4 Wheel drive?
Discussion
I'm looking at getting a replacement for my ZT I love all the little mod cons, heated seats climate control etc.
However we're moving to the arse end of no-where and as winter is fast approaching I would like to get something with 4WD (as well as snow tyres.) Been looking at A4/6 quattro but have a fairly crap budget (3 grand ish) has anyone got any advice for me, or just some other cars I don't know about?
Thanks!
However we're moving to the arse end of no-where and as winter is fast approaching I would like to get something with 4WD (as well as snow tyres.) Been looking at A4/6 quattro but have a fairly crap budget (3 grand ish) has anyone got any advice for me, or just some other cars I don't know about?
Thanks!
Mrs OwenK said:
I'm looking at getting a replacement for my ZT I love all the little mod cons, heated seats climate control etc.
However we're moving to the arse end of no-where and as winter is fast approaching I would like to get something with 4WD (as well as snow tyres.) Been looking at A4/6 quattro but have a fairly crap budget (3 grand ish) has anyone got any advice for me, or just some other cars I don't know about?
Thanks!
Well I think you need to narrow it down a bit on what you are really after and why.However we're moving to the arse end of no-where and as winter is fast approaching I would like to get something with 4WD (as well as snow tyres.) Been looking at A4/6 quattro but have a fairly crap budget (3 grand ish) has anyone got any advice for me, or just some other cars I don't know about?
Thanks!
Also what other attributes does the vehicle need? As in speed, mpg, seats, boot space, age, etc, etc.
Also what will you be using it for?
For an AWD vehicle you have 2 basic options:
1. A car
2. A 4x4
Or you could look at some of the cross over type vehicles.
As a rule a 4x4 with greater ground clearance will give you more ability and options in snowy conditions. And often their AWD systems will ultimately offer more traction too.
So you could be looking at Shoguns, Patrols, Troopers, Discovery's etc
For cars you've got the ones you mentioned, plus pre 2003 Jag X-Types (petrol), maybe a Volvo or two, Imprez'a, Legacy's, Lancer's and a host of others.
For Crossovers you've got things like Honda's HR-V or CR-V, Fiat Panda and a load of others. Including softer roaders like the Freelander, Rav4, etc.
Not sure about space but the Golf 4 motions (basically a toned down R32) and very nive inside in terms of equipment and a fairly cheap.
I'm not sure if the 4wd would be that great in the snow though.
My GF's parents have quite a modern looking 53 plate Shogun Sport 3.0 V6 Elegance... has everything inside (ok the leather doesn't feel the best!) but it went everywhere in the snow and is now worth next to nothing (they paid £13k for it a few years back!).
I'm not sure if the 4wd would be that great in the snow though.
My GF's parents have quite a modern looking 53 plate Shogun Sport 3.0 V6 Elegance... has everything inside (ok the leather doesn't feel the best!) but it went everywhere in the snow and is now worth next to nothing (they paid £13k for it a few years back!).
1. Be aware of the differences between 4WD cars. I know nothing about this, but people who do frequently tell me that the ability of various 4WD systems (Haldex, full time etc) vary a lot in slippery conditions.
2. As 300 says, you've got two options: proper off roader or a 4WD car. The main advantage of a proper off roader used on a snowy road is ground clearance, and I expect it's more likely to satisfy criteria 1 above giving more traction, but that would depend on the vehicle you choose. The downside of such a vehicle is that when it's not snowing, that ground clearance gives you a very high CofG which means worse handling than an equivalent car, and the other off road elements of the vehicle (wheel travel, suspension settings, strength of components etc) also contribute to worse handling, less acceleration, mpg and direction changing ability. Modern tech goes a long way though, and there are some very road biased off roaders out there (X3, X5, Cayenne etc) - but obviously basic physics means that an equivalent car will always be cheaper to run and better to drive.
3. Do some research into an ordinary 2WD car on winter tyres. My parents live in the countryside amongst miles of untreated and often undriven roads, and they manage fine in their 3 series BMW on winter tyres. Not a lot gets my Dad excited, but he was raving about his winter tyres when he fitted them last year.
2. As 300 says, you've got two options: proper off roader or a 4WD car. The main advantage of a proper off roader used on a snowy road is ground clearance, and I expect it's more likely to satisfy criteria 1 above giving more traction, but that would depend on the vehicle you choose. The downside of such a vehicle is that when it's not snowing, that ground clearance gives you a very high CofG which means worse handling than an equivalent car, and the other off road elements of the vehicle (wheel travel, suspension settings, strength of components etc) also contribute to worse handling, less acceleration, mpg and direction changing ability. Modern tech goes a long way though, and there are some very road biased off roaders out there (X3, X5, Cayenne etc) - but obviously basic physics means that an equivalent car will always be cheaper to run and better to drive.
3. Do some research into an ordinary 2WD car on winter tyres. My parents live in the countryside amongst miles of untreated and often undriven roads, and they manage fine in their 3 series BMW on winter tyres. Not a lot gets my Dad excited, but he was raving about his winter tyres when he fitted them last year.
300bhp/ton said:
Well I think you need to narrow it down a bit on what you are really after and why. Wasn't a very helpful post was it?!
Also what other attributes does the vehicle need? As in speed, I'm not very worried with actual figures as long as it's enjoyable to drive, would like a bit of grunt
mpg 30+, so likely diesel?,
seats Got to have room for 2 leggy toddlers in the back ,
boot space not fussed
age ideally 2000's , etc, etc.
Also what will you be using it for? It'll be my daily drive, humping the kids around, a good 400 motorway miles per week. When it snows, getting my husband to work, lots of country roads.
For an AWD vehicle you have 2 basic options:
1. A car
2. A 4x4
I would prefer a car as it will be road driving not offroading I do
Or you could look at some of the cross over type vehicles.
As a rule a 4x4 with greater ground clearance will give you more ability and options in snowy conditions. And often their AWD systems will ultimately offer more traction too.
So you could be looking at Shoguns, Patrols, Troopers, Discovery's etc I seemed to have ruled these out as the mpg is awful!
For cars you've got the ones you mentioned, plus pre 2003 Jag X-Types (petrol), maybe a Volvo or two, Is there a list anywhere that I could look at? Imprez'a, Legacy's, Lancer's and a host of others.
For Crossovers you've got things like Honda's HR-V or CR-V, Fiat Panda and a load of others. Including softer roaders like the Freelander, Rav4, etc.
I also had a look at Imprezza' and forresters but they didn't seem quite right, the Imprezza that are in our budget didn't seem to have the luxury bits that we really liked in the ZT.Also what other attributes does the vehicle need? As in speed, I'm not very worried with actual figures as long as it's enjoyable to drive, would like a bit of grunt
mpg 30+, so likely diesel?,
seats Got to have room for 2 leggy toddlers in the back ,
boot space not fussed
age ideally 2000's , etc, etc.
Also what will you be using it for? It'll be my daily drive, humping the kids around, a good 400 motorway miles per week. When it snows, getting my husband to work, lots of country roads.
For an AWD vehicle you have 2 basic options:
1. A car
2. A 4x4
I would prefer a car as it will be road driving not offroading I do
Or you could look at some of the cross over type vehicles.
As a rule a 4x4 with greater ground clearance will give you more ability and options in snowy conditions. And often their AWD systems will ultimately offer more traction too.
So you could be looking at Shoguns, Patrols, Troopers, Discovery's etc I seemed to have ruled these out as the mpg is awful!
For cars you've got the ones you mentioned, plus pre 2003 Jag X-Types (petrol), maybe a Volvo or two, Is there a list anywhere that I could look at? Imprez'a, Legacy's, Lancer's and a host of others.
For Crossovers you've got things like Honda's HR-V or CR-V, Fiat Panda and a load of others. Including softer roaders like the Freelander, Rav4, etc.
Hope that might help a little more!
A Legacy Outback & some decent tyres, unstoppable!
This is useful if looking at soft roaders, not what they seem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQRxlChvMw
This is useful if looking at soft roaders, not what they seem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQRxlChvMw
RobM77 said:
1.
3. Do some research into an ordinary 2WD car on winter tyres. My parents live in the countryside amongst miles of untreated and often undriven roads, and they manage fine in their 3 series BMW on winter tyres. Not a lot gets my Dad excited, but he was raving about his winter tyres when he fitted them last year.
