Country living and 4x4s
Discussion
Moving to the country gonna eat a lot of peaches.....
Hi all
I am moving to a small hamlet in north Devon.
The current car is a Ford Focus which has been fine in the city.
Are we going to need something more beefy?
I know it’s devon not central Africa, but I’m thinking of those times when you have to get all your wheels on verge when passing on narrow lanes, or when a lane is partially flooded after heavy rain.
I won’t be able to afford much after the expense of moving so would be thinking
CRV
RAV4
XTrail
All would be diesel as our mileage will likely increase.
Any country dwellers like to comment ?
Hi all
I am moving to a small hamlet in north Devon.
The current car is a Ford Focus which has been fine in the city.
Are we going to need something more beefy?
I know it’s devon not central Africa, but I’m thinking of those times when you have to get all your wheels on verge when passing on narrow lanes, or when a lane is partially flooded after heavy rain.
I won’t be able to afford much after the expense of moving so would be thinking
CRV
RAV4
XTrail
All would be diesel as our mileage will likely increase.
Any country dwellers like to comment ?
Unless youre going to be pulling horseboxes out of muddyfields, I think it depends on the roads in your locality, and getting access to your house. Around us the roads can get pretty muddy and very wet, but would be OK in a 2WD. The main reason we have 4x4s is the 300yard track to our house which is impossible in 2WD for several weeks of the winter due either to snow or ice.
Your Focus will be absolutely fine. Get some decent tyres. I live in (very) rural North Devon, sandwiched between dairy farms near Exmoor. All our roads 'out' are filthy, very steep, regularly flood, covered in wet leaves for 2-3 months of the year, and got snowed up to the tops of the 10ft hedges a couple of years ago.
Unless you need to get across wet fields and down proper rutted green lanes etc you do not need a 4x4.
The lanes here are not designed for modern vehicles. A narrow car is a blessing. Panda 4x4 would be my recommendation if you have decided you need to change for something more capable.
Unless you need to get across wet fields and down proper rutted green lanes etc you do not need a 4x4.
The lanes here are not designed for modern vehicles. A narrow car is a blessing. Panda 4x4 would be my recommendation if you have decided you need to change for something more capable.
"Need"? Probably not. But it does depend on many things. Something a bit higher up will allow you greater visibility on many roads over a regular car. Which can be handy, but is actually just nicer too, as you will see more, or see things you wouldn't have otherwise.
A small 4x4 might also be handy if you end up doing more rural activities, being able to go up a track or pull off the road has many benefits. Plus most 4x4's have sensible shaped boots, so are also handy for putting things in like plants, wood etc. Where a regular hatchback car can be more compromising.
I do agree narrow vehicles are helpful on the narrow Devon and Cornish lanes. Each time I visit I think a Defender 90 would be the ideal vehicle to blast around the local roads in.
Maybe a Shogun Pinnin or Suzuki Vitara would be my suggestions here.
Oh and of course the elephant in the room. Snow! We might not get it all the time, but when we do get it, so many people seem to struggle. A 4x4 on suitable tyres will allow you to easily get out and about, where 'most' cars will stuck on the drive or on the first hill. And it isn't just about tyres, being able to drive 4 wheels will give an immense advantage in such conditions and the increased ground clearance means you'll be able to mount verges and the like to pass stranded vehicles.
A small 4x4 might also be handy if you end up doing more rural activities, being able to go up a track or pull off the road has many benefits. Plus most 4x4's have sensible shaped boots, so are also handy for putting things in like plants, wood etc. Where a regular hatchback car can be more compromising.
I do agree narrow vehicles are helpful on the narrow Devon and Cornish lanes. Each time I visit I think a Defender 90 would be the ideal vehicle to blast around the local roads in.
Maybe a Shogun Pinnin or Suzuki Vitara would be my suggestions here.
Oh and of course the elephant in the room. Snow! We might not get it all the time, but when we do get it, so many people seem to struggle. A 4x4 on suitable tyres will allow you to easily get out and about, where 'most' cars will stuck on the drive or on the first hill. And it isn't just about tyres, being able to drive 4 wheels will give an immense advantage in such conditions and the increased ground clearance means you'll be able to mount verges and the like to pass stranded vehicles.
Another bumpkin (North York Moors) saying 'no' here. As others have said having something that isn't so wide as to be cumbersome is more important, to which I'd add having enough tyre sidewall to be able to clatter over potholes/drive along the verge without fear. Having said that I do choose to have one myself - Subaru Outback on winters - but that's mainly because I like mucking about off road a lot and deliberately going out into the wilds when it snows. Could get by perfectly well without it though.
Sporky said:
Unless you need more ground clearance a Focus will be fine. Maybe put CrossClimates or all season tyres on if you're concerned that the roads won't get gritted when it snows.
I agree with this - the Focus will be fine (I live in rural Norfolk) but as you are more likely to be driving on ungritted roads then all season tyres would be beneficial.North Wales here and as others have said unless you are going to be driving across muddy fields or live somewhere that only has v. steep roads in/
out then a Focus would be fine. Perhaps with winter tyres if you feel the need.
