At what point would you say no...........

[8Tech]

To taking your Aston Martin out in the prevailing weather?

Are you a weekend fair weather driver who would shun those wet roads? All that dirt splashing on the car!

Would it take an icy morning for you to leave the car at home?

How about snow on the raods?

Settled snow and STILL snowing?

If you truly rate your car as a daily driver, then all of the above should not put you off apart from the very worst snow where the ground clearance of the car will restrict your driving ability.

At what point would you say no?

[montecristo]

Heavy rain is all I've faced, and that doesn't put me off. I'd be as likely to drive in snow as if I had a Ford Focus, so in that sense it's a daily driver.

I wouldn't use it, or most cars, to plough through snow, as davidexige does with his Subaru, but I think you only get that kind of snow up north, where surely they don't sell Astons anyway.

davidexige said:

For when it's snowing and I want to play I have this, and for when it's really snowing we have the Shogun.

[MollyGTi]

As veterans of 3 Alpine tours over the past couple of years Rob and I have both driven in most of those conditions. At home though - well, rain and sub-zero temperatures wouldn't stop us but floods and snow would.

Why risk your p & j if you have an alternative? In the case of ice, snow and floods you've always got to be wary of the potential of the next driver round the corner to be a complete tw*t! Mind you - being a biker first taught me that too

[montecristo]

MollyGTi said:

Why risk your p & j if you have an alternative?

Quite. I only have the Aston, but if I had an alternative, I'd take that in snow/ice.

[RichB]

Why would you allow weather to stop you driving? It's a car and scrubs up well...

[bogie]

I did used to drive it all year and it has been out in snow for short journeys in the past

When I moved into the country 7 years ago, we had 3 x 2 seater RWD sportscars....we noticed everyone else on our road had a 4 x 4. We live elevated,a few hills to climb to get to the village, and our house/drive is on a hill to get to the main road...none of it is gritted by council...

When the first snow came, I can remember the girlfriend trying to get her Sagaris moving after digging it out ....the main road was pretty ok, so the AA man came out at 6am to tow her uphill off the drive to the main road so she could get to an important meeting that day

After instance that we just bought a Range Rover with winter tyres for a daily car

I guess its about having the right tool for the job....yes you *can* use any car all year around (done a few winters in an Elise) but whether you should or not is just a matter of risk analysis .....dont cry too much when you get stuck/crash/rip off the low bodywork

[8Tech]

RichB said:

Why would you allow weather to stop you driving? It's a car and scrubs up well...

As you tyre tracks only go backwards into that position, and there is no snow or ice in the arches, or splashback from the wheels on the bodywork, I would suspect the roads were cleared! He he.

HID's??? Those lights look about 2 candlepower. Sidelights hopefully?

Edited by 8Tech on Sunday 5th January 16:23

[divetheworld]

Roads get salted, AM gets its PJ's and battery conditioner on.

[CatalystV12V]

divetheworld said:

Roads get salted, AM gets its PJ's and battery conditioner on.

+1

[V8 Animal]

Took mine out today to a breakfast meeting SCD there were 5 Astons and I did spot some on the slippery roads so some of us use them

[mikey k]

So long as the visibility is OK and there is no salt down, out we go with the roof down!


Eurohoon 2011 30 290 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Finding the right route is sometimes a challenge


Eurohoon 2011 28 284 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr


DSCN4443 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Even Glaciers can get in the way


Eurohoon 2011 31 146 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

The one thing I don't like is LOTS of standing water

[mikey k]

A couple of "nasty" ones

Roof down in the fog


French Loop 2326_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Having to stop in a torrential down poor


French Loop 2357_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

[RichB]

8Tech said:

RichB said:

Why would you allow weather to stop you driving? It's a car and scrubs up well...

As you tyre tracks only go backwards into that position, and there is no snow or ice in the arches, or splashback from the wheels on the bodywork, I would suspect the roads were cleared! He he. HID's??? Those lights look about 2 candlepower. Sidelights hopefully?

They had indeed just put the snow plough through the Stelvio Pass and shut it shortly afterwards because of the danger of avalanches. But I don't get your point, I thought it was simply a thread about driving ones Aston in poor conditions?

Headlamps are fine thanks. The Lucas Le Mans 7" units with H4 halogen bulbs are excellent and certainly not side lamps. You can clearly see those beneath the headlamps if you look. From your comments however, it sounds like you're a youngster and wouldn't have experience of the fact that lights often dim when the engine's not running on older classic cars. That's fair enough but you should try it some time, get a Feltham or a DB4 or whatever up into the Alps, it's good fun.

This was at 7,800' top of the Flüela Pass the same afternoon...

