Hi all,
as you probably know, we are going through some very cold weather at the moment here in the UK. -15 degrees Celcius here a couple of nights back and the temperature has been below freezing for almost a week where I live. Still, the 411 seems to enjoy it!
Wow, that looks like alot of fun drivin in the snow!! Car looks and sounds great too!! I loved playin the slip slide drive in CO. with my Bus!! It's actually 23 feh. here in North Florida, USA. !! Thanks for the post and stay warm! How was the heater workin? Bill,jr.
I have spent at least 10 winters driving my 411's and 412's in some serious snow. Within limits,these cars love snow. Unike totally modern cars with anti-slip and all that....which I find quite easy to drive in snow....if you grew up without all of that stuff and have the skills.......the type 4 takes some common sense and a bit of skill. But when everything is working right and you have though ahead a blanket, coveralls, and basic saefty precautions in the massive trunk.....its a great car to be caught in the snow in for winter.
I usually made very long trips in my 412 through very adverse weather. In 1990 or 19991...I use to drive from home in Atlanta to Oklahoma city for holidays in my 412. About 1,000 miles. That year ast the halfway mark near Memphis....ice storm hits/ i drove 500+ on 4" of solid ice with 2" of snow over top/ Awesome cAR.
The very best was in march 2000. Driving from Dallas to Tulsa. About 25 miles outside of Tulsa on the turnpike...traffic stopped and over 7 hours we got 13" of snow. When traffic restarted...my 412 was one of the few that could go forward. I made Tulsa at midnight and got the last hotel room available at the first truck stop. All snow was gone by 2:00 pm next day.
The heater ran flawless, I had mucnhies water and entertainment in my 412 It was a great performance for the car. I nevy you your winter driving fun! ....though we got 20" of snow two weeks ago and it has not been out of the 20's in temp yet. Ray
yes, I do have the 412 as well. Waiting for some warmer weather before I get back to that project! I have had the 411 for a little under a year. It was an ebay bargain I could not pass up and it gave me some energy to get working on the 412 again!
Got caught out the other night when it started to snow really hard in Sussex, went into a meeting at 7.30pm and it was cold but clear. By the time meeting had finished at 9.30pm 3 inches of snow had covered everything!!
I had a 15 mile to drive to get home. It surprised me how well my old 412 coped. Had the occassional little slip but it kept on going even passing some stuck lorries and other cars on the hills.
The scariest bit of the journey was the way the on coming traffic would start to drift with their front drive wheels spinning as they crept onto my side of the road. I was very relieved to get home safely.
PS the Eber worked faultlessly and I was nice and warm.
These cars handle even better when you know the snow is coming....and you have snow tires . All the way through high school and college....I was so lucky to have four extra rims and a set of bias ply snow tires I bought with studs for the rear. Bias ply snow tires are also cheap. Considering I never really put more than a couple thousand miles on them at a time....they lasted most of a decade. When expecting snow, two will fit in the trunk at least. Ray
Lots of snow there for Sussex, knew you guys in the UK were getting pounded from the BBC R. Suffolk reports I've been hearing over the Internet, but man! Looks like Minnesota or something.
Yeah, I had occasion recently to find out how well my 412 does in deep mud (long story to tell over a pint...), kinda the same thing...just floor it and full-opposite-lock, and you'll get through anything! Amazing foul-weather cars.
. All the way through high school and college....I was so lucky to have four extra rims and a set of bias ply snow tires I bought with studs for the rear. Bias ply snow tires are also cheap. Considering I never really put more than a couple thousand miles on them at a time....they lasted most of a decade. When expecting snow, two will fit in the trunk at least. Ray
. Ray