Increase in "What 4x4" threads/Winter's Coming?

[paddyhasneeds]

I've noticed an increase in "What 4x4" threads, presumably due to the forecast of an imminent cold snap and another fun winter ahead.

I've got a 4x4, it's great, so I'm not coming at this from an "anti" postion, but what did people do before 4x4's were so prevalent?

I guess we used to cope with driving in the snow (from what I remember from when I was a kid and growing up) so I'm wondering if people are more risk averse these days, if modern cars are less capable in the snow, or if (and it's a perfectly reasonable POV) it's simply that 4x4's in the snow are fun so if you can, why not?

[60]

Cars had skinny tyres with tread that was better better in the snow, people had common sence, fewer cars on the road and people lived closer to work I'd say.

[Matt UK]

In previous years there weren't so many 4x4's knocking around and they were a bit specialist. Now there are plenty out there for sale.

Also most modern cars on low profile rubber are so crap on snow that it's easy to go the 4x4 route.

[NHK244V]

Thay did same as i do every year, let the tyres down a bit and drive slower, tis what me dad did and his dad did but my dads dads dad didn't drive so he didn't do the same, he walked faster.

[AndyCowman]

I have a land rover defender - last winter the girlfriend used it to get into work safely while I commuted from Wiltshire to Staines in a Jetta GTI! It is perfectly possible to drive in Snow in a normal car. Even a BMW - a friend got around quite well in an M5!! albeit with the odd moment

That said I would prefer the land rover simply because when other people get it wrong there is less chance of them damaging my car

[daemon]

Most of the commuting problems i had - and they were only for a couple of days - were due to heavy traffic moreso than not being able to physically move the car, so a 4x4 wouldnt have made any difference.

[daemon]

Matt UK said:

In previous years there weren't so many 4x4's knocking around and they were a bit specialist. Now there are plenty out there for sale.

Also most modern cars on low profile rubber are so crap on snow that it's easy to go the 4x4 route.

I think a lot of people 'talk' about buying a 4x4 just for winter but very few do.

[HellDiver]

paddyhasneeds said:

but what did people do before 4x4's were so prevalent?

4x4s have been generally available since the 1950s. If no 4x4 was available, people in the country used their or a neighbour's tractor, people in the city walked.

[Ramses]

60 said:

..... people had common sence, ......

This. (Although more sense than sence )


The country has bred a nationed of fkwits that are unable to engage their own brain and take responsibility for their own actions instead blaming getting stuck on "BMWs are st in the snow! rather than the correct summation of "I'm a fking retard and can't drive". Ergo, the aforementioned fkwits go out and buy a 4x4...then whinge that THEY are st in the snow too.


I've had RWD cars with minimum of 255 rear tyres for the last 6 years, never do less than 300 miles per week and never been stuck in the snow. Go figure.

[scrwright]

I hope so, have a Cherokee to sell, currently doing a snow dance

[BuzzLightyear]

During the snow last year / earlier this, I had an E39 M5 with summer tyres which I struggled to get off my driveway but couldn't get up the slight incline to the main road at all: I tried all the usual tricks, 2nd gear, no accelerator, TC off, TC on, even reversing up but the compacted snow had been polished smooth and frozen over during the night and I couldn't find any traction at all.

OH's XC90 on all-weather tyres just went out as if it was dry!

This year, I am mostly buying a small, cheap 4wd with appropriate tyres (and decent ground clearance).

[kambites]

I think they probably stayed at home. That's what I intend to do if it happens again.

[Ramses]

doogz said:

Ramses said:

I don't need a 4x4, so everyone that does much be stupid

Sure.

http://www.specsavers.co.uk/

[Snowboy]

Cars used to all have skinny all season tyres as standard, so they would get traction.
Besides, when it was bloody cold people wouldn't worry too much about traction, because the car wouldn’t start anyway.

Also, many people could walk to work if it snowed.
Or the factories and offices and schools would be closed.

In the last 20 years people have started working much further from home.
There's a lot more commuting and much heavier traffic.

Also, it's now possible to get a usable 4x4 for the equivalent of a weekends drinking money. That level of buying power mean that people can seriously consider it.

It's like buying an old cabrio for the summer.

[soda]

I've only managed to get stuck once in the last couple of years, over 1 foot of snow in the work carpark and everyone was stuck. The only car I ever had that was useless in snow was a 03 Fiesta, I blame it on the tyres being too fat for the weight of the car. RWD does not equal getting stuck, got about fine in the 330d with a couple of slabs in the boot