WOOOOOPS

trekhead

my old Landrover series 3 has done me proud through all the snow and ice, didn`t cost the earth and will go just about anywhere.

I do feel sorry for whoever done this :roll:

Anonymous

thats an ace picture, must have been some poor driving to end up in that position considering those things are so clever they virtually drive themselves.

Andy

Knowing Range Rover drivers, he was probably on his phone at the time.

Anonymous

Andy wrote:

Knowing bmw 335d drivers and range rovers are similar, he was probably on his phone at the time.

Whytepeak

Highly amusing none the less.

Least the thing didn't flip over, must have been quite a low speed affair.

jonnyc2420

actually thats a shot taken as he's driving down to climb up and out the other side.......while he's using his phone and watching the tv in the front........easy peasy - do not underestimate the power of a rangey..........

CraigXXL

He just found out that 4 wheel drive means nothing on black ice

tlw1

ran out of ability

Northwind

Sometimes, you're going to crash, the only right decision is to not drive in the conditions. So it might just have been that. Alternatively, he might be a knobber.

nicklouse

is that the Sport version?

the faux by faux?

butcher of bakersfield

CraigXXL wrote:

He just found out that 4 wheel drive means nothing on black ice

Too right. There's been more 4x4s stacked in ditches round here than anything else. People seem to think just because they have a 4x4 they're immune to the conditons and continue to drive as if it were a dry summer's day.

xtreem

Someone forgot to put his tyre chains.

Btw, that's a nice tree.

Where are my stabilisers?

Typical 4x4 driver, thinking they're invincible

xstrathyx

sheeps you on the wind-up again

sheepsteeth wrote:

Andy wrote:

Knowing bmw 335d drivers and range rovers are similar, he was probably on his phone at the time.

Surf-Matt

Yawn sheeps.

Our 4x4 is almost invincible in snow but ice is still dodgy - as it is in anything without chains or spiked tyres. Took ours very slowly down our driveway (100 metres long, 1 in 3, narrow) on the Sunday when it froze again - grip suddenly went and I found myself speeding up towards a large wall. Just managed to gain control again and it was fine but still sh4t me up. The previous day had been fine.

Faux by faux - I like it!

The BM stayed on the drive in the ice. No point even trying to use it. When it's dry though, it's perfect for overtaking people like Sheepsteeth as they wildly flail their arms in dismay at anyone "daring" to pass them

El Capitano

Surf-Matt wrote:

Yawn sheeps.

Our 4x4 is almost invincible in snow but ice is still dodgy - as it is in anything without chains or spiked tyres. Took ours very slowly down our driveway (100 metres long, 1 in 3, narrow) on the Sunday when it froze again - grip suddenly went and I found myself speeding up towards a large wall. Just managed to gain control again and it was fine but still sh4t me up. The previous day had been fine.

Similary thing with me and the Cakemobile last week - 6 inches of snow covering the road, downhill, probably 1 in 5, no problem. Slight gradient, black ice, vehicle dynamics computer nearly melted trying to control the ABS, traction control and stop the car.

Snow = Fun
Ice = Not fun.

RichMTB

The thing to remember is in a 4x4 you have plenty of traction, 4 wheels hunting for grip is better than two. But braking distance is the same (or worse because the Disco you are driving weighs the same as a small moon)

When it's dry though, it's perfect for overtaking people like Sheepsteeth as they wildly flail their arms in dismay at anyone "daring" to pass them

My personal favourites are they guys coming the other way that flash their lights even though you pulled back in with 400m to spare!

Anonymous

agree with the above points about ice. my car is 4x4 and is brill in all conditions apart from ice. after i came to a halt t'other day, my car decided to slide sideways off the top of a road into the gutter (was quite a steep camber ) took me completely by suprise and made me very nervous for the rest of the journey

Surf-Matt wrote:

When it's dry though, it's perfect for overtaking people like Sheepsteeth as they wildly flail their arms in dismay at anyone "daring" to pass them

i wouldnt be fussed in the slightest if you over took me, everyone overtakes me, i drive at the speed limit and not a single mph over it. my license is too valuable in my line of work. plus im not a sheepscunt when i drive.

Surf-Matt

You can overtake within the speed limit you know. You don't have to be driving like a complete nutter.

I think people forget that 4x4s are still just cars on tyres in ice - yes they can gain much more traction, but that doesn't make any difference braking unless you have snow tyres.

Our Jimny weighs as much as a sheet of bog roll so doesn't take much stopping, unlike most giant 4x4s that weigh 2 tonnes or more (ours is half that).

In fact very few 4x4s would even get up the slope we often park it on...



