so, are you ready for winter?? (CAR ALERT!)

[nisp]

well, after the inevitability of somthing happening to my bike I started using the car a bit more often and as the title says I just have to show off my new creation, as I am well set for winter.

when I first got it.
(the car on the right)
https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/Blurredman/DSCF1509.jpg

after a 2 inch lift and some 265 75 16's on I am ready for the snow.. and mud... and small cars that cut me up.
https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/Blurredman/DSCF3085.jpg

Im thinking about putting the steps back on, im 6 foot 2 and It's not the easiest.


just for fun
https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/Blurredman/DSCF3088.jpg
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Suzuki TS 50 1999 Honda CB 125 t2 1981 Yamaha XJ 600 s Diversion Honda cx 500 MZ ETZ 250 1985 Yamaha FZR 400 1981 Suzuki TS 185 1984 Triumph bonneville 790 2001 MZ TS250 1979 Suzuki sv 650 1999 KTM exc RFS 450 2007 Hercules mx 125 1976

[rzsteve]

Thought you were talking about the SEAT Panda at first. Frontera is a good winter car, mines an MG Maestro
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Current bike: Honda Goldwing 1500/6 (dont hate me!) Thunderace gone to South Africa!
Current headaches: 89 KMX200, RZR250/350 Hybrid
Puch Magnum, Minimoto and Moto Minarelli thingy!

[nisp]

the frontera is good at rusting without the aid of winter
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Suzuki TS 50 1999 Honda CB 125 t2 1981 Yamaha XJ 600 s Diversion Honda cx 500 MZ ETZ 250 1985 Yamaha FZR 400 1981 Suzuki TS 185 1984 Triumph bonneville 790 2001 MZ TS250 1979 Suzuki sv 650 1999 KTM exc RFS 450 2007 Hercules mx 125 1976

[Martay]

Im riding out winter in my trusty Vauxhall Cavalier (or be it with Frontera springs on ) Somewhere i have pics of it past its sills in mud. The only problem is i need to go up a size on the rims to get decent mud-terrain tyres on it. It also has an eye/ball combi hitch with custom brackets for a winch. Its only a 400kg 240v jobby, but the wee 2t genny runs it CB rig, 3-day grab bag, vehicle bag with recovery gear, fluids and spares, sand ladders and aux driving lights on the grill. Fuck your 4x4's im prepping for winter in my 2wd
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[Teflon-Mike]

You know.. as a Landy-Man, it's easy to dis the pretenders to the off-road crown... Frontera is... err..... an Isuzu... diesel motors a bit agricultutral; independent suspension makes for nice road ride, but can be a bit limited off-road.... but you know... out of all the folk I have met who have got 4x4's and decided to kit them up for 'off-roading'....
2" lifts? Full-Muds? Underbody protection? External cages? Winches....
BIGGEST improvemnt to 'off-road capability'.....

READING THE USER MANUAL!

Seriousely; you cant beat know-how. And its a constant source of amusement, coming across folk with all the gear and no idea.... usually stuck in a big mud-hole, moaning that theire super-pampas aren't finding any grip, plotting the 'next' upgrade on thier list, now convinced its 'essential' becouse they have found the limits of thier vehicles capability, and MUST be the off-road driving godd they are convinced themselves to be.....

Shame ALL they needed to REALLY do was engage the free-wheeling hubs so that they actually DID get four wheel drive.......

Would have known that if they had read the manual!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[nisp]

This is a really capable car when the going gets tough, with the added bonus of, Luxury. So for that and other things, Im glad I bought the frontera.
this has the VM 2.5 tef so it's not as agricultural as the 2.8 and I think Im right in saying it's the same as some landrovers.?.

yeah the front independents are a little, limited. but good for the lanes I do. I joined the owners club and it seems they like to go to mid wales.... so Im going there for a change of scenery and some fun

I have read the manual for a little late night reading, quite informative. I went offroading with Richard Hopkins, a good off roading instructor who has done races like the Paris Dakar also a really funny bloke.

also I only have the necessarys on there at the moment, but will put the side steps back on
____________________
Suzuki TS 50 1999 Honda CB 125 t2 1981 Yamaha XJ 600 s Diversion Honda cx 500 MZ ETZ 250 1985 Yamaha FZR 400 1981 Suzuki TS 185 1984 Triumph bonneville 790 2001 MZ TS250 1979 Suzuki sv 650 1999 KTM exc RFS 450 2007 Hercules mx 125 1976

[stevo as b4]

Fook me! assuming you don't actually need a big off roader for it's towing/carrying off road abilities, then you really are taking preparing for winter seriously arn't you!