We have been here 15yrs and never once been unable to get around in run of the mill fwd cars. The worst winter (2011?) made things difficult but our neighbour with a 4x4 had exactly the same traction problems. Suitable tyres are probably more important. Half the local farmers use fwd vans to get over the fields in all but the worst conditions so that probably says something (other than them not being able to afford a 4x4...).
Many '4x4s' you see locally are bought by those who have recently moved to the country and are assuming the lifestyle.
out then a Focus would be fine. Perhaps with winter tyres if you feel the need.
We have been here 15yrs and never once been unable to get around in run of the mill fwd cars. The worst winter (2011?) made things difficult but our neighbour with a 4x4 had exactly the same traction problems. Suitable tyres are probably more important. Half the local farmers use fwd vans to get over the fields in all but the worst conditions so that probably says something (other than them not being able to afford a 4x4...).
Many '4x4s' you see locally are bought by those who have recently moved to the country and are assuming the lifestyle.
FunkyNige said:
Sporky said:
Unless you need more ground clearance a Focus will be fine. Maybe put CrossClimates or all season tyres on if you're concerned that the roads won't get gritted when it snows.
I agree with this - the Focus will be fine (I live in rural Norfolk) but as you are more likely to be driving on ungritted roads then all season tyres would be beneficial.Everyone knows that the best vehicle for fast progress along narrow Devon lanes is a supermarket delivery van though, surely?! Meeting one of these coming the other way at breakneck speed can be interesting....
If the roads are tarmac, you just need a car you don’t give a s
t about. If you live down an unmade track, a 4x4 and a bit of ground clearance is useful in the winter. Tyres are almost more important. Soft rubber will constantly puncture in the hedge cutting seasons. Vehicles with AT’s are less susceptible. Van tyres with stronger sidewalls are also good.
t about. If you live down an unmade track, a 4x4 and a bit of ground clearance is useful in the winter. Tyres are almost more important. Soft rubber will constantly puncture in the hedge cutting seasons. Vehicles with AT’s are less susceptible. Van tyres with stronger sidewalls are also good. troika said:
a bit of ground clearance is useful in the winter
This is also true. I did successive snowy winters in an Avensis on cheapo summer tyres (couldn't even get off the drive, not enough clearance), an AWD Yeti on summer tyres (passable but hairy stopping) and another AWD Yeti on winter tyres - which was like driving on a very wet road.I'd say the right tyres are still the most important bit, the ground clearance is second, and AWD is a definite plus but not essential on road, but it depends on what the roads you actually travel on are like.
dmsims said:
If you need them all season/winter tyres on the Focus will easily outperform normal tyres on a 4x4
Not wanting to descend this into a winter tyre war. But the reality is, it would completely depend on the situation or obstacle. There are many things a 4x4 will be better at regardless of tyres.Best thing for back lanes is a small (narrow) car that you don't really care about. I live in west Cornwall, and often have to use the lanes to visit customers. My previous cars (525 E61, Galaxy, Touareg) were a liability, continually watching out for passing places incase I had to reverse.
I bought an old Panda as a second car, which was the ideal size, but not a nice drive. I replaced it with a Skoda Citigo, which was the next smallest 5 door car with enough load space that I could find. Ideal for lanes and small parking spaces, and not too bad on longer journeys.
We don't get snow very often - most years, none at all - so I just stay at home until it clears.
I bought an old Panda as a second car, which was the ideal size, but not a nice drive. I replaced it with a Skoda Citigo, which was the next smallest 5 door car with enough load space that I could find. Ideal for lanes and small parking spaces, and not too bad on longer journeys.
We don't get snow very often - most years, none at all - so I just stay at home until it clears.
bristolracer said:
Moving to the country gonna eat a lot of peaches.....
Hi all
I am moving to a small hamlet in north Devon.
The current car is a Ford Focus which has been fine in the city.
Are we going to need something more beefy?
I know it’s devon not central Africa, but I’m thinking of those times when you have to get all your wheels on verge when passing on narrow lanes, or when a lane is partially flooded after heavy rain.
I won’t be able to afford much after the expense of moving so would be thinking
CRV
RAV4
XTrail
All would be diesel as our mileage will likely increase.
Any country dwellers like to comment ?
CRV will be useless re. verge and passing because it's open diffs, it won't be able to send any of the power to the o/s still on the tarmac. If worried about this you'll need either a car which can lock the diffs, has a lsd or uses the ABS/Braking system to effectively fool the system into thinking the tyre on the tarmac has the least resistance. Hi all
I am moving to a small hamlet in north Devon.
The current car is a Ford Focus which has been fine in the city.
Are we going to need something more beefy?
I know it’s devon not central Africa, but I’m thinking of those times when you have to get all your wheels on verge when passing on narrow lanes, or when a lane is partially flooded after heavy rain.
I won’t be able to afford much after the expense of moving so would be thinking
CRV
RAV4
XTrail
All would be diesel as our mileage will likely increase.
Any country dwellers like to comment ?
300bhp/ton said:
dmsims said:
If you need them all season/winter tyres on the Focus will easily outperform normal tyres on a 4x4
Not wanting to descend this into a winter tyre war. But the reality is, it would completely depend on the situation or obstacle. There are many things a 4x4 will be better at regardless of tyres.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff