Forum
Ruapehu 2010
*edited 28 May 2010 08:33
Originally posted by: Freshie
prob worth having if u live at ruapehu, but flag if u are coming from aucks/wellie.
just trade your volvo in for an XC60
XC60 or 70 would be nice but the v40 has to be it until it dies. Will living up there. Can take them off over summer. $250 a piece? Obviously you don't mix summer and winter tyres.
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
Snow tyres not worth it, If there is a chain restriction your 2wd even with snow tyres will be putting chains on. Snowtyres on a 2wd would be fine if the road did not have steep sections.
Originally posted by: gavspad
Snow tyres not worth it, If there is a chain restriction your 2wd even with snow tyres will be putting chains on. Snowtyres on a 2wd would be fine if the road did not have steep sections.
More for getting in and out of car parks when you have had to dig car out and there's too much snow to get under car to even put chains on/drive onto blocks. Road less steep than some in Welly but I guess they don't get iced up
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
Get a Vitari! Mine is nearly 20years old but should be me through this season 
--------------------------------
If you don't like my fire don't come around.
Originally posted by: JudeOriginally posted by: gavspad
Snow tyres not worth it, If there is a chain restriction your 2wd even with snow tyres will be putting chains on. Snowtyres on a 2wd would be fine if the road did not have steep sections.
More for getting in and out of car parks when you have had to dig car out and there's too much snow to get under car to even put chains on/drive onto blocks. Road less steep than some in Welly but I guess they don't get iced up
I was going to say whakapapa is renown as the only ski area you need chains to get out of the car parks
Makes even less sense just to get out of the car park, if there is that much snow around you car you cant get out then you not cleared enough. Are you working for RAL or one of the Clubs?
Let me throw the cost v benefit into the mix as well. Unless you get a spare set of rims you going to be paying around $80 per year swapping the tyres over for probably just a couple of days per year where they will be worthwhile having.
Then theres the cost of snow tyres compared to road tyres. The there is the wear factor Snow Tyres wear faster than normal tyres!
Go look at the vehicles RAL use see how many of them have snow tyres.
My winter driving plan is approximately this:
1. Buy Subey Impreza STi (done)
2. Apply right foot
3. Apply MORE right foot
4. Apply a greater variety of right foot
I think I'm on to a winner here 
Alternatively get tyres marked M+S or Mud/Snow, wont have to change them in summer
Originally posted by: rozboon
My winter driving plan is approximately this:
1. Buy Subey Impreza STi (done)
2. Apply right foot
3. Apply MORE right foot
4. Apply a greater variety of right foot
I think I'm on to a winner here
*edited 28 May 2010 13:36
Originally posted by: rozboon
My winter driving plan is approximately this:
1. Buy Subey Impreza STi (done)
2. Apply right foot
3. Apply MORE right foot
4. Apply a greater variety of right foot
I think I'm on to a winner here
#5 Keep licence
And don't break right leg
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
Originally posted by: JudeOriginally posted by: gavspad
Snow tyres not worth it, If there is a chain restriction your 2wd even with snow tyres will be putting chains on. Snowtyres on a 2wd would be fine if the road did not have steep sections.
More for getting in and out of car parks when you have had to dig car out and there's too much snow to get under car to even put chains on/drive onto blocks. Road less steep than some in Welly but I guess they don't get iced up
dont argue jude, gav knows these things
Originally posted by: gavspadOriginally posted by: rozboon
My winter driving plan is approximately this:
1. Buy Subey Impreza STi (done)
2. Apply right foot
3. Apply MORE right foot
4. Apply a greater variety of right foot
I think I'm on to a winner here
haha Like I said - get a Vitara. Mine has too much wind noise at anything over 100km to risk going any faster. But it has hauled its way out of a few decent mud bogs in its day.
I do like Subarus however and plan on updating the Suzuki at some stage.
--------------------------------
If you don't like my fire don't come around.
I remember a couple of years ago Subaru NZ did a show weekend up the hill. Before the first morning was over two of their shiny cars were all bent up. The staff showcased them brilliantly by applying the right foot rule to the max.
--------------------------------
One good turn deserves another...
