I'm wondering how do FCs handle in the snow or heavy rain? I've heard they're basically spin-out death traps when it comes to driving in bad conditions.

I goto college in upstate NY (Rochester to be specific) and so driving in snow for daily driving will be happening quite often.

Also, if it is true that FCs handle poorly in snow, are there ways to correct it, swapping out differentials or something?

 

Not great compared to FWD or AWD cars. It's probably about what you expect from a rear wheel drive sports car.

 

With any car in the NY winter, I'd recommend having a dedicated set of snow tires. If you have good tires, and aren't trying to hit 8000 RPM when there's snow, you'll be fine. If you try to get by on "all seasons", your milage will vary.

My miata handles awesome in the snow, thanks to Bridgestone Blizzaks..

 

Well, I'm most interested in how the handling is versus something like a 240sx.

IS this something were people have been telling me they're impossible in snow because they're just bad drivers? I haven't had much experience with RWDs in the snow, but I would guess just keep it in low gear and don't accelerate hard?

 

wouldnt you keep it ina high gear???

 

actually, i guess that makes more since. higher gear = lower torque and less traction breaking, right?

 

I've driven my FC in the snow, on all season tires. I'd say it's average to below average in the snow. I had no problems getting from point A to point B, in town, but I wouldn't want to take it for a long trip on icy highways.

This was with all season tires. With good winter tires, I imagine it would be a lot better.

For comparison purposes, though, I'm used to an old gen Subaru wagon, with 4WD & Blizzaks on all 4 corners. That's what I consider a "good" snow vehicle to be.

You do have to be aware of the fact that you're driving a RWD car, and be able to recover from slides. If you panic & freeze up as soon as the tail steps out, you might not want to take the FC anywhere in the snow. If you're comfortable with handling an oversteering car, you should be fine - just don't be stupid.

-=Russ=-

 

yup, higher gear lower engine rpm / lower in the torque band, not as likely to break loose.

and RX7 is a great car all around... if you like getting your hands dirty wrenching on cars this is the car for you. it has a shorter wheelbase than a 240SX so the steering is more responsive and twitchy. it IS a sports car so is not really meant to drive in snow. however if you are not careless and the roads are ok then drive the RX7 if you are worried about it ger a jeep or something allong those lines.

hope that helps a little,
Ryosuke and welcome to the forum ^_^

 

from what ive heard its a good car in snow if you dont go too fast ( unless really good tires )
i know here in canada i know i few who drive in snow condition, and i know in japan too they get pretty heavy snow in the upper Japan & mountains.
here a few pics:

 

Exactly.. I know my miata will run circles around trucks in the snow.. I can compete with everything except for subarus, generally It's all about controlling your right foot, and having good tires.

Low torque = better movement.

My 7 doesn't see snow, though..

Also, isn't this a little off season? we normally get the rash of these threads in November.

 

I think you have the idea. Just don't mash down the gas. Keeping the RPM low will help, but you can do it without that if you know how to not move the pedal a 1/4th of the way each time you adjust .

Invest in a good set of snow tires, be careful with the throttle, and be very careful (brake extremely early, take turns extra slow... etc.).

ABS would be a plus. Also, an LSD will help, yes.

 

I drive my TII all winter in Rochester. Get dedicated snow tires (my Dunlop Grapsics work well until the boost really hits) and you will be fine as long as you have a decent grasp of how a RWD car handles, and don't try to be drift master by cornering hard and mashing the gas everywhere. I find the car to be quite predictable in the snow and generally does fine getting me from A to B in shitty weather. I wouldn't exactly want to take it down the Alaska highway, but it is fine for around town.

 

Heh, I'm asking since I'm buying a car this summer. This is gonna be my daily driver, as well as what I'll take for autocrossing, and probably into drifting (money permitting for tires). So I'm making sure I get all my facts straight before spending money.

 

I hope you have a back-up daily driver if you're going to autocross and drift. Stuff is bound to get broken.

Anywho, I would suggest going out when it's wet or when it first starts snowing and find a big open space such as an empty parking lot. When there, I would just get a feel for how the car acts in snow. Better to learn how it handles when there's no danger/nothing to hit than learning the hard way. Once again though, make sure it's a safe place to do it in.

 

I love driving my fc in the snow.

in first gear while taking a turn you can mash it down
in second you have to pulsate the gas so you don't loose control of the front tires.

I've drove on the highway with my fc in whiteout conditions

all you have to do is be careful

everyone claims that rwds suck in the winter and I love it so much more.

 

Umm... Split personality?

Honestly, for a daily driver, just be careful and get a feel for the car BEFORE you're put in a dangerous situation. My car is a daily driver too. I love having fun in it, but I do it in the right places to do it and not to extremes. I can't afford to not have it running, probably the same as you.

 

Yeah, I don't plan to push my limits too much. There's lots of big empty parking lots around so I have tons of practice space.

And as far as things getting broken, it's not a major problem. I have roommates (including my girlfriend) with cars, and plenty of other friends on campus in case my car becomes undrivable and I need repairs. Plus I have AAA just in case

 

I drove all winter with summers up front and winters on the back and had no problems, but I did get caught with all summers in the first snowfall with almost no snow on the ground the car just didn't want to move so winters on the back are a must.

 

Tires...I wish I remember what I was running on my first FC. That car ran in the snow great with no issues. My second one got stuck all the time. It's all about the tire

 

In the snow I just popped a couple bag of sand in the hatch, and put some snow tires on.

 

I went to school in upstate NY, in the catskill mountains. I would not recommend driving through the mountains in snowy conditions.

This was also when I had bald tires all around, on stock wheels, without LSD. Scariest trip of my life...

 

when I get behind the wheel I try to be safe but I love driving. I mainly do it in areas where people are no where to be found or in west lynn.

 

It definitely would not be my first choice of car to drive in the snow.

Overall it handles well, even in low traction conditions, it never threatens to snap on you and get you in trouble. Very predictable, assuming you don't drive like a nut. (Also assuming stock suspension of course) I was able to drive mine for the first time ever, through some pretty horrible road conditions...heavy rains, winds, all out blizzard with about 6 inches accumulation also. It was not the easiest thing, you have to be careful, but it is manageable. I suppose thats how I would rate it in the snow "manageable".

People will debate either way, you have to find out for yourself really, everyone drives different. There are definitely old threads on the topic, see if you can dig one up.

 

I searched for "winter driving":

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...winter+driving
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...winter+driving
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...winter+driving
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...winter+driving
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...winter+driving
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...winter+driving
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...winter+driving

 

I put my moms snow tires on (studded 205-65-16) and had a hard time just getting down the road with 3 inches on the ground. Snow cookies/drifts and flippin a u turn on a one way street is fun though.