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Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
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- Newbie
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- Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2018 6:24 pm
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
Hey All,
I'm relatively new to this forum, though not so new to the BMW Community as a whole (a great community!). If this is inappropriate to ask here or should be moved please let me know.
To preface this, I live in Northern Maine most of the year, so we get a pretty steady deluge of snow for 3-4 months a year, and often times I need to be on the move even when it's snowing (which is often during the winter). The roads are typically plowed and salted, but where I go to college tends to become pretty pitted with decently sized potholes during the winter especially, and there is always a slush of salt/mud/snow that exists on the roads. It's not uncommon for me to come out in the morning to drive around and there to be a blanket of snow on the ground, and often times after a deep snow it can be quite a challenge to get the Z4 out especially since it gets beached. I also recently bought a motorcycle, and had to move, and I realized just how inconvenient it can be to not have a car with more practicality for those events.
I bought the Z4 in Southern California, so it is utterly rust free, and I cleaned it meticulously for the few storms we had this past late spring to keep it that way. Ideally, I'd like to keep the Z4 for use during the summer, and have something with more utility (storage, 4 doors, towing ability, etc) for the winter or the occasional trip where the aforementioned is needed. I imagine this is not an uncommon thing for Z4 owners.
I know you can run snow tires, and I'm not opposed to it, but seeing as I have begun doing my own work and what the prices are I think a mid 2000s X3 (model years after they fixed the suspension) or maybe an X5 would make a nice complement, though I'm open to suggestions! So, my question is simple, what (if any) do the rest of you drive as a DD or for when the weather gets nasty?
I'm relatively new to this forum, though not so new to the BMW Community as a whole (a great community!). If this is inappropriate to ask here or should be moved please let me know.
To preface this, I live in Northern Maine most of the year, so we get a pretty steady deluge of snow for 3-4 months a year, and often times I need to be on the move even when it's snowing (which is often during the winter). The roads are typically plowed and salted, but where I go to college tends to become pretty pitted with decently sized potholes during the winter especially, and there is always a slush of salt/mud/snow that exists on the roads. It's not uncommon for me to come out in the morning to drive around and there to be a blanket of snow on the ground, and often times after a deep snow it can be quite a challenge to get the Z4 out especially since it gets beached. I also recently bought a motorcycle, and had to move, and I realized just how inconvenient it can be to not have a car with more practicality for those events.
I bought the Z4 in Southern California, so it is utterly rust free, and I cleaned it meticulously for the few storms we had this past late spring to keep it that way. Ideally, I'd like to keep the Z4 for use during the summer, and have something with more utility (storage, 4 doors, towing ability, etc) for the winter or the occasional trip where the aforementioned is needed. I imagine this is not an uncommon thing for Z4 owners.
I know you can run snow tires, and I'm not opposed to it, but seeing as I have begun doing my own work and what the prices are I think a mid 2000s X3 (model years after they fixed the suspension) or maybe an X5 would make a nice complement, though I'm open to suggestions! So, my question is simple, what (if any) do the rest of you drive as a DD or for when the weather gets nasty?
- philbo909
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1072
- Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 4:46 pm
- Location: SN8
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
Weather in southern England never gets too bad, a couple days with a few inches of snow a year max.
Would like a proper 4x4 for off-roading alongside the z4, sadly I'm stuck with the better half's vw polo.
I would get an X5 over the X3 if you're sticking to bmw
Would like a proper 4x4 for off-roading alongside the z4, sadly I'm stuck with the better half's vw polo.
I would get an X5 over the X3 if you're sticking to bmw
Sapphire black z4 coupe 135,000miles young
- Silverzedtom
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1478
- Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2017 8:19 pm
- Location: East Sussex
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
I have the zed, the other half a Nissan micra so I find myself driving in the zed all year round - albeit in England.
Nothing wrong with an x3 or 5, but I’ve always imagined getting something like a 3 series touring. A petrol 3L with a few years behind it and a fair few miles could be a good laugh for not so much money. Obviously it wouldn’t be the cheapest to run...
Nothing wrong with an x3 or 5, but I’ve always imagined getting something like a 3 series touring. A petrol 3L with a few years behind it and a fair few miles could be a good laugh for not so much money. Obviously it wouldn’t be the cheapest to run...
E85 2.5si
F55 Cooper S
F55 Cooper S
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26516
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
I run sheds. Have had 4 assorted Mazda's since I bought my Zed.
323F Sport
3 Sport
6 Sport
And currently Mazda2 1.6. It looks like a pensioners car and drives like a high sided roller skate . I rather like it.
323F Sport
3 Sport
6 Sport
And currently Mazda2 1.6. It looks like a pensioners car and drives like a high sided roller skate . I rather like it.
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- Member
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- Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:31 pm
- Location: Bristol
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
I try to keep my Z4 ‘special’, so I have an Audi A6 as my daily car. It’s just getting to the end of its life (and really boring!) so am considering changing it for either a 4-series Grand Coupe, an X5 or a VW Touareg
10-plate E89 35i, Deep Sea Blue
67-plate F15 X5 35d, Space Grey
67-plate F15 X5 35d, Space Grey
- TitanTim
- Lifer
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- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:21 pm
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
Any car will do so long as it has winter tyres, I think people think they need a humungous 4 wheel drive but I found my old Z3 even on all season tyres coped well in deep snow.
Tim.
Tim.
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- Lifer
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Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
You missed one buzy mate...you’re welcome...
M roady...OEM CSL’s, strut brace, Remus back boxes, ZHP
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
- Jembo
- Lifer
- Posts: 6030
- Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm
- Location: 1066 Country
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
Volvo XC60
First Volvo I’ve ever owned, first car the misses has ever said she likes & cares about. Real simple car to drive, surprisingly good road holding, diesel 5 cylinder engine is a real wolf in sheeps clothing
First Volvo I’ve ever owned, first car the misses has ever said she likes & cares about. Real simple car to drive, surprisingly good road holding, diesel 5 cylinder engine is a real wolf in sheeps clothing
Joined the dark side with a ///M Hell Bronze Sepang Coupe
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26516
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
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OnlineMr Tidy
- Legend
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- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
As someone said, in the UK we don't often get any significant snow.
But I run a 3 Series Touring as a daily and just put it on winter tyres.
But I run a 3 Series Touring as a daily and just put it on winter tyres.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
- Jembo
- Lifer
- Posts: 6030
- Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm
- Location: 1066 Country
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
I find it’s not really the amount of snow, it’s the ice, especially black ice - not saying winters grip like a summer tyre, but they don’t act like a sledge when you find it at the wrong time
Joined the dark side with a ///M Hell Bronze Sepang Coupe
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
- pbr67_zed
- Newbie
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- Joined: Fri May 04, 2018 4:24 pm
- Location: Ely, Cambs
Opinion/Poll On Owning A Winter Car/DD
Another XC60 owner here, it's a good car for carrying people and stuff around, and they are pretty good tow vehicles. I would call it my DD, but with the weather we've been having recently, it's been relegated to gathering dust on the drive