Hey everybody,

I am contemplating driving my newly rebuilt FC vert throughout the coming snowy weather here in NJ. Can anyone share any experiences? The current alternative is driving the sucker in my sig, and I know better than to do that. Should I look into something else, or will a set of blizzaks on the vert work as long as I drive carefully?

thanks--

 

Yeah good question i'm in the same boat. i'm getting some snow tires and moving into the town where i work just so i have lesser chances of messing my car up. living 30 miles away from work or 3, you tell me the better option

Matt

 

Goodfella, I'm moving back to NJ this winter myself, but I'll be driving one of my parents vehicles throughout the winter.. It's too bad that I have to sell my Impreza We'll have to meet up one day, I'm from Vineland..

 

get yourself a 500 dollar subaru because your RWD FC/FD will be unsafe in opinion. But its you *** not mine.

 

Buy a $1000 beater Honda/Toyota, stick shift rear wheel drive is tough in the winter no matter what tires you have on it.

The vert's top and weatherstripping will take a beating in the winter, not to mention what goes on underneath if you drive in snow and salt.

The reason why most of the vert's are still around is probably because of no winter driving!

 

If you can atleast park it inside, thats a big help. Go to a carwash once a week to spray out the wheelwells and underbody. I think skinnier tires will grip better on snowy and wet roads, more weight per square inch. And the heater cranks up faster than just about any other car.

 

Try a search for "winter driving". Covered hundreds of times.

 

Thanks guys. A-searching we will go

 

The 14" and 15" rims are better in the snow than the 16" and up size rims. Blizzaks are a good start, but your going to want them on all four corners. Traction is a good thing, but steering is more important!

You'll also need to put 100 lbs of rock salt in the trunk. The extra weight will help keep you planted.

A few things to keep in mind:
#1) When coasting in gear, there is more drag on the rear tires because you are engine breaking. BE VERY CAREFULL on icy and slushy roads. Sometimes in slippery stuff the rear end will come out on you in a heart beat as soon as you lift your foot off the throttle. Around here in PA, I always had to coast with the car out of gear or my foot on the clutch...

#2) Limit your time on the interstates. You'll be fine on the back roads in the snow but when you get into traffic and the trucks are passing by at 50-60 MPH, you will get tossed by the turbulence. The rear end will come out from under you if your not careful in traffic.

#3) If your serious about doing this, you may want an extra set of rims. I have four 1989 GTU 15" rims in my garage. Two of them have Blizzaks that have about 50-60% tread left on them. If your interested in them, I'll sell them to you $150. I'm in Eastern PA... PM me.

#4) Last tip? Get a beater Subaru.

 

GoodFella I drove my 87 TII last winter because I had no other option. It wasn't nearly as bad as most say, I just drove it very responsibly. I didn't try to overdo it at all. I had studded blizzaks on the back and 80% Firestone All Seasons on the front, I also kept some sand in the back so in case I got stuck I would have something to get me out and it gave me some extra weight. I will say honestly I was doing better than most the Jeeps and Subarus out there. I came to my own conclusion; the kind of car you have is only 50% of it, how you drive it is the other 50% it can turn it into the most dangerous or most safe car on the road. There were definitely Explorers and Land Rovers in ditches last year as I drove past last year in my tiny FC.

As long as you are not overconfident you should be safe. Also use common sense. If there is a foot of snow on the road don't think you can take the highway at normal speeds. I said I drove past people last year that were off the road but I also put on my hazards and let people behind me pass me if I felt that I didn't want to speed up to their pace.

My main reason for getting a beater for this winter. I got a lot of rust last year due to NY's salting and Ct's sand/salt.

You can do it, just be responsible.

--Fritz

 

It rarely snows in Morristown, just wind and rain and the occasional ice. Oh, wait...wrong morristown

I have never had a problem driving a 7 around, just dont be stupid with it. An LSD would probably help you out.The vert has a fair amount of weight on it's side, so you'll be fine.

 

i did that last winter...a set of blizzaks will do fine.....and i have a T2

 

yes I know I'm digging up an old post here but just want to say I agree

my first winter car ever was a 78 celica with rear wheel drive and a 5 spd
the tires where BALDER then a set of slicks.

that car was the best easiest car I ever drove in the snow and being I got it for next to nothing I would have to say if I had it bumped or something I wasn't too worried just as long as I didn't hit anyone else


but yeah even with the slickest tires I ever drove on that thing was gracefull.
didn't losecontroll easy if it did lose control it was a slow spin that was easy to recover from with either a little gas or e-brake action.


all hail the mighty celica
http://www.homestead.com/rx7speed/fi...ica/celica.jpg

http://www.homestead.com/rx7speed/files/celica/back.jpg

 

That's what I did. Though honestly it's not that great in the snow (88 DL Wagon, FWD, 5 speed). I don't worry about salt or other people as much though. If someone screws up and slides into me, the insurance money can go towards new '7 parts (after I get a new beater... pay $100 for beater, fix up slightly, drive for a few years).

-=Russ=-