Having read news reports about the remnants of Hurricane Katia hitting parts of the UK on Sunday night and into Monday:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14854581
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14851926

I got thinking about the forthcoming winter and although long range forecasts are very iffy, certain things like low solar activity will play their part and I found the below link interesting. Let's hope it's right and we get loads of snow!

http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/atm...36161.html

Bring on some useage of GGS mode and FL2 all round abilities. Plus the chance to laugh at some BMW's  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

I suspect I should have put this in off topic. Apologies Mr Pinks  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

It's been mentioned on the d3 site about a bad winter!

I miss driving in snow. I would love to see what the Freelander is like.

The Doctor wrote:

Plus the chance to laugh at some BMW's

Oh yes please, bring it on!

Must admit when I was looking at a change of car I was undecided between the FL2 and a BMW 320d.

But I made the right choice in the end.... 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

The guy who wrote the following, has predidicted the last three summer/winter conditions correctly, contrary to the predictions of the Met Office, who, being a government agency, are increasingly wrong, a sure sign that they are giving a message rather than a forecast. What better to stimulate consumer than the message "Summer will be long and warm, ideal for barbecuse", I wonder how many people havn't used their purchase yet? Cynical rant over, bring on the snow!!

This has been predicted by long range forecaster James Madden

Autumn 2011

The UK can expect a similar theme to continue as we head into autumn, with a notable increase in usual wind strengths for this time of year across many parts of the UK, that will result in frequent and potentially damaging gale force winds and strong stormy features throughout autumn and winter. Although some places further South may see some spells of settled weather at times, the general theme for autumn as a whole looks largely wet and very windy with dominant grey skies. It will be generally unsettled and turn progressively colder with an early start to winter, especially more so in the regions of Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland.

Winter 2011-12 Update

As we head towards winter, I expect to see the first signs of some moderate to heavy snowfalls as early as October or November in certain parts of the UK. In terms of the meteorological winter, I expect December, January, and February to experience below average temperatures, with the heaviest snowfalls occurring within the time frame of November to January across many parts of the UK.

The most important factor within our weather forecasting calculations is solar activity and other major natural factors that it influences. Radiant energy from the sun is the primary influence on both the earth's ocean and atmosphere.

Low solar activity and ocean behaviour alter atmospheric circulation and block jet stream patterns that create enhanced moisture in terms of snowfall. The UK and Ireland is hit by prolonged periods of extreme cold and snow from the Arctic regions, as cold easterlies or north-easterlies develop. Huge swirly low pressure systems also offer the potential for widespread disruption from heavy snowfall across many parts of the UK including the South, as they clash with the predominant cold air over the UK.

Coupled with other in depth factors such as recent volcanic activity and changes to the Gulf Stream/North Atlantic drift that we consider, this does not bode well for the severity of the UK and Northern European winter of 2011-12. Frequent and prolonged cold spells with heavy dumps of snow from blizzard like conditions is likely across many parts of the UK. The areas we expect to be worse hit throughout include the vast majority of Scotland and the Scottish Highlands, Northern England, and Northern Ireland. We have particular concerns as to the huge implications that this may pose to the infrastructure of the UK and Ireland transportation systems/economy.

That's the same guy and the same prediction as the link I posted taztastic but thanks for posting it anyway  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Tigger wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

Plus the chance to laugh at some BMW's

Oh yes please, bring it on!

Back when I had the FL1 which was also excellent in the snow, I was returning to the car with some shopping and I was parked at the bottom of a steep-ish side street when I saw a BMW X3 making numerous attempts to look smug by easily driving up but he failed each time despite '4WD'. As I was getting in he said 'if I can't get up in this, you won't get up in that, them freelanders aren't very good in the snow'

I just shook my head got in and drove up the hill before turning around and going back down again. Once back down I said to him 'your knowledge of how good the Freelander is, is as appalling as your choice of car!'


At that I drove back up and left him floundering. The FL1 was very good in the snow but the addition of TR dial and other advances in technology gives the FL2 the edge. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

should have read the whole post

your link has some great pics though

either way, come the snow I think we need a "Floundering Beemer" picture section

The Doctor wrote:

Tigger wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

Plus the chance to laugh at some BMW's

Oh yes please, bring it on!

Back when I had the FL1 which was also excellent in the snow, I was returning to the car with some shopping and I was parked at the bottom of a steep-ish side street when I saw a BMW X3 making numerous attempts to look smug by easily driving up but he failed each time despite '4WD'. As I was getting in he said 'if I can't get up in this, you won't get up in that, them freelanders aren't very good in the snow'

I just shook my head got in and drove up the hill before turning around and going back down again. Once back down I said to him 'your knowledge of how good the Freelander is, is as appalling as your choice of car!'


At that I drove back up and left him floundering. The FL1 was very good in the snow but the addition of TR dial and other advances in technology gives the FL2 the edge.

Excellent!

I live at the bottom of the hill (which is the entrance to a dead end) and for the last couple of winters I've watched the same people struggle to get up the hill, except for someone with a 3 Series who makes lots of attempts and gets absolutely nowhere It usually winds up being parked outside my house for the duration...

Oh how I laugh when BMW owners expound the "virtues" of RWD, usually in cars which have usually far too little power to exploit it! A 520d that I tried before I got the Freelander was a great example

taztastic wrote:

should have read the whole post

your link has some great pics though

either way, come the snow I think we need a "Floundering Beemer" picture section

PS: If anyone can find the photo of of the BMW with the snow chains fitted to the FRONT wheels, I'd love that to be included in the "floundering BMW" thread

Here's one to keep us all going until winter:

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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