Astons in the snow
Discussion
Ok so it's getting colder, that means the snow (everyone said we'd get last week!!
) can't be too far away. I've only got one car, nearly bought a Suzuki jeep for the cold stuff but I've decided against it.
So, the question. If you, like me, plan on driving your Vantage in the cold or God forbid, snow, how do you do it. My local main roads are fairly well gritted but some of the side roads are a nightmare. I'm not planning on driving in the snow but last year I had a Merc and got caught out a couple of times. Now I've seen these.
http://www.snowchainsandsocks.co.uk/?search_perfor...
Anybody used them, if so how were they. I have enough clearance to put them on and I think they may get me out of a tricky situation. Would/have you put them on just the rears and did this work.
Lastly if you are interested let me know and I'll contact them and see if we can get the discount for singles (like we did on the great Chippex)
Thanks
) can't be too far away. I've only got one car, nearly bought a Suzuki jeep for the cold stuff but I've decided against it. So, the question. If you, like me, plan on driving your Vantage in the cold or God forbid, snow, how do you do it. My local main roads are fairly well gritted but some of the side roads are a nightmare. I'm not planning on driving in the snow but last year I had a Merc and got caught out a couple of times. Now I've seen these.
http://www.snowchainsandsocks.co.uk/?search_perfor...
Anybody used them, if so how were they. I have enough clearance to put them on and I think they may get me out of a tricky situation. Would/have you put them on just the rears and did this work.
Lastly if you are interested let me know and I'll contact them and see if we can get the discount for singles (like we did on the great Chippex)
Thanks
huggy1 said:
So, the question. If you, like me, plan on driving your Vantage in the cold or God forbid, snow, how do you do it.
Thanks
Don't. It's too bloody stressful. You've got lots of torque, wide tyres and a gearbox with a very high reverse gear.Thanks
I tried in my V8 a few years back and never again.
Drove mine through last winter and only missed a few days. Never again. I actually drove home and swapped for a Panda which I promptly slid straight into the kerb.
Ordered an Evoque to avoid using the Aston, but my delivery has been put back until the end of the year so public transport for me this winter until it arrives.
Seriously, it scared the living daylights out of me.
I know you can put on winter tyres, chains, socks etc, but that doesn't take into account the other loonies sliding into you.
Just not worth the risk imho.
Di
Ordered an Evoque to avoid using the Aston, but my delivery has been put back until the end of the year so public transport for me this winter until it arrives.
Seriously, it scared the living daylights out of me.
I know you can put on winter tyres, chains, socks etc, but that doesn't take into account the other loonies sliding into you.
Just not worth the risk imho.
Di
My winter wheels and tyres are being fitted this week. I'm not doing this to we the car in the snow, but for normal use through the colder, wetter months, as P Zero Corsas are not ideally suited to he cold or the wet,melt alone snow. If I ever get caught out by snow, the winter tyres should keep me out of trouble, as they always did on my M5.
For real snow driving, If needed, the X5 will be on winter tyres.
For real snow driving, If needed, the X5 will be on winter tyres.
yeti said:
What you need is one of these! No point taking the Aston out, it's just not worth it IMHO. I drive in all weathers but wouldn't go out on ice.
Edited by mikey k on Wednesday 26th October 15:24
A fairly conclusive thread I think. I'll use my Aston on any dry, sunny winters day but not when there's no point in driving it. As Di says, it's the idiots on the ice without winter tyres/chains thinking they'll be OK.
You need a second car, a cheap 4wd will lose you no money. And they're fun in summer too as a change of scenery
You need a second car, a cheap 4wd will lose you no money. And they're fun in summer too as a change of scenery
yeti said:
A fairly conclusive thread I think. I'll use my Aston on any dry, sunny winters day but not when there's no point in driving it. As Di says, it's the idiots on the ice without winter tyres/chains thinking they'll be OK.
You need a second car, a cheap 4wd will lose you no money. And they're fun in summer too as a change of scenery
2 person houshold. Did have 2 cars. Bought another, but decided to keep the old, battered and very reliable Range Rover P38 for bad weather days and ferrying aged parents about.You need a second car, a cheap 4wd will lose you no money. And they're fun in summer too as a change of scenery
Iam sure I could drive the Aston in the snow, as have driven far worse handling read wheel drive cars in snowy conditions, but that was when I was poor and could only afford one car.
As has been said too much risk, especially the other road users. Baby will stay locked up in the nice warm garage should it snow.
