Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: TheBoy on 01 February 2019, 18:37:19
-
A few inches of snow, and the country stops.
Back in the 70s and 80s when 6" of snow in the winter was commonplace most years, and schools were never closed as "snow days" hadn't been invented yet, there was rarely such disruption.
Watching the local news, it seems they are showing lots of 3 series beemers wheelspinning away.
So that got me thinking (in the vain hope that people aren't getting even more stupid)…
We know BMWs are universally shite in snow. Always have been. Yet other RWD cars seem to be less prone to getting stuck. Is it because beemers have rock hard suspension and wide tyres, much like many FWD modern shitboxes. We know wide tyres are generally poor in the wintery weather, runflats are poor in the wintery conditions, and rock hard suspension is poor in wintery conditions.
Is it simply this? Or are people just incapable?
-
From the interviews on the tellybox, definitely the latter...
"We heard that the airport was closed, so we set off anyway..."
Getting stuck is one thing, but also not being prepared in case of getting stuck or better still being prepared to get unstuck, or even better still, developing a skillset which prevents getting stuck in the first place.
-
I can look out of my window and see the main road stationary. Has been since 16:30. It's been snowing gently, but nothing too desperate. A road is only as good as the most clueless driver using it, however. ::)
I saw one this morning. Turned into our road from the main road, obvious that she was now driving on packed snow but didn't alter speed accordingly. Indicated right. I thought "you'll be lucky!". Steering wheel turned, car went straight on into the curb. Reversed out, carried on with about 10 degrees of toe out now evident. Front wheels doing 30 MPH, engine bouncing off the limiter, car doing about 10. Ready to do exactly the same next time any steering input was required. >:(
I really don't know what the solution to this stupidity is. Well, I do, and I'm going to be voting TheBoy. Maybe he can put it into practice one day. ;D
-
I can look out of my window and see the main road stationary. Has been since 16:30. It's been snowing gently, but nothing too desperate. A road is only as good as the most clueless driver using it, however. ::)
I saw one this morning. Turned into our road from the main road, obvious that she was now driving on packed snow but didn't alter speed accordingly. Indicated right. I thought "you'll be lucky!". Steering wheel turned, car went straight on into the curb. Reversed out, carried on with about 10 degrees of toe out now evident. Front wheels doing 30 MPH, engine bouncing off the limiter, car doing about 10. Ready to do exactly the same next time any steering input was required. >:(
I really don't know what the solution to this stupidity is. Well, I do, and I'm going to be voting TheBoy. Maybe he can put it into practice one day. ;D
You do, but we'll have to change the punchline to don't eat red snow
-
The only car that I have had problems with in the snow was a 1974 Escort Mexico mind I was only 20 at the time of ownership ..
-
I don't think wide low profile tyres help much,however a lot of people these days are only interested in gaining a driving licence[when they actually bother to do even that!]and not in learning to drive properly.As long as their cars have all the latest tech in them that's as far as their interest takes them.
-
I don't think wide low profile tyres help much,however a lot of people these days are only interested in gaining a driving licence[when they actually bother to do even that!]and not in learning to drive properly.As long as their cars have all the latest tech in them that's as far as their interest takes them.
Yep, you look at what's involved in getting a licence these days compared with the drive round the block and half a dozen questions that was the norm for us and you wonder how standards of driving can possibly have got worse. The only explanation is that we used a bit of common sense and taught ourselves when we encountered challenging conditions instead of blaming someone else, or the car, when we were found lacking.
-
Wide, low profile summer tyres are the problem. 4WD, 2WD or wrong wheel drive makes bu99er all difference. Slush or packed snow needs proper winter tyres. If you've got 5 minutes to waste take a look at this :
https://youtu.be/mfuE00qdhLA
In Switzerland, Germany Austria, parts of Italy and (from next year) France, winter tyres are mandatory during winter. And snow chains are mandatory in alpine areas.
The biggest issue with winter tyres in the UK is that if you have to stop quickly, the muppet in the 4WD BMW X5 on low profile summers behind you won't be able to, and will runt you up the ar5e.
-
.....
