Why, oh why did I ever doubt ...

[eric]

.... so, I'm in the small car-park at doctor's surgery located at the bottom of a 150 metre long totally ungritted minor approach road which has a couple of bends on the way, with houses either side, waiting for my daughter to see the quack. Although it was a bright sunny day, the road itself was in the shade.

Coming down the road gently I had experienced no `action` to worry me, however, as I waited in the car-park at the bottom, I observed a tradesman's transit try and fail to go back up the hill/slope 17 times (yep, I counted). Not only that, several other small cars also struggled badly (Ka's, Fiestas etc) and only succeeded with the help of locals who were in the main watching the fun, with schadenfreuden (?) whoops of glee from the side lines. A couple of other vehicles were also abandoned and pushed to the side of the road, the owners having given up.

Looking up the first 60 or so metres of the hill, I could see it was like sheet ice.

I was getting very worried indeed as I waited for dear daughter.

She finally emerged chatting 19 to the dozen jabbering on about us going to B&Q and other stores, while I sat in silent thought. "What's wrong Dad" she finally said when I wasn't responding to her entusiastic chat. "Look" I said pointing to yet another car failing to negotiate the hill. "Oh, God, we're foocked" she whispered under her breath, rather eloquently.

"Nah, watch this" I confidently announced (but really, crapping myself). So, I donned my shades (it was sunny, afterall), put on my cool-look and opened my window putting my elbow out. I could see the people lining up, looking down the road to us, almost licking their lips to see another dismal failure.

So off I started off in first gear, telling my daughter to smile and simply quietly cruised past the onlookers wearing a broad grin (forced, praying at same time), all of whom had their mouths open in astonishment and all the way up to the top without any drama whatsoever.

I think I proved without any shadow of doubt, as I previously had, that the 4 wheel drive ...... works.

Eric.

[jebiga41]

Great isn't it after going in the snow last year not a bit worried about the van performing makes all the worrying and maintanence worth while

[footstuck]

Last year on my way to work through the quietest of the lanes,
I rounded a bend to find a BMW sliding down the incline SIDEWAYS,
all four wheels locked up.
As I nipped around the bend plowing through the passing spot,
and continued up the incline,
He shouted 'SLOW DOWN' angrily.
My response was 'I AIN'T THE ONE SIDWAYS YOU PR!!!CK'!
Sometimes you just have to.
Take the gritted roads or the Bus unless you are proper 4x4.
Why would you even try in a 2wd BMW??



Curiosity killed the cat.

[syncro up]

.... so, I'm in the small car-park at doctor's surgery located at the bottom of a 150 metre long totally ungritted minor approach road which has a couple of bends on the way, with houses either side, waiting for my daughter to see the quack. Although it was a bright sunny day, the road itself was in the shade.

Coming down the road gently I had experienced no `action` to worry me, however, as I waited in the car-park at the bottom, I observed a tradesman's transhite try and fail to go back up the hill/slope 17 times (yep, I counted). Not only that, several other small cars also struggled badly (Ka's, Fiestas etc) and only succeeded with the help of locals who were in the main watching the fun, with schadenfreuden (?) whoops of glee from the side lines. A couple of other vehicles were also abandoned and pushed to the side of the road, the owners having given up.

Looking up the first 60 or so metres of the hill, I could see it was like sheet ice.

I was getting very worried indeed as I waited for dear daughter.

She finally emerged chatting 19 to the dozen jabbering on about us going to B&Q and other stores, while I sat in silent thought. "What's wrong Dad" she finally said when I wasn't responding to her entusiastic chat. "Look" I said pointing to yet another car failing to negotiate the hill. "Oh, God, we're foocked" she whispered under her breath, rather eloquently.

"Nah, watch this" I confidently announced (but really, crapping myself). So, I donned my shades (it was sunny, afterall), put on my cool-look and opened my window putting my elbow out. I could see the people lining up, looking down the road to us, almost licking their lips to see another dismal failure.

So off I started off in first gear, telling my daughter to smile and simply quietly cruised past the onlookers wearing a broad grin (forced, praying at same time), all of whom had their mouths open in astonishment and all the way up to the top without any drama whatsoever.

I think I proved without any shadow of doubt, as I previously had, that the 4 wheel drive ...... works.

