Car swap - who wants an AMG Merc for 3 months?

Car swap - who wants an AMG Merc for 3 months?

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Discussion

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,348 posts

242 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Thanks LDN. On my last season the Landy had proper snow tyres on it so i never needed chains, even going over the col to Chatel in heavy snow. The RR is wearing M+S rates tyres and so, as you say, chains will be necessary: I appreciate the tips.

I know that supermarket well - it's where I did my food shopping 5 years ago!

CAPP0

19,582 posts

203 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Tread carefully with chains from the cheaper end of the market - IME they don't have the centre stand-offs and they can make a mighty mess of the alloys without that.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,348 posts

242 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Agree - why I like Thule or even Spike Spider.

I am hatching a plan to buy some old knackered old wheels and shoe them with proper winters, leaving the original wheels here in my garage for refitting on return. Tell me, does an L322 have the same bolt pattern and offset as other LR vehicles? Time for more research.

malks222

1,854 posts

139 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
more importantly than the car....... will there be any form of thread/ blog to follow your winter in the snowy mountains?!?! having a winter in the snow is a dream of mine, I have considered doing something similar to yourself. however mrs malks really doesnt enjoy skiing (even though I've dragged her away on 4 holidays) so I may just need to live vicariously through your winter exploits as its likely I'll neevr get to live the winter dream,

plasticpig

12,932 posts

225 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Agree - why I like Thule or even Spike Spider.

I am hatching a plan to buy some old knackered old wheels and shoe them with proper winters, leaving the original wheels here in my garage for refitting on return. Tell me, does an L322 have the same bolt pattern and offset as other LR vehicles? Time for more research.
P38 and Disco 2 have the same stud pattern. What tyres are on it at the monemt?

LDN

8,911 posts

203 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
M+S with a little air out should see you right and save you buying a full set of wheels. Winters like Nokians will be 4/500 quid; and you’ll still legally need chains.

Good to know that you’re familiar with the area! I’m here now and the sun is belting down. The RAV4 has had a recall for new airbags to be fitted; good of Toyota on such an old car. The Disco was brilliant on the drive over. That RR will be a lap of luxury.

OscarIndia

1,128 posts

172 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
I still reckon I'll get further with my Espace and chains, mainly because it is worth 50p and refuses to die!
Perhaps we should get LDN on one of our ski jaunts, I met Harry through Pistonheads and we met in the PDS.
Just a word of warning though, do not take your wife skiing with him, he offered to carry my OH's skis FFS!

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,348 posts

242 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
OscarIndia said:
I still reckon I'll get further with my Espace and chains, mainly because it is worth 50p and refuses to die!
Perhaps we should get LDN on one of our ski jaunts, I met Harry through Pistonheads and we met in the PDS.
Just a word of warning though, do not take your wife skiing with him, he offered to carry my OH's skis FFS!
Manners. They still work! And yes, LDN (And anyone else) in the area this winter should get in touch.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,348 posts

242 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
malks222 said:
more importantly than the car....... will there be any form of thread/ blog to follow your winter in the snowy mountains?!?! having a winter in the snow is a dream of mine, I have considered doing something similar to yourself. however mrs malks really doesnt enjoy skiing (even though I've dragged her away on 4 holidays) so I may just need to live vicariously through your winter exploits as its likely I'll neevr get to live the winter dream,
I'll combine this with a car swap diary.

I'm lucky in that Lady F is an expert and fanatical skiier. She's affronted by the fact that friends assume that I am dragging her out there. This was all in fact her idea...

CAPP0

19,582 posts

203 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Agree - why I like Thule or even Spike Spider.

I am hatching a plan to buy some old knackered old wheels and shoe them with proper winters, leaving the original wheels here in my garage for refitting on return. Tell me, does an L322 have the same bolt pattern and offset as other LR vehicles? Time for more research.
I'm almost certain that they do. I've owned a number of LR vehicles and have yet to find one which differed (a full-size one, anyway; Freelanders etc may not be the same).

If the offset is correct you should be able to pick up a set of steel modulars very cheaply, or some older Disco alloys.

Ref chains, snowsocks are also admissable (despite what the gendarmes may tell you - mine have a printed certificate to show to them). On the basis that with winters and 4WD you're unlikely to get stuck, you could consider those.

I've just sold my FFRR which had 20" wheels and I have an unused set of socks for that. I'll check the wheel size on the new car (can't remember!) but if they're not 20", I'll have a set of socks for sale if any use.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,348 posts

242 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Cappo - I would be very happy to take those off your hands. Frankly they are for emergency use. In truly awful conditions, I tend to just take the ski bus: the nearest lift will be 2 minutes away from the house. Most mornings I will just walk, as it saves on parking hassle, leaving the car at home.

Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 8th October 11:07

CAPP0

19,582 posts

203 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Cappo - I would be very happy to take those off your hands. Frankly they are for emergency use. In truly awful conditions, I tend to just take the ski bus: the nearest lift will be 2 minutes away from the house. Most mornings I will just walk, as it saves on parking hassle, leaving the car at home.

Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 8th October 11:07
I'll check the new wheel tonight and let you know.

S100HP

12,678 posts

167 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
I've probably missed it Harry, but where are you going to be based and what are you planning on doing whilst there (or is it just a long holiday?)

I'll refrain from offering you my XC70, as I'm not sure you could handle the POWER!!!

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,348 posts

242 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
S100HP said:
I've probably missed it Harry, but where are you going to be based and what are you planning on doing whilst there (or is it just a long holiday?)

I'll refrain from offering you my XC70, as I'm not sure you could handle the POWER!!!
It may have been a bit too much for me, true.

I finish work on 31 December, and will head out to France (Portes Du Soleil) for 3 months, with a couple of weeks in the US with the in-laws in February (assuming I don't have to be coming back early to start a new job - nothing sorted at this point, deliberately).

Lady F and I have a newborn, who will be 4.5 months old when we leave, so this is to be together as a family, whilst Lady F is on maternity leave. We will be skiing (when we can), and living with another couple at the house they have rented - they will also have an infant.

I thought that if I don't do this now, I'll regret it in years to come. And who knows how easy/hard this will be then, with Brexit looming...

feef

5,206 posts

183 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
S100HP said:
I've probably missed it Harry, but where are you going to be based and what are you planning on doing whilst there (or is it just a long holiday?)

I'll refrain from offering you my XC70, as I'm not sure you could handle the POWER!!!
It may have been a bit too much for me, true.

I finish work on 31 December, and will head out to France (Portes Du Soleil) for 3 months, with a couple of weeks in the US with the in-laws in February (assuming I don't have to be coming back early to start a new job - nothing sorted at this point, deliberately).

Lady F and I have a newborn, who will be 4.5 months old when we leave, so this is to be together as a family, whilst Lady F is on maternity leave. We will be skiing (when we can), and living with another couple at the house they have rented - they will also have an infant.

I thought that if I don't do this now, I'll regret it in years to come. And who knows how easy/hard this will be then, with Brexit looming...
The PdS is one of my favourite areas. I normally stay in Avoriaz, but have been looking at property in St Jean d'Aulps and Le Biot. Recent years I've been doing Feb half term with my boy (he's now 8) and he loves the place.

S100HP

12,678 posts

167 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
It may have been a bit too much for me, true.

I finish work on 31 December, and will head out to France (Portes Du Soleil) for 3 months, with a couple of weeks in the US with the in-laws in February (assuming I don't have to be coming back early to start a new job - nothing sorted at this point, deliberately).

Lady F and I have a newborn, who will be 4.5 months old when we leave, so this is to be together as a family, whilst Lady F is on maternity leave. We will be skiing (when we can), and living with another couple at the house they have rented - they will also have an infant.

I thought that if I don't do this now, I'll regret it in years to come. And who knows how easy/hard this will be then, with Brexit looming...
Sounds great! The PDS is a favourite of mine. Worked 3 winters round the Alps in a previous life, and lived in Les Gets for one of them. Drove down twice in a Xantia Activa on summer tyres and pretty much left the car in the garage apart from nice days when I wanted to go elsewhere. Didn't know winter tyres existed back then!

Work for a ski company now and send a vast majority of our guests to the PDS. Have fun, and start a thread please, least I can remind myself of my former life then frown

TheJimi

24,983 posts

243 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry, you intending on skiing every day?

If so, you're gonna end up bloody good!

Or if you already are, then bloody gooder smile

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,348 posts

242 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Hah! We'll see how much skiing I get to do with a baby in the household.

To be fair, I am relatively relaxed about it as I have already done a season (5 years ago), whilst I was on 6 months' gardening leave, and skiied every day as I didn't have to work.

I'll be taking it a lot easier initially anyway, as I wrecked my knee skiing two years (up in the Arare park) ago and did not get out last season due to rehab. And I am staying out of the park - I injured myself grinding a rail, in April, on the last day of a trip. Went in too slowly on my last one, stacked the landing, and yet was not going with enough speed/force to pop the bindings, resulting in a classic backwards rotation injury. As I damaged the nerve, I didn't realise it was so bad. I skiied down to Ardent on one ski, with the other slung over my shoulder, drove to Geneva and flew home. A more sensible fellow would have got himself taken down the mountain and straight into hospital. So ACL and MCL ruptured, with a PCL tear and cartilage damage. I never want to repeat that experience...

Lady F will frankly murder me if I do this to myself again, especially with a baby to care for - I'm more scared of her than the operation and rehab.

geopetrolhead

263 posts

97 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Please post pics of all totally inappropriate suggestions!

havoc

30,062 posts

235 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
geopetrolhead said:
Harry Flashman said:
Please post pics of all totally inappropriate suggestions!
THAT is never inappropriate!

Utterly gorgeous...