Edited by RichB on Sunday 5th January 18:49

[Jon39]

RichB said:

They had indeed just put the snow plough through the Stelvio Pass and shut it shortly afterwards because of the danger of avalanches. But I don't get your point, I thought it was simply a thread about driving ones Aston in poor conditions?

Headlamps are fine thanks. The Lucas Le Mans 7" units with H4 halogen bulbs are excellent and certainly not side lamps. You can clearly see those beneath the headlamps if you look. From your comments however, it sounds like you're a youngster and wouldn't have experience of the fact that lights often dim when the engine's not running on older classic cars. That's fair enough but you should try it some time, get a Feltham or a DB4 or whatever up into the Alps, it's good fun.

This was at 7,800' top of the Flüela Pass the same afternoon...

Richard,

I think it is great that you use your 50 year old Aston, for so many events and also take it on Continental journeys.

I am sorry to admit, that I like my P & J to be pristine, so it is usually only driven on dry days. There is the advantage
though, that I do not have to clean it very often.

You recently mentioned that the purchase of your DB, was in place of a V8V on order. Did you perhaps suddenly
'happen across' the DB, whilst waiting for your V8V?

Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 5th January 19:31

[RichB]

Jon39 said:

You recently mentioned that the purchase of your DB, was in place of a V8V on order. Did you perhaps suddenly 'happen across' the DB, whilst waiting for your V8V?

I did indeed place an order for a V8V with HWM when it was announced. However as time approached I kept thinking long and hard about it. My wife and I both have parents in their 90s, I get a new Volvo every 6 months courtesy of my wife being a retired employee. I couldn't bear to part with my TVR and I've always had a particular passion for the 50s as an era for cars. As the V8V is strictly a 2 seater we wouldn't be able to take the parents out in one so I would still need to keep the Volvos and there seemed no point in having another modern hence I started a hunt for the Feltham. After research I decided I liked the MkIII most as it's the newest of the DB2 series and is IMO the best looking of the Felthams, it took about a year to find. It has a distinctly old-school feel to it, indeed the chassis goes back to the Atom so effectively pre-war and I the Bentley designed Lagonda engine is late 40s. The DB4 was launched in 1958 but represents the start of the 60s era Astons. I'm glad I made the decision but still have a hankering for a modern Aston. I may talk my wife into swapping her Porsche for a V8V Roadster

Edited by RichB on Sunday 5th January 20:17

[n8ony]

CatalystV12V said:

divetheworld said:

Roads get salted, AM gets its PJ's and battery conditioner on.

+1

+2

[Impasse]

n8ony said:

CatalystV12V said:

divetheworld said:

Roads get salted, AM gets its PJ's and battery conditioner on.

+1

+2

-1 Sottozeros fitted, paintwork is waxed, antifreeze is fresh. Car is ready.

[J12MOC]

I go out in anything except deep snow -then it's the Jeep! Winter tyres and top down unless raining.

Having said that I did chicken out of a puddle across the road on the way back from the BR party. It was just after Gilwern on the Sennybridge road and 4x4's were up to the wheel hubs. Diverted down the heads of the valleys to Neath & M4. Terrible road, - ave speed cameras, road works and a bunch of 40mph cretins!

[David W.]

RichB said:

did indeed place an order for a V8V with HWM when it was announced. However as time approached I kept thinking long and hard about it. My wife and I both have parents in their 90s, I get a new Volvo every 6 months courtesy of my wife being a retired employee. I couldn't bear to part with my TVR and I've always had a particular passion for the 50s as an era for cars. As the V8V is strictly a 2 seater we wouldn't be able to take the parents out in one so I would still need to keep the Volvos and there seemed no point in having another modern hence I started a hunt for the Feltham. After research I decided I liked the MkIII most as it's the newest of the DB2 series and is IMO the best looking of the Felthams, it took about a year to find. It has a distinctly old-school feel to it, indeed the chassis goes back to the Atom so effectively pre-war and I the Bentley designed Lagonda engine is late 40s. The DB4 was launched in 1958 but represents the start of the 60s era Astons. I'm glad I made the decision but still have a hankering for a modern Aston. I may talk my wife into swapping her Porsche for a V8V Roadster

Edited by RichB on Sunday 5th January 20:17

Rich, I'd go so far as saying that the MKIII is no only the best looking Feltham but the best looking Aston. Certainly we are proud to own the 1st to carry the distinctive now trademark shaped grill.
We're also looking to get a modern one but I won't be getting rid of our fabulous in every way 911.
Tried both DB9 and V8, the V8 has some of the character I like in a car so something cheapish carring some miles is on the cards.
dw

[V12woollie]

Impasse said:

-1 Sottozeros fitted, paintwork is waxed, antifreeze is fresh. Car is ready.

Is the underside waxed as that is where the salt will go and sit after the drive? An under body pressure washer attachment might be a good idea for winter driving.