We had several inches late yesterday afternoon, just before the rush hour, much heavier than predicted. Two routes home both include hills (one pretty steep down and then up) one closed due to an accident the other gridlocked. Enough snow and traffic to compress and make it an ice rink on the hills, at one point I slid uncontrollably sideways and stopped about an inch short of an abandoned car. An hour after we'd left work we made it back to the office. We had a similar snow downpour six years ago and it took us 7 3/4 hours to get home (13 miles) so I wasn't planning on that again. Left the car at work walked half an hour to get a tram (thank goodness they were still running) then a ten minute walk to a Premier Inn where we stayed the night. At least we were safe and warm and had a nice meal and large Rioja. I don't know what it is about Mercedes but they are as much use as a chocolate teapot in the slightest bit of snow, it can't just be that they're rear wheel drive and heavy, can it?
A good 30cm during the night (I'm delighted to say....).
It's still snowing and forecast to carry on all day. Might be interesting getting down the mountain and back up this evening to pick up #2 daughter from Geneva airport.
Still, I have snow tyres, and 4WD, plus chains if necessary. The only issue is if the road gets blocked.
Well it's still snowing, and the Gendarmerie insist that everyone dons chains, regardless of Snow tyres, 4WD etc. So, I've just popped out to the garage and fitted them. The ones I have are a Maggi Trak Autos - fantastic Italian chains which pretty much put themselves on. Here's a video of the fitting procedure (you can skip the first 80 seconds as the faffing about with spacers bit you only have to do once when fitting them for the first time).
I don't know what it is about Mercedes but they are as much use as a chocolate teapot in the slightest bit of snow, it can't just be that they're rear wheel drive and heavy, can it?
Best 2WD car I ever drove in snow/ice conditions was my aged Citroen 2CV. Low power, narrow tyres and compliant suspension. However, tlLB's Fiat Panda is fairly impressive in the snow, albeit we have not had much down here in recent years.
