All this snow.Will your next car be a 4x4?.
U96
Posts: 13,937 Forum Member
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Couldn't help but notice.Some days this week,only 4x4's were moving in my area.
I've never felt the need or requirement for a 4x4.Too big,too thirsty,not particularly cheap to run overall.Times are hard and money's tight.
But i couldn't help but admire how they were towing people out of snow bound estates,picking up people to go to work,cruising up hills where mere mortals feared to tread.
The drivers looked pretty smug and i don't blame them.:cool:
So.What's it to be?.Ford Focus or Land Rover Defender?(unstoppable).
I've never felt the need or requirement for a 4x4.Too big,too thirsty,not particularly cheap to run overall.Times are hard and money's tight.
But i couldn't help but admire how they were towing people out of snow bound estates,picking up people to go to work,cruising up hills where mere mortals feared to tread.
The drivers looked pretty smug and i don't blame them.:cool:
So.What's it to be?.Ford Focus or Land Rover Defender?(unstoppable).
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http://farm-tractor.co.cc/used-john-deere-tractors
For a few days here,all that ventured out were Range/Land Rovers,Landcruisers,and the likes.
I couldn't sell my 4x4 if I wanted to now...no matter the snow, it's the Prius drivers who turn their noses up at me these days
U96, there's an old thread on here with your name all over it..thanks for the laughs
This. I've just bought one and wouldn't trade it for any inadequacy mobile, however much it was worth.
Drivers of them may be smug, but I'm even smugger in knowing that they obviously have some sort of issue that they think buying such a car will compensate for.
I love the new Rav4's, mine is only a 2003 one though unfortunately. Compared to the 206 it's thirsty! lol My insurance is quite a bit more too
There are other ways to get around.
Yes, huskies & a sledge
Also there are AWD cars that don't use 4-5 litre engines, from a panda to a subaru to a jag there are plenty of more economical options.
Considering how many people seem to think one is necessary for an urban school run, overkill seems inevitable.
Sometimes doing things by halves is pointless
Unless you know where everyone lives that drives to school, you cant possibly know if they live 5 miles away or not, like moi does
I know it's very unusual to experience such prolonged and heavy dumps of snow.But huge swathes of the country have been bought to a virtual standstill for a week now.
I've only owned my present car for about 18 months now.I don't think i'll be trading it in for at least a year.But a 4x4 will be on my radar for the first time after all of this nightmare.
If their journey actually involved an off-road element, their vehicles wouldn't be as shiny.
As for distance - 2WD cars can travel more than 5 miles, too, you know.
I think winter tyres might be a slightly more prudent purchase.
You might think of us Scots as a hardy bunch.But when it comes to 2 feet of snow in a few days we're not really prepared or used to it(unless you live in the Highlands).We usually see some snow around Jan/Feb.Even then it doesn't hang around for long.
Prius?.No thanks!.Pug ugly as well.
I can't think of a thread i done that was funny!
lol yes I know
If it means the difference between not getting him to exams, which I wouldn't have done in january in the 2wd, it literally got stuck everywhere, & getting him there, even on one snow day, it will be worth the extra money to me. People bellyaching about it as they always seem to about 4x4's, pales into insignificance tbh
Even with the appropriate tyres?
I wanted 4 wheel drive for my frequent camping trips - but had no need for a full-fat jeep-style vehicle, because I had no intention of doing any proper off-roading - just the occasional forest track, and some muddy fields.
In the end I went for a Subaru Impreza estate - bags of room in the back, and by avoiding the boy-racer turbo models, I got a bit more ground clearance.
The 4WD has been brilliant through these last two winters, and the rest of the time, on normal roads, it's pretty much the same as any other medium-sized 2-litre estate car.
As others have pointed out - 4WD isn't a licence to drive like an idiot in these conditions - but by driving sensibly, it's kept me moving when all around, people have been wheelspinning, and pushing on inclines and the little side-roads.
I think if i lived in the country,or in an area with really bad weather,or i needed it to do my job i'd have one right now.
But this last week if just felt helpless.My car has been totally hopeless in the snow.It has all the latest tech.But it has been as much use as a chocolate teapot!.