Aside from having to safely maneuver past the people who shouldn't be on the road in the first place, I actually enjoy driving in the snow. I like the feeling of the car losing grip a little bit, but still being in control. I usually spend some time on empty roads/parking lots the first time it snows each winter to remind myself how the car responds (braking, cornering, accelerating) in limited traction situations. It's fun, and it helps prepare me for when I'm in traffic or when there is less room for error in an emergency type situation.

It's been quite awhile since I've had a FWD car, and back in my youth, I would routinely use the handbrake to help get the back end of a FWD car to rotate/oversteer around low speed turns (provided there were no other vehicles around to hit, of course). I assume a brief tug on the handbrake when on snow won't do any harm, aside from perhaps some minor extra wear on the parking brake pads. Is this a correct assumption, or should I leave the rally driving techniques to cars that are more tolerable of such activity?

 

I love driving the snow, too bad we didn't get near enoguh to make it worth going out today.

 

Up here in Round Lake we had a good 2 inches, now the ICE is layering on top of it. I think I'll leave my MINI in the nice DRY garage this time.

 

I like driving in the snow... except when it happens on the highway during the last 200 miles of my drive and it's getting late and all I want is to get home.

 

Last 200 miles? How long do you commute?

I have not driven in the snow, never had a chance, however it has been raining very hard the last few days here in phoenix and I was out sliding around corners in my neighborhood yesterday, with a little help from my handbrake.

 

Be careful giving a tug on the parking brake in slick conditions. The back end will come around pretty fast in these cars. A bit of practice in an empty parking lot is a good idea. Just like in a rear wheel drive car down shifting will slow you down better on the slick stuff. This works with the auto stick/paddle shifters as well. The antilock brakes on these cars work pretty well too.

 

Only 2 miles either way. I was just thinking of a road trip back in college when I was driving back to NYC from Chicago and what was normally a five-hour cruise through PA turned into a grueling 35 mph drive on I-80 through the Poconos.

 

No ice driving for me today. will save that for the first REAL snowfall later

 

I was out in the thick of it yesterday at work and I had plenty of practice on Ice conditions as the day progressed.

It's amazing how far this car will skid when you hit the brakes going 20 even with ABS going off.

Yeah, I'm still a kid at times.

 

I love driving in the snow....soo much fun.....but only play around when it is safe to....as in empty parking lot big open space.

Be careful, but have fun too

 

Yeah, I noticed the back end swinging quickly when tugging the hand brake around an icy turn, but the same Mini physics (short wheelbase, light back end) make it easy to recover as well with some opposite lock.

One problem with downshifting is that on VERY slippery conditions, you can still get a sliding effect since the engine is capable of slowing the wheels down quicker than the car itself. It's important to remember that there is only so much grip on the front tires regardless of using the motor or using the brakes to slow them down. And when only engine braking, you don't get the benefit of the rear brakes and rear tires to help slow the car. It's still better to use the brakes for shorter stopping distances and more control.

I'm using some 175/65/15 stock Continentals for the winter, and they cut throw the slush very well, and seem to do a decent job for overall grip. Certainly not as good as a dedicated winter tire, but I'm content for now. I'll have to wait for a some fluffy snow accumulation to see how they handle in those conditions.

 

Yeah, the name of game in snow and ice is slow and easy and leave plenty of room for stopping and turning. These cars are not bad in the snow when they have the right tires, but nothing short of 4 wheel drive and chains is great in the sloppy stuff. If you can stay home until the roads are clear with a good book or movie this is the best.

 

i loved driving in snow when i had my maxima...it was like a snow plow.

i haven't driven my car too much in snow- i got it in February but it had bald back tires and i had just learned stick, so i try not to go by that.

summer tires are still on, so i'm trying to stay indoors. gotta drive back home today though...hopefully it keeps raining and doesn't start snowing. ugh.

 

I love driving in the snow......can't wait for winter to start each year.

If you have DSC, you will find that if you let off of the parking brake to soon the rear brakes will try and get you back in control (stop the oversteer). You can keep pulling on the brake handle a bit longer or turn off DSC (just remember to turn it back on before hitting the roads).

 

Love the snow and wet and even ice myself. (Not as much fun when it started-runflats with the bald former fronts in the back.) Had some non-e-brake induced oversteer in the last right turn on the way to get new tires. Yoko AS430 all seasons in 205/40-17 make driving in icy snow feel like a little rain. Just wish Dunlop hadn''t discontinued the SP Sport A2 Plus line, those were awesome in snow.

 

I love driving in the winter. I'm with the others. I do my fancy driving someplace safe and deserted. The handbrake turns on low traction surfaces are definitely fun. As long as you are on ice or snow they are not very stressful on the car.

I upgraded from an '02 MCS with DSC to an '06 MCS with DSC and LSD. When the stuff hits the fan I put on my Nokian Hakka2 studded snows that I keep mounted on a set of 15" holies. Between the Hakkas and the LSD it really transformed the winter handling. Now it is like a little tractor, just point it in the direction you would like to go and step on the gas.

 

Oh snow is the best! I always keep myself on my toes, as i should be cause i have summer tires on my car all year long (i cant afford the switch and can handle the summer tires in the snow). The best time i have tho is in my moms old mercedes, lol.

 

ha! we're in the same boat!!!

stupid summer tires. at least you venture out...i stay indoors. i was going to test it out this afternoon, but we live on a hill and plenty of people were having a hard time making it up.

 

Despite being called "in-sane" last year, summer tires are fun (Of course that was my first summer with tread ) Planning on going out in a little while.

 

I was out tonight!! shoveling the snow off the driveway anyways

I might give it a go tomorrow, otherwise I really don't have a reason to get out of the house tomorrow...

 

tomorrow should be fun

 

I am really enjoying the fact I wasn't driving the S in the snow last night.
Mainly because the guy in the Equinox would have done this to my wifes daily driver instead of mine.
(sorry for the image size pshop hasn't been re-installed yet)


Nobody seriously hurt (I have some tweaked back muscles from hanging on) but his truck wasn't drivable.

Full thread here

 

Just finished snow-blowing our driveway and the surrounding sidewalks. Took several pulls and a few minutes to get the snowblower going this morning, despite running some Stabil through it before I put it away last winter. After that, it ran just fine. I didn't feel like waiting for the association hired goons to come around and rip up my grass by going off the pavement. I'll see how they do for my neighbors in order to determine if I'll wait for them to clear the snow next time.

I'm working from home today.

 

Ouch dood hope your back is feeling better!

 

I love driving in the snow too. I have real snow tires and wouldn't have nearly as much fun struggling with wide, hard summer tires. The car is very fast,stable and trustworthy. Get real snows!