Anyone for 4WD ?

[FredPuli43]

Anyody here got a four wheel drive vehicle? How often to you us the four wheel drive facility; I appreciate that some may be permanent 4WD ?

What use is 4WD in practice ? When we had one, a friend joked 'Why? Are the kerbs that high in London?' But even in the country, I could see no use for the 4WD and never used it. When Top Gear did a show from Sweden, at the height of the Chelsea tractor fashion, Jeremy Clarkson noticed how very few were the 4WD in a country where, in theory, they'd be most use.

[Toureman]

4WD vehicles are always a lot more expensive than 2WD of any make of vehicle and very rarely will the 4WD ever be used even if the driver knows how to use it.

About 50% of drivers who get a 4WD tart it up with low profile tyres which then negates any advantage in snow or muddy terrain!

Most of them are posers vehicles!

A 20 year old 2WD Lada with cross country tyres on would be better than a Rangerover with road tyres.

The 4WD can be an advantage if they are cars and designed for fast driving on the road on the road or track.

[chas2008]

very few 4wd actually get used off road,lets be honest unless you are in the hunting/shooting/fishing/farming set why would you ? they can be of use in the snow but how often does that happen.Having said that people get over confident with them as a body shop some of the first vehicles we get in when it snows are 4 x 4 s more often than not rolled !!!

[doctordb]

I only use 4wd when off road or when pulling away whilst towing a heavy load. It can be useful in snow. I need the vehicle as i work in the countryside but when in the city i much prefer the comfort of my car.

[Baldric]

We live in a rural area. one of our vehicles is always a 4WD, and no, we don't compromise the ground clearance with low profile tyres. I was trained to use 4x4s in the Marines and have passed my knowledge on to my partner who as a community Midwife has been called out at all hours of the day and night in all weathers, and on one occasion towed an ambulance back to the main road after it became stuck at a patients property.

[tamborine]

My JagX is 4wd. It sailed thru the heavy snow, when mercs/porches/audis & most other cars were stuck.

[cazzz1975]

off roading and in heavy inclements of snow, though they are pretty good in snow as 2wd

[jomifl]

I used to use a 4wd on Scottish forest roads in winter. The only time I needed to engage 4wd was on the steep bits (10%+)covered in solid ice or driving through thick virgin snow, anywhere else 2wd was adequate.

[Zeuhl]

I've had 4 WD for about 15 years. They are excellent in snow so my car was very useful in the winters 2009 and 2010 and it's useful when I head into the woods or onto the beach at weekends.

Most of the time I run in 2 WD.

[sallybb]

yep in the snow, and using it as workhorse in the field, transporting hay , muck etc by trailer. Its a bit old, but soldiers on. Our posh neighbours with there brand new 4x4 Audi look down on us, but who cares, snooty pair.

[Mosaic]

My BIL has a 4WD chelsea tractor for doing the very rough terrain of the drive to the office and back.....

[sallybb]

in these parts they are mostly used for the school run

[FredPuli43]

The Porsche Cayenne is a 4WD. They must have got very fast livestock in Germany (or Chelsea) if you need well over 100 mph to catch up with them on a hillside!

[Toureman]

Hi Baldrik,

You could have been trained by me!

I was a driving instructer on all vehicles in the Royal Marines.

[Baldric]

Anythings possible, (1971-72)

[Toureman]

No, I was in 45Cdo in Norway doing Arctic Warfare Training then.

All the Best.

[woofgang]

I have had 4wd now since 2000. The Jimney was a bit of a joke but i did find the 4wd useful in the forest in the winter. My current Rav4 (I had a jeep in the middle but it was very expensive) is just what i need, a bit of extra clearance and will 4wd when i need it. many of the places i go are rural or semi rural, the current issue is water rather than mud. Once I got used to driving with the extra view given by the extra height, I didn't want to go back to standard car level.

[Baldric]

42Cdo RM for me.

[jomifl]

Invest in some tyre chains if snow is a problem, they don't take up much space.