Latest posts for the topic "What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?"

What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 14:19:03 GMT

I'm after some more advice about my planned 12-week sojourn in the Alps this winter.

My Vauxhall Corsa just isn't going to be comfortable enough and needs replacing anyway - but with what?

The 'new' vehicle will be second-hand and needs to be suitable for city driving after my return (so nothing too big, not looking for a big 4WD). I'm not looking to drive far when in the resort - maybe to the lifts, and certainly to pick up shopping outside the resort (still haven't decided where I will end up).

My budget is around GBP5-6k and I will look to buy privately (highish mileage isn't a deterrent if I can find something with a good service history and with decent fuel economy, probably diesel).

So, what would be your vehicle of choice within those parameters? An Audi A3 is a possibility.Thanks

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 14:58:04 GMT

You are correct something light and 4wd . That's what you see a lot of in the mountains and spend GBP500 on good quality snow tyres. Good luck looking for you car not a lot about in the uk might be worth looking at lhd !

All the best

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 19:01:22 GMT

Touring body shape skoda. I would not get hung up about 4wd or not, am not sure it is of any read advantage on roads. Just make sure you get winter tyres.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 19:17:06 GMT

I'd be thinking about real practicalities.
Somewhere for skis? Long enough hatchback or estate to throw them in for a short journey? Easier than a roof rack.
Also; tyres - suitable for chains? Might only need chains once but when you do.....
And endorse other comments about snow tyres - a no brainer.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 20:45:42 GMT

I use an Audi A4 Avant Quattro and have never had any issues so far in the mountains. I have a set of wheels with winter tyres which also allow me to fit chains if required (standard wheels do not have enough clearance for chains on my model), so far in the past 9 trips I have never needed to fit the chains.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 21:20:44 GMT

Subaru Impreza Wagon - your budget will get you a nice one; you'll have as much fun on the roads as on the mountains then... and you won't look like a sales rep on holiday... 8)

Personally, I'd be wary of high-mileage diesels; you may be trading reliability for the lower fuel consumption and if you do get a big bill then all that fuel saving will be for nowt. Just MHO. In general, petrol engined equivalents are a little cheaper to buy.

As the others have said, good winter tyres are a must - or one of the latest all-season tyres that come with the snowflake symbol. With winter tyres the drive-chain's less important but 4WD will occasionally give you the edge and get you going where you might need chains otherwise. Marginal though.

As for cars, if you don't fancy an Impreza then you could add a Golf Syncro to your list or a Panda 4x4 if you're immune to ridicule... :lol: Mazda has a variant of the 6 with 4WD, and the Subaru Legacy saloon might be worth a look if you don't want to go to an estate.

So, you've got some choices there... 8)

To actually answer the question in the OP; Legacy Touring.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 22:05:19 GMT

Most recently have driven Range Rover, no issues.

In my seasons, I had a Ford Transit rear wheel drive, no snow tyres, rarely used chains. Thankfully, there is legislation in place now.

I certainly SKITEd about!!!

More seriously, think about a range of cars you would prefer to use in the UK, and then look at which of those may fit best to Alpine activity.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 23:27:20 GMT

Just avoid BMWs or anything rear wheel drive, but especially BMWs, or Range Rovers and similar class so called 4x4's as they're really difficult to stop once you get a lick on.

Golf TDi or A3, but for similar money go for a larger Audi A4 or better still VW Passat estate.

Diesels every day of the week, don't worry about this emissions lark. High mileage diesels can be an issue if they haven't got FSH but generally with the 2.0 VAG drivetrain you will not go wrong.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 01:07:00 GMT

Ha Skite, a re-visit in history! You have a Vauxhall Corsa. My mate persuaded me to drive my Vauxhall Victor from Manchester to Austria, my very first visit to Austria. We stayed in a houseful of ski instructors, sleeping on the floor in one instructors room, and, it changed the course of my life, thereafter spending several seasons in Austria. I formed a bond with the local farm boy, harp player, and I played guitar/banjo alongside him. When we went back to the UK, he jumped in the back, planning to visit his girlfriend(s)(s)(s) ~ get the picture?

At Calais, my VV developed a starter motor issue. So, one of Tirol's greatest harp players helped to push my VV on to the ferry!

Oh, that Harp player now owns several hotels, plus clubs, but I still sit alongside him on his harp, and sing/play guitar. Last year, as most years with several ex-J2skiers.

Back to cars. During my seasons I drove the aforesaid Transit, (an ex-Redifusion TV van, with the lettering clearly on view). Ongoing Austria, visits ~ a VW campervan. Next time, a Range Rover, Then a Freelander. In between times, and more recently, over twenty hire cars. With the exception of the Ford Transit, which did skite on ice, in no case, have I had a any traction issue.

Of all the cars driven, the Range Rover was outstandingly the best.
Having said that, I think my current Freelander might have an edge on traction.
My son, who is a Motoring Editor puts the Range Rover ahead, but then, what does he know?
I just tell him I will see him on the slopes....

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 07:58:08 GMT

how about
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201510137772025?maximum-mileage=up_to_70000_miles&engine-size-cars=2l_to_2-5l&fuel-type=diesel&page=1&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&postcode=s104fl&sort=default&radius=1500&model=rav4&make=toyota&search-target=usedcars&maximum-age=up_to_10_years_old&quantity-of-doors=5&logcode=p

I drive a Rover Streewise diesel as my daily driver and have taken it round the Alps twice..It has snow tyres and I have never had to use the chains. Ideally I would like something a bit bigger. Having driven diesel Range Rovers I find them very sluggish but comfortable. Diesel is the fuel to go for as it is cheaper on the continent and you get more mpg. The Toyotas have a reputation for reliabilty and are quite easy to find ..but consider the Suzuki S4 /Fiat seicento good value but a bit smaller ...also the Hyundai Santa Fe ...a good solid car

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 08:20:06 GMT

Having driven in deep snow in resorts several times I'd ignore 4x4's in favour of decent winter tyres. On your budget I'd consider a Skoda Octavia estate or possibly a Ford C-Max. I had a C-Max and the 40/20/40 rear seat configuration means you can easily remove the middle rear chair to leave at home and allows geat space for your skis.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:09:18 GMT

I would go with an estate - they are great for space and for throwing skis into the back for short runs. Always try to hire one for my ski trips. Ford focus estate is a good, if somewhat boring choice :lol: .

I had an interesting conversation with the car hire desk in Venice airport last year. The car was a diesel and she informed me that the local diesel was not suitable for the mountains (did not have anti-freeze in it and liable to freeze overnight :shock: ). She advised that I fill up as soon as I got there or alternatively add anti-freeze to the fuel tank :roll: Apparently, the diesel sold in the mountains has anti-freeze added in Winter.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 11:02:04 GMT

I drive/deliver all makes and sorts of car all over Europe. For your 5 to 6k budget the Toyota RAV4 is well worth a look at. For your budget go for 2004 through to 2006 with, ideally, main dealer service history. As another said do invest in winter tyres, chains are a bit of a pain. Also bear in mind that the diesel fuel in the mountains at below freezing temperatures can freeze up and you will be unable to start until it 'de-freezes'. The Subaru range of 4-wheel drives are also well worthwhile in the mountains.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 13:40:31 GMT

As per Yumma: Skoda Octavia Estate (Estate had escaped my mind hence term touring).

4 x 4 cars tend to frankly understeer horribly on slippery roads. They are only useful in deep snow (never seen on roads, anywhere in world) or offroad (you are going skiing not farming). If you can't get up a hill going forward can always reverse up e.g. a driveway. If is worse than that then frankly you should not be on road anyway.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 15:06:39 GMT

Talking of freezing in the winter I had been in L2A for a week and decided to fill up on the way down the hill ...My filler cap lock had frozen solid and took 20 mins of messing to defrost ..but I have had no problems with frozen diesel though

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 16:04:04 GMT

It's comes done to sane driving habits and the right tyres! Here is the beast I drove in the Rockies every weekend for 3 years, 1996 Ford Winstar. The only point here is the vehicle can be anything as long as you are prepared. That was 24 hours of snow, the Weekend was EPIC!

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 17:50:10 GMT

I have driven a Suzuki Vitara and they are brilliant in all conditions and great to drive

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 21:48:22 GMT

Ranchero_1979 wrote:4 x 4 cars tend to frankly understeer horribly on slippery roads.

:?: yeah, it's not like you'd ever get a 4WD car repeatedly winning the World Rally Championship... oh, wait. 8)

Seriously? You must have driven some seriously rubbish car to have found that (unless your winter driving technique includes carrying way too much speed and standing on the brakes at the entry to slippery-corner... as a mate tried once long ago; it didn't end well :lol: ).

IME, in lots of snowy mountain miles with winter tyres; FWD good, 4WD better, Subaru 4WD pretty much unbeatable. I've very occasionally needed chains on most of my cars, but never on the Scoobys (current chains are now 6-years-old and unused).

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:02:22 GMT

I had a Lada Niva when I lived in the mountains :)

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:07:29 GMT

OldAndy wrote:I had a Lada Niva when I lived in the mountains :)

Really? I didn't think they started making these until 1971 :shock: :twisted:

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:17:54 GMT

OldAndy wrote:I had a Lada Niva when I lived in the mountains :)

Was that the one with the engine in the back??? That must've been a hoot! 8)

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 00:25:33 GMT

Admin, yes to the Subaru 4WD.

Canadian Skier, yes to Ford Winstar. I have hired a Winstar twice from Denver to travel round Breckenridge, Vail, A Basin, Keystone, Beaver Creek etc. (And one other time, in a chauffeur driven limo!!!)

Not sure what we will get, this season.

You would have to question someone having problems driving a 4WD ~ I suspect a little tongue in cheek.

Where I live in Scotland, in the bad years, (or good!), the combination of heavy snowfall and high winds often mean the snow depth on the road is over a metre. Hence, once a tractor have shuggled up the lane, we can usually make our way to the village, and thence to the town ~ increasing the Freelander 4WD setting to "snow and ice"

And in the Ford Transit days, I once drove the 5 miles to the town through almost single track, snow at roof level, FWD, and ancient tyres. At that age, I was invincible!

I have pretty warm feelings towards switching to an electric car. I have test driven a couple, been offered a test drive in a Tesla, but couldn't make it. My motoring editor son has had two test drives. Of course, they are 4 wheel drives, but..... in snow????

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 00:51:41 GMT

Fiat Panda 4x4 ... yup seriously... narrow wheels, high profile tyres, ..mind you I wouldnt want to drive it here from England !!

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 01:01:55 GMT

My wife has a VW Golf mk7 4 motion .. posh car and very swish... we got the best snow tyres as we live quite high up and in a remote location .. it has never got stuck or let us down in some quite severe conditions.. However a lot of it is down to HOW you drive in snow and not how good you think your car is, I have seen a few "chelsea tractors " in ditches

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 03:45:14 GMT

Admin: I think rally cars have a hydraulic handbrake and one way traffic allows you to give them a flick.

4x4 cars inherently push on. I had an Impreza in Norway for 3 x years, driven in a legal manner was not a great tool. Absolutely get on last 5 km to Myrkdalen was fun but you cannot drive like that on normal roads. For the yearly winter driving skills course we had to do a Prius performed better, moose swerve, stopping and slippery corner (work car so 20+ drivers back to back). Only area Impreza was superior was going up a greasy metal plate hill.

Normal resort conditions would go with a front wheel drive which is exactly what 99% of locals do.

Of course some people feel a need for a 4 x 4 in London / the school run. If we apply this logic then we will end up with a topic on ski wellies and wax jackets.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Sun, 1 Nov 2015 15:52:02 GMT

Wow! Thanks for all the replies. We've settled for a Golf estate - now to get the tyres.

It's a front wheel drive, so, will I need all 4 as winter tyres, or just the front ones?

thanks again

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Sun, 1 Nov 2015 16:07:33 GMT

skite wrote:It's a front wheel drive, so, will I need all 4 as winter tyres, or just the front ones?

All 4. Having grip both ends of your car will make for a much better day when the snow comes... 8)

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Sun, 1 Nov 2015 16:52:21 GMT

I had snow tyres on the front and summer tyres on the back once...... never again!!! It was very exciting though..

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Sun, 1 Nov 2015 17:06:33 GMT

You need to fit them to all 4 wheels, don't be tempted to skimp and buy cheap no name brand ones as they're usually hopeless. Every year the Austrian, German and Swiss motoring organisations test winter tyres, here are the results of the 2015 tests http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2015-ADAC-Winter-Tyre-Test-205-55-R16.htm Before you set off have your antifreeze checked to see if it's good for -30oC and get some screen wash that's also good for -30oC.

There are problems with winter diesel in France when it gets really cold, as in the UK the additives in it only stop it from freezing down to -15oC so if it's very cold it will freeze. You can get additives that lower the freezing point to -30oC, but they have to be added before it freezes.

As you're going to be out here for 3 months you will likely have to dig your car out at some point so a shovel will be useful, a plastic one won't damage the car as much as a metal one if it slips, you will also need some chains or snow socks as it's compulsory to fit them when the blue snow chain sign is displayed unless a sign with the words "pneus neige admis" is also displayed in which case you can proceed using winter tyres only.

Due to all the salt and grit they apply to the roads and footpaths your car will get filthy, inside and out, some rubber mats will stop most of what you carry in on your shoes getting ground into the carpets.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Tue, 3 Nov 2015 21:50:38 GMT

A BMW in the snowy mountain sounds great fun!! haha. Maybe not the safest though...... Maybe an Audi A4 would be a safer bet

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Tue, 3 Nov 2015 22:02:51 GMT

skite wrote:Wow! Thanks for all the replies. We've settled for a Golf estate - now to get the tyres.

It's a front wheel drive, so, will I need all 4 as winter tyres, or just the front ones?

thanks again

pleased to hear you didn't got for a Chelsea tractor. Or a Vauxhall Victor.

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Thu, 5 Nov 2015 13:08:14 GMT

Apologies if I repeat some of what has already been said. We've owned an Audi A6 quattro estate the last 6 years and I've always been impressed with its handling on snow and ice. We swap it over to a winter tyre set each winter. The grip is very impressive and it feels secure due to the low centre of gravity compared to a tall 4x4. We took it over to Norway one Christmas for a 10 day ski holiday and whilst not as good as a car with studded tyres, it handled well enough on roads covered with snow with temperatures down to -25. We were able to drive along at 40 to 50 mph with the rest of the native traffic. We were also pleased to be in petrol car at those temperatures (we witnessed a couple of diesel cars that wouldn't start). See pic below of the car parked up outside our cabin in Hemsedal:

What's particularly interesting is the drop off in performance once the tyres have worn down a little. There is huge amounts of grip with a new tyre (choose carefully. We are currently on Vreidsteins but will swap to Continental or Michelin at the end of the season). However, once down to 4mm, most of the grip has gone and even at 6mm the performance is much worse. There are lots of s/h winter tyres on ebay shipped over from the continent with only 4mm tread. The reason they are on ebay is fairly obvious!

Re:What make/model car would you choose to drive to ski resort?

Sat, 7 Nov 2015 12:50:11 GMT

Thanks again, you've given me great advice.

We have snowchains which will fit, shovel is also at the ready and will put the tyres on all 4 wheels then :)