V8S on snow?

V8S on snow?

Author
Discussion

rs200f40

Original Poster:

11 posts

263 months

Friday 13th December 2002
quotequote all
Thinking of buying a V8S and have found a couple of nice looking ones. Problem is it would be my only car and with the snow fast approaching was wondering if I would be better buying now when the prices should be lower or waiting until after winter and hope some more nice ones come up for sale.
What is the V8S like to drive on snow? obviously it will slide all over the place if you provoke it but if you are sensible with it, will it behave itself? Or is it a case of forget it and get the bus?

Alan.

Maca

146 posts

266 months

Friday 13th December 2002
quotequote all
driver's license + common sense = OK

greenv8s

30,492 posts

291 months

Friday 13th December 2002
quotequote all

Thinking of buying a V8S and have found a couple of nice looking ones. Problem is it would be my only car and with the snow fast approaching was wondering if I would be better buying now when the prices should be lower or waiting until after winter and hope some more nice ones come up for sale.
What is the V8S like to drive on snow? obviously it will slide all over the place if you provoke it but if you are sensible with it, will it behave itself? Or is it a case of forget it and get the bus?

Alan.



TVRs in snow are great fun as long as you don't have to get anywhere fast, and don't need to travel on any hilly or heavily cambered roads. If conditions get extreme you'll have to work a lot harder than other people to get through, but most people seem to drive like twats anyway when its snowy - with very careful driving you'll get through anywhere that 'normal' cars can go driven by a numpty.

Terminal speed on fresh snow is about 50 mph (i.e. in the middle lane of a five lane motorway with no other cars in sight). Above that the back end starts to wander. You really *don't* want to get sideways at those speeds, it takes an awful lot of road to gather it back together and stopping distance is measured in miles. Just for bombing around locally, it's a good laugh with easily provoked wheelspin in every gear. Very easy to red line it in top! You need to bear in mind that these very lightly loaded tyres give b*gger all grip on snow/ice so you can be on the ragged edge just keeping up with a line of traffic. I had some plonker in a Volve follow me down an icy road B road about six feet off my back bumper, I had half a turn of opposite lock on the whole way gently feathering the throttle trying to keep the momentum going. Can't imagine what he thought he was going to do if I lost it!

Apart from the plonkers though its great fun and I'm always glad to see snow. Unfortunately, down here in darkest Milton Keynes it rarely lasts longer than a day or so. As long as you're sensible, its fine.

PS stick a box of tools in the boot for extra traction, a little extra traction can make a big difference.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

shpub

8,507 posts

279 months

Saturday 14th December 2002
quotequote all
The only thing to worry about is ruts in the snow causing a mini sleeping policeman in the centre which can do quite a bit of damage. Similarlt in deep fresh snow the low clearnce means the car acts like a snow plough.

Steve