Haha. I love the negativity directed at 4×4 drivers. I drive a defender. And dont give a toss what other people have to say about it. I certainly don't drive round for 51 weeks of the year in a state of enhanced self consciousness!
People think they're unnecessary – which may be the case. But, half the bikes on here I'd wager are unnecessary. You can do 99% of riding in this country on a rigid mountain bike?! Who cares what you ride/drive?!

Hora – check this vid out

hora – yeah, not always driving on fresh snow, but when I had to I don't recall there ever being any drama.

We used to go to night school once a week in the largest nearby town about a 25min drive away. Several times it would be snowing heavily and by the time we came to drive back there were at least a couple of inches of snow on the roads. We never had any issue getting back, even though the road had quite a few significant hills on it.

The best pub in the town was also up a fairly long hill. This was generally clear lower down near the residential end of the street, but towards the pub was often snowy. On several occasions we'd drive the car up there and leave it until the morning (and stagger home) with no bother.

If it was snow covered everywhere, then snow chains/spiked tyres would probably have been more effective, but generally the main roads stayed clear. It was usually in the evenings before the snow plough went through that the main road would be covered in snow.

I just don't see what all the fuss is about myself. I've driven all sorts of cars, from jacked up 4x4s with full lockers to little FWD hatches. All have their niche areas that they work best, decent 4x4s with the "proper" kit work brilliantly in the snow and ice, but I've yet to find anything I couldn't cope with perfectly well in my 306 estate so far this year, I really don't know what everyone is blathering on about as if the world is coming to an icy end. I've been up tiny hilly backroads in Luss with an indicated -15 on the dash and compacted snow/ice on the roads, I've beeen driving to work daily, I've driven through snow and ice in all kinds of cars and the only ones I ever even had the slightest "problem" dealing with in snow and ice was an automatic 3.5 litre RWD BMW, and even then it was only because I was a little over-enthusiastic. Drive to suit the conditions and you'll be fine. Sure, up the hilly backroads in stupidly low temps it wuold have been nice to have the extra traction of a 4×4 with M&S tyres, but ultimately it wasn't exactly impossible to drive. I do genuinely worry about the country when so many people can't cope with a little bad weather.

I've got what folk like Hora would deem a "poser's" 4×4 (Audi Allroad) yet it's gotten me everywhere I've needed to go this week.

2WD owners driving too cautiously (i.e. on cleared roads as though there is still snow/ice on them) is just as frustrating and common place as 4WD owners driving like loons.

Can we get away from the 2wd/4wd arguments, it makes no sense, it's just people who have no ability to judge their cars ability or the road surface.

llamafarmer saved me writing an answer

cautious but not middle of road 4wd here – oh how i have laughed in past when let some fwit past that has been tailgating to see them spin off or hit a car at next junction

I've left my Car Buried since Wednesday; Made it into work today totally fine using bike/train option, Why bother driving when 50% of those on the road are acting like Dicks?

Walked to the supermarket yesterday and had to help shift a goon in a Mondeo Who had managed to get cross rutted on a largely clear road, none of his passengers got out to help, and he needed telling 5 times to use 2nd and low Revs, and he'll be one of 1000's that go out with out a clue or a shovel…

Last Feb we had half as much snow and it took me 2.5Hrs to get 20 Miles to work by car, same frustraitions as everyone else has listed, just thought it's not worth it this time, I know I can drive in the snow I also know a fair few Can't but do still try.
I'd rather have a working car once it's all thawed out, than half of it stuck to the bumper of someone's Focus and an Insurance claim to make…

1. i can go biking get the bike dirty as **** and chuck it straight in the back without worrying about getting car dirty

2. in the summer i go camping alot and get to leave most of gear in car all summer to just get in and go, not constantly packing and unpacking.

3. when the weather is shite like now I get to take the back lanes home and leave the main routes clear for all the 2wheel drivers(and still beat them there)

4 If your really knew what you were talking about you would realise my diesel navara is far more fuel efficient than most 2ltr rep mobiles so it actually does some good too

All i'm hearing from the 4×4 drivers is how they've justified them to themselves. I'm still waiting for someone to explain why they need them….

To add my theory – some people (sorry but usually women) buy big 4x4s because they are terrible drivers and it helps to pad this out a bit. Put them in conditions where being able to drive is helpful and… the rubbish driving becomes much more obvious thus giving all owners of said vehicles a bad reputation.

Nothing like a bit of good old fashioned sexism. The above sounds like bollocks to me, but there is some psychology at play I'm sure. The high seating position and several tonnes of armour do give the ladies a feeling of security. And ladies do like that.*

*My knowledge of women is almost entirely based on R4 Woman's hour.

