To be honest, if you can't get by in this country with 4x4 AND winter tyres, what chance have the rest of us got

Excuse any typos here my laptop has been goosed for a couple of weeks now and it's difficult operating the iPhone being far sighted (should really get tov the Opticians to have my eyes tested) and being a large framed 6' 5 1/2" my 'dainty' fingers struggle not to press three letters at the same time let alone two!

I digress, we went up Hardknott Castle today - this is a Roman Fort just off one of the Fell roads. Locals to that area would know that at this time of year the Fell road is closed and only idiots would attempt to go up there unless your the farmer with your 4wd farm vehicle.

As we got to the bottom of the Fell the owner of the Woolpack Inn advised us that he'd just been part way up in his 4wd Kubota (with bobbly wheels) and that we wouldn't manage to get up into the Oass - he saw we were driving a Yeti and then told us how good they were and he was thinking of getting the automatic version. We then carried on and decided to test the Santa Express out - having lived in Germany once upon a time for thirteen years I was interested to see what it could do!

Up we went - the stretch of road is about 1500m to the Fort, overall it is a 1 in 6 with several 1 in 3 gradients. Snow ranged from a couple of inches to about four or five inches. SWMBO was not impressed but knew as soon as we'd been told that we couldn't do it then that was like saying "I dare you to have a go!" Well we passed the advisory 'Fell Road Closed' sign started the ascent.

It was absolutely amazing, I even stalled the car on one of the steeper ascents and it pulled away without slippage. Now I'm not saying everybody should try this at least once for themselves but I really was impressed - I've only ever previously done this in Discovery automatic. We got to the Fort amazingly easy - I reckon we could've gone all the way up the Pass with ease but there is a really steep and sharp switch back and I don't think SWMBO nerves could've handled that!

After walking up the Pass we came back down and met the Pub owner near the car (he had come up again with the Kubota and was now sledging on the Fell road with his kids)

He was really astounded that we'd got so far up the Pass and enthused again about the virtues of the Yeti.

This was the bit I wasn't looking forward to - the descent. I have no problems (no matter how icy) going up a hill, the downhill part is where it can all go wrong very quickly. Keeping mind we were on a road that was clearly marked closed we'd be pushed to claim off the insurance if this 'off road' button didn't do it's bit going down hill!

The descent was controlled and I switched between first and second gear - for some reason second gear seemed to go a bit too. quick for my liking. Needless to say the Santa Express came down without a drama but I really must admit I much prefer going up - coming down does make me twitchy!

As we got to the flat we were waved down by a guy running out of a nearby field where he had been sledging with his kids - he wanted to know what the car was like on the Fell as he struggles to get over it in his 2.5 Range Rover - he reckoned ascent is not too bad but the descent of such a heavy vehicle can some times be very interested. He too knew about the Yeti and was very interested in how it had performed.

All in all we had a great day out and the Santa Express impressed me no end - all I need now is the lonnen to my son's farm to freeze over so I can give it the ultimate test.

And for those who are interested I am currently using Winter Vreds on 16" steel rims (they look ugly but they do a cracking job) - I will post pictures as soon as the laptop is up and running, unless someone can advise me how to get iPhone pictures onto the Forum without going through a computer?

I hasten to add that this is the same Fell road ascent that my previous car (Citroen C4 Picasso Exclusive with all manner of whistles and knobs) was unable to negotiate when the road surface was wet during the Summer!

Well I continued to put the car to great use today. I went out at 6am for a play and to get some snowy landscape photos... By 7am I was ferrying the emergency services up the slip road to the A10 as nothing could get through the eight lorries stuck along/across the lane. Three rescued BMW drivers, one e class driver and a very upset rx8 driver (that had been waiting for the AA since 2.50am !!!), later and I was off for a late breakfast in Ware. On the way we came across some fantastic scenery and ventured off at every opportunity to get the best views on empty country roads. The car never missed a beat all day and had the accolade of being the first vehicle to make it to our local petrol station just before 7 this morning and the first vehicle to make it up a challenging gradient three roads away from home. I'll post some photos when I get a chance to get them uploaded. The Yeti gave a first class performance throughout.

Sandy,

Photos, we need photos!!

FZ,

Well done. Isn't it satisfying?

Fugly,

Hill Descent Control is basically the vehicle go downhill at a predetermined low speed, and sensing each individual wheel for slip and randomly letting each wheel roll then be braked. As someone else said, it feels like walking.

My drive back from town this morning.

Winter Hankook W310 now tested in snow; happy to say they appear to be a very good all round winter tyre and a bargain at £76 a corner from Camskill

TP

Winter Hankook W310 now tested in snow; happy to say they appear to be a very good all round winter tyre and a bargain at £76 a corner from Camskill

TP

Awesome pics TP Come on Sandy, where are yours?

Awesome pics TP Come on Sandy, where are yours?

I took them with the iPhone and I don't think there is a way to attach photos directly from an iPhone - had my laptop not been goosed I would've attached them via that - Sorry

I took them with the iPhone and I don't think there is a way to attach photos directly from an iPhone - had my laptop not been goosed I would've attached them via that - Sorry

Upload i-phone photos to Flickr or some similar site, and post a link to that!

FZ,

Well done. Isn't it satisfying?

Yes, exceptionally satisfying. Just uploading some photos now.

Hi Everybody

Just back from the Lakes (Before you ask sorry no photos bit misty first thing yesterday) just kept going as nowhere suitable to stop and wonderwoman somewhat edgy in conditions.

Would still have been in cottage this morning if not gone in Yorkie but had a drive round in a lot of snow up to Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale,(would have gone further but under pressure from my left!) passed a Cappuccion Yeti and waved at Elterwater. Performance on snow yesterday and on down hill ice covered hill on Friday tremendous with hill descent coming in to use and stopping slide (BMW unable to move up hill ).

At Elterwater is the big holiday place and cars stuck and sliding everywhere especially series 3 and 5 German jobs ( I have certain views about these and some their drivers !)

Combination of Yorkie and Winter Goodyears great.

Would love to get out on my own or with a mate in the snow and see how far we could get before we had to use the shovel.

My next door neighbour bought me a folding one for Christmas and I used to clear the path from the cottage yesterday.

Reckon around 8 inches in Rydal.

PS Great spot for a break 1.5 mile walk into Ambleside.

Cheers

Peter

PPS Sandy know how you feel about steep descent although the technology is there there is a slight feeling of apprehension!

I am also constantly amazed how good the traction is.

Here is a video taken using my onboard camera going up a short, but steep road near home. I stopped twice going up the hill to see if I could get going again, which I did, but then second time, it was even steeper, with lots of wheel spin.

:yes:

The ground clearence of the Yeti is defiantely an advantage.

I was out in the Fabia early on Sunday (with Goodyear Ultragrip 8 tyres) and it went everywhere I wanted to go.

But there was a fair bit of planing off the top of the snow where it had built up in the middle.

In some places were nobody had driven yet as the ground clearence is only about six-eight inches under the belly I was leaving quite a trail!

The ground clearence of the Yeti is defiantely an advantage.

I was out in the Fabia early on Sunday (with Goodyear Ultragrip 8 tyres) and it went everywhere I wanted to go.

But there was a fair bit of planing off the top of the snow where it had built up in the middle.

In some places were nobody had driven yet as the ground clearence is only about six-eight inches under the belly I was leaving quite a trail!

Roll on March

I went to Essex just off the M11 (but still within the M25) to get to some snow roads. Just as I turned east there is a slight incline going up towards the countryside. Stranded on the side of the road (one after the other) were four RWD Mercs and a BMW at the top. On the opposite site were two more Mercs. There were no people in any of them so I suspect it was from the night before. Bless. How I smiled gliding past on my winter tyres and 4x4. I bet you all these people did not know if they had just put lots of weight in their boots (and thus over the driven wheels) they probably might have made it up this silly little incline. Engine should be over the driven wheels in my book. Or all four should be connected to a Haldex!

This is a photo of the stranded cars on my way back home (that is the M11 bridge) in the background.

Before anyone asks I was stopped at this point to take the photo as there were so few cars around.

But back OT: I was amazed again at how good the Yeti is in the snow. I leave the traction control on and only switched the Off road button on the moment I turned off roads like the one above onto the little roads like this:

Not once did the car miss a beat. The "check tyres" TPM boing came on for some reason but I suspect it was just the cold that made it upset. I stopped and checked all the tyres and they were fine (and still are).