Most of the time is a bit gay, a bit hairdresser, but in snow, ice and mud it's bloody brilliant. Proper low range box, big clearance, almost no overhangs and a lot of suspension travel. Just don't drive over 50 miles on a road in one - your teeth will fall out and you'll get a migraine.

It's the total opposite of the Beemer.

stuart_c-2

I think there's 2 common misconceptions with cars like this:

1. "I have 4wd so my car grips really well". No, you have lots of traction, not lots of grip. They are 2 different things. 4wd has more "grip" in a straight line but not really anymore "grip" in corners.

2. "I have nice big tyres so I have more grip". No, a lot of the time in snow and ice a wider tyre is worse as it just spreads the load and reduces pressure on the ground. Look at rally cars in snow and ice, they have narrower tyres than my crappy Punto. this can also be true in the rain, as there is a bigger surface area for the tyre to "sit up" on and aquaplane.

Anonymous

i dont understand the difference between grip and traction? my 4x4 car definately goes round corners better than my previous front or rear wheel drive cars.

matt, i drove one of those jimnys round a greek island and it was excellent, a bit narrow in the shoulder department but ace fun. im sure i read a top gear book in which it was one of the best 25 cars or summat, minly because it should be rubbish, but they do their job superbly.

Surf-Matt

Sheeps - good traction - stops the tyres spinning, good grip - stops the tyres sliding sideways.

For road driving fat tyres and 4WD help grip but only when accelerating. When braking, 4WD doesn't help at all but fat tyres help slightly (if it's dry, if wet you are more likely to aquaplane).

For off road driving narrow tyres are best (in most situations) because they bite better and don't spin. The huge alloys you see on RR Sports are utterly useless for off roading.

I have a pet hate of the trend for oversized wheels and tyres. Take my annoying Bimmer - it has standard "tiny" 17" alloys with 225 tyres. Many go for the M Sport with 18 (or 19") alloys on 255 (rear) tyres. Many of these are gay engined and don't need them at all but it's all about looks. Design fads say wheels need to "fill the arches" - but for most of the time, oversized alloys are utterly stupid. They kill the ride, often rub and are utterly terrible when it's really wet or slippery. My tyres are plenty big enough and easily handle the power and torque yet the fad continues. I had a 318d (lame power) M Sport saloon courtesy car the other day - 18" alloys and 255 section rear tyres - WHY?! Audi do the same too - oversized tyres on cars with not much power.

Look at almost all true drivers cars (Elise, Evo, Macca F1, etc) - none have massive alloys.

Random rant over.

Anonymous

Surf-Matt wrote:

Sheeps - good traction - stops the tyres spinning, good grip - stops the tyres sliding sideways.

i getcha but my car definately grips miles better and im sure its to do with the 4 wheel drive. mine isnt even a particularly intelligent use of 4 wheel drive, its very basic, no electronic wizardry.

agreed about tyre widths not always being better when wider. i do prefer the look of a big alloy wheel in a wheel arch though (mine dont conform though as they are like bottle tops) but i like a proper manufacturers alloy as opposed to most aftermarket affairs.

Surf-Matt

Sheeps - it's actually very good 4WD on your car. Many prefer it to over complex Haldex type systems too. Plus the weight is all low due to the boxer engine. It's generally a very sorted chassis which helps.

Drive something like a Puma or other sorted non 4WD car - the grip is very good because the chassis is so good. Then try a car with a cack chassis (ahem most modern Alfas for example) and they are all over the place.

No doubt that as you floor it out of a bend, 4WD really helps give extra grip, but in most other situations, it's the chassis that helps.

My R32 Golf was 4WD and the grip was amazing. But show it some ice or snow and it would be all over the place. Subarus cope much better when the conditions get ropey.

Anonymous

it does have a low range too which seems odd in a normal road car but my mate at work (who is a huge subaru fan and drives a lovely turbo) informed me they used to be used by farmers and whatnot and werent ever supposed to be anything more than work horses.

Surf-Matt

Subaru used to make the best pickups too - lasted forever and good to drive. Some farmers have hung onto theirs.

That's where Subaru started with vehicles - very much agricultural. Hence you can do mild off roading in a Scooby (even a hot one) and generally be fine. It also means the interiors are a bit "farmy" too though! I think they have lost their way recently. Current Impreza is fugly, they were too late to adopt diesels and the petrols all drink way too much.

stuart_c-2

Surf-Matt wrote:

I think they have lost their way recently. Current Impreza is fugly, they were too late to adopt diesels and the petrols all drink way too much.

They were probably too busy trying to please the "Scooby rally boi" crowd and took their eye off the ball. The older Subara's were good, but they seem to have got progressively worse. It would be good/funny to see a Subaru or Evo with a real strong diesel under the bonnet, it would definitely raise a few eyebrows........