Snow day in UK ?

[4WheelDrifter]

We had ~15 cm of snow overnight.
This was what I faced when I got to the main road.



The main problem I had was getting over the snow boulders that the snow plough had left. After that is was ok, apart having to watch out for Land Rovers coming the other way. They seemed to be the only other vehicles out and about up here.



Sorry I haven't got any shots of the S2 out in the snow.

[panzerwagen]

You call that a snowfall! Pfft! Thats nothing!!!

Here in the States, we call that "small flurries". We get 9 to 12" of snow in the Midwest of the USA...for 3 months out of the year. February means we are coming to end of our big snowstorm season and looking forward to Spring.

[4WheelDrifter]

Here in the States, we call that "small flurries". We get 9 to 12" of snow in the Midwest of the USA...for 3 months out of the year. February means we are coming to end of our big snowstorm season and looking forward to Spring.

Yeah. I'm aware that people from other parts of the world are laughing at this.
The problem with our weather this time of year is the wind could blow from the North or East one day, and bring cold and snow. The next day it could blow from the Southwest and bring warm wet weather. It's the inconsistency that's the problem. But at least we always have the weather to talk about in the UK.

[Rusty]

Nobody in the UK is used to driving in snow so the less confident or less able drivers don't adjust their driving to suit and then end up crashing or cauing bug hold ups etc. If you're used to driving in snow it's fine, it's just not the norm and as Stu says, we usually have 1 or 2 days of snow a year but this prolonged period is the worst for 20 years.

Stu, I take it the A3 bumper was missing before you let the house? Do you get special treatment based on your name?

[4WheelDrifter]

Stu, I take it the A3 bumper was missing before you let the house? Do you get special treatment based on your name?

Yeah. Don't worry, I had to take the bumper off as it wasn't clearing the snow.

The baby Lupo has just arrived, so I'm off for some FWD diesel snow action now.

[Rusty]

Small, light cars on 145s are ace in the snow. A mate's Punto was the snow king! Much better than my old Golf on 195 low profile with stiff spension. Have fun me babber.

[goodall]

took some videos this morning and at lunch, well my friend held the camera phone

the first part is in the morning after some one else had been in then second bit is at lunch when i had very small space play in, ended up rear axle on the muck, thats why he laughs, also couple people in the back which why its not best could be

have to love the diff lock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3ADkLw7QKI

[kwlw]

Nobody in the UK is used to driving in snow so the less confident or less able drivers don't adjust their driving to suit and then end up crashing or cauing bug hold ups etc. If you're used to driving in snow it's fine, it's just not the norm and as Stu says, we usually have 1 or 2 days of snow a year but this prolonged period is the worst for 20 years.

You just don't have proper tires... Such mild snow with empty roads, quattro + proper tire .

Sau

[Fat Audi 80]

You just don't have proper tires... Such mild snow with empty roads, quattro + proper tire .

Sau

Yep!

Even a small amount of snow on summer tyres is impossible...

[Rusty]

You just don't have proper tires... Such mild snow with empty roads, quattro + proper tire .

Sau

No, you're quite right, we dont! A set of winter tyres would really help but they're only needed for 1 or 2 days a year on average. I've been tempted by some 16" steels and some winter tyres :mischeif:

[stiglet]

You just don't have proper tires... Such mild snow with empty roads, quattro + proper tire .

Sau

Thats exactly it. Everybody is still driving round on summer tyres, unaware of the difference.

Admitedly I am doing the same but at least i'm not trying to drive like Nigel Mansell on the way to work!

[curlyks2]

You just don't have proper tires... Such mild snow with empty roads, quattro + proper tire

Agreed... which is why I made a few calls trying to get hold of some winter tyres. Looking at the options, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance (link) tyres looked like a good bet, but not a single tyre place (independant or chain) could get them - one even said that they don't exist.

[RANT]

Eventually, and in some frustration, I contacted Goodyear directly to find out where I could get some. Their response:

Full winter tyres are not marketed in the UK.

This caused a certain amount more frustration, because I'd set my location when visiting their website to UK (note the uk_en in the above link), and the winter tyre choices it gave me... they don't market in the UK.

I do sometimes wonder why we bother trying to cope/manage situations when things are so stacked against us from the start. Try to cope with winter conditions by getting errr... winter tyres? Oh no, sorry, we don't sell them in your country.

aaarrrrggGGGGHHHHHHH

[/RANT]

Ck.
PS Yes, I know there are other manufacturers/options. I liked the look of those ones!

[goodall]

my car only 136bhp so i dont get the challenge you guys get, also im on 185's atm, even if they are all weathers, beats the 225 and 235 all the fools that hold me up run on in mid winter


as for getting winter tyres, try camskill seem have good range

[4WheelDrifter]

Small, light cars on 145s are ace in the snow. A mate's Punto was the snow king! Much better than my old Golf on 195 low profile with stiff spension. Have fun me babber.

Cheers man. I had loads of fun around the Devon lanes around here.

145s? I thought 155s were skinny enough. Vredestein Snowtrack 2s on the Lupo seemed to grip quite well.

Dartmoor in the background.



Exmoor in the background.



Incoming snowball!



Ended up putting the Lupo away and getting the A3 out again. 4WD is more fun, even with summer tyres. I can't wait to give the S2 a run with the winter tyres. Hopefully it'll make the brake upgrade I'm trying to squeeze under the 17"s worth it.

[Dpicariello]

I absolutely love driving in the snow. Obviously traffic is cr@p but the way you have to changed your driving style makes the whole experience so interesting.

We had a good dumping of snow yesterday morning. The S2 stays in the Garage in this weather (although when it snowed a couple of weeks ago I managed to experience quattro in the snow) so I'm using my Polo.

The Polo had new tyres last week and they are really knobbly (no idea why). There is a hill out of our village and as I was driving up yesterday morning I saw a few cars with hazards on. I thought about turning round but instead kept going. Kept it in 3rd at about 15mph. The cars that were stuck were a Mazda 6 and an an 08' A6.

The looks that the owner's gave me as I trundled past not even slipping a wheel in my £700 1997 Polo!

Hope none of the Devon contingent were stuck on Holden Hill last night. A mate of mine drive through there an hour before all the chaos and there wasn't a flake!