02-09-2009, 11:27 AM | #1 |
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A Drive in the Snow
I thought I would pass on my experience of driving home in the early hours of Monday morning through 8" inchs of snow from Gatwick airport.
I have owned many fast cars; A8 4,2TDI sport,S8 5.2V10, B7 RS4, M6, and after PXing the 635DS I now own the fabulous X635D, It was in this X6 I drove back after a 2 week spell in Egypt (26 dec C every day). On monday Feb 2nd only two flights managed to get away from Gatwick to Sharm, one of which was my return plane, once we finally landed at Gatwich the Car (X6) was waiting for me, the roads it was said were almost unpassable and the A22 was covered in 8" of snow. I thought what a great test this would be if we got home to Norfolk (145 miles away) in this snow. Well the car just seemed to revel in it, no sliping and sliding down the twisty A22 to the M25 and once on the M25 had my pick of lanes as they were all but empty, I chose the centre lane in the off chance of a slide but low and behold "no sliding" it just tanked on all the way till we got to the M11 were the roads were much better and almost snow free. NONE of my previous cars would IMO have got me home on that night, I just would not have had the confedence to even try going, so again this Car has proved just how great it can handle all that I throw at it and more besides truly fantastic. PS) there were no other vehicles on the snow covered roads other than stranded HGV's. |
02-09-2009, 07:43 PM | #4 |
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Speaking from my own limited experience in the snow and ice - we got all of 3" of snow this year in NC - I'm really impressed with the x6. I have the standard sport pkg 19" rims with the all weather tires on my 35i. I had no trouble at all driving conservatively in the wet snow and on frozen slush.
I did get a little sideways once turning at intersection only to discover that the rain had frozen up on the higher elevations I was now at. The car almost straightened itself out and had had absolutely no understeer initiating that turn. When I parked the car in a driveways 100 yds down the road, it was all I could do to stay on my feet - the driveway and probably the road as well had a 1/4" thick coating of ice. So I agree, the car is fantastic in the snow! |
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02-10-2009, 10:49 AM | #5 |
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Another good post on driving in the snow by someone that started out not particularly liking the X6 :
http://www.x6world.com/x6-e71-e72-fo...tml#post574590 |
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02-11-2009, 02:51 AM | #6 |
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Virtually unstoppable!
We had over 10"s of snow during x'mas. Thus allowed myself to get "stuck" once:
Shod w/ Bridgestone all seasons, & with packed ice created by traffic below 4" s of fresh snow, I didn't want to allow all four wheels to slip too much with DTC switch engaged, & overheat something. And since i was prepared w/ a shovel, i cleared the ice below one wheel & was on my way again. Reading the article gives me more confidence to rely on the car more next time. Thanx. |
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02-11-2009, 04:18 PM | #7 |
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Thanks for the link. Its nice to know that I'm driving "probably the best-handling car in the world on snow". (But I'm still not going to move back north.) Its awesome that a high performance auto could perform like that. Many of them have to be left home when its just raining.
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02-14-2009, 04:12 AM | #8 |
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02-14-2009, 01:42 PM | #9 |
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Thank you johnbmw6. I have 19" Bridgestone Duelers all season RFT on my X6 35i. We have lots of snow and cold weather here in Calgary, Canada. I should use the car more often (with the Bridgestone), after hearing of its good performance in the snow.
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02-15-2009, 06:42 AM | #10 |
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I thought as you at first, "Dont use it as much" but when you do go out and find it's just soooo reasuring, you soon change your mind and drive, and remember every week goes by the car is loosing money whether driven or not, so use the thing as much as poss.
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02-22-2009, 09:21 PM | #11 |
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It seems snow it's much more adherent for all-seasons than wet pavement. I just can wait to try some snow, before spring.
I guess I should escape up north, in the mountains.. for a couple of days. I did 700 miles mostly in downtown, and getting bored. |
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