Anyone else enjoy driving in snow?

yes*

on good tyres, decent awd and no-one else around.

Yep especially when I had classic minis or my old 106 diesel.

Quiet carparks and roundabouts so much fun at 10mph

Yes. No matter what vehicle.

on good tyres, decent awd and no-one else around.

Yes,but absolutely this^^

I used to until, in winter 1996, I hit a patch black ice hidden under fresh snow, pretty scary...

Now I am very wary when it comes to driving through snow, beware what lies beneath.

I used to like it up north where the roads are emptier and the driving is a little more sedate. I actively avoid it in Sheffield where the roads are treacherous at the best of times and there's dozens of aggro bellends with bald tyres.

+1 for 'yes, but only when there's no silly buggers about to slide into me'

And also fresh snow only not icy slush.

I used to love it. Doesn’t happen often in Oz though.
I passed my test in December and remember doing a fair bit of my early driving in snow.

Had a non-turbo Saab 900 that was brilliant for it and a 1964 Triumph 2000 that was even better.

and no-one else around.

I was this until back in my distant youth, me and a friend were hooning around a remote roundabout, Ken Block style.
I hit a high kerb sideways and knocked my front wheel right under the car. oops.

Driving in the snow is something that some people just have to do throughout the winter. And they do it in whatever car they happen to have (with winter tyres, of course). And they manage it with loads of other people driving all around them.

It's just something you get used to.

Triumph 2000 that was even better

I had a '71. I remember driving it to Heathrow from down on the south coast in crazy snowy conditions. I was young and overconfident, overtaking people going "too slow" for me... Overtook on the lead up to a roundabout, spun out, just missed some cars waiting for me to go by, kept going. Made it to Heathrow and drove into a completely iced up car park whereupon the car did a complete sideways slide towards a huge green skip. And stopped about 6 inches short, parallel to the skip with my girlfriend on the skip side. Madness.

These days, I hate driving no matter what the weather.

Love driving in snow, it's what handbrakes were made for.

Yeah, I quite like it. Unless my wife is in the car - she had a bad experience and is utterly terrified any time it snows even a bit.

Winter tyres, rear wheel drive and 3" deep max of virgin snow
If you get beached and need to spend 3 hrs digging yourself out it's no fun

I don’t mind it. Try to avoid heavy braking use engine braking more and allow plenty of space.

Range Rover driver right behind me this morning coming into Aviemore seemed a bit overconfident. I’m sure he would take as long as I would to stop. Wonder what the brake distance multiplier is on white roads 10x normal maybe.

Range Rover driver right behind me this morning coming into Aviemore seemed a bit overconfident. I’m sure he would take as long as I would to stop. Wonder what the brake distance multiplier is 10x normal maybe.

I think a lot of 4x4 Chelsea tractor drivers don't appreciate that 4 wheel drive doesn't help you if none of your tyres have traction.

Never done it 🙁

I used to love it in my Hillman Imp. It was hilarious. Oh and I once slithered all the way down Winnats in a Granada. The only car going up was a work mate in a Panda 4x4. She even stopped for a chat before setting off uphill again.

Tractionman

username doesn't check out - lackoftractionman??

Try to avoid heavy braking use engine braking more

In most cars (those which are fwd) engine braking only brakes two wheels, and that’ll be reduced further with the effects of a differential, plus those are the same wheels you’re using to steer. Also, in theory, slowing too quickly using engine braking in very low traction scenarios could lead to your rear wheels overtaking the fronts.

Drive slower, anticipate more? Sure. But if you want to slow down, use the brake pedal.

Edit: Turns out this is more contentious than I realised. I think engine braking is the wrong thing to do in almost all scenarios but perhaps with an AWD automatic (CVT) car it makes sense.

Yeah

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Maybe..

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Had a lot of fun recently in my Clan, which runs on winter tyres.

https://imgur.com/ePL8Wyj

https://imgur.com/FYL6UuJ

We've currently got 7 inches at sea level here, after a big dump this morning.
I'm quite excited to head out shortly to do a job at a house which is up at 150M with a steep single track road followed by dirt track.
I've used my snow chains numerous times in mud and ice, but never deep snow.
I was pleased to see my new van has a proper handbrake, but sadly pulling it on seems to freak the system out and it applies the auto brakes with a noisy graunch.

Yes, definitely. Boxing Day driving up through Scotch Corner to Glasgow (A66/ A74) was good - beautiful views mixed with blizzard conditions, and slightly sketchy round the big trucks and their spray.
But honestly, going 20mph on an empty road with decent tyres is great fun; 4 wheel drifts round corners, seeing if you can get the back end to step out etc.

username doesn’t check out – lackoftractionman??

on that occasion, yes!

🙂

A Clan Crusader that's a blast from the past, is it an 875,915 or probably a 998 ?

