matt-c

I've said it a few times - a full tank of fuel in these cars weighs about 8 and a half stone. That's plenty of weight, and at least you get something out of it too!

I bought a holder for my iPhone, originally to fit to the dash vents, but I didn't like it so I used the windscreen sucker. It has a cut out on the back for the camera, and I thought to myself "what use is that" - until I realised it's perfect for using the phone to video the guy being a tw@t in front of me driving like a tit. £4, and I already had the phone.

^ Exactly why I'm not taking mine off yet. Still plenty of cold, wet, and possibly snowy, weather to come before spring

Loved my winter tyres, worked flawlessly. I'll be using them again next year too. And the year after that, and the year after that, and so on. Money well spent? In my opinion, yes. Very well spent.

Good to know it was nice and simple! Maybe post a link to the coil pack you bought, just so others looking to solve the same issue will have a port of call to buy one too - it's always useful to have a recommended seller/product from experience, than just hoping for the best

Plenty of tatty standard 17's come up for not bad money. I paid £78 all in for mine, £28 of which was shipping (next day with paisley freight). I'm tempted to get mine refurbed, as it makes me sad to see it with scabby looking wheels, however, they are only on there for a couple months, and what with all the salt and grit (or not, as it seems) they'll only get ruined anyway.

Sadly I'm out at work everyday this week, so no chance of that. Was gonna go out yesterday as we had a good few inches fall on Sunday, but I was too comfortable on the sofa! :D

^^ absolute classic. I expect nothing less! You never fail to deliver!

I wouldn't use the word victim at all. Victim implies one has come to feel helpless in the face of misfortune, when in reality it's your own fault, both of you, that you can't have an adult and up front discussion. Both of you choose to "pffft" reply to posts instead of giving a correct and concise answer, because you know you can't without your whole argument coming crashing down your ears. A tiny example, your constant talking about how good your car fares around a racetrack. However you've never been on a racetrack. But it took persistent asking to get that info, because you chose to avoid the question, knowing it would invalidate your argument entirely. Exdee seems to want to avoid simple questions such as what winter tyres he's used in the past, why he wouldn't want to take any kind of preventative or precautionary measures when driving in adverse weather, and on several occasions avoided a direct answer to the hypothetical situation of what footwear to wear in snow, should he have delicate cargo to carry (such as a baby). Even a simpleton could see the answer to that question is "I'd wear boots to have as much grip as possible", but saying that would completely invalidate his argument and make him look a fool. However by not answering it directly, as he's choosing to do, he looks just as, if not more so, foolish. Two pea's in a pod methinks... Oh dear oh dear...

Hahahaha. Pot calling the kettle black there my friend. That's a post so full of avoidance (inability to answer/comment more like) a politician would be proud. Oh dear...

Not really no, it's life. We have already established that it doesn't snow enough and as often in the UK. I don't see myself carrying a baby in the snow at all. I mean what's the need? Snow spells are brief here and it's not the end of the world if the baby waits a day or two till it clears before it can be taken out. In case you haven't figured it out, this is the point where you start regretting your 'hypothetical situations' that you use 'to work things out and make decisions.' Nice avoidance. The answer you were looking for is "yes, I would happily carry a baby in snow wearing flip flops" or "No, I'd wear appropriate footwear". Perhaps because you feel you can't answer the question without "giving in", as I'm sure you're sensible enough to know the correct answer. I would still be interested to hear your direct answer, rather than avoidance. (ps, why I am regretting a hypothetical situation?) Yes, I would be completely satisfied I had done everything I could to preserve the life of an innocent child. The motorcyclist made their own choice to follow too closely, and not take enough precautionary measures to ensure their own safety. It would indeed be sad, and I'm sure it would affect me, but I can't be responsible for someone else hitting me because they couldn't avoid a situation correctly. Not sure if they make winter tyres for motorbikes, might be a good idea they do... Sounds to me, you need the hint. (Here it is) - why not take preventative measures? Then don't buy them. Personally, I think they are a good idea. So I did buy them. As for a lay in, sadly, people like you always want people like me to come do things for them, and cry if we don't. So no chance of a lay in for me I'm afraid. Which winter tyres have you used?

