The snow has not reached my area yet (Derbyshire - Near Alfreton) and I doubt it will during this cold snap. Plenty of time yet though. So, having driven an FL2 at an experience day I am interested to see how good it will be. On the LR day it was fantastic on slippery muddy slopes on just normal wrangler tyres, no mods at all. So surely it will be a good performer. I had the FL1 last winter and that was superb.

So good people who have driven in bad snow:

1: What is your verdict?

2: Is there a 'big improvment' in snow with GGS mode on the Terrain Response as opposed to normal mode?

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

Of course there is a big improvement, but it depends on several things.
1). How heavy your boot is.
2). How experienced you are at driving in "real snow" conditions.
3). The type of tyres you have fitted.
4). How deep snow you intend to drive in.
5). How icy and moist the snow is, or is it in fact thick ice.

We drive on "snow" for 4-6 months a year, but without proper winter tyres we wouldn't survive the winter. I have even been stuck in snow on summer tyres (in summer).
I would say in general we don't "need" to use GGS mode during winter, even in the mountains as the FL2 copes very well without using it, however having said that I always do and even at home when we have slippery roads. If you are using summer tyres on snowy tarmac roads you "may" notice the difference opposed to if you didn't use GGS but in all reality unless you have some really bad conditions to drive in I don't think you will "need" to use the TR modes at all. GGS, MR and Sport (sorry Sand) are really an aid for extreme off road driving. 2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

yes it slows down the traction controls actions and allows for the inevitable wheel slip. defiantly worth switching over, but not essential



snow = white, blocks the road, slows down journeys, you can just about sleep in it apparently, if you climb right inside. Can be enjoyed in a snow ball

caravan = white, blocks the road, slows down journeys, you can just about sleep in it apparently, if you climb right inside. Can be enjoyed in a fireball At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

chicken george wrote:

snow = white, blocks the road, slows down journeys, you can just about sleep in it apparently, if you climb right inside. Can be enjoyed in a snow ball

caravan = white, blocks the road, slows down journeys, you can just about sleep in it apparently, if you climb right inside. Can be enjoyed in a fireball

CG - I laughed so hard, I choked on what I was eating.......  

Click image to enlarge

MY2011 FL2 TD4 HSE | Stornoway Grey | Ebony Leather | Piano Black Trim | 18" Standard Wheels | Privacy Glass | Full Size Spare
MODS | Side Tubes | 19" Diamond's |

Certainly don't need any special settings. Good driving technique with 4WD will get you through most stuff.

If it's 4 foot deep though, don't forget to pack the sleeping bag and gaz stove  We Don't Care About Pot Holes !!

In the frozen crappy everlasting winter of last Jan, I persuaded Mrs G to try the snow TR setting, she was very non-committal initially but after reluctantly trying it she claimed to have noticed a real difference and then selected it every time.

As Mr pothole says you don't need it per se, as a good driver will correct him/herself, but its there installed on the car why not use it and make life a bit easier, especially when ferrying precious young cargo At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I'll be using it today in the inch of snow that's fallen Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

chicken george wrote:

As Mr pothole says you don't need it per se, as a good driver will correct him/herself, but its there installed on the car why not use it and make life a bit easier

Mr. Pothole who the is that  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

W.D.C.A.P.H. At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

To my delight it arrived this morning approx 6-8 inches of the stuff. I hunted down some snow covered side streets and ploughed through without any problems. The HDC was awesome going down some steep streets with compacted snow. Never put a foot wrong. Bring it on! LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

When I started my car this morning I got the HDC Fault message

Drove ok though  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I just got back from another excursion and it was great. There was a toyota avensis trying to get up a slight incline but his wheels were spinning and he kept sliding back. Eventually he spotted me and let me have a go. I cruised up with no fuss. The look on his face whilst still stranded at the bottom was great  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

NPinks, have you done any long journeys recently...Our D3 and also the Freel 2 sometimes now when cranking decides that the transmission is knackered, HDC not working and that basically it's all broke.

On the D3 it was caused because the battery was discharging when the car was started, but wasn't running long enough to top it back up, so the charge dropped. Under the demands of starting it, the battery couldn't produce enough charge to check all the systems, hence the message briefly. I suspect that this is the reason our FL is doing it now.

As we all know, car batteries lose their 'memory' over time if not fully charged regularly, so eventually it won't charge high enough to start the car and check all the systems at the same time, like the scenario with our D3.


About GGS,, if you find a snow covered road, and floor it with Special Programs off, then repeat with GGS on the car just takes off quicker and more sure footed. Just adds that little bit of reassurance. It won't stop any quicker though so don't expect miracles! Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Been up around the moors this morning, well pleased with how it behaved on the snow covered roads. The light steering gives me the jitters though.

npinks wrote:

When I started my car this morning I got the HDC Fault message

Drove ok though

HDC fault again on mine allways had this when it's very cold but rectifies itself within a minute or so after start up. I assume the oil thins a little after starting up
Changed the wheels and tyres in anticipation today but at least SWMBO will be a little safer if the snow comes here.