picking a car in the snow

[Jonboy_t]

Right, I'm off to test drive a 2002 M3 tomorrow with a view to leaving a deposit and picking up the following week once I've finalised funding etc.

I've heard that we are due some snow round this area over the next week or so, and as a result of that, I'm torn between a couple of options as far as I see;

1 - Leave a deposit for a couple of weeks and risk dealing with a dodgy trader who may well do one with my money and flog the car to someone else. Or,

2 - Drive a powerfull RWD car, of which I have limited experience of anyway, through potential ice and snow.

I'm personally leaning towards the first option and paying by credit card so if he does 'a Madoff' and run off with my reddies, I can claim it back through Visa. Are there any other options that would be sensible in a situation like this?

(as above, I do have limited experience of RWD, driven and tracked a few, but none that I've actually owned!)

[Variel]

Grow some danglies, option 2 . Just don't be a dick and it'll drive fine.

[Evil.soup]

Jonboy_t said:

Right, I'm off to test drive a 2002 M3 tomorrow with a view to leaving a deposit and picking up the following week once I've finalised funding etc.

I've heard that we are due some snow round this area over the next week or so, and as a result of that, I'm torn between a couple of options as far as I see;

1 - Leave a deposit for a couple of weeks and risk dealing with a dodgy trader who may well do one with my money and flog the car to someone else. Or,

2 - Drive a powerfull RWD car, of which I have limited experience of anyway, through potential ice and snow.

I'm personally leaning towards the first option and paying by credit card so if he does 'a Madoff' and run off with my reddies, I can claim it back through Visa. Are there any other options that would be sensible in a situation like this?

(as above, I do have limited experience of RWD, driven and tracked a few, but none that I've actually owned!)

Just pick the car up mate. If its not in the snow next week it will probably be in the snow in the following weeks. If you have track experience in a RWD car it will help you but driving it even a week before the snow comes down will help.

Besides, i believe that model has a form of ESP/traction control. just dont switch it off until you are happy with it.

[LuS1fer]

I went with a friend of mine to pick up a 5.0 Camaro Z28 in the snow albeit most of the roads were thawing. The car was plastered in snow and salt but when he washed it, it was phenomenal - like unwrapping a Christmas gift or mugging Bernie Ecclestone.

[Garlick]

The day I collected my Chimaera (just before Christmas last year) it was snowing. I also drove it to see family on Boxing Day in the snow too because I wanted them to see it.

Drive carefully, be aware of your throttle use and you'll be fine!

[S3_Graham]

be careful and you will be fine, just dont nail the throttle or turn of the tc and you wont be any more likelky to crash than in any other car!!!

[cat220]

Jonboy_t said:

Right, I'm off to test drive a 2002 M3 tomorrow with a view to leaving a deposit and picking up the following week once I've finalised funding etc.

I've heard that we are due some snow round this area over the next week or so, and as a result of that, I'm torn between a couple of options as far as I see;

1 - Leave a deposit for a couple of weeks and risk dealing with a dodgy trader who may well do one with my money and flog the car to someone else.

Its the "dodgy trader" part that concerns me. I wouldn't be buying anything from someone like that never mind a m3.

Regards driving in the snow, just take it easy and you should be fine.

Cheers,
C

[Jonboy_t]

cat220 said:

Jonboy_t said:

Right, I'm off to test drive a 2002 M3 tomorrow with a view to leaving a deposit and picking up the following week once I've finalised funding etc.

I've heard that we are due some snow round this area over the next week or so, and as a result of that, I'm torn between a couple of options as far as I see;

1 - Leave a deposit for a couple of weeks and risk dealing with a dodgy trader who may well do one with my money and flog the car to someone else.

Its the "dodgy trader" part that concerns me. I wouldn't be buying anything from someone like that never mind a m3.

Regards driving in the snow, just take it easy and you should be fine.

Cheers,
C

The part about the dodgy delaer was very hypothetical. The place I am buying from is quite reputable from the looks of it, I've done a bit of research and they have a good history in selling performance cars, this looks to be about the cheapest car they've sold for years! You never know though, just my panicky side coming out.

I think I will be driving it back, I was just being a bit cautious (a bit ghey?!) - don't really want to spank ten grand on a write off!!

To be fair, most of the way is motorway anyway!

[Matt80MINI]

Garlick said:

The day I collected my Chimaera (just before Christmas last year) it was snowing. I also drove it to see family on Boxing Day in the snow too because I wanted them to see it.

Drive carefully, be aware of your throttle use and you'll be fine!

Good lord - I bet that journey was memorable. Scary at all?

[Garlick]

Matt80MINI said:

Garlick said:

The day I collected my Chimaera (just before Christmas last year) it was snowing. I also drove it to see family on Boxing Day in the snow too because I wanted them to see it.

Drive carefully, be aware of your throttle use and you'll be fine!

Good lord - I bet that journey was memorable. Scary at all?

Well I left London and there wasn't any snow, but the further north I went the more snow I found.

I ended up creeping into my nans road which was covered with snow and ice. About 30 miles from the destination I was regretting leaving my old Range Rover at home, but once I stopped panicking and concentrated on the driving it was fine. The good thing with the V8 is that it needs hardly any revs to move, so not slipping or sliding to get moving.

Would I do it again? No, but more because I had to get the chassis cleaned to remove the road salt than anything else. It will be undercover during this years snow.

[TX1]

Drive sensibly and keep away from the outside lane if you can help it as very slushy but you should be ok, roads are not as bad as yesterday.
Good luck and enjoy.

[Jonboy_t]

Cheers chaps! It's only about 100 miles or so, most of which should be gritted or grittable roads.

I'M SO EXCITED!!!! My missus is going absolutely spastic at me as I won't stop talking about my new beast! Stupid woman.

[koolchris99]

wimp

this is how it should be done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCm31-SqIjk

[LukeBird]

S3_Graham said:

be careful and you will be fine, just dont nail the throttle or turn of the tc and you wont be any more likelky to crash than in any other car!!!

I drove a RWD car for the first time on the road in the snow late last year, I was careful and picked it up a couple of weeks later on the 23rd Decemeber; a great time to learn RWD!

[martin mrt]

Just drive it home, dont be a tool and you will be fine, my first RWD car was an E46 M3 and i managed fine in the snow, as i took it easy

On a side not PLEASE make sure its a good one, and dont go in feet first, i did this with mine a 40k 4 year old example with dealer history and 2 previous owners and it almost ruined me financially.

[Evil.soup]

koolchris99 said:

wimp

this is how it should be done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCm31-SqIjk

80.9p per litre!!!!!

Those were the days!!