Originally posted by: gavspadOriginally posted by: rozboon
My winter driving plan is approximately this:
1. Buy Subey Impreza STi (done)
2. Apply right foot
3. Apply MORE right foot
4. Apply a greater variety of right foot
I think I'm on to a winner here
That 'STi' seems to have forgotten to actually be an STi.
Someone find me a clip of a WRC Subey doing 160kmh on a snowy road in Sweden somewhere. Youtube blocked at work.
or ken block hitting snowpark kickers in his rex with "waste of money" snow tyres
Someone find me a clip of a WRC Subey doing 160kmh on a snowy road in Sweden somewhere. Youtube blocked at work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ok4ACr5zKg [youtube.com]
This one?
--------------------------------
Insert signature here
Originally posted by: rozboon
My winter driving plan is approximately this:
1. Buy Subey Impreza STi (done)
2. Apply right foot
3. Apply MORE right foot
4. Apply a greater variety of right foot
I think I'm on to a winner here
Great choice!
Here's my pride and joy on a *very* cold 2008 day. Came back to her covered in icicles!
No that's not me.
Absolutely *love* Subaru's AWD in the snow. Next car I get will be a Subaru Legacy wagon of some kind. I have chains for when it gets really gnarly but I rarely need them, used once last year and not at all in '08.
--------------------------------
Gaper.
Oh and even if I had a fulltime serious-business 4WD I'd still bring chains.
I used to head up mountain in a FWD Toyota & nothing is more hilarious than cruising past some stuck JAFA 4WD in your sh*tty FWD car with chains. Good times.
--------------------------------
Gaper.
Originally posted by: rmerry
Oh and even if I had a fulltime serious-business 4WD I'd still bring chains.
I used to head up mountain in a FWD Toyota & nothing is more hilarious than cruising past some stuck JAFA 4WD in your sh*tty FWD car with chains. Good times.
Ditto! When I was young we used to go up the rainbow road in a Morris 1100 (true!)
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
Originally posted by: rmerry
absolutely *love* Subaru's AWD in the snow. Next car I get will be a Subaru Legacy wagon of some kind. I have chains for when it gets really gnarly but I rarely need them, used once last year and not at all in '08.
Trust me - get an Outback instead. I got the Legacy and regret having the lack of ground clearance. It's all very well having traction but if you're too close to the ground you get stuck!
What else did you do in the Morrie?
--------------------------------
One good turn deserves another...
Originally posted by: edgehi
What else did you do in the Morrie?
Nothing
Ate lunch
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
Originally posted by: rmerry
Oh and even if I had a fulltime serious-business 4WD I'd still bring chains.
I used to head up mountain in a FWD Toyota & nothing is more hilarious than cruising past some stuck JAFA 4WD in your sh*tty FWD car with chains. Good times.
Its about the driver not the car thats what your saying is it not?
*edited 28 May 2010 15:44
Originally posted by: rozboonOriginally posted by: gavspadOriginally posted by: rozboon
My winter driving plan is approximately this:
1. Buy Subey Impreza STi (done)
2. Apply right foot
3. Apply MORE right foot
4. Apply a greater variety of right foot
I think I'm on to a winner here
That 'STi' seems to have forgotten to actually be an STi.
Someone find me a clip of a WRC Subey doing 160kmh on a snowy road in Sweden somewhere. Youtube blocked at work.
Be fair the car had a mechanical problem.....
Wheel nut fault
as in the nut was sat on the drivers seat.
Originally posted by: BluntOriginally posted by: gavspadOriginally posted by: rozboon
My winter driving plan is approximately this:
1. Buy Subey Impreza STi (done)
2. Apply right foot
3. Apply MORE right foot
4. Apply a greater variety of right foot
I think I'm on to a winner here
haha Like I said - get a Vitara. Mine has too much wind noise at anything over 100km to risk going any faster. But it has hauled its way out of a few decent mud bogs in its day.
I do like Subarus however and plan on updating the Suzuki at some stage.
argghhh!!! flag the subaru blunt..just go for an updated Zuk
--------------------------------
just get one of these..go anywhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otOKq0DlVAw [youtube.com]
--------------------------------
Three weeks to go and the 2010 thread is already eight pages long.....gotta love Ruapehu!
--------------------------------
Insert signature here
as the matai shuttle drivers have said if a car has gone off 9/10 it is either a subie or a 4wd. people think nothing can touch them in their 4wd. It's more the driver than the car, people just blame the car rather than their bad driving. 
