A car for winter driving?

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Jul 24, 2017
1,163
444
somerset
A top tip then is to buy a car that has steel wheels available second hand cheaply and don't get anything with huge fancy brakes that only fit under alloy wheels. I think quite a few cars these days only come with alloys which makes having a spare set expensive.
If you can yes, steels are easy to keep and repair and with winter and summer sets the alloys will last better.
 
Jul 24, 2017
1,163
444
somerset
Another car fanatic!
We are a rare breed these days.
Yer I think its getting that way! I don't get it, how can you not love the speed and freedom of the iron horse? be that car, bike or trike, Bombing along, with the exhaust bellowing and the cam's whistling, laughing like a bond villain because of that feeling of speed and power, it was good as a teen and is still good! :D
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,186
1,557
Cumbria
You like riding steam trains? Iron horse is native American description for steam trains I thought. Although I'd quite like to ride the footplate of a large steam train.

A modern diesel or electric train wasn't as good even for a 9 year old kid. So I got to press the dead man's button to stop the brakes from applying but it's not a steam train footplate.
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,294
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
In my youth steam trains still existed. I remember the smell ( they used crappy Brown Coal in the Warsaw Pact countries) and how dirty you were.
But nice sound, those engines.

Soon my G-wagon conversion is finished.
6.7 l V8, medium-hot tune, Holley carb, 'almost' straight pipes, 4-1 each side exhaust....

I have a V12 engine car too. Capristo exhaust. Sequential auto gearbox.
The noise - Viagra not needed!


I love Alfas too, still kick myself I did not buy a c8 when they came out.
 
Jul 24, 2017
1,163
444
somerset
You like riding steam trains? Iron horse is native American description for steam trains I thought. Although I'd quite like to ride the footplate of a large steam train.

A modern diesel or electric train wasn't as good even for a 9 year old kid. So I got to press the dead man's button to stop the brakes from applying but it's not a steam train footplate.
Not really, apparently I liked trains as a toddler not so now (no steering :)), Iron horse for me means a man made creature running horse power
 
Jul 24, 2017
1,163
444
somerset
In my youth steam trains still existed. I remember the smell ( they used crappy Brown Coal in the Warsaw Pact countries) and how dirty you were.
But nice sound, those engines.

Soon my G-wagon conversion is finished.
6.7 l V8, medium-hot tune, Holley carb, 'almost' straight pipes, 4-1 each side exhaust....

I have a V12 engine car too. Capristo exhaust. Sequential auto gearbox.
The noise - Viagra not needed!


I love Alfas too, still kick myself I did not buy a c8 when they came out.
My V was 3.6 with a 4 barrel brock and my own head work, considered a large capacity engine here :rolleyes: Ha!
Your 6.7 ho yes that's more like it! And sadly never had a V12 but I do know the joy of a flat six :biggrin:
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,294
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
The old Rover V8 engines were good. Pity ‘evolution’ made them disappear.

A friend here bought the Range R. Sport with the supercharged V8. Brutal. But the electronics strangulates the engine severely. Anti this, anti that, so it is not easy to get the full hp quickly and brutally.

I have had a couple of boxer 6’s. My last one, a 1997 993 C4S I sold 2 years ago, together with a Bristol 411S5, at an auction in the US. Sold very well, big profit. Only way I could afford the V12.

I dread the time when electric will be the only option. I guess I will be in Petrol heaven by then, revving a RR Meteor converted Defender....

( yes, I am crazy enough to attempt that, if I could find a good one at a decent price!)
 
Jul 24, 2017
1,163
444
somerset
C4S and a Bristol! you have had some nice metal! I don't think we will all be running about in milk floats any time soon. Aero engine in a car? Umm I like your style! a well known formula for going fast, Y'know I always fancied a golden arrow replica.
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,294
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
Not the aero engine ( Merlin) but the tank engine ( Meteor). Much cheaper!
I bid on an Packard Merlin last year, in the estate sale after that guy that toured UK with the Merlin on a stand, but it went to high.
I bought the Bristol 18 years ago, and restored it. Bristol Car and mr Tony Crook (RIP) loved me!
The 993 I bought locally, a friend that moved back home to US, got is for a rock bottom price!
Silver Arrow?
 
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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,488
2,900
W.Sussex
The problem is they won’t be driven correctly, the driving and braking you get from a front driven axle with snows on will give a false sense of confidence when it comes to cornering etc, so yes if your careful it would be ok but I don’t think it’s wise to dispense that advice on a public forum.

So advising careful and sensible driving, as in slow and touchy-feely, according to the conditions, is poor advice on a public forum? :dunno:

I thought we were talking about the best way to cope with winter driving conditions? Not about being able to drive as normal because we've either kitted the car better or chosen a car that has an advantage?

Snows, no way. I use AT tyres and am well aware they aren't as advantageous in the rain on road than standard tyres, just as I'm aware they can get me through situations in the snow or mud better and are a good all round choice for my UK needs.
 
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Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,294
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
Old rule: Slo’ is pro.

In Scandinavia we have many young, extremely skilled drivers. Usually young men, age 18-22.
We usually pass them ( slowly ) after they ended up in a ditch.

Even with the newest, best winter tyres you need to drive very slowly and gently. Remember, your braking distance is maybe 4 or 5 times longer than on dry Tarmac.
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
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Florida
It seems there are two schools of thought regarding tire width (judging from the comments) I get the logic in both:

1) Best tires are tall and thin because the smaller contact with the ground puts more pressure on the contacting surfaces which (in theory) means less slippage.

-or-

2) Best tires are wide because the greater surface area means a corresponding;y greater contact area which should result in more friction (traction) and less slippage.

Some also are recommending the winter tires are only necessary on the drive wheels. Does that mean winter tire don't need to be rotated like regular tires?
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
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Florida
Regarding slow, careful driving:

27336251_10160063830570271_6042457719188319279_n.jpg
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
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Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
When it comes to winter driving I think it might be best to follow what is being taught in countries that are snow and ice covered for months each year, countries in Fenno Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska.
In Norway, Sweden and I think in Finland, practicing on a slippery surface ( artificial, ice or snow) is mandatory training for the drivers license.

I have not heard that a larger diameter would be beneficial. Indeed not recommended as the speedometer is calibrated for a certain wheel diameter, also the suspention and steering geometry will be changed.

Aha, the land speed record car!
I thought you meant the German racing car that blew away all competition in those days.
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,665
McBride, BC
Winter driving here isn't quite like the difference between wet and dry pavement.
As it's now snowing every day/night maybe 2-5cm, driving conditions change from the side streets
to the main routes. They change from mid-block to the stop signs.
Then if it warms up to melt, we have a nightmare that only gets worse when it refreezes.
If you can get into a really big parking lot without the cops noticing, doing a few donuts will settle your nerves.

Any curlers in here? Imagine doing what we call hack weight, the out turn
and trying to dodge a full-grown freakin' moose on the highway at 110kph.

Genuine winter tires have different rubber formulations and additives. The sipe design and pattern
is meant for crap like wet ice. And it works beyond your belief.

Do all your vehicles have automatic pulsing, anti-lock braking systems? ABS?
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,294
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
We do not know the nationality of the bus driver. Could be straight from UK!!
:)
(joking!)

At least the busdriver did not get shot!

The few bus drivers I saw in Toronto came from Haiti, or another French speaking Caribbean island.

I am unsure if busses and lorries have dedicated wintertyres?
I do not thin so.
I know that they do not have studded tyres in Norway, Sweden.
I will ask when I go to Norway soon.
 

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