Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 16:54:29 +0100
Reply-To: Robin Oomkes <robin.oomkes@SWIFT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robin Oomkes <robin.oomkes@SWIFT.COM>
Organization: S.W.I.F.T. sc
Subject: Re: Snow Driving was: NOT a Fryeday Funnie
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It's interesting to see the difference in approach to snow-driving in different
countries. The French (who also have their share of Alps) go the low tech way with
small, lightweight (like 750 kg) front wheel drive cars such as Renaults 4 and 5,
or Citroens AX. With snow tires they can get up almost any mountain. They also
have the advantage of being able to haul their cars out of a ditch with 2 strong
guys. Try that on an SUV!
The German-speaking Alpine countries do it the high-tech way with quattros,
syncros and other heavy machinery. They get there too, maybe a little bit more
reliably than the French but not much, but spend about 4 times as much on their
cars.
It's a pity that with all the airbags, reinforcement beams, power steering,
electric windows, and soundproofing even small French cars are weighing more and
more - closer to 950 kg for the newer ones. This is exactly the weight difference
that Ken is describing for Golf I (Rabbit) vs. Golf II. And it's enough to lose
the great traction and short stopping distance of the lighter cars. Progress?
Robin
90 Vanagon Westfalia Atlantic TD (impressive in the snow on Continental winter
tires)
KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:
> I would have to agree about the diesel rabbits and early Jettas being some of
> the best in-the-snow vehicles out there. There is really no way to take off
> fast and stopping isn't much of a problem as the vehicle doesn't way very
> much. Pretty much all of the weight is over the front drive wheels which
> also do most of the stopping. My '81 Jetta diesel has spent alot of time in
> snow driving emergencies and also as an off road vehicle (it is like a
> mountain goat and only seems to be limited to off roading by the lack of
> ground clearance). It is nice enough to be a daily driver, but beat up
> enough for me not to care about salt and small branches scraping the paint.
>
> However 85-91 Jettas at least are different in some way. They are heavier
> and like to slide at stop signs in even light rain. They are also not as
> good in the snow (drove my parents 85 diesel Jetta for several seasons). In
> the winter (in the salt belt at least) old, kinda beat, and slow are really
> the nicer cars to drive. Usually better in the snow and no worries about
> salt. My Jetta is off the road at the moment since I am running my '91 Carat
> and '90 GL Vanagons (the latter is for sale). I am hoping to put it on the
> road about after January when it becomes an antique here in NJ (it is an
> '81). Then I can use it for short drives back and forth to town and only pay
> a small fraction of NJ's terribly high insurance rates. Thanks for listening.
>
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> http://www.vanagain.com
> John 3:16
>
> New Phone (856)-327-4936
> Shop: (856)-765-1583
> Fax: (856)-327-2242
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