What makes the perfect Winter car

[Bobby Dazzler]

This week I was listening to a podcast from The Intercooler which is a few months old now, and Andrew Frankel and Dan Prosser were debating what makes a great Winter car, and it got me thinking…

…What would you look for in the perfect winter car?

For me, whilst it might be well suited to winter driving it would still need to be the sort of car I’d really want to drive, so something a little left-field, and not a common sight on the road.

It would also need to have something about it which makes it feel a little special, and for me the engine is an important part of that, something with character and ample performance potential.

It would need to be practical though and so black seats and carpets are a must, with big doors and generous boot so that my passengers can get in and out quickly and easily on poor conditions.

Four wheel drive, premium Winter tyres, and high ground clearance are a must for me to make sure that I can keep moving in deep snow and deep floodwater, as that is a too-common occurrence for us

All of that is my perfect winter car, however fitting a set of premium Winter tyres on any car transforms it’s ability in cold, wet and dirty roads - never mind ice and snow - so they’re a must.

What would you look for in the perfect winter car?

 

[NJSS]

Quite simple - Range Rover or Discovery.

 

[W1ghty]

An E320cdi with winter tyres on . With 16 wheels for the potholes

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

First off: Winter tyres, or even All Season are all that any Brit needs. Four Wheel Drive is for hilly fields.

But the manufacturers have sold us on 4WD so let’s bow to them.

Logic says “Disco 4” - a fine, practical motor. Petrol V8, even though it’s unobtainium.

But I’ll go with lower and lighter: BMW 330i touring Xdrive. I prefer things lower and lighter, and British snow never lasts.

 

[SpikyMikey]

This week I was listening to a podcast from The Intercooler which is a few months old now, and Andrew Frankel and Dan Prosser were debating what makes a great Winter car, and it got me thinking…

…What would you look for in the perfect winter car?

For me, whilst it might be well suited to winter driving it would still need to be the sort of car I’d really want to drive, so something a little left-field, and not a common sight on the road.

It would also need to have something about it which makes it feel a little special, and for me the engine is an important part of that, something with character and ample performance potential.

It would need to be practical though and so black seats and carpets are a must, with big doors and generous boot so that my passengers can get in and out quickly and easily on poor conditions.

Four wheel drive, premium Winter tyres, and high ground clearance are a must for me to make sure that I can keep moving in deep snow and deep floodwater, as that is a too-common occurrence for us

All of that is my perfect winter car, however fitting a set of premium Winter tyres on any car transforms it’s ability in cold, wet and dirty roads - never mind ice and snow - so they’re a must.

What would you look for in the perfect winter car?

Just for you Mr Dazzler........

 

[ToeKnee]

That's an easy question!
AC Cobra!

 

[BTB 500]

You just need to find it ...

Antarctic Snow Cruiser - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[JoolsB]

As others have said, only one answer - Range Rover, it doesn’t matter how bad it is outside, it wafts along, closeting you in luxurious warm loveliness. I often find that when I get to my destination, I don’t want to get out.

 

[flying haggis]

An E320cdi with winter tyres on . With 16 wheels for the potholes

I like the idea of an e320 with 16 wheels........... (all wheel drive?)



And i wonder what the unimog costs??

 

[markjay]

You just need to find it ...

View attachment 152150

Antarctic Snow Cruiser - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And bring it back....

 

[markjay]

I would prefer a small lightweight AWD SUV with good body clearance and proper winter tyres to a Range, if I'm honest....

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Fiat Panda 4x4 would take some beating. Like a mountain goat but better at climbing steep, snowy, Rocky Mountains.

 

[HappytalkAgain]

For me it’d be an ML63 preferably in Silver. Perfect winter all rounder. I’ve got my eye on a particular one on AT but the price is heavily inflated. It’s as if the seller wants to keep hold of it.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Just for you Mr Dazzler........
View attachment 152146

That looks like it’s Southern spec. It would need some fairly serious modifications to prepare it for use in the grim North. As it is, there’s no way that would even get to the local Coop in any month other than July

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

For me it’d be an ML63 preferably in Silver. Perfect winter all rounder. I’ve got my eye on a particular one on AT but the price is heavily inflated. It’s as if the seller wants to keep hold of it.

 

[Flyinspanner]

My old Legacy GTB, 4WD, 2ltr boxer, twin turbo!
on snow tyres it was incredible - we had a big snow dump (10/11 yrs ago?) and I had to go and collect daughter, I chugged up long hill with cars stopped, unmoveable, at weird angles and it just took it in its stride.

280hp made for a rapid car when you wanted it to be. Fun in summer and winter! Comfortable, practical, what’s not to love?

plus not many people knew what it was - and that was fun too!

The GTB was a JDM import, not the usual normally aspirated version sold in the UK, suspension was a full Bilstein install from factory - there was a later version called the Blitzen which Porsche further tweaked the suspension.
At one stage it held records as the fastest 2L estate in the world!

 

[ALFAitalia]

The same car you use in the summer.....just with winter tyres on. Or in the case of us South coast dweller....just the same car you use in the summer...... driven a bit slower!

 

[st13phil]

Fiat Panda 4x4 would take some beating. Like a mountain goat but better at climbing steep, snowy, Rocky Mountains.

That was my first thought when you posed the question.

Something light, on skinny tyres, is hard to beat in slippery conditions. Add in 4WD and you have a winner.

 

[W1ghty]

I like the idea of an e320 with 16 wheels........... (all wheel drive?)



And i wonder what the unimog costs??

Just rear wheel buddy , not an issue with winters on. I’ve got a steep hill up from the house , it can be covered in snow and ice and the car won’t even flash the traction control .

 

[Bellow]

A nuclear furnace of a heater.