In my ignorance, would I be ok with a RWD and snow tyres?3. Do some research into an ordinary 2WD car on winter tyres. My parents live in the countryside amongst miles of untreated and often undriven roads, and they manage fine in their 3 series BMW on winter tyres. Not a lot gets my Dad excited, but he was raving about his winter tyres when he fitted them last year.
Unless you are hoping to plough through 12in or more of snow, you would be better off getting snow tyres and a set of chains for really deep snow. £3k will not get you much of a 4x4 that isn't old and clapped out, unless you go for something like a Suzuki Jimny, that you will find hopelessly slow and unrefined after a ZT. Snow tyres will cope with ice and (with chains as a back-up) all but snow deep enough to reach the bumper. If the snow is deeper than that, you would be best off staying at home.
1) the K series is a fine engine for the money, and as long as looked after will go forever. Had 2 of them, both serviced well, abused lots, and miled high.
2) snow tyres for a 2wd will help if conditions are bad. Yes.
Last february me and the OH stayed in Loch Lomond, in a cottage in Scotland, down a 2mile farm track. It snowed, LOTS, it froze constantly.
I had the saab 9-3 on michellin normal tyres.
We didn't die, or explode, or fall off the road.
May I suggest OP that you keep the ZT until in situ, once the roads are known to you, then assess whether you really want a 4x4, winter tyres, or in fact just want some common sense.
As for BMW and snow tyres, see the other threads. I've bought 2 for mine, as I live on steep hills, that don't get gritted and suspect that an e36 will not be my wisest choice
2) snow tyres for a 2wd will help if conditions are bad. Yes.
Last february me and the OH stayed in Loch Lomond, in a cottage in Scotland, down a 2mile farm track. It snowed, LOTS, it froze constantly.
I had the saab 9-3 on michellin normal tyres.
We didn't die, or explode, or fall off the road.
May I suggest OP that you keep the ZT until in situ, once the roads are known to you, then assess whether you really want a 4x4, winter tyres, or in fact just want some common sense.
As for BMW and snow tyres, see the other threads. I've bought 2 for mine, as I live on steep hills, that don't get gritted and suspect that an e36 will not be my wisest choice
mgmrw said:
1) the K series is a fine engine for the money, and as long as looked after will go forever. Had 2 of them, both serviced well, abused lots, and miled high. As I said before the car has been sold as it was having problems and after being looked at the problem wasn't obvious and I can't afford to spend a load of money on a car I don't want.
2) snow tyres for a 2wd will help if conditions are bad. Yes.
Last february me and the OH stayed in Loch Lomond, in a cottage in Scotland, down a 2mile farm track. It snowed, LOTS, it froze constantly.
I had the saab 9-3 on michellin normal tyres.
We didn't die, or explode, or fall off the road. I'm not at all saying this is going to happen, I have managed perfectly well with a FWD and no snow tyres before, however as we are going to be somewhere a lot more rural and I will be needing to continue driving unless the conditions are extreme I would like to take the measures I can now.
May I suggest OP that you keep the ZT until in situ, once the roads are known to you, then assess whether you really want a 4x4, winter tyres, or in fact just want some common sense.
As for BMW and snow tyres, see the other threads. I've bought 2 for mine, as I live on steep hills, that don't get gritted and suspect that an e36 will not be my wisest choice
2) snow tyres for a 2wd will help if conditions are bad. Yes.
Last february me and the OH stayed in Loch Lomond, in a cottage in Scotland, down a 2mile farm track. It snowed, LOTS, it froze constantly.
I had the saab 9-3 on michellin normal tyres.
We didn't die, or explode, or fall off the road. I'm not at all saying this is going to happen, I have managed perfectly well with a FWD and no snow tyres before, however as we are going to be somewhere a lot more rural and I will be needing to continue driving unless the conditions are extreme I would like to take the measures I can now.
May I suggest OP that you keep the ZT until in situ, once the roads are known to you, then assess whether you really want a 4x4, winter tyres, or in fact just want some common sense.
As for BMW and snow tyres, see the other threads. I've bought 2 for mine, as I live on steep hills, that don't get gritted and suspect that an e36 will not be my wisest choice
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