Yes, ideally with no one else around as it switches from "fun" to "disastrous" extremely quickly - even if it's just being stuck at the bottom of the hill as those in front have made a mess of trying to drive up it.

The most fun was in my old MR2 - mid engine, rear wheel drive, limited slip diff. Drifting at walking pace. I'd have stayed out all afternoon if I could have.

yes, hilly part of South Lanarkshire here so not uncommon. Have had 4wd and cross climates for past decade so used to a capable car. However, i only like it if all other drivers are confined to their houses - so many idiots around that the chances of being driven into are too high to risk it unless it's really essential for me.

Had a lot of fun recently in my Clan

As I was saying, fun in a Hillman Imp.

It's currently running a BMW K100 engine bolted to the original gearbox, cheap and reliable way to get 90bhp.

went inadvertently sledging once years ago in a bakofoil berlingo, just failed to get up a hill in thick recently dumped snow. Turned and on the retreat became aware the wheels were making no difference to anything, though surprisingly there was still some steering. Luckily it was a v straight hill (boulby bank on the east coast), and there was nothing coming the other way. I'd give it 6/10 would probably not try again.

Haven't had any here, but do enjoy it when risk of hitting others or being hit by others is low. It's cracking fun

Anyone else also enjoy RWD car and a nice flat car park with no bollards or lamp posts?

Anyone else also enjoy RWD car and a nice flat car park with no bollards or lamp posts?

No, but I watched my old boss in a fully loaded minibus and an empty Loch an Eilean car park find the handbrake as he arrived... I was led by example and so copied him in my half full minibus a few metres behind. 😎

Edit: Turns out this is more contentious than I realised. I think engine braking is the wrong thing to do in almost all scenarios but perhaps with an AWD automatic (CVT) car it makes sense.

I think the problem is, brakes are generally way too sensitive and it's difficult to provide the exact pressure needed. Whereas engine braking is consistent, never locks the wheels up, and will only in the rarest circumstances result in you lost traction if you smash it into 1st or 2nd gear at speed. Think ahead, run down through the gears slowly, and very gently use the brake to assist if necessary. The whole idea is to slowly roll to a stop rather than applying force to stop.

I love driving in the snow. Not in traffic though.

Yes as long as you know the conditions are going to be passable. For example, you don't have a big hill to climb, or it's not still snowing.

I think the problem is, brakes are generally way too sensitive and it’s difficult to provide the exact pressure needed

But brakes also are electronically controlled to maximise grip - engine braking is not.

TBH no. Certainly not in Manchester. Why, many people don't know how to drive in Snow.

I am, however, looking forward to trying MrsF's Michelin All Seasons when (if) it does snow

[img] [/img]
Great success!
220mm deep snow up the hill, I though I may get bellied.
No problem, could even stop and start on the steep bits.
The verges on the way up look like they've taken a pounding this morning though 😅.

I think a lot of 4×4 Chelsea tractor drivers don’t appreciate that 4 wheel drive doesn’t help you if none of your tyres have traction.

Just had this 'discussion' with someone in the family who has a Bongo 4wd - and up until now thought that 4wd / 4x4 helped stop you...

But brakes also are electronically controlled to maximise grip – engine braking is not.

ABS* doesn't really work when grip is that low though. The idea of relying on engine braking is you only drive at the speed the engine ticks over, and slow down very gradually, it's not saying drive it like you stole it and then slam it into 1st for the corners.

On 4WD rather than AWD you can also use it on all 4 wheels evenly. Whereas the brakes apply most of the force to the front wheels which is fine when your assumption is the vehicle is doing 60mph on a grippy surface, useless at 5mph on ice.

*some niche car probably has a snow mode, but generally it's rubbish.

some niche car probably has a snow mode, but generally it’s rubbish.

Believe me, on sheet ice going downhill, a Discovery with Hill Descent Control is a godsend. Not sure how steep I'd like to try it though, there's got to be a point where gravity takes over, however much traction you have

ABS* doesn’t really work when grip is that low though.

Basic ABS from the 90s yes - but modern ESP can detect four wheel lockup and do a much better job.

The idea of relying on engine braking is you only drive at the speed the engine ticks over, and slow down very gradually,

You can also drive at that speed with the brakes.

On 4WD rather than AWD you can also use it on all 4 wheels evenly

Well no, if one wheel loses grip the other will lose braking as it will roll, unless you have a limited slip diff or some electronic features - to be honest modern ESP probably does that anyway without needing 4x4 tech.

Yes.

My last car had an audible alarm sound that i only ever heard whilst going sideways from a handbrake turn in the snow. Not sure what it was. But it added to the fun.

Had to sleep in the car once on the snake pass due to snow though. That wasn't fun.