Some c0ckend coming towards me this morning in his Discovery (I drive a low sporty car) – snow on both sides of the road so effectively a single carriageway. I *assumed* that as he was driving a vehicle vastly superior in these conditions, that he would drive onto the snow so I could get by. But no – he just came at me so I though ufck it and sat there and waited for him to creep by in the tiny gap that was left.

No idea why it was a problem to him – I know I would have risked grounding and getting my car stuck and if he had an ounce of common sense he would have thought about that too.

mark_b……would you care to enlighten us as to your make/model of motor car (if indeed you do own one)? We can then debate if you "need" it or could make do with something else.

Nobody needs one. You could get a run-around for short trips, an estate for picking stuff up, a trailer for taking stuff to the tip, a tractor for towing stuff off-road, a quad for shortcuts using byways (you'd need to tow it on a trailer I guess). Not sure what you'd use to go shooting. You can't really turn up on your tractor and the estate would get stuck. You coudl keep winter tyres and swap them over when you need them too.

Or you could just get one car that does all of the above. They annoy vegetarians too. Which is a bonus.

Very good question. I have alot of family (including my Mum who is getting older) in various parts of Huddersfield in the sticks. Over two winters its proved invaluable for getting around and to see various family. In total thats only circa 6 weeks however my car has also proved itself to be surefooted with alot of feedback in all situations. I see it as a variation on the mk2.5 MX5 interms of how it communicates and how it lets you know on grip and when it does let go its never a drama. In the dry going into a roundabout it pulls/sticks like glue and if you dont hook your arm under the armrest you can end up on the passenger seat 🙂

I've no idea what other 4×4's are like- I've only had this one and mine isnt a true offroader due to clearance but it does have a two-ratio box.

You could argue that we dont need powerful fast cars or high BHP/torque diesels either to a degree. Mines proved itself to be utterly ace and a Tonka toy 😀 I've been thinking what I want next and I still can't decide (and this is coming from the serial car owner)

You had a white one before?!!! Or was it you were contemplating a white un originally?

Some will know how much I despise athe incompetent large percentage of 4×4 drivers, but there's one other category that makes them seem like good drivers. I am talking about a significant percentage of truck drivers. They have a misplaced belief that they have more of a right to be on our roads that anyone else and often bully and intimidate other road users. My experience is that they cause the majority of motorway accidents with their erratic and careless overtaking etc. Good truckers must be so frustrated at the idiots letting the side down. I by no means denigrate all truck drivers as some are highly professional. We need some sort of visible badging system for these guys to encourage the rest to aspire to their standards.

Yesterday, on a 110 mile stint, i was stuck behind one of these vehicles on a winding A road. It was 0c, but the salting on the road meant that the truck was throwing up lots of mucky spray imparing my visibility, meaning i had to constantly clear my windscreen. I could have hung back (which I often do when a vehicle is making reasonable and consistent progress), but the truck kept significantly altering it's speed for no apparent reason. None of this was particularly out of the ordinary, but what riled me was that he sped up considerably on all the sections where i had a chance of overtaking. Well I hear you say this is what any driver would do given that it is safe to increase your speed on a staight section, however 70mph in a big truck in freezing temperatures on such a road is just riddiculous and illegal! This was only when there weren't oncoming vehicles too.

Eventually i got past him and then on came his high beam because i had briefly sounded my horn as I'd passed him (in case he hadn't seen me). He then slowed back down on the straight section proving that he had been playing games with me and had put my safety at risk. Then, as a passing car approached he dipped his headlamps, but as it passed he put them back on! Utter idiot!

When we stopped at a set of lights in the next town, he pulled up sharp on my bumper. As we moved off, tailgated me.

ERRATIC STUPID FECKERS WITH SHORT FUSES SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN CONTROL OF SUCH LARGE HEAVY VEHICLES – PERIOD!

mark_b……would you care to enlighten us as to your make/model of motor car (if indeed you do own one)? We can then debate if you "need" it or could make do with something else

Getting defensive – i like it. I drive an old estate. Do i need it – no. Do i appreciate the quality of life it gives me – yes. Does it give me an overwhelming sense of superiority – i don't need a car to do that for me 🙂

Fop – Agreed.
But I also like my 4×4 as it seems to boil peoples p*iss like nothing else!
I also have a 'normal' car – and I love that too.
mark_b – My 4×4 gets used off road as well!

Anyone see the press ad for the BMW X5 yesterday? (it was in the times) and showed a X5 driving through snow (motion of speed) and the strap line that it had alot of electronic gizmos that would keep you going no matter what.