Late last year this crazy subie driver overtook us on a blind corner on the mountain road and missed an oncoming car by an inch and they got there a whole 2 minutes sooner. 
^^but that 2 cars further up the carpark..it was worth it
--------------------------------
i hate ppl doin 10km/h up the road and driving in the middle/righthand side to stop people passing more
this is hard to see..but looks like white dropping down the hill on the left..low level snowfall possibly?
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
from whereever this is taken..definitely snow to low levels!!
--------------------------------
bit of snow on the naki too
--------------------------------
Turoa cams make good watching today still a bit bony around midfield but we're getting there
--------------------------------
Europe 2011 - living the dream
cameras can be deceiving
the live links keep updating... 
save the pic first and then post the pic!
right click image copy image location. Turoa starting to look half decent at giant cafe, but whaka not looking to great but then the cams don't show much but the new cafe.
*edited 30 May 2010 19:52
the geonet cams don't store the image indefinitely, even if you copy the jpg file name off the site, 24 hours later it will update...and again 24 hours later... gotta save it to your drive then upload to flickr/facebook/etc... and then copy the link from there.
Originally posted by: brighton_pumps
cameras can be deceiving
Stop ruapehu-ing on my parade BP
--------------------------------
Europe 2011 - living the dream
^^^that pic above of naki in the dark is so cool
--------------------------------
Originally posted by: Ride AgainstOriginally posted by: brighton_pumps
cameras can be deceiving
Stop ruapehu-ing on my parade BP
same rule everywhere mate, not just RAL
Originally posted by: Freshie
^^^that pic above of naki in the dark is so cool
Not dark on the pic anymore. One of them real time updating ones.
Alls looking good though but man I'm sick of the effing rain
--------------------------------
If you don't like my fire don't come around.
Originally posted by: BluntOriginally posted by: Freshie
^^^that pic above of naki in the dark is so cool
Not dark on the pic anymore. One of them real time updating ones.
Alls looking good though but man I'm sick of the effing rain
Stopped in Welly for now - for at least 24 hours if we are lucky.
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
Hey, no 'darkie' comments, it's offensive!
I prefer honkie mountains.
--------------------------------
One good turn deserves another...
ok its got a nice hokey cap on the mountain
--------------------------------
snow in alpine meadow now and even a bit around the flanks of happy valley
--------------------------------
next few lows forecast to come from off the queensland coast. Looking forward to the first decent southern ocean monster packed with multiple fronts and nasty freezing weather to slam the country!
--------------------------------
I am the freedom breeder!
me too but this one looks a bit warm..freezing level 2800 tomorrow.....at least the drought has broken...
--------------------------------
you gotta get up ...to get down..
Getting pretty excited! Almost time to get the gear out for a checking over and scrape the storage wax off the skis
--------------------------------
Gaper.
Originally posted by: demoncleaner
next few lows forecast to come from off the queensland coast. Looking forward to the first decent southern ocean monster packed with multiple fronts and nasty freezing weather to slam the country!
Let's hope so. Turoa gets snow from SW? Whaka more W? Or doesn't it really matter as long as it is cold enough for the precipitation to fall as snow?
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
for ruapehu it just depends mainly on the freezing level and moisture..then its the luck of the draw regarding where it will fall the most, based on wind direction and strength...usually the storm /snow direction can dictate the dryness/quality of the snow but again i have had snow from the nw which was just as dry as from the south
--------------------------------
you gotta get up ...to get down..
Originally posted by: voltaren
for ruapehu it just depends mainly on the freezing level and moisture..then its the luck of the draw regarding where it will fall the most, based on wind direction and strength...usually the storm /snow direction can dictate the dryness/quality of the snow but again i have had snow from the nw which was just as dry as from the south
So all we need is a low freezing level and precipitation
Bring it on.
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
bring it on this weekend monday /tueday 7/8 june...nice big storm coming with wet warm air from the north and a cold se feeding in underneath....the weather models looking good for central nth island....
if we keep getting weather events like this every 10 days.......its looking gooooooood
--------------------------------
you gotta get up ...to get down..
