Driving in the snow

[GrumpyGregry]

Anyone here even driven an 80's 1st gen 4x4 Fiat Panda... a wankpanda? I've had a go in one of the second gen Panda Climbing

How about the Renault Kangoo Trekka or that bizarre box that is the 4WD Megane Scenic?

 

[Archie_tect]

..... thin (1970's) designed pillars make blind spots minimal. Modern cars should all be like this!

Just don't roll it when you go round corners.... it'll flatten to the door sills.

 

[Archie_tect]

Paul: "Bit of a problem last night...."
Me: "What's happened?"
Paul: " Parked at the top of the back lane and came out ten minutes later to find car wedged against the wall at the bottom... handbrake on and in gear- just the weight of the car made it slide. Went back up to just to see how long it took to start sliding on it's own- there's thawing slush on black ice... just as well there wasn't someone walking up or another car in the way...sorry."
Me: " Is there much damage?"
Paul: "No, a scrape on the plastic bumper which'll fill and spray out".

 

[Archie_tect]

The Skoda Yeti....

I've seen a picture of one but are you sure they exist?

 

[subaqua]

Easy, I know! I can't get a big, reliable, sub 100k, FSH, fault free, rock solid, 4WD estate for £750. I can however have a choice of 4l Jeep Cherokee's because not many can afford the dismal 15-20 mpg, they are unwanted. Again, the Jeep is smaller than the Mondeo estate it replaced, will still be worth £750 next year, and the year after, and £750 is a figure smaller than I'd have lost in residual value if I'd kept the Mondeo another year! When, if, this one ever goes "pop" then I'll buy another because it makes economical sense for me to do so.

It is hardly a shiny status symbol. For the record, one thing you notice straight when you sit in or drive one is the superb visibility, thin (1970's) designed pillars make blind spots minimal. Modern cars should all be like this!

just a horrendous cost to rebuild the rear axle and it will go pidoing at the most inopportune moment generally about 140K miles. still its testament to the design when you drop the rear prop in less thsan 10 minutes and drive home 350 miles on the front only.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The Skoda Yeti Im sure a cross between a disabled car and the pope mobile.

matra/talbot rancho anyone?

 

[Linford]

matra/talbot rancho anyone?

There is one of these parked on the far side of my town. The Rancho was a 2wd Discovery wannabee with a 1.6 Ford CVH engine in it.

 

[Linford]

Does it not precede it by a good 10 years?

It has been for sale for about a year now. The signs said it had an XR2 engine in it. CVH engine went into the Mk3 escorts and MK2 Fiesta's which were from about 1981 ish IIRC

 

[MarkF]

Just don't roll it when you go round corners.... it'll flatten to the door sills.

and what's the chances of that happening? I've haven't (and why would I?) rolled a car in over 30 years of driving. I don't know anybody who's rolled a car and I've never seen it happen.............. apart from at the begining of CHiPS. Any more of this silly talk and I'll start thinking about wearing a cycle helmet.

 

[Bicycle]

Anyone here even driven an 80's 1st gen 4x4 Fiat Panda...

In southern France and parts of Italy maybe 20-25 years ago, the Panda 4x4 was an absolutely standard car for frmers with smallholdings in the hills and mountains.

Hiding under the utility body was a pretty cool 4x4 system attached to a non-FIAT (but not spectacularly good) motor.

The car was a revelation over rough terrain, tracks and the like. It was perceived (and marketed) differently in the UK. There must be very few left here now, but I bet there are still quite a few clambering over the Appenines with a baby prosciutto and some freshly-picked spaghetti in the boot.

I've seen a few of the current Panda 4x4s in the Lake District, so they may be made of the same stuff.

The Scenic 4x4, on the other hand, was the result of drunken, unprotected union between a marketing woman and a man from the parts warehouse. It was made of silly heaped on silly with some cheese on top. This is not my opinion, it is official. It is a silly, bad, bad, silly car.

 

[Bicycle]

There is one of these parked on the far side of my town. The Rancho was a 2wd Discovery wannabee with a 1.6 Ford CVH engine in it.

Not a Disco wannabe. It was based on the mechanicals of the Simca 1100 (and shared some of its panels forward of the B-pillar.

I believe the motor was a Simca one, that became a Chrysler/Talbot lump as the whole plot went south before being eaten by Peugeot.

The Disco came many years later and in those days Ford had no dealings with Simca/Rootes or similar.

It was a part-bin special and a clever attempt (ultimately unsuccesful) to invent a 'lifestyle vehicle' several decades ahead of the competition.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Any more of this silly talk and I'll start thinking about wearing a cycle helmet.

That's right, ruin a perfectly good 4x4 thread by mentioning cycling helmets!

 

[Gixxerman]

I avoid driving in snow.
It is not because I am a poor driver. It is my car. Rear wheel drive, 2.0L diesel engine, 255/35 rear tyres and 250lbft of torque makes it virtually undrivable in snow.

 

[Linford]

Not a Disco wannabe. It was based on the mechanicals of the Simca 1100 (and shared some of its panels forward of the B-pillar.

I believe the motor was a Simca one, that became a Chrysler/Talbot lump as the whole plot went south before being eaten by Peugeot.

The Disco came many years later and in those days Ford had no dealings with Simca/Rootes or similar.

It was a part-bin special and a clever attempt (ultimately unsuccesful) to invent a 'lifestyle vehicle' several decades ahead of the competition.

I bow to your greater knowedge.. That car must be an even bigger bodge than the original one

 

[subaqua]

Not a Disco wannabe. It was based on the mechanicals of the Simca 1100 (and shared some of its panels forward of the B-pillar.

I believe the motor was a Simca one, that became a Chrysler/Talbot lump as the whole plot went south before being eaten by Peugeot.

The Disco came many years later and in those days Ford had no dealings with Simca/Rootes or similar.

It was a part-bin special and a clever attempt (ultimately unsuccesful) to invent a 'lifestyle vehicle' several decades ahead of the competition.

how true of the Mk 1 Discos. Ital door handles for a start , the rear lights too were from a Marina Van.