Beginners question on 4wd capability

[philpalmer]

We have two vehicles.

One is a S Reg Daihatsu Terios and the other a S Reg Honda CRV.

Can someone please explain why the Terios is brilliant in the snow/icy conditions
and the Honda is so hopeless.

Both are fitted with 205/70R15 tyres and all the tyres are new (Terios has dunlop tyres/CRV has bridgestone)
All the tyres are standard tyres (not winter ones).

The Terios has a button on the dash which allows you to drive slowly if you get really stuck, but so far we've
only needed it once.

Both are 4wd then but the Honda just feels woolly to drive in the ice whereas the Terios feels indestructible. It feels almost as good as our old Landy before it rusted away.

We are having some winter tyres (or 50:50 tyres) fitted to the Honda in the hope that this will improve things.

I went down the same icy/snowy hill in both vehicles last week. The Honda ended up sideways down the hill whereas the Terios had no problems.

I'm sorry about the thick question. I guess it'll be obvious to someone!

Thanks

Phil

[jbi]

difficult to compare unless they have identical tyres

[bobr]

Because the CRV is more more of an SUV than a 4x4, it's like a Nissan X-Trail or a Freelander whereas the Terios is the follow on from the Sportrak (I think), hence is built a bit more for the mucky stuff.

[SB10]

My mum runs a MY2000 CRV and hasnt had any issues in the snow as such. Bridgestone tyres of some sort on it too.

One thing though, is the terrious permanent 4 wheel drive? I know her CRV isnt... its front wheel then when they slip, the back kicks in.

[TommyBuoy]

The terios has a lockable diff and full time 4WD.

The honda does not

That is the difference.

[philpalmer]

Thanks for the replies.
On the lockable diff (is that the thing that operates from the dash as we don't use that unless we get really stuck) or is it just a feature of the car?

[philpalmer]

I was wondering about getting rid of the crv and getting maybe a Forester instead?
The Terios is brill but its a bit gutless when loaded up (only a 1.3).

A defender is out of our price range and our old Landy basically used to live in the repair garage, the amount of things that went wrong with it.

[durbster]

When I was looking into cheap 4x4s the Terios kept springing up as a surprisingly capable machine. It's probably closer to a Jimny than a CRV.

[Silverbullet767]

Subaru Justy/Impreza/Legacy may be a good shout too.

[philpalmer]

We use to have a justy years and years ago. It was a L reg.
When we sold it we must have had about 300 calls for it!
It had a button on the gearstick which you pressed to engage 4wd.

[RizzoTheRat]

Knew someone years back had a little panda 4x4 that used to quite happily get everywhere our 110 could, think there's something of the Colin Chapman school of though there.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 8th December 15:03

[Dr Derek Doctors]

bobr said:

Because the CRV is more more of an SUV than a 4x4, it's like a Nissan X-Trail or a Freelander whereas the Terios is the follow on from the Sportrak (I think), hence is built a bit more for the mucky stuff.

Clearly never driven a Freelander in difficult conditions then

[bobr]

Dr Derek Doctors said:

bobr said:

Because the CRV is more more of an SUV than a 4x4, it's like a Nissan X-Trail or a Freelander whereas the Terios is the follow on from the Sportrak (I think), hence is built a bit more for the mucky stuff.

Clearly never driven a Freelander in difficult conditions then

At least I know my neighbour is st at ice driving, he will never live this down.

[fluffnik]

RizzoTheRat said:

New someone years back had a little panda 4x4 that used to quite happily get everywhere our 110 could, think there's something of the Colin Chapman school of though there.

Lots of Panda 4x4s lurk in the Alps waiting for winter...

[andy400]

Dr Derek Doctors said:

bobr said:

Because the CRV is more more of an SUV than a 4x4, it's like a Nissan X-Trail or a Freelander whereas the Terios is the follow on from the Sportrak (I think), hence is built a bit more for the mucky stuff.

Clearly never driven a Freelander in difficult conditions then

I have. It was pants. It was scared of puddles and was clearly a girl's car.

[jshell]

This 'Smart' looks like the 'business' for winter!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9CLX4F58EM&

[richardxjr]

Our 2000 CR-V with Bridgestone Dueller AT tyres is AS GOOD as our Range Rover was in the snow or ice.

Yes, it's front wheels will slip for a second until the rear diff kicks in, but driven correctly it is awesome.

Same on a wet slipway and even better in the sand as it's much lighter.

(not in reverse though, only works in forward gears )

[300bhp/ton]

bobr said:

Because the CRV is more more of an SUV than a 4x4, it's like a Nissan X-Trail or a Freelander whereas the Terios is the follow on from the Sportrak (I think), hence is built a bit more for the mucky stuff.

I know what you are trying to say, but that's not a very accurate way of describing it.

[Dr Derek Doctors]

andy400 said:

Dr Derek Doctors said:

bobr said:

Because the CRV is more more of an SUV than a 4x4, it's like a Nissan X-Trail or a Freelander whereas the Terios is the follow on from the Sportrak (I think), hence is built a bit more for the mucky stuff.

Clearly never driven a Freelander in difficult conditions then

I have. It was pants. It was scared of puddles and was clearly a girl's car.

yeah O.K mate, bad workman blames his tools....

[300bhp/ton]

andy400 said:

Dr Derek Doctors said:

bobr said:

Because the CRV is more more of an SUV than a 4x4, it's like a Nissan X-Trail or a Freelander whereas the Terios is the follow on from the Sportrak (I think), hence is built a bit more for the mucky stuff.

Clearly never driven a Freelander in difficult conditions then

I have. It was pants. It was scared of puddles and was clearly a girl's car.

If it was a TCS equipped on I find that hard to believe. As in I don't