2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

up-hill driving in snow. technique discussion.

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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 10:29 AM
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From: miss, Ontario
up-hill driving in snow. technique discussion.

hahaha. someone told me that driving up a hill backwards in an FR gives u more traction, as if it were an FF. lol. just wondering what some of the members here think bout that. i obviously disagree, but i will wait for some response before i post my reasoning. have fun with this one guys.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 10:50 AM
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heh, I think he's driven way to many ff cars.

The 2nd gen has near perfect front-rear balance. Driving uphill transfers more weight to the rear. Driving up backwards would... guess what? transfer weight to the front!
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 10:51 AM
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I always just keep a steady pace and never let off the gas......gets me up every time..
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 10:54 AM
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smooth and steady is the only way to go.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 10:54 AM
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You will have more traction driving the right direction.
There is little weight over the rear tyres and when you start accelerating, weight is transfered to the front where you have you engine bla bla so you will actually be lucky to even move.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 10:59 AM
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Originally posted by Slacker7
when you start accelerating, weight is transfered to the front
How do you figure that? When you accelerate, weight goes to the rear.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 11:28 AM
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"How do you figure that? When you accelerate, weight goes to the rear."

He meant when u accelerate going backwards up a hill.

Yeah, i definately agree with everyone here. I would like to hear someone argue it as being correct though. That might be fun...
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 12:21 PM
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LOL, where I used to work at, the parkinglot was atop a hill. After trying for ten minutes to drive up the hill in snow, completely in vain, I decided to try in reverse. Made it the entire block uphill without a hitch in reverse. My coworkers looked at me like "WTF" when I walked in though...
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 01:53 PM
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I drove from new york to boston in a giant snow storm when i bought my car and the only way i was able to make it was to drive really slow and dodge cars as they spun out in front of me.
As far as getting up hills i did that by letting out the clutch really slow and simply going super slow.
No need for any backwards driving guys...
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 02:37 PM
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Start in 2nd if you spin too much in 1st, but that takes finesse.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 05:07 PM
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um, i'm not trying to be a jackass... but the easiest way to get up hills in the snow is to wait for it to melt. I live on a mountain, and i just don't drive my car when there's snow on the ground... it's a lot easier that way ;-)
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 05:09 PM
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lol reminds me of initial d ( dont no i live in florida no snow )
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 06:54 PM
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I went out in a blizzard one night and got stuck in a valley. After trying to get up both sides of the road - in a final vain effort - I decided to try to back up the hill.

I thought the ratio of the reverse gear would give me more control. So I applied the gas slowly in reverse and scooted right up the hill and on to home.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 07:17 PM
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If I was driving and not starting on a hill I just did this. I just kept my speed up. If it was a big hill I might get going 40ish before the bottom of the hill. Never had a problem that way.

The prob I always had was the people that went 10mph spinning up the hill. Then my idea was a problem.

That is the only way I could motivate my TII which had nice summer tires. Snow was a joke. Those tires did not work well at all. Only carrying speed worked


James
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 07:23 PM
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That is the only way I could motivate my TII which had nice summer tires. Snow was a joke. Those tires did not work well at all. Only carrying speed worked
Yeah thats true too. You know the truth is that there isisnt really one way to drive in the snow it has to change depending on the conditions. If theres a **** load of snow on the road than the momentum technique (ie. going fast) will work, but if the roads are jsut really icey then going really slow works.
The best techniques come from experience so get out there and enjoy the snow!
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 07:55 PM
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starting in second is right on, it will require some serious clutch slippage but it works quite well on snow and ice.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 08:31 PM
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Just do donuts
all day
in the powdery wet snow.
find a flat piece of parkin'lot
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 08:34 PM
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Originally posted by Molotovman
Just do donuts
all day
in the powdery wet snow.
find a flat piece of parkin'lot
Almost a haiku.

Sorry, too much lit class.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 10:42 PM
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I can't even get my car to move on a flat surface, let alone up-hill in the snow!
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 11:10 PM
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Sandbags in the trunk! Woo! (Oh yeh, 'hatch' for you "Top Impaired" folks.
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 11:16 PM
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Originally posted by kiker14
um, i'm not trying to be a jackass... but the easiest way to get up hills in the snow is to wait for it to melt. I live on a mountain, and i just don't drive my car when there's snow on the ground... it's a lot easier that way ;-)
What you talking about.... don't you know a true racer can never stop practicing? And practicing in the snow really hones your skills
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Old Jan 9, 2004 | 11:20 PM
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Originally posted by Kenteth
LOL, where I used to work at, the parkinglot was atop a hill. After trying for ten minutes to drive up the hill in snow, completely in vain, I decided to try in reverse. Made it the entire block uphill without a hitch in reverse. My coworkers looked at me like "WTF" when I walked in though...
hmmm.. interesting... I wonder what was different.
I've tried reverse in very loose gravel (which is pretty similar to snow but not as bad) and the car would not move. As far as snow driving.. I had balded tyres when I was in NY... I ddn't drive much untill they salted the roads but there was this one situation I had to park while it was snowing and the car would not move in reverse.
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Old Jan 10, 2004 | 01:12 AM
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i dont see how going in reverse could help in any situation... u would only shift the weight to the front wheels; this would definately make it worse. maybe it would help if ur tires' thread pattern had more traction spinning the other way?
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Old Jan 10, 2004 | 07:18 AM
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maybe in reverse the differential acts more like a limited slip and not a open diff? I dunno, just a guess...I just woke up.
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Old Jan 10, 2004 | 08:14 AM
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I live on one hell of a hill. Here is how I do it, Every morning on the way out of the garage, I straghten the car covers on my S5's. I walk outside and I start my wifes car and mine. Scrape the windows and go. I don't even have to put in 4wd as my WINTER daily driver is AWD.

LOL
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