Best 4x4 for ski trip
Discussion
It depends on what you are defining as capable. (sorry I know this is PH, but I'm not trying to be pedantic). It also depends where you are going. Swiss resorts tend to feature extremely well kept roads, from a capability perspective your vehicle won't matter. Scottish resorts? Yeah your going to want winter's and some offroad capability.
I would say the biggest factor of capability is tyres, a good set to winter's is not only recommended but required in some parts of Europe. Good news is most all 3pmsf rated tyres will perform well getting to slopes. Personally I would recommend a set of winter rated ATs, BFG KO2s and General Grabbers AT2s both carry winter ratings, but have the added advantage of working well in summer where a lot of winter's will melt, and will also function dramatically better on wet/snowy grass.
As for the vehicle, my recommendation would be a Disco 4. Offers much of the comfort of the German soft roaders but with far more practical capability. Big airy cabin with room for 7 adults. Comfortable and reliable enough without the complications of a RR or full fat German SUV.
I would say the biggest factor of capability is tyres, a good set to winter's is not only recommended but required in some parts of Europe. Good news is most all 3pmsf rated tyres will perform well getting to slopes. Personally I would recommend a set of winter rated ATs, BFG KO2s and General Grabbers AT2s both carry winter ratings, but have the added advantage of working well in summer where a lot of winter's will melt, and will also function dramatically better on wet/snowy grass.
As for the vehicle, my recommendation would be a Disco 4. Offers much of the comfort of the German soft roaders but with far more practical capability. Big airy cabin with room for 7 adults. Comfortable and reliable enough without the complications of a RR or full fat German SUV.
The best options are in fact not 4x4s. An AWD estate car will be better up until the snow is deeper than the floorpan, after which the roads will be closed or blocked with thousands of stranded cars so you can't get through anyway. I'm not anti 4x4 at all but they aren't the best tool for snowy and icy roads.
I would suggest a Subaru Legacy Outback, Audi A6/A4 SE Quattro, Skoda Superb 4x4 estate, Octavia Scout etc. On winter tyres these will all be better for the typical conditions you will encounter in the alps than large 4x4s..
I would suggest a Subaru Legacy Outback, Audi A6/A4 SE Quattro, Skoda Superb 4x4 estate, Octavia Scout etc. On winter tyres these will all be better for the typical conditions you will encounter in the alps than large 4x4s..
this isn't true off-road stuff so I'd discount any Land Rover due to reliability concerns.
Japanese crossover according to OP's criteria.
AllRoads have reliability issues too, but Skoda Scout or Sub Legacy would be good car based alternatives.
extra ground clearance always useful in case of heavy snow, or more often, crossing cleared snow clumps in car parks.
I would take a 2wd with ground clearance over 4wd std height.
Japanese crossover according to OP's criteria.
AllRoads have reliability issues too, but Skoda Scout or Sub Legacy would be good car based alternatives.
extra ground clearance always useful in case of heavy snow, or more often, crossing cleared snow clumps in car parks.
I would take a 2wd with ground clearance over 4wd std height.
popeyewhite said:
TurboHatchback said:
I'm not anti 4x4 at all but they aren't the best tool for snowy and icy roads.
What's better than a 4x4 on winters? A tracked vehicle? A skidoo? You may go faster in an estate, but if you want to guarantee getting there... .Swiss Alps in one of the bigger ski centres you won't have a problem with a RWD estate car, or a FWD hatchback. They have a worldwide reputation for clearing their roads. Some of the smaller European centres, such as those we have up in Scotland you can face more adverse conditions, where a good set of tyres and AWD will really help you, particularly around some of the centres. Even then an estate with good tyres will help. However when the roads get backed up and the snow gets really deep, a proper 4x4 with clearance, a good 4x4 system and decent rubber really does help. For a few reasons:
1. The 'tourist rush' we got this every year at Glencoe. Snow would hit and everyone and their dog would travel north with skis. Normally woefully unprepared and unexperienced for the conditions they meet. Due to the chaos this caused there are alway locally known 'shortcuts', normally wee side tracks you could rally up and down well the A82 is at a standstill, normally unplowed, 5-20cm of powder was normal, I lost my front bumper attempting one with a 'normal' height car (FWD on blizzaks). Now I'm not saying you should be attempting these shortcuts, but it is nice to have a vehicle capable of going off the beaten track if there is something you want to visit whilst on your holiday.
2. When you f
k up. It will happen, you missjudge a road in the snow and drop a wheel into the ditch (easily done). In something with solid axles and a bit of meat on its wheels changes are you can drag yourself out, even if you can't it is MUCH easier to pull a body on frame out of a snow drift without inflicting further damage, even a crossover with a bit of extra height minimises the chance you are going to have something ripped off3. Driving position, in bad conditions the dynamics of your vehicle handling isn't really going to come into play on how fast you can safely drive. However being able to safely see over snow covered hedgerows & other such obstacles allows for far greater progress than a somewhat better handling car would.