We used to just have the Aston as the only car which, as we both use trains into london was there for weekend use only.
That meant the only time it was used in the snow was when South Eastern were too inept to run a train through our station for a week, or when I needed to collect something important at the weekend, like a nice bottle of wine or something.
On all those occasions it was fine, just had to be very, very wary of roads with a big camber.
However if I relied on a car for every day use.... unless I was going to kit it out with a FULL SET of winter tyres no way would I use the Aston. Too slow, too precious, too many options for a big one etc. Socks chains etc you are going to try and avoid usign them until it's too late.
Now we live in deepest, darkest Kent, we bought a 4x4 Alfa which I stuck its winter wheels and tyres on at the weekend. Even without them I was blown away by how good it was in the ice last year. With the winters on now, let it snow! (but not too much due to ground clearance!)
That meant the only time it was used in the snow was when South Eastern were too inept to run a train through our station for a week, or when I needed to collect something important at the weekend, like a nice bottle of wine or something.
On all those occasions it was fine, just had to be very, very wary of roads with a big camber.
However if I relied on a car for every day use.... unless I was going to kit it out with a FULL SET of winter tyres no way would I use the Aston. Too slow, too precious, too many options for a big one etc. Socks chains etc you are going to try and avoid usign them until it's too late.
Now we live in deepest, darkest Kent, we bought a 4x4 Alfa which I stuck its winter wheels and tyres on at the weekend. Even without them I was blown away by how good it was in the ice last year. With the winters on now, let it snow! (but not too much due to ground clearance!)
Mine is going in for winter tyres on Friday. Summer tyres are no option when it gets colder as the designated winter tyres (Pirelli Sotozero) are excellent during the colder months. During the snow fall last winter i had better traction in my Aston on the Sotozeros than in our Range Rover on normal all year tyres. That says a lot. 4 wheel drive might help you up the hill but down the hill it is just a 2.5 tonnes lump of metal following the law of gravity if you don't have proper tyres. I spend i lot of time in Austria and there it is law to have wintertyres fitted from the 1st of November otherwise you loose insurance cover. Makes sense really.
I keep a 'disposable' 3rd car. currently this is a Y-reg BMW320. I keep it for various reasons - some customers wouldn't appreciate me showing up in an aston or an expensive looking 4x4 and also because for long work related motorway journeys it takes the mileage and depreciation etc (and is probably more comfortable and cheaper than any of the other cars). I've taken to changing my disposable car in the winter to an equally disposable 4x4. disposable is a bit of a misnomer because with each car swap i actually lose very little money.
Keep her in the garage! It is not just the potential crash damage, howabout having to abandon her and walking home. Your increase in insurance would cover the purchase price of a cheap 4x4. Look for a Suzuki SJ410 they will get anywhere.
Then there is all the salt which will oxidise on your aluminium underparts.
Don't do it.
Then there is all the salt which will oxidise on your aluminium underparts.
Don't do it.
On a a gorgeous day last winter I went to work in the V8V - then it dumped down heavy. Driving home in a blizzard was a truly sphincter-clenching exercise! Never again... As a related aside, just chucked 4 new wheels with some really chunky "General Grabbers" onto the X5 for £1Grand all-up. Bargain!
George H said:
+1! I love the defender Yeti, but is it not a bit cold in the winter?
Yeah, 'fraid so. I am thinking of sticking some heated bucket seats into it, cost would be £800 - would make it nicer to drive long distances as it's a pretty poor drivi9ng position and keep us warm as well. Also getting a 911 C4 Cabriolet as a not-quite-so-wintery car. All bases covered
JohnG1 said:
George - MAN UP!!!!
Anyone would think you were a southern shandy drinker!
If you were to go in a Defender during the winter in the North, then you would agree that heated seats are needed!Anyone would think you were a southern shandy drinker!
yeti said:
Yeah, 'fraid so. I am thinking of sticking some heated bucket seats into it, cost would be £800 - would make it nicer to drive long distances as it's a pretty poor drivi9ng position and keep us warm as well.
Also getting a 911 C4 Cabriolet as a not-quite-so-wintery car. All bases covered
I would definitely put them in, would make the car much more usable. I drove my mates Defender and I agree, the driving position isn't the best.Also getting a 911 C4 Cabriolet as a not-quite-so-wintery car. All bases covered
What 911 are you going for? Have you not got enough cars at the moment?
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