Winter car ideas.
Discussion
I'm after some ideas as winter is on the way. I have a 5 series tourer with 18" wheels and it is looking like putting winter tyres on it is going to be expensive at around £1000. This made me think it will probably be a better idea to buy a winter run around as the BMW will still be pretty poor even with the new tyres.
So suggestions on a cheap 4wd to keep for 6 months preferably with isofix so I don't have to buy a new baby seat as well as a car.
Cheers,
Ed.
So suggestions on a cheap 4wd to keep for 6 months preferably with isofix so I don't have to buy a new baby seat as well as a car.
Cheers,
Ed.
Ed FM said:
I'm after some ideas as winter is on the way. I have a 5 series tourer with 18" wheels and it is looking like putting winter tyres on it is going to be expensive at around £1000. This made me think it will probably be a better idea to buy a winter run around as the BMW will still be pretty poor even with the new tyres.
So suggestions on a cheap 4wd to keep for 6 months preferably with isofix so I don't have to buy a new baby seat as well as a car.
Cheers,
Ed.
No it won't be. Especially if you need to brake - where 4wd gives no advantage but winter tyres do...So suggestions on a cheap 4wd to keep for 6 months preferably with isofix so I don't have to buy a new baby seat as well as a car.
Cheers,
Ed.
Think you might be surprised:
Winter before last used 4x4 in preference to summer shod BM (and even that struggled at times).
Last winter got winter tyres for the BM. MUCH improved, to the extent that it got used in preference to the 4x4. Even hill starts on snow/ice not a problem.
Just knock the TC down a notch and the autobox is fine.
Only time you might have difficulties is if you're running a low front spoiler or the snow is VERY deep. But that's clearance rather than traction...
Winter before last used 4x4 in preference to summer shod BM (and even that struggled at times).
Last winter got winter tyres for the BM. MUCH improved, to the extent that it got used in preference to the 4x4. Even hill starts on snow/ice not a problem.
Just knock the TC down a notch and the autobox is fine.
Only time you might have difficulties is if you're running a low front spoiler or the snow is VERY deep. But that's clearance rather than traction...
thinfourth2 said:
Why cant every Car advert be as honest and straightforward as this? 
If you're driving on snow and ice it's the tyres that will make the biggest difference.
Many shed 4wd motors will probably come with M+S tyres or even snow tyres though. This is probably why some people think it's the 4wd that makes the difference.
But, a lot of road-going suvs will come with performance summer tyres.
Which is why so many modern SUVs get panned in the press for poor off road ability.
If you plan to drive in snow and ice I'd suggest two alternate courses of action.
1. Get winter/snow tyres for the beemer.
2. Buy an older suv/awd/4x4/beater with M+S or Snow tyres already fitted.
If you're planning to keep the BMW for a few years then option 1 will probably be the most economical over time.
Many shed 4wd motors will probably come with M+S tyres or even snow tyres though. This is probably why some people think it's the 4wd that makes the difference.
But, a lot of road-going suvs will come with performance summer tyres.
Which is why so many modern SUVs get panned in the press for poor off road ability.
If you plan to drive in snow and ice I'd suggest two alternate courses of action.
1. Get winter/snow tyres for the beemer.
2. Buy an older suv/awd/4x4/beater with M+S or Snow tyres already fitted.
If you're planning to keep the BMW for a few years then option 1 will probably be the most economical over time.
Ed FM said:
I'm after some ideas as winter is on the way. I have a 5 series tourer with 18" wheels and it is looking like putting winter tyres on it is going to be expensive at around £1000. This made me think it will probably be a better idea to buy a winter run around as the BMW will still be pretty poor even with the new tyres.
So suggestions on a cheap 4wd to keep for 6 months preferably with isofix so I don't have to buy a new baby seat as well as a car.
Cheers,
Ed.
You want a £1k 4x4 with ISOfix? Keep dreaming.So suggestions on a cheap 4wd to keep for 6 months preferably with isofix so I don't have to buy a new baby seat as well as a car.
Cheers,
Ed.
doogz said:
LooneyTunes said:
No it won't be. Especially if you need to brake - where 4wd gives no advantage but winter tyres do...
This again?!Since your comment appears to suggest you disagree, I feel compelled to ask: have you personally experienced, as a driver, the difference?
300bhp/ton said:
LooneyTunes said:
No it won't be. Especially if you need to brake - where 4wd gives no advantage but winter tyres do...
Umm actually they can do. Why is it in every winter tyre thread you always get numpties with no concept of physics spouting the same old rubbish??If you want to disagree, then fine - but based on my own experiences, I know which option I'll be taking this winter if the snow comes down.
LooneyTunes said:
FFS, I give up.
If you want to disagree, then fine - but based on my own experiences, I know which option I'll be taking this winter if the snow comes down.
What I and I suspect doogz are suggesting, is you are totally ignoring engine braking.If you want to disagree, then fine - but based on my own experiences, I know which option I'll be taking this winter if the snow comes down.
A 4wd will be able to engine brake with all 4 wheels, offering twice the engine braking grip as a 2wd on the same tyres.
Yes winter tyres make a HUGE difference. But there is more to a 4wd than just traction off the line.
And a 4wd in winter tyres will always be better than a 2wd on winter tyres.
In an attempt to be a voice of reason on here (but possible become a target for both sides) may I suggest this.