We know BMWs are universally shite in snow. Always have been.....
Agreed, and as you know I've had enough of them to know that...... but ..... my XDrive actually moves with some ease. I know, I was shocked as well, as I expected all four wheels to spin instead of just two. ;D
So impressed was I, I actually chose the 430 in the snow instead of the Omega for the first time ever. Well chuffed, as I've never had one that actually moves in snow before. :)
-
I don't think wide low profile tyres help much,however a lot of people these days are only interested in gaining a driving licence[when they actually bother to do even that!]and not in learning to drive properly.As long as their cars have all the latest tech in them that's as far as their interest takes them.
Yep, you look at what's involved in getting a licence these days compared with the drive round the block and half a dozen questions that was the norm for us and you wonder how standards of driving can possibly have got worse. The only explanation is that we used a bit of common sense and taught ourselves when we encountered challenging conditions instead of blaming someone else, or the car, when we were found lacking.
That sounds very complex and onerous compared to many Eastern European countries where the local police issue full driving licences and the test is to put the going rate in a brown envelope and give to the police and you walk out with your full driving licence. Jump into your vehicle & take to the road by having a go at driving. :o :o :o On average 20 people die on Ukrainian roads every day. For the life of me I can't think why. ::) ::) ::) Many Eastern Europeans driving in the UK will have got their licence like this. :D :D :D
Neighbour next door to MIL is an alcoholic and lives to pay 10UAH (about 3p) for his daily 1litre bottle of village distilled vodka. He was recently stopped for DD in his rust bucket and has to pay police a 3000UAH ~£86 bribe/fine* (*delete which you think is more likely ::) ). His working and loud vocal wife (she looks, dresses and acts like the fishmongers wife, with her 3 teeth grin/grimace) will probably bail him out again where she doesn't drive and needs the lift to and from work.
-
That sounds very complex and onerous compared to many Eastern European countries where the local police issue full driving licences and the test is to put the going rate in a brown envelope and give to the police and you walk out with your full driving licence. Jump into your vehicle & take to the road by having a go at driving. :o :o :o On average 20 people die on Ukrainian roads every day. For the life of me I can't think why. ::) ::) ::) Many Eastern Europeans driving in the UK will have got their licence like this. :D :D :D
I was driving a British RHD drive truck in Hungary a few years ago and will never forget a truck coming the other way on a left hand bend and a car overtook it. I stood on my brakes, as did the other truck locking up his trailer brakes in a cloud of smoke. :o
I had nowhere to go as there was a 15ft drop off at the side of the road, but luckily the car just squeezed by, clipping my front bumper (punched a hole in it!) as he fishtailed through the gap! ::)
If I had had a dash cam it would have been a great Youtube/facebook vid! :y
-
In Eastern Europe for young men when you get into a car you don't wear seat belts (that's for wimps) and as a fatalist overtaking on a bend you will only die if you are destined too now. Get a dare to climb the 300m suspension bridge tower and do handstands on the 0.25mx0.25m top followed by one arm pull up as you let yourself off the side. You know you must after your all day drinking of 1 to 2l of 90% of village vodka as your manhood is at stake! What could possibly go wrong? :D :D :D Where more boys than girls are born by humans at a ratio of 1.05 to 0.95 in Western Europe parity is reached at about 35 years of age in Eastern Europe it is at 17-18 just above being able to drive age hence lots of very attractive women in their 20's upwards looking for a Western man where there is a shortage in there country.
-
Snowed hard all afternoon & evening with about 4" on the ground. Tough commute home this afternoon from my study/office, through my colder than normal hall into the lounge and kitchen. It is tough being Internet based like this, having to endure the 2 second fleeting cold hall pain as somebody has to do it. :P :P :P ::) ::) ::)
This evening out for my norml libation or 4 with a short walk down to my local social club. Ground slushy and slippery underfoot even in my well treaded soled working boots. I suspect when it freezes it will be very nasty tomorrow. Saw last Monday what the weather this week was going to be so stocked up on 2 weeks food at Aldi, last Monday evening, so no need to venture out this weekend. :y :y :y