The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

i have arranged to view a Dolly, which was done before the current cold snap. Now the car is down south and I would have to drive it 200 odd miles to Leeds. Now with the Dolly being rear wheel drive this gives me pause. My question is, is a dolly a safe car in these conditions? What tips would you give me to get home in piece?

take your time and use your gears more than your brakes.

Then when you get it back get underneath and wash all that nasty salt of.

Lord Tolly wrote:take your time and use your gears more than your brakes.

Then when you get it back get underneath and wash all that nasty salt of.

Thanks for the reply, I am use to driving a front wheel drive car with a big heavy diesel engine in the snow, which has a ton of grip. So if I do it buy it, it will be a new experience.

I did read somewhere that braking with the gears was a bad idea going down hill with a rear wheel drive car. Something about it spining end to end. Is there any truth to that?

As for the salt, good advice. I am paranoid about rust. If I do it buy my first order of business would be fixing the rot, and then rust proofing everything I could reach. Then in a nice cosy garage till the weather improves.

My 1500 is my everyday car, it's rw drive, and I've only been driving 3 months. And OH I live in snowy wales.
I'm going to have a fun winter!!!!

All I've learned so far is don't attempt icy hills and pump your brakes gently when going down one. Slightly terrifying moment a couple of days ago as I headed down a hill on a housing estate with locked wheels!

But taking your time, gearing rather than braking where possible, and planning your route seems to work for the most part - I've only had to get someone to push me once, embarrassingly outside my eldest kid's primary school

I'm switching to the Clio when the temperature is forecast to be below zero.

It is fair to say that Dolomites are not at their best in snow .

With their lesser power and torque (and also narrower tyres) I found a 1500HL better than the 1850 and Sprint,
or should that be phrased not as bad.
A T2000 is pretty good in snow, nice and predictable.

Whatever you drive, the secret is to maintain steady progress, so no harsh braking, acceleration or steering.




Please be prepared, carry food and water, plenty of warm clothes, a spade and maybe even some sand.
Spare a thought for the road workers who have to man the gritters and snow ploughs.
Unfortunately the roads are now quite populated by 4WDs, so please be careful..........



Ian.

Yes people in 4x4's who tank around with standard tyres on. They are no safer, they will just have bigger accidents.

I personally dont agree that fwd is altogether better, its also down to whos driving and how.
ive seen loads of fwd's today with people that havent got a clue how to drive in snow.
Lots of revs does not get you anywhere.
ive driven my mk2 2000 auto and not had any problems.

Thinking back to the 70's and 80's wasn't the Dolomite/ Cortina / Chevette and the MGB the workhorse of the average Brit ? The Sales rep; the house wife; the bloke in the street ? Ah yes; Me ! We seemed to manage; and snow is still snow; so what has changed ?
As a matter of interest aren't BMW's and Volvos still RWD but with bells and whistles?
I think the answer is that if you are not happy driving a "new" car 200 miles in snow then wait until the weather improves. Particularly as this car will be a bit of an unknown quantity with a possibly "iffy" service history.
I was happy driving the 1850 today but Monday is forecast to be sheet ice, so I may be on the train.
Tony.

My 1300 was one of the best cars I've ever driven in snow. Skinny tyres are the way to go. She certainly did a lot better than my 306 which is currently stuck by my garage with no prospect of moving anytime soon. My Daf got around Worcsestershire and Herefordshire no problem yesterday, but I was able to put 2 tonnes over the rear axle to assist....

The 1500 is fine in the snow, benefiting from slim tyres and half a dozen concrete blocks in the boot.

Keep out of the way of cars with low profile tyres, fat tyres, traction control, anti-lock brakes ... in fact anything modern!

My advice is dont until the snow clears...

The advice about using gears more than brakes is so completely wrong and dangerous as to beggar belief.

A dolomite is rwd, hence engine braking will be to the rear wheels. Going down hill on snow this is NOT what you want. Trust me I know this from bitter
experience. Engine braking via the diff will lead to one wheel locking and the car going into an uncontrollable spin, unless you really have had a lot of practice, like the scandinavians.

If you ever do need to go downhill in snowy conditions in a dolomite its best done in neutral with cadence braking...in other words do your own ABS by pumping the pedal and remember that rolling wheels can still be steered with wheras locked ones cannot and will slide in a straight line, so brakes off and steer round the obstacle and if needs must select the softest part of the scenery to stop with.....best not another car!

In fairness to the Tolly Lord he lives in a part of the country with no hills....

Jonners

I am minded of a certain yellow Sprint which appeared here last year, written off, upside down in a snowbank! this happened whilst its new owner was driving it home!
I would hate the same thing to happen to you (AND to another Dolly!)
If you are not 100% confident in your ability, wait till the weather improves! (I never thought I'd hear myself say this sort of thing, I must be growing up at last!)

Steve

Made a journey to the next town the other night in heavy snow (foolish I know but I had an important meeting) and Have to say that I think I slid most of the journey than drove being that these 1500s are twin carb it makes starting off very interesting!!

On the plus side I had a quite a lot of fun in homebase car park on the way home the next day!

Tims Triumph wrote:On the plus side I had a quite a lot of fun in homebase car park on the way home the next day!

Rear wheel drive in the snow cannot get any better than that - providing you have room for drifting.

Regards
Paul