Does everyone have a 4x4? How are you getting to the yard?

I've got a 4x4 which ended up skidding on ice on Monday morning resulting in going nose-down into a ditch. Car returned to me last night with repairs done to get it back driveable, but needs now to be collected for insurance assessor to look at it, as it needs a new bonnet etc. Not happy as I need it for work each day and courtesy car I will be getting isn't big enough to tow catering trailer or won't have a tow bar anyways. A friend thankfully has said I can lend her Discovery whilst mine is off the road. That's what I call a good friend.
 
My Peugeot 206 has been fab so far, it's got me everywhere i've needed to be and the horses are stabled in a very hilly area. I've not skidded once yet :D It didnt let me down at all last year through the snow either. Love my little car.
 
My little Astra does ok, but we went in friends bmw today, parked at the top of the hill and did shank's pony to the horses. Burns a few calories :)
 
Daisy Disco has been a godsend. We'd be proper stuck in if we didn't have her. We also have a saab 9 3, which I've not seen under the 3ft of snow covering it.

On the first day of the snow a lorry sideswiped me (and didn't stop) taking out the drivers wing mirror and bending the drivers door which means it won't open from the outside.....but it's still going.
 
Jeep 4x4 which is getting me out of a village that is not gritted and up a massively steep hill to the yard. Said hill is not for the faint hearted. My friend who I have ferried up there with me for the last couple of days is impressed with just how well it holds the road in proper 4WD mode. Can't understand the poster who didn't feel safe in hers! I also have 2 cars - I went to sell my jeep to get a newer one and when I found out how little money it was worth, bright brother said to keep it for horses/dog/snow and buy myself a nice car that will stay clean and have fun in.

That nice little sports car is currently completely hidden under 2 feet of snow but its a rear wheel drive so most definately NOT one to be driven.

Don't quite agree about the Ford Ka's though - they are brilliant at staying stable in this weather but cannot get up any kind of hill. Hence good friend had 50 types of kittens trying to get home on Tuesday.
 
We have a Peugeot 206 and she is a fab car, she survived last winter and is doing very wel this year too. I had another Peugeot 206 3 winters ago and again it was great in snow.
We do also have a isuzu trooper which is a fab 4x4
 
Gosh, surprised about all good the Peugeot 206 comments! Mine is awful in snow and ice, I was the only one who couldn't get on the yard the other day, wheels just kept spinning. YO couldn't manage to do it either, so not just my driving!

I never feel safe it in snow or on ice, tbh. Feels a bit like a tin can on roller skates :(
 
exactly that, i have a 206 and its a nightmare. I am determind to buy a 4x4 next year now. even though i said that last year! I walked to the yard yesterday and it took me 4hrs!! its only a 10 min drive normally! luckily my lovely yard owner has done my little girlie today.

Ponies and horses are well happy living out in it and it saves alot of work too! just well rugged.
 
i had a corsa last year that was fab and got me everywhere. unfortunatly some scum broke into my house and stole it and set it on fire in april. so i now have a focus who has been stood still under 3 foot of snow for the last two days
am seriously considering getting a 4x4 as im 7 and half months pregnant so im very wary of walking far incase i fall and im also worrying that if i go into labour i wont be able to get to hospital.
anyone got any recommendations for a 4x4 that will cope with this weather but is also a good family car that isnt to fuel hungry (doesnt really matter as staring maternity soon but im a carer who goes round to people homes so could do with something that quite econimical)
 
GMC Sierra SLT1500, 5.3 V8, winter tyres, no problems.
Saying that I don't have any snow anyway, but it has managed pretty well previously.

If Landrovers weren't so hard to get hold of my OH would still rather have a 110 though, I wouldn't, much as I love them they are a bit basic in comparison, it would be a summer only vehicle.
 
We've been getting to the yard in my mums focus which is great in the three years we've been at this yard it's only not made it once I think and it's very steep hills. Though we haven't bothered trying twice this week as been so bad especially today as YO's landrover got stuck going out the village in a snow drift up over the bonnet so focus would of had no chance.

