Why not drive an FD in the snow?
 

Who ever said not to?

I just drove home from work for like 45 mins in a MN snowstorm.

A fresh layer of sleet ice under FOUR to SIX inches of snow is what we're currently experiencing. I have some Blizzacks on the car... fucking easy as hell. I was on the highway (snow-covered) doing 55-60mph passing SUVs in the fast lane. I had full control and never lost the rear end once.

Honestly, snow tires make this car a BLAST. Unplowed parking lots, Uphills, downhill, curves, 5" snow covered local streets, and icy highways.... just blasted through like it was nothing. The 50/50 weight and keeping off boost make it effortless w/snow tires on. I could actually accelerate better than almost every FWD car I saw (not in a racing style either).

On the other hand, my FC has regular all-season tires and it gets stuck at green lights! Sometimes it can't even make it through an intersection in time. I routinely spin the car on local roads and get stuck in parking lots or the slightest incline. On the highway, it sways at 40mph and IS scary.... I just can't believe what a night&day difference snow tires make.

So here's to everyone driving their FD's in the snow :bigthumb:!

Now you know why snow tires are actually required by law in many European countries when the conditions are like that.

hey its your car..........and life........

Two HUGE reasons not to drive your FD in the snow:

1. OTHER DRIVERS, it doesn't matter that you have Blizzaks and are good, some other idiot can easily lose control and wipe you out.
2. road salt is highly corrosive, let the daily beater suffer the ravages of that shit and not your FD

(I may live in Cali but I grew up in Michigan, so I know Midwest winter driving.)

+1, the risks are way to high. Use a beater car, and drive the FD when you really can unleash how good it is.

I daily drive mine here in Colorado, luckily when it snows my works is only a mile from my house. Been driving it on the same set of BFG Traction T/A's for 2 years. I've only got it stuck once when it snowed over 12in.... :bigthumb:

just b/c you survived a game of russian roulette doesn't mean you should keep playing.

When you live where the weather gets really bad you learn to drive anything in those conditions. Plus I'm not going to pay my high ass insurance rates and let the car ait for 6 months out of the year.

driving an fd in the snow just sounds like a bad idea

I'm totally with you on the snow tires thing. I leave the snow driving to the Miata though, god that car is fun in the snow. It's low on power in comparison but in the snow, you don't need big power to break traction. I drove to work during our last snowstorm and other than a 5 series that couldn't get any traction, I was the only RWD car on the road and from my observations and had the easiest time driving around.

Also, 185/65/14's are crazy cheap compared the the 16+ tires sizes. :)

It IS incredible the difference a snow tire makes. Freaky-weird how tire compound and construction/tread pattern combine to work so well.

Still....no WAY do I drive my FD even in the RAIN, let alone snow!

No doubt it's all about the tires but for those who attempt to drive a light rear wheel car in the snow without good tires be VERY careful

I remember years ago when I had my 300zx it was one of those cold powder type wispy snows and there was zero accumulation and I was driving about 40 up a hill and needed to make several corrections to keep it on the road and there seriously was nothing even sticking to the road it was just sort of blowing around.

Last year I was driving down our main drag 29n in ch'ville and a blazer was going about 50 mph in 2 inches of snow lost control right in front of me and it was not at all pretty. Took out about 4 newly planted trees in the median and it could of been much much worse. Basically if it's snowing out no matter what I'm driving I go slow.

I would NEVER drive my FD in snow! Then it better be very important..

And i have to say on thing, a dodge viper on summer tires are not much better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3A4zMF42rc
:rlaugh:
The video is taken today, so that is how it looks in norway right now.

Have a nice day
Joachim
Norway

^ Cool video, thanks for posting it up. Looks like the Viper decided it wasn't wise to venture out.

Sheesh. I HATE the snow. My FD is my DD so i have no choice. it is NOT fun to me at all:(

I personally would not drive my FD in the snow unless I had no other choice. I do not agree with rynberg's #1 reason, other drivers. No one would be on the road if you fear other drivers.

hit the nail on the head with that one

other drivers..and the salt to me is the worst, kills your car....i dont even drive my honda prelude in the winter either...i bought a cheap 95 jeep cherokee...

brad

Yes it does :rl:

I have a Ford Focus to drive when the weather's bad. I sure don't want to ruin a car as nice as the FD by exposing it to salt. The other thing I try to avoid is thunderstorms/hail.

Dave

HAHAHAHAHAHA, that's classic.

same here...the fd is only out on nice days...other wise she's in the garage...

brad

Rynberg is RIGHT...it's all about the other drivers. I've been driving through New England winters for 32 years and my FD is in the garage right now, has been all 8 winters I've owned it. I have snows on my Passat & van and although I do agree snows have it all over all season tires...I will still keep the FD garaged when the road surface is below freezing. All it takes is one bad experience on ice to set you straight-I've had 2. Somebody had me convinced that I could avoid trouble if I drove a great handling car with great tires...until I had a head-on with a driver who had lost control of their car and was doing 360s right towards me. There was a steep embankment on my right and a steeper embankment on my left...NOWHERE TO GO. We hit in the middle of the road and my car was totalled. Nobody was seriously injured but at the time I was alternating between this car, a Toyota Corolla, and an MG Midget. If I had been driving the MG I most certainly would have been killed. The MG was an absolute blast to drive in the snow, like the FD, but I'm sure glad I wasn't driving it that day. I took risks when I was much younger but given the number of 3-4 ton all wheel drive killing machines on the winter roads today I just feel much safer with the car in the garage. The only funny part of the story happened when the state trooper was called to the scene. He got out of his car, started walking towards us, and called out..."So, what happened hereeeeeeeeee". He slipped on the glare ice, right on his azz. When he got up and dusted himself off he said "So now I guess what I really need is another cup of coffee & a couple more donuts, huh?"

Thank you.

WE can end the thread now.

I've driven my FD in blizzard.... on summer tires! It was my only way to work that day, so I had to. Not fun, but managable. Snow tires make a night and day difference. I always run my car with them on the drive wheels at least now.

Other drivers, well they are a reason even when you're not in bad conditions. I was just drving on clear roads abotu a month ago and then CRACK! My FC got totalled because of someone else's poor driving.Not much can be done about them. Just try to be aware of them as best you can.

I'll be putting some snow tires on that FC Dre. And an LSD as soon as I find one for sale on here.I filled out the paperwork to salvage my white S5 on Thursday.