Berlin next morning actually on time for my appointment, quite a lot of snow but everything running smoothly. Flight from Berlin to Vienna on time. Again snow in Vienna but dealt with fine. Then we had to drive to Graz for an appointment at 9pm (FFS) whereupon I was told we wouldn't be staying there but driving back to Vienna in order to be near the next visit in the morning. Finally got back via McDonalds at nearly 1am Roads clear and quiet however. Hi to Lukas by the way!!Vienna in the morning was fecking freezing but the flight in the afternoon departed on tim as did the one from Schipol to Humberside and we weren't diverted like some of the earlier ones were. Starlet waiting for me in car park covered in 2 inches of snow but started fine and warmed up nicely for a quiet and steady drive back to Hull. Chaos? I seem to have missed it!I do however have a stinking cold now and had to cancel going to the flicks tonight Been in bed most of the day.