For snow capable my fwd lwb transitYou must have a very light right foot when needed as the swb's I've driven are very spin happy, a greasy hill start at the lights can be quite interesting! And show it some wet grass...
You can pull away in third on the flat if you need to. Much better than an empty rwd as they just go sideways.
Also suggest the op gets some winter driving skills or practice nothing worse than getting stuck in a capable car
Have had my 2006 '55 plate Santa Fe since March 2010 bought with 80,000miles on the clock, now at 150,000miles not had any major issues with it, but could see it needing some money spent on it in the near future!
Excellent car have used it for work(mobile phone sites), family holidays and everything else. Returns mid 30's mpg with the car fully loaded and with roofrack and occasionally a roofbox on!
In the winter of 2010/11 in Scotland never got stuck once. Also got peeped at by a snow plough as I passed him on the way up Shap!
Another vote for a Forester here (unfortunately fuel economy is rubbish if you buy an S - great to drive though...)
We spent all last winter in mrs peterfiles little daihatsu piece of metal which vaguely resembled a car.
Drive up on a friday night in falling snow, park up, leave the car until sunday evening, dig it out and then drive home.
No problems.
Winter tyres are your friend in the north of Scotland. A 4x4 isn't necessary (just have a look around any of the populated areas up north, they're not all driving 4x4s!), but winter tyres are.
NB: it does depend where you are though. If your house is 3 miles along a track which will never see a snow plough then it's a totally different proposition than being a couple of hundred yards from a main road.
Bear in mind winter tyres makes far more difference than 4wd in the snow - you can save tons of money on purchase and you don't have to put up with 30mpg the rest of the year.
As PF says - in Scandinavia there are no more 4x4s than they are here. They just get used for rough tracks etc as they would be in the summer. Drove over the Beacons last year in our Prius without a care.
If you've never had winter tyres, it's a completely different ball game. No messing about feathering throttle or gentle braking and all that. Just drive.
So daihatsu will stop selling cars in the uk next year due to the strength of the ¥ so will the non uk made Japanese cars rocket in price?
Not a driver myself but that's going to have an impact on prices?
i was in the ukraine in the -28 snow and ice storms over the start of the year where RWD is king but winter tires are mandatory.
some of the cars i saw had more agressive tires than my landrovers All terrains !
"NB: it does depend where you are though. If your house is 3 miles along a track which will never see a snow plough then it's a totally different proposition than being a couple of hundred yards from a main road."
this how ever was why i ended up with the land rover - although my winter tires had grip we had so much snow that the van even with its high clearance was riding up in the snow and its front wheels ended up off the ground uselessly spinning.
winter tires make a huge difference which ever option you go for.
If it's deep snow your anticipating then something with reasonable clearance (not too long either....)
for 95% of the time a panda 4X4 or octavia would make a lot of sense for the other 5%, stay at home look out of the window etc....
although for me if It was my other half I'd focus on reliability....having been stuck in finland when a new shape freelander ecu failed at -25 those kind of issues are more imporant to me.....(incidently the mechanic who appeared 1st was driving his wife's Prius.......)
for 95% of the time a panda 4X4 or octavia would make a lot of sense
I would say a 2WD would be fine for that 95%.
I'm sure you would.... the OP's neighbours recommended a 4X4 and I'm sure they have a better understanding of the conditions in that locality than anyone on here.....
Bear in mind winter tyres makes far more difference than 4wd in the snow - you can save tons of money on purchase and you don't have to put up with 30mpg the rest of the year.
My A3 Quattro did 52mpg on the run up to Norwich yesterday...
Two winters ago I drove a Peugeot 107 on Summer Eco tyres inthe worse weather possible. It was awesome.
the OP's neighbours recommended a 4X4 and I'm sure they have a better understanding of the conditions in that locality than anyone on here....
You'd be surprised how few people have ever tried 2WD on winter tyres.
Cheers chaps 🙂 That's a load of food for thought so far!
We live about 1/2 a mile up a road on a steep'ish hill, that has water running down it 50% of the time - so it'll get icy.
Apparently last winter when it snowed after a few cars went down the road the snow compacted down to ice.
I'd prefer to buy a standard 2WD car and stick winter tyres on it, as there's so much more to choose from vehicle wise - and we'll only need the 4x4 proper for at the very most 2 months, as was the year before last.
If 2WD is front or rear wheel drive best? I thought with the engine at the front FWD would be best due to traction?
Cheers everyone, you're really helping - and possibly saving me loads of money!
Fairly un controversial answer there. FWD is better than RWD 🙂
Xtrail have the words '4x4' yet the Forester is soooo much more. Its not a off riad enthuisasts car but neither are the formers
Cobblers Hora. I've had both.
{You'd be surprised how few people have ever tried 2WD on winter tyres. }
not really... been user of winter tyres for over 25yrs never ceases to amaze me
FWD however I'd recommend looking at the Panda 4x4 light economical far more capable than many far bigger vehicles
generally your better with a taller skinnier section tyre
{You'd be surprised how few people have ever tried 2WD on winter tyres. }not really... been user of winter tyres for over 25yrs never ceases to amaze me
I think you will find the statement still holds true, unless you are the majority of the population.
Also make sure you either have a grit bin or a private supply for when it's needed.
Had a similar situation and saw the landlord going nearly sideways into a ditch in his Dodge RAM all 4 wheels spinning away on stupid tyres.
FWIW you could probably get an old tractor cheap and just leave you car at the end when it's bad.
no skoda shouts?
[i]and we'll only need the 4x4 proper for at the very most 2 months, as was the year before last.[/i]
So for 1/6 of the year you're happy to have a problem...
tbh I'd either buy a cheap 4x4 as a second car - and one where if you do bin it you don't care, or buy a proper 'light' 4x4.
And just put on 'winter' tyres when they need replacing - my Mum did this and has no problems (but she just doesn't drive if the road isn't ploughed - 3 weeks last year).
If you drive on winters in the summer they'll wear out really quickly. If you get a second set of wheels it costs more up front but you pay no more in tyres since each set only does half the mileage.
timc - Memberno skoda shouts?
Up there ^^^ you missed it. 😀
My own experience - nothing more. I have a Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4, and it copes well with snow, mud etc. We need this big car for towing etc.
However, I have driven a VW Polo in very deep snow with winter tyres, and it was absolutely fantastic. I've also driven a big Saab in Sweden in snow/ice with spiked tyres, and that was even better (though illegal in this country).
define really quick molgrips.
we use fairly budget winter tires on jaynes golf all year round and they get 15k on the front and ive yet to replace the rears after 25k. Due to the hefty camber on the front wheels rotating the tires is not ideal either.
on my van i replaced the rears with another set of toyo winters in march after 25k of all year milage.(having been rotated off the front a couple of times)
if your doing high milage on the motorway at highspeed where they get alot of heat then maybe they will die quick.
Spikes are indeed amazing and the norm in Finland, but they do sound like driving over bubble wrap on clear tarmac!
15k is really quick in my book. Winter tyres are often scilica compound, my Nokians are, and they should be good for 40-50k.
Still got winters on the front of the Transporter and not showing much wear after 5,000 miles this year, given the weather this 'summer' in South Wales they've been quite nice to have on some days.
Saying that the van won't even spin it's front wheels unless it's on mud due to the v.low power engine 😉 (yes and I know torque is the 'turning' force before you 'pedant' me, anyone 😛 )