Here I am coming down a little fairly steep lane yesterday afternoon:

Here is what I found this morning when I tried to go up the same lane:

A Freelander 2 in a ditch and what I think is a Mercedes R class 4-Matic across the road.

Drive carefully and you will minimise your problems.

A Freelander 2 in a ditch and what I think is a Mercedes R class 4-Matic across the road.

Drive carefully and you will minimise your problems.

Ouch! Wrong tyres for sure - and being careful yes! That is a Range Rover Sport by the way and not a Freelander.

Ouch! Wrong tyres for sure - and being careful yes! That is a Range Rover Sport by the way and not a Freelander.

Someone else knows thier Land Rover products.

Classic example of "I've got a 4x4, watch this!".

So glad to see this thread. I've been gloating all weekend.

Got a 2wd 2.0TDi with the original summer tyres on so they've done just over 30k (were meant to be changed last week but never got round to it).

Anyway, left Soham at 23:15 Saturday night in 3-4 inches of snow to discover main roads (A142, A14) not really treated. Took it easy but managed to pick wife and in-laws up in centre of Cambridge and get back to Histon with no problems. Lots of cars stuck all over the place and I saw one guy give up behind me.

The Yeti was awesome, even with only 2wd and the totally wrong tyres I didn't get stuck, no spins, very good control all round. Oh, and the front fogs were a life saver in the blizzard that accompanied my drive.

(BTW, trip computer says I averaged a whopping 16mph for the 2 hour journey)

(BTW, trip computer says I averaged a whopping 16mph for the 2 hour journey)

That is normal for me

Well certainly on the octavia 4x4 or early haldex cars I have driven - I hate the ESP and the way the haldex works goes against the ESP when you really have got traction issues

Like any car drive to the conditions to stay safe but I hate the way you loose all control to correct the car with ESP crying and cutting power when you really need to load the rear up and have some options of adjusting the angle of the car. Def safer to have a controlled drift over understeer off the road

As my partner found out at over the weekend when turning slowly into our street and got some nice understeer and esp killed the option for her to correct it. Wheel already hurt with small dent repeated the same turn with esp off and she had no problems correcting the line and getting round, granted going a dead slow pace would have worked and in a straight line controlling the power esp helps but still prefer my driving imputs to tell the car how to react

I do find the haldex a strabge system at times but suspect a diff in the box would make most improvement

Do find it funny to see proper 4x4's stuck and even on road tyres get about without issues

DG

Well certainly on the octavia 4x4 or early haldex cars I have driven - I hate the ESP and the way the haldex works goes against the ESP when you really have got traction issues

Like any car drive to the conditions to stay safe but I hate the way you loose all control to correct the car with ESP crying and cutting power when you really need to load the rear up and have some options of adjusting the angle of the car. Def safer to have a controlled drift over understeer off the road

As my partner found out at over the weekend when turning slowly into our street and got some nice understeer and esp killed the option for her to correct it. Wheel already hurt with small dent repeated the same turn with esp off and she had no problems correcting the line and getting round, granted going a dead slow pace would have worked and in a straight line controlling the power esp helps but still prefer my driving imputs to tell the car how to react

I do find the haldex a strabge system at times but suspect a diff in the box would make most improvement

Do find it funny to see proper 4x4's stuck and even on road tyres get about without issues

DG

So actually the driver's speed was at fault not the car's system.

And has been stated several times in this thread, on the Yeti ESP cannot be turned off

So actually the driver's speed was at fault not the car's system.

How did you turn the ESP off, please?

I'm very pleased with 2WD 1.4 Yeti and snow tyres.

Ground clearance helps a lot.

There was 1 situation I was stupid enough to get into, 40cm of snow.. for 50m down the slope, it was very painfull to go back uphill later, I had to go reverse for few minutes.

That was the only time I regret not to buy 4x4 version (and Im still dreaming of it)

After that "reverse climbing" rims were full of snow and later on the road I feel vibrations ~90km/h, i calm myself it must be the snow in the rims that make the tyres unbalanced.

I parked it in garage, snow from rims melted, and the next morning no more vibrations.

Edited 6 February, 201214 yr by lok