:wave: Fridge full of bottles of Abbot Ale, London Pride & Tanglefoot - real beer with real taste. For me, lager is a 30 deg.C + Summer beer. :dtp:

Hmmm another ale drinker none of that sissy lager for me

Originally posted by MonkeyHanger in this post

How about the thermos flask and the notepad with the extensive collection of train numbers?

Damn my secrets out!

Originally posted by ncarring in this post

Bit harsh! :eek:

......I remember a few winters back when we had bad snow in Sheffield when a fiesta lost control coming down hill on Rutland Road towards me, I thought we were both for the 'scrapper'!

.....or maybe I should check my spelling:rolleyes:

Real ale is where IT'S at. Anyway, how does beer help you prepare for winter driving? I don't want to start drifting onto drink/driving...? :shocked: - (NEVER drink & drive, always pull over to the side of the road and finish it. Failure to do so could result in spillage on upholstery or an accident whilst lifting can/bottle right up to get the last dribble out)

I don't really change anything,my screenwash is always way too strong for the time of year -- I have a "thing" about having a clear view -- I hate the slightest blemish.

Have tried Rain-X - had the same problem's others have mentioned.Might try the Swissol on the side and rear screens tho.

Must admit have been thinking on what to do for tyres this winter....but SWMBO owns a Jeep,so no need to worry if it gets bad --- I'll just nick her car,she wont need it -- jammy beggar only works sat & sun!!

when i picked up my vRS the workshop manager advised me to always use 50/50 screenwash in the washerbottle. aparrently its common for it to freeze with it being in the bumper.

other than that, i dont really take anymore winter precautions. i always have a coat in the boot anyway.

and kentish:

you only drink pi$$ tasting becks because you cant handle a REAL lager like stella

Stella is generally referred to as 'wife beater' round here.

and kentish:

you only drink pi$$ tasting becks because you cant handle a REAL lager like stella

Oh really..................

Stella is revolting stuff, and similar to the Tenants Super T of years gone by that used to drop down my throat, but my tastes have matured .

For me, Becks is a fine tipple, which has a delightful taste without being over bearing on the intoxicating side.

You are welcome to stick with your Stella, which might pose a problem for you if you ever arrive at my hostelry....all I ever have in the house is Becks!!

Plus wife beater is full of all kinds of nastiness and brewed somewhere just outside Luton.

And to be honest, most lager tastes like pee pee to me. I drink bitter. Anyone seen me whippet...?

Last year when I had a 14-mile or so drive into work, a good half of which was on roads that didn't get treated, the only thing I did was make sure I had my mobile and enough cigs. Pretty unwise really, although I got away with it.

Essential supplies for fabia owners are spare fuses - when the jets freeze and you try and use them (i was going to say squirt but thought better ) the fuse blows and you're buggered. Easier to have a few spare ones in the glovebox and know which fuse you have you change without having to fish out a manual

Fortunately I now live about 1.5 miles from work on roads which are treated so it should be ok. I probably wouldn't drive anywhere further afield if the roads were really bad - and if it came to it, I'd walk to work. The main site for the Trust I work for is across the road from me, so I could just go in there and be able to get on with some work

Must top the screenwash up though....

Originally posted by Stimps in this post

Essential supplies for fabia owners are spare fuses - when the jets freeze and you try and use them (i was going to say squirt but thought better ) the fuse blows and you're buggered. Easier to have a few spare ones in the glovebox and know which fuse you have you change without having to fish out a manual

Must top the screenwash up though....

Stimps, since this appeared in several problem sections of magazines Skoda dealers were supposed to have changed them for a higher rated fuse. However I believe it was at customers risk, if the fuse didn't go it could burn out the wiper motors apparently!

Also top up that screenwash before I call the police and get you done . The police charged someone last week with not having enough screenwash!

I've got plenty of screenwash, as I hardly use it on my regular 3-minute drive to work!

Meant more along the lines of increasing the concentration of screenwash to water... please don't grass me up....

I always keep my screenwash topped up as I **** myself everytime the low screenwash warning sound goes out!

There's a low screenwash warning....? Mine just ran out last year and I had to the bottle out the window trick... :( :confused:

There sure is Jason. However maybe it's elegance only. It is a light on the dashboard, (screenwash symbol lit in yellow) and it is accompanied with a blast of the buzzer similar to the one if your low on fuel. But when your low on fuel you expect it! I think it is a sensor that is activated when there is no water on it. Last time it ran out I was in a very hilly area and it would go on ever time I went up a hill and off ever time I went down a hill! What a pain in the ass that was! Most people have a heart attack when it goes on, and a good laugh when I explain what it is! Most people think it's an appropriate warning for the engines just fallen out!

The noise my central locking makes when all 5 doors lock as the car reaches 7mph makes passengers (and me, still) jump! :(

At the last service my dealer has refilled my screenwash with something that smells SO strongly of lemons as to be unpleasant

I think it smells really nice, fragrant and fresh....

12 days later and this would have been a year before the last reply... must be a record!

Good advice always comes to the top

Whats "not enough screen wash"?

Good stuff folks. Food/ hot drinks in flask is good idea. Canadians keep candles (tee lights) in car =- apparently make huge difference to internal temperature if stuck. Don't leave car and walk if stuck in isolated place during very cold windy weather; heat loss is enormous. Wear a hat (I know!).

Oh for a little global warming following me around.

Viewer

Always keep a holdall in the car with small socket and screwdriver set, compressor, off road quality tow rope, 50mm welding cable jump leads, accurate tyre pressure gauge, blanket, ice scraper and first aid kit.

In winter I also throw in a Traffic Master coat (Yellow with scotchbrite stripes), hat and gloves.

Always keep the screenwash topped up to provide -30C protection but it doesn't stop the jets freezing.

If I'm going on a long journey or out in the sticks I'll through in some food and drink.

And never go anywhere without the mobile.

I never bother with de-icer though as most of it is crap and just refreezers and I've seen the damage some brands do to paint.

Cheers

Lee

Hello,

I know this is an old post, and I remember reading it last year. All of the precautions seem sensible, in fact I carry most of them out myself. I also add a sleeping bag to the car. No better way of staying warm.

However, I would like to pose the following question?

Do we really even have much of a winter in the UK?

I live in Scotland, and have lived north and south. Even up here it is very rarely that bad, and even when it is, most of our roads are kept suitably clear. It would take more than a foot of snow to cause real problems, and that only happens once every few years. I only ever notice my washer jets after driving to the skiing and the car has been sitting all day. Mind you I do have a nice warm garage!

I guess my point is, we don't live somewhwere like Canada. IMHO most of the time during the winter the roads are the same as they were during the summer, just slightly greasier. Am I just spoilt having a new and relaible car, and are the Scottish authorities just better at keeping the roads ice and snow free?

Does anyone else feel the same as me when the see news of "white out conditions" and its only a dusting of snow and its just that the gritters didnt do their job properly? I often wonder what people who do live in really cold snow climates think of the UK and its attempets to prove it really really does get a winter!!

Cheers,

Ross.

Ross,

Agree with you about our current winters but I still remember the really bad storm we had in 1990(I think). Two young lads died in their car just a few hundred yards from where I live.

We found them with their car totaly buried in a snow drift around 24 hours after the storm started. They had both been out and were only wearing shirts.

It was a freak storm but you never know.

But I agree it is laughable how the UK grinds to a halt and the slightest dusting. I don't know how we would cope if we had winters like we used to have in the 70's

Cheers

Lee