Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Vamps on 21 December 2010, 00:35:03

Title: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: Vamps on 21 December 2010, 00:35:03
Both swmbo and myself feel that our 2.0L estate feels more sure footed in the snow than my 2.2L Saloon, certainly before I put 3 bags of sand in the boot..... anyone else feel the estate is better and perhaps why? 
Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: mrjimbo on 21 December 2010, 03:41:51
Got my estate in a bit of a tank slapper yesterday afternoon on some fresh snow that had fallen on a section of black ice and it wasn't an experience i intend repeating too often, had plenty of weight in the back and had already lower the tyre pressures.

I managed to hold onto it just, only just but the clown in the 4x4 behind(Isusu Trooper) wasn't so lucky, he took to the undergrowth in quite impressive style  ;D
 He took out 20mts of "ye olde worlde" style wrought iron fence before traversing the ditch and coming to rest surrounded by bemused cattle, all of which was witnessed by farmer Giles himself who just happened to be tending to his herd at the time.

Less than 1/4mile further along there was another 4x4 that had found the going too tough, this time the "olde worlde" fencing had fought back and the Pajero was minus the N/S front hub and wing  ;D

So be warned, 4 wheel drive is a waste of time if you ain't got a clue what your at   ;D
Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: mudflap on 21 December 2010, 07:22:17
Despite my rear tyres only having a couple of mm left on the tread my Mig estate has performed remarkably well this week in the snow, especially on saturday during the big fall - my "automatic snow control"  button came into good use and worked extremely well and not a single spin, have been dying to use this all year and was very pleased with the results - good old VX  ;)


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Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: Gaffers on 21 December 2010, 07:49:09
I suppose the obvious advantage is that once you have put some weight in the back the estate has more room for other stuff
Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: tunnie on 21 December 2010, 10:09:59
Estate has more weight over rear wheels at a guess? Mother T's 3.0 Elite Estate (auto) is way better in the snow than my 2.2 saloon manual
Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: Kevin Wood on 21 December 2010, 17:18:15
An estate is probably more stiffly sprung (unless self levelling) which may or may not make matters worse.

Kevin
Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: the alarming man on 22 December 2010, 14:52:50
my saloon is shocking in the snow...thinking about an estate as more practical
Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: waspy on 22 December 2010, 18:26:24
My Saloon is quite good in the snow, i think (& as other's have mentioned) it all depends on what tyres you run.
Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: Vamps on 22 December 2010, 23:58:55
Quote
My Saloon is quite good in the snow, i think (& as other's have mentioned) it all depends on what tyres you run.
[/highlight]

And there we have it, the estate has cheaper more cross pattern the saloon is the more all forward sporty pattern.... ::) When reversing on the drive today, swmbo not only managed she put the left rear wheel up a 3 inch kerb and into the garden as she was not straight..... ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Estate V Saloon in the snow
Post by: Seth on 23 December 2010, 12:46:32
Undoubtedly the best Omega SALOON that we've had in snowy conditions was a '99 2.0 GLS Auto.
Sure-footed, and with 'Snow mode' you felt really confident in it.
 :y
It was also Mrs Sethsmate's first auto-boxed car, and she absolutely loved it!
 ::)
Our present TD Estate copes superbly too here in The Valleys!
'Er indoors' is also very happy with this one too .....
 :y