EYorkshire wrote:

To be fair the driver, the tyres and whether the traction control is on or off all come into play here, this X3 seems to do better in worse conditions.

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The X3 has euro plates, probably a driver who also knows the benefit of changing tyres.

The standard X3 tyre shown here

has very little in the way of tread to provide traction in snow, great for economy and low noise, high speed stability etc, in snow it will be rubbish, the reason why so many flounder.

Do any of these other manufacturers provide any sort of off road or 4WD use?

Last edited by taztastic on 10th Sep 2011 11:46 am. Edited 1 time in total

If you were to test every compact 4x4 in bad snow and made it a fair test by fitting all with M+S tyres such as the wranglers on mine and also put a fully competent driver behind the wheel who knows how to drive in snow, the result would then come down to the setup of each car and it's capabilities.

If all of the above was carried out, I am confident that the FL2 would out perform the rivals, no matter what BMW have come up with for the new X3, it would not beat the FL2 in such a test. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Don't want to wander too far off topic here but I found this video on youtube. Now, I like the 3 series and appreciate it's qualities but why would you even attempt to take one out in snow unless you invested in quality winter tyres? A waste of time and effort.

 LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Why would you bother? Er...because you have no other option?
I was driving a 1 series BMW at the end of 2009 when the big winter hit. To get around it was either the car or my motorbike.

I wasn't even aware of winter tyres at that point. If I had, I'd still be driving it (probably). Up until then it had coped with everything (driving through 50m of flooded road 7 inches deep for example). Even on the snow I was just about getting by.
Since then I've learned about winter tyres and have watched BWM estates shrugging off deep snow with theirs.
Winter tyres make all the difference.

Since getting the FL2 of course, snow has just been a giggle. But I don't think the car has any special powers that others don't. Stick your X3 on decent tyres it would probably be just as good.
I'm on the Conti M&S tyres that came with the car. What's surprised me is that they've done brilliantly in all conditions except
flat, level carparks. I never have been completely stuck but I've had to rock the car with the clutch just to get going.
On one occasion I was parked in 8 inches of snow at a garage. Forward or reverse made no difference. There must have been ice under the snow so all 4 wheels just spun. Again, I rocked it and managed to get out. The very next day I was in a colleague's knackered, old Renault Clio on budget summer tyres. He parked in the same 8 inches of snow. He had no problems getting out. His skinny tyres made all the difference.
Then there was the road I was coming along one morning. 18 inches of fresh snow and no wheel tracks. I was enjoying ploughing through thinking that few vehicles could make the same journey. Imagine my surprise then when coming the other was was a Rover 214 with a space saver wheel on the offside front! He was making amazing progress and the driver seemed somewhat unconcerned (he seemed to be rolling a fag from what I could tell).

As Ian and Taztastic said, it's horse for courses.

Stuart

I use to think BMW and Merc drivers felt they were superior to anyone else, I still do but have now added some Freelander drivers
Laughing at a strangers misfortune doesn't turn me on at all, I'll help anyone in trouble unless I know them as dickheads anyway.

EYorkshire wrote:

I use to think BMW and Merc drivers felt they were superior to anyone else, I still do but have now added some Freelander drivers
Laughing at a strangers misfortune doesn't turn me on at all, I'll help anyone in trouble unless I know them as dickheads anyway.

Well the forecasters are predicting a winter like last, so I'm looking forward to it ,,,,,,,,,,, as long as it starts

I am not of a fan or driving out in the snow just because you can! Usually results in your own mis-fortune for being so smug! And never laugh at people cos one day karma will come smack you in the face when your car breaks down you crash etc etc

landy19840 wrote:

I am not of a fan or driving out in the snow just because you can! Usually results in your own mis-fortune for being so smug! And never laugh at people cos one day karma will come smack you in the face when your car breaks down you crash etc etc

Thats the main problem is other idiots out on the road.

Even the best most expericenced driver with all the dials and gadgets cannot predict what happens in the snow, having a 4x4 does not make you invincible!!

Last winter, carefully driving my Passat DSG estate in snow, the first car I saw abandoned in a ditch was a Freelander 1. Poetic thought I ... 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

dunkley201 wrote:

Last winter, carefully driving my Passat DSG estate in snow, the first car I saw abandoned in a ditch was a Freelander 1. Poetic thought I ...

Probably just parked to go play in the snow ...  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

simont wrote:

dunkley201 wrote:

Last winter, carefully driving my Passat DSG estate in snow, the first car I saw abandoned in a ditch was a Freelander 1. Poetic thought I ...

Probably just parked to go play in the snow ...

With 2 wheels in the air? (my Passat handled like an upside down turtle in snow & ice!) 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

I am all for some more of this:

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