4. 'Overflow parking' Again I am not sure if this is an issue in the Alps. But during tourist season a lot of northern areas will utilise fields, big piles of gravel and other such free space as parking. In the snow you can't tell what you are about to drive on. As such having a fairly decent 4WD system is a godsend when whats under your wheels suddenly becomes 'soft'. This is why I also recommend a good winter rated AT tyre.
With all that being said, as a general rule I recommend crossovers, tend to be big enough for every day use, VC diffs, whilst not being the best offroad perform very well on the road in slippy conditions, the extra height offered makes them much more managable in heavy snow. Normally I recommend RAVs, CRVs, Qashqais etc etc. But the OP qualified he wanted something large so he may aswell go for something 'proper'.
We use our ML420 CDi for the skiing blast across Europe. It's extremely comfortable, 4 up and very stable and fast, (on the autoroutes obvs.) It's great at a very high speed cruise, 130mph+.
Very well engineered German barge.
Should be easily in budget, perhaps a 320CDi, although I haven't any experience of the smaller engine. It's on all season Pirelli tyres which last about 20 - 25K miles per set. Never got stuck or even had to resort to chains although it's has been tricky occasionally. All our skis go through the middle and the rest in the boot.
I like it because it's not to bling, it's reliable, fast and quiet, Well engineered. What's not to like?
Very well engineered German barge.
Should be easily in budget, perhaps a 320CDi, although I haven't any experience of the smaller engine. It's on all season Pirelli tyres which last about 20 - 25K miles per set. Never got stuck or even had to resort to chains although it's has been tricky occasionally. All our skis go through the middle and the rest in the boot.
I like it because it's not to bling, it's reliable, fast and quiet, Well engineered. What's not to like?
In my experience the biggest obstacle you'll face is a boring slog on the motorway so take something that is suitably equipped for that and you'll be grand. I'd suggest something like this on winters
Any ski resort i've been to has been easy enough to get to. They tend to have the necessary equipment for keeping the roads open that we seem to lack in this country. Unless you're going to Scotland where it sounds like you'd need nothing short of a Unimog!
Any ski resort i've been to has been easy enough to get to. They tend to have the necessary equipment for keeping the roads open that we seem to lack in this country. Unless you're going to Scotland where it sounds like you'd need nothing short of a Unimog!
caelite said:
Depends where you are. Which is briefly what I mentioned on my original post.
...which is actually irrelevant - the OP doesn't ask which resorts have good snow clearing facilities (in heavy snow, none, even Cham gets snowbound) he asks specifically:joshcowin said:
Theoretical question, what 4x4 would be best for driving TO the ski resorts in Europe and capable when there.
Must seat 5 minimum , 7 is a bonus
Ideal carry ski's inboard (may not be possible)
Good on the snow
Reliable
I'm still going for the D4 or RR - both have got me to, and around, the Alps countless timesMust seat 5 minimum , 7 is a bonus
Ideal carry ski's inboard (may not be possible)
Good on the snow
Reliable
You'd be best off looking at what the swiss drive!
Mix of 4x4s and "quattro" vehicles. 4matic mercs are always popular, lots of scoobies where i lived- not so many big 4x4s (they usually came up from the valleys)
The very best for me would be a v8 allroad, of course the most critical thing are tyres- a summer tyred range rover will be walked all over by a polo with winter tyres (or even studs
)
Mix of 4x4s and "quattro" vehicles. 4matic mercs are always popular, lots of scoobies where i lived- not so many big 4x4s (they usually came up from the valleys)
The very best for me would be a v8 allroad, of course the most critical thing are tyres- a summer tyred range rover will be walked all over by a polo with winter tyres (or even studs
) BugLebowski said:
In my experience the biggest obstacle you'll face is a boring slog on the motorway so take something that is suitably equipped for that and you'll be grand.
This.It's more appropriate to have something comfortable capable of a decent pace over 8-10hrs driving, rather than needing 4wd for 2 hours of snow in the resort. Hence why I'd suggest a 4wd estate or SUV, but not a pick-up type vehicle.
Resort areas tend to have a compulsory snow chain requirement for the times when most needed and while snow tyres are highly recommended if you're only going once then I'd suggest that could be an expense you don't need. It's a skiing holiday remember so you shouldn't need to do that much driving in extreme conditions. Let the ski bus do that.
L322 Range Rover on winter tyres. 
It'll be epic in tricky conditions, and comfortable as a limo whilst doing it.
You'll have to buy carefully (plenty of well-documented issues to be aware of), but getting a nicely looked after car for £10-15k is certainly achievable, if you go on any viewings with a list of things to look out for, and your eyes well and truly open.
Added bonus: The Rangie has a built-in ski hatch, complete with integrated bag, which keeps the snow from your skis dripping all over your leather interior.
It'll be epic in tricky conditions, and comfortable as a limo whilst doing it.
You'll have to buy carefully (plenty of well-documented issues to be aware of), but getting a nicely looked after car for £10-15k is certainly achievable, if you go on any viewings with a list of things to look out for, and your eyes well and truly open.
Added bonus: The Rangie has a built-in ski hatch, complete with integrated bag, which keeps the snow from your skis dripping all over your leather interior.
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