I assusmed the thread would be about a little cheap runabout car that would get pulled out into action for when the cold/snow/ice comes.

But on the upgrades and modifications you've done to your Frontera then you have probably spent the cost of a little battered hatchback just on preparing your car for winter. Maybe where you are the winter's are very much more severe than here, but if i had to go out and buy an off roader and then modify it seriously just to get through a winter on the road, id give up on transport and walk everywhere!

I'd actually be better by buying an old enduro bike as my winter transport, as there is no way my 4wheeled vehicle is going to be any good for winters. It's got next to no ground clearance, wrong wheel drive, plenty of turbo lag, and soft summer/trackday tyres.

It's the first time id rarther spend winter on a bike, and in some ways it feels safer too IMO. There's nothing worse than being sat in a ton or more of metal thats sliding out of control towards other cars or street furniture. A 100kg dirt bike with a few mods like hand protectors, grippy tyres, and a bit of crash protection sounds much safer in my mind anyway.

[nisp]

[Vracktal]

Fronteras' aren't bad off road, thing that limits them really is the front suspension, torsion bars don't really have much articulation so it's easy to cross-axle. Other thing to bear in mind is the air intake is low in the engine (behind the wheelarch iirc but that could be the B models) so take care in water.

[MarJay]

The panda with winter tyres would probably be better in the snow than a car with those mud tyres on.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[MarkJ]

[stonesie]

[garth]

I want a panda 4x4.

They're orsum.

https://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/sisley_4x4/HPIM1300.jpg

[nisp]

The Panda did have it's limits, took that thing you wouldn't expect. but it's a bit limited and I have tryed

the intake for some reason is in the wheel well
I will be doing something about that as and when I think i'll be needing it.

It has had a New engine at and has only 40K on it, and I have the receipt for it and the fitting from a vauxhall garage.
also found a whole frontera in the scrappy

I love the VM engine, 190 ft/lbs of torque. it's a nice little Motorway cruiser.
____________________
Suzuki TS 50 1999 Honda CB 125 t2 1981 Yamaha XJ 600 s Diversion Honda cx 500 MZ ETZ 250 1985 Yamaha FZR 400 1981 Suzuki TS 185 1984 Triumph bonneville 790 2001 MZ TS250 1979 Suzuki sv 650 1999 KTM exc RFS 450 2007 Hercules mx 125 1976

[stevo as b4]

Fair play to you, as you have actually said your trying to become keenly involved in the off roader thing as a hobby or interest as much as having a serious need for that type of vehicle.

It just read in your OP that you had gone out and brought and modified a 4x4 to get you through the winter months on bad roads, and that was being economical with the truth

It would be like me saying that the lowered modified 270bhp coupe that I brought was intended as a sensible cheap to run commuter vehicle!

Oh and im sure that a nice Diesel powered off roader with huge tyres makes for a lovely motorway cruiser, but I cannot help thinking a Ford Mondeo or similar could be nearly as good as a nice quite motorway cruiser too!

[nisp]

actually it's really really quiet on the motorway, less road noise even with these tyres on than my dads subaru outback!!

quite fuel efficient. I get about 30mpg, the panda did about that! and look how much car It's pulling. dads car gets 33mpg and it's not the best fit for a 6 foot plus person.
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Suzuki TS 50 1999 Honda CB 125 t2 1981 Yamaha XJ 600 s Diversion Honda cx 500 MZ ETZ 250 1985 Yamaha FZR 400 1981 Suzuki TS 185 1984 Triumph bonneville 790 2001 MZ TS250 1979 Suzuki sv 650 1999 KTM exc RFS 450 2007 Hercules mx 125 1976

[SQL]

best offroader I ever had was my Suzuki SJ Pickup