st4
Banned
Well I can tell you an E class with sport alloys like mine will be usless in the winter. Avoid wide tyres or get a normal estate with and buy winter tyres
jeremytaylor
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2005
- Messages
- 2,414
- Location
- Surrey Hills
- Car
- E280CDI Sport Est., CLK 200k Cab., VW T5 174, Citroen C8, and a 2CV!
Another vote for winter tyres - they work a treat on our E280 estate. You don't need a 4x4 to get grip, just decent tyres. Life carries on in Europe through the winter without everyone driving 4x4 - they just fit winter tyres.
Of course, some people like a big raised 4x4, but you've said you would rather just a standard estate. Fitting winter tyres to a 4x2 widens your choice of car considerably.
Of course, some people like a big raised 4x4, but you've said you would rather just a standard estate. Fitting winter tyres to a 4x2 widens your choice of car considerably.
Subaru Legacy as mentioned would prob be your best bet.
I have a V70 awd which performed brilliantly through the winter. Got to the stage it was almost embarrassing passing other cars which were sliding all over the place!!
I have a V70 awd which performed brilliantly through the winter. Got to the stage it was almost embarrassing passing other cars which were sliding all over the place!!
flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Thats really strange that because I had a V70 T5 and it would go anywhere I remember one snowy February driving over carter bar on my way to Scotland and there are some bad gradients on that road, the V70 took it with ease passing other stuff that was stuck which you would not expect.
Contrast that to my V50 which this year spent a total of 5 weeks in our pub car park as it would not even go up the slight gradient in our cul de sac
Satch
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2003
- Messages
- 3,508
- Location
- Surrey
- Car
- S211 E320Cdi Avantgarde Estate & Toyota Land Cruiser
Go for proper winter tyres and you will be able to cope better than many 4x4's, which in this country are all too often fitted with tyres that are next to useless in snow.
Otherwise get yourself an older "proper" 4x4 as a second car. You know it makes sense.
Otherwise get yourself an older "proper" 4x4 as a second car. You know it makes sense.
As mentioned a couple of times (and ignored?) the R Class is an MB 4WD estate!
Gasump
Member
Save yourself a load of cash, just buy a pair of wheels with 'all weather' tyres. Swop driven wheels when bad weather comes.
There's been a rash of people looking at 4x4's for a possible couple of weeks snow. lot of the problem is the fashion for low profile wheels/tyres, crap in soft going. Plus the wheel manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank replacing low profile alloys with a 'pothole experience'!
Many years ago when I did my off road driving course I asked the instructor about four wheel drive/tyres etc. He said he'd take a two wheel drive vehicle with the right tyres over a 4x4 with the wrong tyres anyday.
I had no problems at all the snow and I, like you, live out in the sticks where the gritters feign to venture!*
* Ok, I admit to a couple of exciting moments. But always kept going!
There's been a rash of people looking at 4x4's for a possible couple of weeks snow. lot of the problem is the fashion for low profile wheels/tyres, crap in soft going. Plus the wheel manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank replacing low profile alloys with a 'pothole experience'!
Many years ago when I did my off road driving course I asked the instructor about four wheel drive/tyres etc. He said he'd take a two wheel drive vehicle with the right tyres over a 4x4 with the wrong tyres anyday.
I had no problems at all the snow and I, like you, live out in the sticks where the gritters feign to venture!*
* Ok, I admit to a couple of exciting moments. But always kept going!
franey
Active Member
tintinmt
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2009
- Messages
- 364
Add me to the list in favour of the Subaru Legacy. The only problem I have had with mine is the air suspension, which is bound to fail in a costly way (in common with most similar systems). AWD is excellent. I don't know why they aren't more highly valued.
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2005
- Messages
- 7,612
- Location
- Cheshire, UK
- Car
- C270CDi Estate (late 2004 facelift model) - Bought 2005, Sold 2022.
Given the choice i'd have A6 Allroad 3.0 TDi every time. My boss changes his and has the same criteria and kids and nothing does as much for the money whilst remaining car-like as the A6 Allroad. If you're off-road alot then perhaps the Subaru but for "does everything you want" with a degree of comfort, the A6 is very hard to beat.
Vlad
MB Enthusiast
Avoid the first generation of Audi Allroads.....came out as one of the worst cars for reliability in Which....primary problem is the air suspension which has a habit of collapsing and then costs a lot to put right. Sadly I know this from experience and having subsequently read on the internet forums, it would appear that I was not alone.
A1GSS
Active Member
Now that really IS radical ! Fine thought though. Hmmmmmmmm
A1GSS
Active Member
Thanks
Well guys, I'm knocked out by the response to this query. Thanks all.
I'm especially taken with the various thoughts on using winter tyres. And the Jensen FF, of course...
Well guys, I'm knocked out by the response to this query. Thanks all.
I'm especially taken with the various thoughts on using winter tyres. And the Jensen FF, of course...
JohnDeere8530
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2009
- Messages
- 505
Subaru Legacy outback only way to go.
I have owned loads, they are cheap to buy secondhand, very reliable, very hardwearing and better than EVERY other car off road. Spend £5k and get a decent 5-6yr old car with full service history. Use it as a dump run car and 4x4, alongside your best car, it'll last yrs I promise you.
Best of the bunch is not the current shape but the one before that, reg between T and 53 plate. Go for the 2.5 lux on a 53 plate Full S H is essential.
Not a bad cruiser either. Get rid of the rubbish yokos it comes with and go for General grabber AT2. From memory you have to go up 5% in profile, which is no bad thing and they still clear all the wheelarches and will last for about 30,000miles for about £80/tyre
Only thing is fuel consumption is not great, it will only average about 22mpg
I have owned loads, they are cheap to buy secondhand, very reliable, very hardwearing and better than EVERY other car off road. Spend £5k and get a decent 5-6yr old car with full service history. Use it as a dump run car and 4x4, alongside your best car, it'll last yrs I promise you.
Best of the bunch is not the current shape but the one before that, reg between T and 53 plate. Go for the 2.5 lux on a 53 plate Full S H is essential.
Not a bad cruiser either. Get rid of the rubbish yokos it comes with and go for General grabber AT2. From memory you have to go up 5% in profile, which is no bad thing and they still clear all the wheelarches and will last for about 30,000miles for about £80/tyre
Only thing is fuel consumption is not great, it will only average about 22mpg
A1GSS
Active Member
Thanks, you're with the majority view here. Useful tips ref the age and model, tyres too. Cheers
One of these would be good
(That's my in-laws' one)
(That's my in-laws' one)
A1GSS
Active Member
Re the R Class - thanks to all its fans! It's big, and I don't really want or need such a bulky car. It's made in the US not Germany, I've no idea about real world reliability though. Any horror stories? Will check it out though.
Users who are viewing this thread
Similar threads