2wd performance/summer tyres = 1/10 on snow covered road
4wd performance/summer tyres = 2/10 on snow covered road
4wd is marginally better than 2wd, but still not very good.
2wd winter tyres = 8/10 on snow covered road
4wd/AWD winter tyres = 10/10 on snow covered road
4wd/AWD is better than 2wd, but with snow tyres both cars are significantly improved.
This is based on personal experience of several years living and driving in ski resorts with various cars.
2wd performance/summer tyres = 1/10 on snow covered road
4wd performance/summer tyres = 2/10 on snow covered road
4wd is marginally better than 2wd, but still not very good.
2wd winter tyres = 8/10 on snow covered road
4wd/AWD winter tyres = 10/10 on snow covered road
4wd/AWD is better than 2wd, but with snow tyres both cars are significantly improved.
This is based on personal experience of several years living and driving in ski resorts with various cars.
300bhp/ton said:
LooneyTunes said:
FFS, I give up.
If you want to disagree, then fine - but based on my own experiences, I know which option I'll be taking this winter if the snow comes down.
What I and I suspect doogz are suggesting, is you are totally ignoring engine braking.If you want to disagree, then fine - but based on my own experiences, I know which option I'll be taking this winter if the snow comes down.
A 4wd will be able to engine brake with all 4 wheels, offering twice the engine braking grip as a 2wd on the same tyres.
Yes winter tyres make a HUGE difference. But there is more to a 4wd than just traction off the line.
And a 4wd in winter tyres will always be better than a 2wd on winter tyres.
Very familiar with engine braking: however this has near zero impact in an emergency braking situation.
Anyway, the same question as to doogz: have you experienced both?
powwerr said:
thinfourth2 said:
Why cant every Car advert be as honest and straightforward as this? I used this every single day
Snowboy said:
In an attempt to be a voice of reason on here (but possible become a target for both sides) may I suggest this.
2wd performance/summer tyres = 1/10 on snow covered road
4wd performance/summer tyres = 2/10 on snow covered road
4wd is marginally better than 2wd, but still not very good.
2wd winter tyres = 8/10 on snow covered road
4wd/AWD winter tyres = 10/10 on snow covered road
4wd/AWD is better than 2wd, but with snow tyres both cars are significantly improved.
This is based on personal experience of several years living and driving in ski resorts with various cars.
I think you are not giving enough credit to how capable AWD is. My Jeep can run in 2wd or 4wd mode, the latter with either an open or locked diff.2wd performance/summer tyres = 1/10 on snow covered road
4wd performance/summer tyres = 2/10 on snow covered road
4wd is marginally better than 2wd, but still not very good.
2wd winter tyres = 8/10 on snow covered road
4wd/AWD winter tyres = 10/10 on snow covered road
4wd/AWD is better than 2wd, but with snow tyres both cars are significantly improved.
This is based on personal experience of several years living and driving in ski resorts with various cars.
In 2wd in the snow it'll hardly move, yet stick it in 4wd and it's a totally different vehicle. Nothing marginal about I'm afraid, we're talking a factor of maybe 50-100 times better and more capable.
The type of AWD system and centre differential has a simple MASSIVE bearing on it though.
Last year I mounted a 4 hour round trip rescue mission right in the PEAK of the snowfall in my Jeep, despite being on normal summer road tyres. Not only were we one of the only vehicle still moving, we had enough grip/traction to tackle a 45 degree side slope which allowed use to drive around 15 struck cars and a lorry.
Roads were a mix of inner city (Milton Keynes), dual carriage way and ungraded country lanes.
So capable was the vehicle that we event took a detour on the way home to stop at some local shops in the town near where we live.
Ed FM said:
I'm after some ideas as winter is on the way. I have a 5 series tourer with 18" wheels and it is looking like putting winter tyres on it is going to be expensive at around £1000. This made me think it will probably be a better idea to buy a winter run around as the BMW will still be pretty poor even with the new tyres.
So suggestions on a cheap 4wd to keep for 6 months preferably with isofix so I don't have to buy a new baby seat as well as a car.
Cheers,
Ed.
If we can all put our winter tyre handbags away...So suggestions on a cheap 4wd to keep for 6 months preferably with isofix so I don't have to buy a new baby seat as well as a car.
Cheers,
Ed.
What size wheels will your 5 take? I got some 16s for SWMBO's car from a scrappy and fitted winter tyres for £600 all in. Or just buy a steel wheel and tyre combo from mytyres or similar.
LooneyTunes said:
I won't disagree that a 4wd on winters would be superior to a 2wd on winters...
Very familiar with engine braking: however this has near zero impact in an emergency braking situation.
Anyway, the same question as to doogz: have you experienced both?
Yes to your last question.Very familiar with engine braking: however this has near zero impact in an emergency braking situation.
Anyway, the same question as to doogz: have you experienced both?
In the snow you should be far more careful and plan even further ahead. If you don't think you could stop in time, slow down.
Yet ultimately you can't plan for emergency braking situations. That said, using engine braking and maybe being able to steer around something might come in just as handy.
300bhp/ton said:
In 2wd in the snow it'll hardly move, yet stick it in 4wd and it's a totally different vehicle. Nothing marginal about I'm afraid, we're talking a factor of maybe 50-100 times better and more capable.
My FWD car on winter tyres was about 368 times more capable in the snow compared to summer tyres.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff