why?

[Albannach]

did i laugh at the people who abandoned their cars at the bottom? no, i applauded them for being sensible, leaving it there rather than trying the hill

Aye, that's really clever. Means the Gritters and Ploughs cant get to the hill to clear it. I saw, on the news, people getting stuck on nothing and completely clear roads that were blocked by abandoned cars, shower of bl00dy drama queens.

We have more snow and less disruption than the South, even the Highlands are doing better, go figure...

[Apache]

It's cos the Scots can use the bristles off their ar5e cheeks for extra traction.

[Predictable Bob]

Let's try the SIMPLE explanation .....

It's purely a matter of experience and practice !

The frozen wastes north of the wall get shedloads of snow every year so all the drivers know what to do - they're not better drivers just more experienced (That means they've done it wrong so often that even the thick ones now have a clue !)

In the good old days we used to get more snow down south so a greater percentage of drivers had experience if you then add the fact that there are now far more young (and female) drivers then chaos is bound to reign.

Before I get flamed for being sexist I'd like to point out that GENERALLY ladies do less mileage than blokes - it's nothing to do with ability purely experience.

When it kicked off down here the other week it took me over 5 hours to get around Reading in my Focus Estate - nothing to do with it's ability in the snow but purely the inability of other road users. Today I had the Surf - took 2 hours each way to do the journey but had no problems.

I learnt to drive in Germany in the late 70's and quickly got used to driving on snow and ice - no snow tyres at all just a light touch on all the controls

[dieselboy]

I agree! Namby pambies!

In Czechoslovakia they have these cars called TATRA. To combat the constant sub zero temperatures, they are Air-cooled V8's. The heater is done by petrol fed into some type of heater and then burnt. This is under your very comfy seat.
If the temperature is so cold, the engine wont crank over, then you are supplied with a cranking handle to do it yourself

A lot of fun.

Here is a link to the car: http://www.tatra-register.co.uk/603.htm

If you look closely at the rear you will see a hole in the middle of the bumper. Thats for the handle.

[dieselboy]

Before I get flamed for being sexist

I'm sexist. I pretty much always prefer company of a woman.

[slobodan]

I agree! Namby pambies!

In Czechoslovakia they have these cars called TATRA. To combat the constant sub zero temperatures, they are Air-cooled V8's. The heater is done by petrol fed into some type of heater and then burnt. This is under your very comfy seat.
If the temperature is so cold, the engine wont crank over, then you are supplied with a cranking handle to do it yourself

A lot of fun.

Here is a link to the car: http://www.tatra-register.co.uk/603.htm

If you look closely at the rear you will see a hole in the middle of the bumper. Thats for the handle.

Webasto heaters? I had a Land Rover with one.
Hand cranking was on a lot of older cars in the UK.

[Nostromo]

Mmm Tatra, would be quite a nice looking car if it didn't have the cyclopse headlight arrangement. not sure i fancy a petrol burning heater undermy seat though, could prove painfull. probably best to hold the bodily gases in when lit.

just heard on the news that various authorities are calling on the services of 4x4 owners to help deliver home care services. How the tide changes for the gas guzzling dirt shifter when it suits.

also posted on the I'm so gllad I have a gas guzzling antisocial 4x4 thread
depending which thread you want to follow up on

[Albannach]

It's cos the Scots can use the bristles off their ar5e cheeks for extra traction.

Fair point; well made!