What a trip, what a car!

[bluesprint]

Having driven through similar conditions in the steep mountains of Snowdonia a few years ago I was well impressed with the 75 in the snow and ice. Snow setting on the auto box, heated seats to keep warm, felt perfectly safe and more than happy , what a car indeed!!

As an aside, talking about cars to a workmate this evening, he has recently bought an Insignia.....he was a bit disappointed that his model didn't have a bluetooth connection.... or a sat nav.... or heated seats.... no digital tv..... I had to stop in the end, I didn't mean to sound boastful... just saying what was in my car...and not in his.... he was even more deflated when he realised mine is a 2003 model....

[bl52krz]

Can I ask what tyres you have got on this "magic" car. Very well done. All those watching you go up the hill were probably waiting for you to fail. They don't have the knowledge we lot have of our cars.

[FREDPLY]

Originally Posted by planenut

We all have a different perception of our abilities and I think the OP was correct, with his knowledge of his car.
What it does also is cause others to criticize those who accomplish the move, regardless of the outcome, because some are not capable or confident.
Nice one.

I was always advised from start on such conditions, second gear and steady.

Having driven in areas such as Iraq Afghanistan and other sandy areas and in other places completely opposite Norway Sweden and the Falklands I am very capable but not perfect since in driving there are no experts had I been one I may have considered reduced tyre pressures etc. - The golden rule is travel only if you have to and this is in both 4 x 4 and two wheel drive transport another member posted that later the area was more passable - yes a good achievement by OP and not a criticism by me but would waiting have made it safer, what if a vehicle coming in another direction lost control, the balancing of hazard against risk is key in all we do driving is no exception - not withstanding a good effort by op

[wizzo337]

I was thinking of asking what the 75/ZT was like in the snow. For the past few winters I have been driving a Volvo T5 around the rubbish Cambridge and Norfolk roads, one winter was so bad, work wanted us to go home at about 9pm but we all stayed till the usual 02:30 as it gave a bit of a chance for all the idiots to get their crashes over with. It was pretty adept at coping with even pretty deep snow too.
Anyway, this sort of answers that question. Well driven.

Wizzo337.

[wizzo337]

Originally Posted by alanjay

Totally agree, we in Sunny Surrey are lucky at the moment. Mind you I'd like a little snow as so far I've never tested a 75 in snow. Likie to compare my 75 with my best ever snowmobile, an Austin L*** C***.

Yes, The Land Crab........ Had the 2.2 straight 6 version way back in the early eighties when I was in the RAF at Kinloss, a formidable snowmobile that we would use to get to our house in the middle of nowhere that we, (then single folk), lived in for less than it cost to live in the block. Come across a snowdrift crossing the road and hit the loud pedal, it used to drink fuel but who cared at 1980 prices.
Memories.......wonderful times.

Wizzo337.

[arnosvale65]

Having spent quite a lot of my life driving in Scandinavia and eastern Europe it always amazes me how this country grinds to a halt with a bit of snow. I worked in the entertainment industry and no show meant just that. 650km overnighters from Oslo to Stockholm or even worse Bergen to Oslo were no joke. I soon learned that pussyfooting around got you nowhere and learned from the experts who did it every day. Snow tyres? You have to be joking.
On my first drive everyone overtook me at speed ,so when in Rome. This is what worked every time in an articulated truck. As much weight as you can on the drive axle and apart from the downhill bits 50mph worked best. The reason so many trucks get stuck in the UK is that they try to get up hills too slowly, plus there are lots of very inexperienced agency drivers out there.
I was once pulled over by the police on the M6 at the top Shap where I had gone all the way up in the outside lane, flat out, in heavy snow.
"What do you think you are doing?" they said.
"At least I got up here." I replied."Unlike all the others stuck on the hill."
Experience is what counts and a willingness to listen and learn. Sadly lacking in today's "Know it all" society.

Saturday rant over!

[wmj]

Living in rural Angus in Scotland I often have to drive on snow covered roads. So far I have never had any problems with my ZT Auto, just seems to keep going sure and steady no matter whats thrown at it! The car just feels solid safe and secure with the big diesel lump sitting over the front wheels.

[chrishumphries]

Whats snow ?

[daveb57]

Originally Posted by arnosvale65

Having spent quite a lot of my life driving in Scandinavia and eastern Europe it always amazes me how this country grinds to a halt with a bit of snow.

The reason so many trucks get stuck in the UK is that they try to get up hills too slowly, plus there are lots of very inexperienced agency drivers out there.

Experience is what counts and a willingness to listen and learn. Sadly lacking in today's "Know it all" society.

Agree with you on the first point.

As regards the quote, ' plus there are lots of very inexperienced agency drivers out there', we all have to start somewhere as I'm sure yourself did. The days of passing your HGV 1 and getting a job tomorrow, are long gone, and agency work is the only place a lot of these newcomers can get any experience. That is if they can find an agency that does not lie to them, give them all the promises in the world and not give them any work, letting them sit by the phone waiting for it to ring!!

Experience comes with age and the amount of driving that an individual does in any road conditions. Going flat out in bad road conditions, personally, I would not say, is a good thing to be practicing. The hill was climbed I grant you, but the consequences if it had gone wrong could have been horrendous.

Personally, and I do hold a Class 1 and PCV licence, in 41 years of driving, the only time I have ever got stuck in snow was when I was 19, in a rear wheel drive MK 2 Escort. My fault because I 'knew it all' of course!!!! And that was 1976!

I learnt from that mistake.

I gained some experience!!

Regards,

Dave.

[arnosvale65]

Originally Posted by daveb57

Agree with you on the first point.

As regards the quote, ' plus there are lots of very inexperienced agency drivers out there', we all have to start somewhere as I'm sure yourself did. The days of passing your HGV 1 and getting a job tomorrow, are long gone, and agency work is the only place a lot of these newcomers can get any experience. That is if they can find an agency that does not lie to them, give them all the promises in the world and not give them any work, letting them sit by the phone waiting for it to ring!!

Experience comes with age and the amount of driving that an individual does in any road conditions. Going flat out in bad road conditions, personally, I would not say, is a good thing to be practicing. The hill was climbed I grant you, but the consequences if it had gone wrong could have been horrendous.

Personally, and I do hold a Class 1 and PCV licence, in 41 years of driving, the only time I have ever got stuck in snow was when I was 19, in a rear wheel drive MK 2 Escort. My fault because I 'knew it all' of course!!!! And that was 1976!

I learnt from that mistake.

I gained some experience!!

Regards,

Dave.

I agree with lots of points but in Scandinavia they do not hang around I can assure you. I had a Volvo with traction control for a while and that really did work. The other thing about the Scandies of course is that they all have the proper kit unlike a lot of our money saving outfits. It always amazes me the number of companies who don't believe you when you tell them that snow chains are compulsory in most of the Alps from October to March. My last lot wouldn't buy chains to go to Norway and I was fined over £2000 by the police and made to buy chains there and then. Drive axle, steering axle and one trailer axle. They were the best chains I ever had, made to measure on the spot and easy to fit. When I got home the transport manager took them away, why is beyond me.