Convince me that I don’t need a 4x4 in this weather

[Ffordd Ar Gau]

As the title suggests, people often say that unless you need to drive off road, live down a mile long forestry track etc., and if you live on a tarmac road you don’t need a 4x4 or raised vehicle.

Given the amount of rain recently, and especially today, I’ve seen water running from an awful lot of places it shouldn’t be running from!!

I live on a tarmac ‘C’ class road and I have a normal road car (V60). The last few days going to and from work I have seriously worried about flooding the car out from standing water, it is not very high riding and some of the standing water has been quite deep, and right across the width of the narrow road. Having now seen a stream down the valley running right out across the road because there’s too much water for the pipe, to at least a foot deep across the road, had I needed to get out for any reason, I’d have no chance with the V60.

And it’s not just the minor roads…I’m very thankful that today I’m not working because this is the road about half a mile from work (photo shared from a local FB group). To be fair, I’d be worried about attempting that in anything other than a tractor!!



I’ve never been one for 4x4 or SUV’s, and I can’t see much point in someone living on a cul-de-sac in Preston needing one, but I’m starting to wonder now about it given there seems to be no let up in the rain forecast, and I need to get to work, and I need to get to buy food etc..

Is so-called Climate Change going to mean more rain for the U.K. and more of these winter storms, will more people living in rural areas prone to excess run off and standing water going to need a higher riding vehicle to allow their continued driving in ever more extreme conditions?

[ChrisCh86]

Given that the climate is changing, I can't say it'd be a bad idea to have an option for bad winter weather with increased ground clearance - flooding like you're seeing is likely to become a more common occurrence.

Perhaps it's time to invest in an old 4x4 that has been banned from London (ULEZ) to use in winter?

Make sure to fit all-season tyres (e.g. Michelin Crossclimate) to deal with the cold (and wet) weather (and occasional snow).

[samoht]

Just buy a Leaf

No air intake or exhaust to worry about, battery pack is all sealed up (hence their heat management issues), will wade until it floats away.

[cliffords]

We have some roads near us that look just like that . Yesterday I had an appointment and had to cross a bit like you have photographed. I had to wait as three kids were obviously making a u tube video or similar as they had a dingy in the water and were being filmed rowing down the road . It's called Stream lane by the way .

[Bobupndown]

I live down a rural lane off a c class road in an area prone to snow in winter. A 4x4 is necessary if you definitely need to get out. Currently have a Freelander 2 and my wife has a 4motion Tiguan. Both good cars, the Freelander the more capable of the 2 with its terrain response.

[Alex_225]

I do think in rural areas there is some benefit to having a car with better ground clearance. My other half has a Merc ML and that has no issues on the roads round here and could certainly wade through water better than my Saab or CL could.

I still think I could get away with a normal hatchback for 99% of the time.

[fredhead]

Unless you're doing the school run you don't need a 4x4

[shirt]

Agree there are times when ground clearance is handy, but that’s perhaps 1% of the time. A lot of ‘floods’ don’t even go over the kerb tops and those are well within the limits of a normal car. I passed through similar the other week on my motorbike, didn’t even get my feet wet.

So I’m kinda torn in that buying a 4x4 for a limited use case is stupid, but if that’ll get it past the mrs then go for it, get the car you want.

[Ffordd Ar Gau]

samoht said:

Just buy a Leaf

No air intake or exhaust to worry about, battery pack is all sealed up (hence their heat management issues), will wade until it floats away.

That reminds me I must get a new microwave for the bathroom

shirt said:

if that’ll get it past the mrs then go for it, get the car you want.

I’ve no concerns about that, no other half to worry about


The problem seems to be finding a half decent solution that I actually like. There’s a lot of 4x4 SUV’s that are crap, and those that are decent but crap because they’re abused/rust/run on a budget.
Doesn’t have to be the only car by any means, I’m lucky that I could keep a normal road car and have a 4x4. Three cars might be a bit of a stretch right now but not impossible, so I’d be covered with a summer use and a ‘fun’ car as well as dealing with the lovely Welsh weather in winter.

Edited by Ffordd Ar Gau on Saturday 30th December 18:21

[Gigamoons]

If you want a 4x4 then get one, group-think not required

[Disco You]

Seems to me like what you actually need is a higher air intake. This should do it.

[irish boy]

A panda 4x4 would suit you perfectly!

[Biker's Nemesis]

[PlywoodPascal]

You don’t neeed a 4x4 though

A helicopter would avoid the issue altogether

[GolfDragon]

If the councils cleared blocked drains and used the road sweepers more often to collect fallen leaves during autumn that would probably make this less of a problem nationwide.

Although obviously there will still be some instances like that. You’ll still get people though who think that because they’ve got an SUV it grants them invincibility in all weathers. You still have to be careful when approaching water of an unknown depth.

[AmyRichardson]

Here's an idea; if it's been raining really hard, take the long way round. It's always the same bits that flood.

[georgefreeman918]

We live rurally (4 miles down a single lane track with passing places). With the recent flooding, we have only risked taking one car out (A4 Allroad over Mini JCW) and have had no choice but to go through some relatively deep water. Given recent rainfall, I am expecting the roads out to be flooded again. We wouldn't be able to get out, had we two small cars!

Given how wet its been recently, the grass verges are wet and muddy. useful with 4x4 when allowing others to pass, but could see getting stuck in a FWD with summer tyres. Snow isnt regular enough to worry about, but nice to have something capable in the few days a year we get enough to cause an issue.

For these reasons, we will always have something a little higher than normal and a 4x4 for atleast one car.

[Ninja59]

I think the idea is slightly flawed, brutally the ONLY thing that matters is the height of the air intake. Unfortunately, even on some 4x4/SUVs they can be lower than you think.

Equally, even EVs can have problems that appear long after with corrosion setting in on pins.

The other aspect as well is that cars can float in less water than many think.

[eyestwice]

I once dared to suggest on a mountain bike forum that I was considering a 4x4.

Despite living in the Peak District, regularly wild camping and very often choosing bike trails off the beaten track, the hate was incredible.

I ended up with a Renegade Deserthawk. Factory lift compared to base specs. Rock sliders. Skid plates. Fits camping gear and dog. Roof basket is great for wet gear.

Some Falken Wildpeaks and it's been absolutely brilliant through mud, rock, snow, sand and *reasonable* standing water.

After an inordinate amount of vitriol from the middle classes, where they didn't even ask what my motivating factors were...I replied to one particular hater, suggesting he 'f-off and buy a Trabant'.

Strangely, that made things worse. I don't use that forum any more.

[Ffordd Ar Gau]

Disco You said:

Seems to me like what you actually need is a higher air intake. This should do it.

Sold! Where do I sign??

I’ve always been of the opinion that 4x4’s are only necessary for people who need to go off road, why would someone driving only on tarmac roads need one after all (even in rural areas as here), and hence why previously I didn’t want a 4x4, but after the recent weather, it’s made me think that it might actually be necessary to have one.

I might get up tomorrow, give my head a wobble and go out and get a Z4