Eric.

You missed out the bit about how you then pulled all the stricken motorist to the top of the hill to great applaud, including the transit. Your karma fully recharged.
Afterall, its our duty to help those less fortune than ourselves.

[ghop99]

A picture tells a thousand words......or something like that anyway

[syncro up]

Thinkin about that alot these days.
If only CJ hadnt split the 2.3 single cab from its plough before bring it home...

[Syncro G]

^^^ but thats an Aircooled not a syncro!

Been getting my moneys worth out of mine this last few days. Was in the yorks dales, caving over the weekend and on the whole I thought the wether was disapointing, but then sunday afternoon when I was underground I surfaced to find at least 10cm of snow everywhere - surprising as 4 hours ago it didn't even look like it was going to snow. I was in Kingsdale which is rather remote and not somewhere you'd want to be stuck in but I wasn't overly worried. Turned out I wasn't the only van in the valley as when I got to the steep climb to get out I found the wondering skid marks along the valley road were caused by a merc Vito and Tourneo (transit) minibus - RWD and FWD respectively. They were in the process of being abandoned so I checked to see if the student passengers were equipped for their planned walk to the pub for the night, they were, so I left them to it and gave them a demonstraton of syncro 4x4 and AT tyres - even when it fell off the narrow road passing them it didn't struggle and simply climbed back on again wih little fuss.

Been having a play with both the syncro and my series 1 landy today. Don't know how much it has to do with tread (Landy has XZL MTs the syncro has BFG AT, both with loads of tread) but the syncro is definately more sure footed, infact unless you hoof the brakes hard it just doesn't slip. JX's narrow power band is anoying me though, I don't like pootleing along at 3kRPM in 2nd to be able to get a mix of power/engine braking as required - Landy has about the same engine torque but its much more flexable so you can tick along in a much higher gear, and with more gears to chose from its probubly less stressfull - need good clothes though and its easy to step the back out if you get it wrong - apart from the syncro having no power to climb the steep hills in the peak district (its always like that) you barely notice the wether conditions - hardest part is actully getting out of it as its easy to slip over on the horendusly slippy sheet ice serface its just had no problem parking on.

Such a shame most of this driving has been at night and I have a crap camera!

[Syncro G]

Thinkin about that alot these days.
If only CJ hadnt split the 2.3 single cab from its plough before bring it home...

I seem to remember him saying the plough was destined to stay in Norway before he actully got his hands on it. That truck had a Dutch numberplate on it at Mammot park so I suspect its not going to see so much snow shoveling for the time being.

[slobbo]

I am having a ball. My only complaint is that every time I put it away for the night I end up with a puddle in the garage from the melted snow.

[toomanytoys]

you lucky buggers... I am stuck (stuck with work, not coz I cant get back) out in Holland with only shanks' pony.... I just hope we have a bit over Xmas when I am back.. but I ought to get the prop balanced asap if its going to stay on for a bit...

[Syncro G]

you lucky buggers... I am stuck (stuck with work, not coz I cant get back) out in Holland with only shanks' pony.... I just hope we have a bit over Xmas when I am back.. but I ought to get the prop balanced asap if its going to stay on for a bit...

You'll be pleased to know then that it was for work stuff so I was basicly being payed to go whitelaneing in the syncro, as long as I picked up some electrical cable on route - sometimes I love my job (though its not so fun when I get there as the unit has no heating and is basicly a cow shed on a hilltop farm).

[toomanytoys]

Are you a Sparky then?

[eltee]

i am loving it too, picked up 3 work colleagues today, going up steep roads in town, folk looking at a VW van going where nothing dare. its ace

[Syncrobaz]

I'm peed off !! Bought a Syncro 6 months ago to replace my landy 'cos I wanted a PROPER 4x4 and there's bugger all snow here yet

[amulet]

some crazy snow up here in Scotland. Pulled a small bus out of a cul de sac today and an AA recovery truck with a car on the back!

one bloke said "bloody hell i've never seen one of those before, does it have a Land Rover chasis?" "Yes mate" I said "and the engine's from a 2CV, great isn't it!" Oh dear...

I hope they run out of salt again soon then we can really have some fun! would save my bodywork too!