Originally posted by: voltaren
bring it on this weekend monday /tueday 7/8 june...nice big storm coming with wet warm air from the north and a cold se feeding in underneath....the weather models looking good for central nth island....
if we keep getting weather events like this every 10 days.......its looking gooooooood
Not for getting my washing dry but that what's dryers are for
Getting back to the snow tyre thing. Friends who lived in Canada had them on a 2wd and said excellent - great grip in snow, ice etc (unless it was sheet where anything would slide). Just take them off and store them over summer. Cheaper than buying a new car.
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
Originally posted by: Jude
Getting back to the snow tyre thing. Friends who lived in Canada had them on a 2wd and said excellent - great grip in snow, ice etc (unless it was sheet where anything would slide). Just take them off and store them over summer. Cheaper than buying a new car.
Sorry Jude but as was stated earlier if there is snow and ice on the access road your 2wd Volvo will have to fit chains. Beyond the access road the chances of you needing snow tyres is maybe once or twice per year, which is assuming you can talk your way passed the road blocks.
You planning to drive up the hill daily? Why not just get the staff bus cheaper on the wear and tear on your car.
Originally posted by: gavspadOriginally posted by: Jude
Getting back to the snow tyre thing. Friends who lived in Canada had them on a 2wd and said excellent - great grip in snow, ice etc (unless it was sheet where anything would slide). Just take them off and store them over summer. Cheaper than buying a new car.
Sorry Jude but as was stated earlier if there is snow and ice on the access road your 2wd Volvo will have to fit chains. Beyond the access road the chances of you needing snow tyres is maybe once or twice per year, which is assuming you can talk your way passed the road blocks.
You planning to drive up the hill daily? Why not just get the staff bus cheaper on the wear and tear on your car.
I think she's not actually RAL staff?
Unfortunately the access road chain requirement is another case of lowest common denominator.
They have to cater to the numpties with no winter driving nous. As I think you've mentioned many times, its a bit crazy to assume that 4wd = ok... there's a lot of idjits sliding all over the place in their Merc and BMW SUVs while we ease our way up in the little Hyundai 2wd... sensible use of the throttle plus some creative seat positioning and you're golden.
Not to mention the ridiculous pseudo-4wds like the Honda CRV with its absurdly useless hydraulic coupling 4wd system.
We drove all over BC in our horrid front wheel Ford Taurus and only ever had minor issues with traction on roads that were far worse than you'll see 99% of the time at Ruapehu (Turoa refreeze black ice on the downhill is nasty as hell though)
Originally posted by: rozboon
Unfortunately the access road chain requirement is another case of lowest common denominator.
They have to cater to the numpties with no winter driving nous. As I think you've mentioned many times, its a bit crazy to assume that 4wd = ok... there's a lot of idjits sliding all over the place in their Merc and BMW SUVs while we ease our way up in the little Hyundai 2wd... sensible use of the throttle plus some creative seat positioning and you're golden.
Not to mention the ridiculous pseudo-4wds like the Honda CRV with its absurdly useless hydraulic coupling 4wd system.
We drove all over BC in our horrid front wheel Ford Taurus and only ever had minor issues with traction on roads that were far worse than you'll see 99% of the time at Ruapehu (Turoa refreeze black ice on the downhill is nasty as hell though)
Agree - having a 4wd doesn't make you a better driver. I'd rather have the chains on than not but there are plenty of instances where I have had to put them on for a tiny patch of ice on a shady corner. Something you can get anywhere during winter. The snowtyre issue solved - no one in NZ can supply them for my type of car. So back to the munted old chains held together with a bungy.
Someone at work told me about some sort of new chain arrangement which just clips to the outside of your wheel rim, no crawling under car. Find that hard to believe. Anyone know anything about it?
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
anyone used bands over chains like alot of seppoes do?
Speaking of chains - just heard there's a chain restriction on Bruce Rd so it must be snowing up there?
--------------------------------
reine de l'hiver
News to me Jude I just got back from Turoa and there was no sign of the white stuff in the Cra aParks or any snowmaking. Quite the contrey it was a howling gale and pissing it down with rain. What snow was made yesterday has been washed away nothing to get to excited about the cameras do make it look better than it is though.
Probably put the chain restriction on to make people think twice about sightseeing it is more windy on the whakapapa side and no one up there to help you if you do come off the road.
hmmm time to go for a drive again me thinks