I have a corsa but haven't driven it in the snow yet only had it a few months after writing off the previous one which I drove in the snow once or twice and hated it. Think that was due more to just not likeing drive in the snow though. Definitly wouldn't try driving to the yard in it.
 
aro said:
Does anybody have any experience of driving automatic 4x4's and are they still as good as a manual one in this weather?
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Most vehicles here are automatics, people tend to prefer them, and they work just fine, thousands of Canadians manage very well in them.:)
 
I have a Skoda Fabia and it's doing quite well. I got a bit stuck on our (mile long) drive a couple of days ago but that was more due to depth of snow rather than anything else! Had 2 new tyres put on the front on Wed and it's been super ever since! Fortunately the pony is at home and I'm working from home atm so I'm spoilt!
 
A fellow livery picks me up at the bottom of my street and takes me to the yard then brings me home again - if not for her I would be on full livery as my little Nissan aint getting anywhere near my yard.
 
ew1801 said:
i had a corsa last year that was fab and got me everywhere. unfortunatly some scum broke into my house and stole it and set it on fire in april. so i now have a focus who has been stood still under 3 foot of snow for the last two days
am seriously considering getting a 4x4 as im 7 and half months pregnant so im very wary of walking far incase i fall and im also worrying that if i go into labour i wont be able to get to hospital.
anyone got any recommendations for a 4x4 that will cope with this weather but is also a good family car that isnt to fuel hungry (doesnt really matter as staring maternity soon but im a carer who goes round to people homes so could do with something that quite econimical)
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Depends on your budget but I have been recently reading up on Skoda yetis as trying to think of a 4x4 car for my mum that has a lower boot for getting dogs in and out but yet is still a decent 4WD vehicle. They seem to get a good write up for both off road and on road performance but aesthetically i guess they wouldn't be for everyone plus only came out in 2009 I think so no real 2nd hand ones out there so you're looking at between £15K and £18K BUT you do seem to get a fair bit of spec for your money.

Either that or the Kia Sorrento. I have a Fiat sedici which is essentially a 5 dr hatchback but wuth optional 4WD. It's the same as the Suzuki SX4 and I have to say it's done brilliantly in this snow and believe me we have a real tester of a hill going to the stables which non-4WD vehicles just cannot get up in snow/ice. It is much lighter on fuel than my previous Vitara and cheaper tax wise too. Your other options are the Subaru or the Mitsubishi. The outback or forester - can't remember which is the mitsubishi and which is the subaru though! Lol. They are a bit pricier mind!
 
My corsa is fine in straight lines along the flat, but as soon as you try and turn or go up a hill it struggles. It spent the day stuck on a hill on Tuesday, didn't even risk moving it today! I need a 4x4!!
 
Little old battered fiesta been a complete star but not been out of 2nd gear in days.
But at least in second it is pulling itself over the ice and getting me to the yard and back each day at the mo, saves the long walk
 
i have a p reg ford fiesta and he hasnt let me down yet :-D He gets me everywhere in all weathers and can fit at least 3 small bales of hay in him too. Like a mini defender i tell you!
 
I have a Vauxhall Corsa and so far have been managing ok. Just been driving really slowly (no faster than 30 mph) and avoiding harsh braking etc. The roads to my yard aren't too bad though as they have been gritted so it's mainly just looking out for ice.
 
Ayla84 said:
I`ve got a peugeot 206 convertible..... will never ever buy a Peugeot again...worst cars ever! In februarys snow everyone on the yard got in and out fine but oh no even though I was going in a completely straight line, my car decided to go sideways down the drive and then refused to move for the rest of the day!:mad:
Am doing very well this wnter though as there is no snow ...... :D

OP there are some nifty little things for tyres called Autosocks which look quite good.... I`m thinking they may tide me over until I buy a 4x4, well thats if I ever get any snow!!!!
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I have a got an aged 106, and Ilove it, it has never given me any problem in the snow, although we have not got that much that the poor old thing would need a snow plough on the front to physically get through.

My OH has a 4 x 4 and it skids around like noones buisness, I guess it muct be because it is RWD and a crewe cab!!!!!
 
We have a Jaguar estate which last year was worse than useless - it was terrifying slipping uncontrollably straight for the edge of the hill! :eek: So this year OH got winter tyres - WOW! We were passing 4x4s who were slipping all over the place, with gay abandon! These winter tyres (they are a legal requirement in places like Germany) are suitable for all year use on a 4x4 - maybe your solution?
 
1st year weve had it but weve got an audi quatro ( mums ebay bargain! ) and its been really good so far, went out today and very snowy in places and mum found it great :)
 
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