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barney1 December 2, 2008 5:29 PM

Could not beat an RS6 or RS4 for the job, comfortable, safe and fast.

Mini1 December 2, 2008 6:14 PM

Love the 9-3, particularly the colours. More comfortable than most German things, too. Fits in with its surroundings as well!

Steve Steele December 2, 2008 9:41 PM

Why a Range Rover of course. The best off road car that money can buy. Barney1 is wrong.

KevH08 December 2, 2008 10:41 PM

A rangey wouldn't have much grip hammering around corners on snow and ice, the understeer would just take it off course, you are right in my opinion Barney1

TheStig December 2, 2008 10:42 PM

I would love to drive a 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi. It is just made for this stuff.

Bobafari December 2, 2008 11:57 PM

In fact you are all wrong, the correct answer is Subaru Forester STi (JDM)

sierra December 3, 2008 9:40 AM

Any car with a decent set of winter tyres

krazyd December 3, 2008 9:44 AM

Lancia Delta integrale with snow tyres.

Or maybe a 911 turbo with all the aids turned off. would certainly get the adrenaline going!

Paul J December 3, 2008 12:35 PM

The Lotus 2 Eleven you raved about a few days ago Vicky.  (With the traction control on a fairly conservative setting).  Remember, there's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

W124 December 3, 2008 1:08 PM

Any open top Mercedes with heated seats and that Airscarf thing on full.  It's something else driving in snow with the top down yet still being warm.  Utterly wasteful yet hugely enjoyable.  Highly recommended.

Stotty December 3, 2008 3:03 PM

Best car I've owned in the snow was an Impreza Series McRae back in the mid 90's... so good that when it did snow I'd get up extra early to go and have a play.

theop December 3, 2008 4:04 PM

Sierra said it first - the key is winter tyres.... And a light car.

I used to run a Panda 4x4 in the late 80s especially for mountain drives (it was in Switzerland). Best car ever. I never did put any snowchains on it.

Back in the modern world, most of the cars mentioned above I reckon would do the job well enough.

Ideally, (if you are actually a mountain driver and do loads of snow miles) you d prefer a conventional diesel(ideally in  estate shape) car with 4WD rather than a humongus suv like a rangie.

In particular Rangies of old - and I d assume new ones -were also notoriously unreliable in heavy duty, dirty, salty winter use. They rusted faster than most things, they were too big to withstand daily grind/scratches knocks etc and their electronic suspensions were a joke in proper winter daily use in Switzerland were with the typical farmer, mountain goat owner washing the car once a year and servicing the oil... sometimes...

Locals have deduced after plenty of experiments that cars for mountain use should be diesel, light-ish, have the ability to take continues abuse in load/dirt/servicelessness terms.

Such cars have usually proved to be:

Subarus (any), Toyotas (any) - Landcruisers being the KING of the mountain, some older Audi quattros and most current small 2litre diesels (and VW).

Faster stuff like RS4 etc mentioned above are utterly useless in tough terrain with ice and snow as you cannot use the power - not even 40% of it, and their whhels are too unsuitable for chains (wont clear the fat squatty arches) and tyres too fat to be any good on snow. Spoilers in front scrape powder too and you end up with snow blocking the radiators... Useless.

My personal favourite for up there (from new cars) would be either a forrester, or a Volvo XCany diesel or an A4/6 diesel avant.

In used terms either the same or a chf 3000 1992 Landcruiser would be fine tks..

tommallett December 3, 2008 6:23 PM

Could not beat an RS6 or RS4 for the job, comfortable, safe and fast.

Any car with a decent set of winter tyres

The second part answers the first I think. A standard rs4/6 would be absolutely awful on this stuff! Tyres far too wide and too stiffly sprung. all the forester, impreza ideas are good though.

Iand666 December 3, 2008 7:47 PM

Hmm....in keeping with the season I'd have to go for a one horse open sleigh! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Casanova December 4, 2008 9:32 AM

My choice would be an original Mini.  Nothing so fun to slither down a mountain in!