Mine too. Although one of three-button keys was broken (casing only, internals were fine - now transferred to new key) and the other three-button key had begun cracking on the casing (which is now glue-fixed)

Well, no actually. It's called hypothetical situations. It's what we use to work things out and make decisions. Interesting though that you didn't answer the question.... Hmm... Don't know about you, but I don't call hitting a child, especially if could be avoided, "sh!t happening". I call that a terrible, terrible tragedy, and if could be avoided, I'm all for trying. So you disagree then, that should a child run out in front of you, and winter tyres would allow you to stop just that few feet shorter, meaning you didn't hit the child, they don't work? Actually no, it makes no sense to me that you think running a child over is just "sh!t happening" and not important, and preventative measures that can be taken are pointless. That makes no sense to me at all. I'm sure it's entirely feasible. However, being a fully abled, fit and mature human being, I'm more than confident in my ability to walk. However, the observation was made that the footwear I was wearing wasn't appropriate to the conditions. Using that information, I made the decision to wear more appropriate footwear. In case it passed you by, it's not uncommon for people to slip in snow and on ice. And I'd bet that many many many times it happens, it's down to poor choice in foot wear. Unfortunately, many people are stupid, and don't seem to understand the benefits of making decisions and changes to rectify that. I did, and it wasn't hard. It's also not uncommon for people to crash or have accidents in cars when it snows. Why not take preventative measures?

I had mine more or less pirouetting on the spot yesterday, followed by a nice big crop circle. I can't drift for sh!t though, so I can't get it to go sideways down the road

Lower it Ray. Won't add weight, but it will lower your centre of gravity

Law isn't the only thing that governs us as a community. Common sense plays a big part. Would you carry a baby, walking in snow and ice, wearing flip flops? Or would you wear suitable footwear, such as boots? I walked to the shop today, about a quarter mile each way. I wore my work boots and didn't slip once; not even a hint of any loss of traction. I walked to the post box prior to that, about 25 metres each way, wearing my trainers. It was incredibly slippy, and I nearly fell twice, and had plenty of traction-less foot steps. And I'm not playing a game, nor "trolling" as you say. It's called a conversation, or to some, a debate.

About 5% difference. Negligible

Oh. The IS200 and 300 aren't pretty much the same then? Obviously apart from the engine and automatic gearbox of course.

This is why being next to/virtually in London sucks...

Bit of a daft statement. It's not law to wear boots when walking in snow; you're completely free to wear trainers. However, boots provide much more grip, and are a much more sensible choice.

Hang, lets dissect this; The question of better built doesn't come into it. We're talking specifically about driving in snow. Please don't go off topic Actually you just did. You commented on build quality. The snow button desensitises the throttle. It doesn't give you traction in snow. You can do the same by having better throttle skills. You've also proved you have little to no regard for any pedestrians or other road users. If you think winter tyres are purely for getting going, and not for braking and cornering, then yes, you have proved that. And lastly, you keep reminding me that you're talking about WHERE ONE LIVES, and that IS300 with summer Pirelli's works for you - but by your own admission on that, is it not conceivable that an IS300 with summer Pirelli tyres won't work where I live? Seeing as you haven't been here? I just helped push a FWD Volvo up the hill and out onto the main road. A BMW that was following gave up and rolled back down. Now, considering you're saying an IS300 with summer Pirelli tyres works in snow where you live, and by stating my neighbour should get an IS300 with summer Pirelli tyres would solve his problem, you're also stating that an IS300 with summer Pirelli tyres would also work here, can you explain why the IS200 that also lives in my estate can't get up the hill? Granted I can't tell you what tyres he has on, so I'm sure you'll grab that and claim it's because he doesn't have summer Pirelli's on, but that would be too convenient wouldn't it?

Where are you getting tyres changed at £5 a wheel? That's crazy; a local garage to me quoted £92 to change over 4 tyres! Cheapest I could get anywhere was £50 (for 4) so long as I didn't have new valves fitted. Personally, I went for a second set of wheels, and got a tatty set to run during winter. Means I don't have to take the car plus 4 tyres anywhere to have them changed over, and saves an additional cost of £100 a year (two changes @ £50 a time) - I just go outside on a dry day, jack the car up and swap wheels over. Done, clean and tidy, and fast

Hang on, I'm talking about a specific point in your post - please stop diverting from it by changing the subject. As you said - "tell that C Class driver to get him a Lexus IS300 and wont go wrong with the Snow mode setting." So you're saying my neighbour should get rid of his Merc and get an IS300, and he'll be able to drive it no problem with summer tyres, just by using the snow setting?

That's ridiculously expensive. And there's probably shipping on top of that, and don't forget import duty too. Ouch

So based on your figures (surprise surprise, you're using figures again. There's a surprise); 50mph NO winter tyres = 10ft stopping distance 50mph WITH winter tyres = 5ft stopping distance 30mph NO winter tyres = 5ft stopping distance So wouldn't the car WITH winter tyres doing 30mph stop in 2.5ft? What's your point? Are you just quoting numbers for the sake of it? And you haven't answered my question; if it's dependant on where one lives, making the difference between being able to drive a certain car in snow or not, why the last comment about telling my neighbour to change his C-Class for an IS300 and only use the snow setting, and "he won't go wrong"?