My wife is looking at changing her car, she's wanting an older automatic Merc or a BMW. With these cars being rear wheel she is concerned about driving in snow. She only does 2000 miles a year,basically to work and back each day. We live about 50 yards from the nearest gritted road and the roads are gritted all the way to the school she works at.

I don't think winter tyres are an option for the mileage that she does, I've looked on the net about winter driving, some people say rear wheel drive cars are fine and that the problem is that people don't know how to drive in winter conditions. Other comments from websites are saying to leave the cars alone.

Has anyone any experience of driving in the snow? Would your advice be to stay away from rear wheel drive cars? Where I live we don't get much snow are these cars ok in the icy conditions or is it just a case of being extra slow and steady?

Many thanks in advance for any advice offered  Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

I had a C class Merc before the FL2, reversed it off the drive, which is level and it completely refused to go back on, as soon as it was put in 'D' the wheels happily rotated with it going nowhere.
It was the main reason I swapped to FL2, it left me stranded a few times.

I think I WOULD put winter tyres on it, and leave them on all year.

For the mileage she does, they'll last forever.

Cheers Taz, my wife test drove a C class yesterday, loved it. She just can't make her mind up about cars! She's a bit of a snob when it comes to cars, it was the wife's choice to get the Freelander which was a good choice!

Choccymonster, never thought of having winter tyres on all year, for the mileage she does it's a good option. Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

Ahem: http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic23433.html LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Found a link by continental
http://www.continental-tyres.co.uk/www/tyr...tyres.html

Basically saying if you have no where to store tyres then opt for winter tyres all year round as basically winters wear at the same rate as summer. Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

Or just buy those Cross Climates in the topic I posted a link to. Obviously you will need to check the tyre size of the car you buy to make sure Michelin do that size. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Interesting link Doctor  Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

I had a Merc C180 coupe about 3 years ago,and fitted winter tyres - no problems in the snow.

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

I had 5 series BMW - 2010 experienced worst snow for years and for a week car could not be moved until my son told me to turn off all aspects of traction control- car was fine then !! but it was reason I went 4x4 2011 XS,Sumatra Black, GONE MARCH 2014- RR Evoque Prestige 5 door ,MY 2014,Loire Blue, Silver Roof, Panoramic roof.
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I had a BMW 325. Lovely car but lethal in the snow. Winter tyres are a must IMO. On the plus side, in all other driving conditions the car was outstanding!

My daughters school is closed at the first hint of snow so should be fine!

I drove the supercharged XJR one Swiss winter, on 6-year old winter tyres that were knackered.

A bit of heavy snow and a few steep-ish hills to traverse. Was no problem.

Though I put that down to the diff in the car (was fitted with a Quaife LSD) with the standard open diff it would not have been as sure-footed.



Winter tyres make a world of difference in the cold/wet/slush/snow, summer tyres would have been useless. 2008 Freelander 2 HSE Si6 Black/Black - Hers
2009 Jaguar XKR 4.2 S/C Portfolio
2005 Jaguar XJR 4.2 S/C Black/Cranberry
2005 Jaguar X-Type 3.0L AWD - Gone

Ha ha you young whipersnappers, it wasn't that long ago when nearly all cars were rear wheel drive. the main difference back then though was that most had reasonably narrow tyres to cut through the snow rather than ski over the top. As others have said winter tyres all year round.