i need help: 240 vs. the snow drift

[poo]

hey all, ive got a bad situation. im looking to buy a s14........only thing is i live in montana. im about a 5 hour drive from the Canadian border, so we have our fair share of snow and winter stuff here. to all you snow drifters, my mom has been throwing a fit saying that a rwd car is going to do nothing but spin out on the snow and ice and whatnot (we do have plows here...........i think, but im not sure). she wants me to buy a corolla or an integra, something like that.i had a 240 when i lived in New Jersey and it snowed there and i had the most fun in the snow with my 240 than ive had in my life. and when i didnt want to scew around, i could get around, cause they have plows there. im buying the car, but i dont want to have ww2 in my house every time i pull up. how is having a 240 affected your daily driving life in the snow and cold weather of wherever you are? and is there any way besides getting winter tires, and maybe sway bars to help in the slush, to make the car a little more snow resistant if you do have problems. i just want my friggin 240!!
thank you
chris

[96SEChick]

I just drive a LOT more carefully--I drive at about 1500rpm (making sure I'm not even close to the powerband), brake much earlier, and I don't even try to go up steep hills when it's icy. I had almost completely bald rear tires when I bought my car, and I have a 5-speed (which is a fun challenge on snow/ice--trying to shift, and not get squirly), and I never had a problem. Your mom is just looking out for your safety, and I respect that. But if you want the car that bad, you're going to have to reassure her that you can get in a bad wreck in any car in bad weather. She just needs to trust you, because you can't trust any other drivers--regardless of the weather.

A RWD car is more prone to getting stuck (I got stuck in the work parking lot yesterday). Just carry plenty of ice-melt--more than you'd probably need to help get unstuck so there's still extra weight in the back, an old large blanket (just in case you get stuck, you can either keep yourself warm or cram it underneath the drive tire to help gain traction to get moving.

I had to prepare like this because we are rarely ever prepared for this type of weather in OK (Tulsa has gotten more snow this winter than Chicago has!! :eek: ), so I made sure I am as prepared as I can be just in case I do get stuck.

[poo]

thanks a lot. i think im going to wind up getting the 240. i know shes just looking out for me and i didnt mean to come across as and asshole. but i just dont want a corolla. anyway, thank you.

[96SEChick]

Originally posted by poo
thanks a lot. i think im going to wind up getting the 240. i know shes just looking out for me and i didnt mean to come across as and asshole. but i just dont want a corolla. anyway, thank you.

I didn't think you sounded like an asshole at all. I was just writing my novel of thoughts :) My dad hated it when I bought my car--telling me all the problems I was going to have trying to get around town in bad weather. He learned to deal with it (of course, I didn't live with him when I bought it, though), and has been very surprised at my ability to control my car during any situation.

BTW--the '03 Corollas may be FWD, but they're still fun to drive. Toyota has improved them a LOT. I wouldn't own one, though!

Your advantage is the fact that you've driven a 240 in the snow before. You know how it reacts, and you know what it can & can't do. That's a lot more than many, many people know.

[poo]

no a brand new corolla wouldnt be that bad. but what was portrayed to me was a bit more of a '92. something very automatic and rusted and 4 doughnuts and wouldnt even fit a 3s-gte (acually i have no idea) but i dont like the sound much except a 240 or an impreza 2.5rs for even more money. on april fools day ill make a fake rx7 title in photoshop and show it to her.

[deviousKA]

i live in northern idaho, and we get our fair share of snow. your going to be in the ditch one way or the other. have fun and stay away from the cliffs

[AceInHole]

I've got good snow tires.... and I no longer fear snow. I've actually had more success getting around than a lot of FWD cars. Occasionally even the RWD cars have trouble keeping up. I'd say drivetrain is much less important when you have the right tires on, since when it comes to turning and braking, drivetrain really doesn't matter much, if at all.

[AmherstSR20DET]

I'm from Buffalo, and although I mostly drive my Subaru in the winter, I've driven the 240 a bunch of times with no real problems. Just follow what everyone here has said, keep the RPMs low, get good snow tires, and carry plenty of ice-melt, and you shouldn't have any problems.

The most important thing when driving in snow is the driver. Just remember what you're driving in, and having come from, NJ, snow isn't new to ya. So have fun, and be safe.

[019]

i'm in blacksburg, va, and we've gotten our fair share of snow this year. if you get snow tires, you'll be fine. like 96SEChick said, keep some things handy. a shovel might be good. i got stuck a couple of times in a couple inches of snow and all i had to do was dig up the snow that was keeping the rear wheels stuck, then it was fine. another good thing to do to avoid getting stuck is starting in 2nd gear. less torque.

[Kookaburraz]

This is reposted from FA. My car is awesome in the snow, I've gone up hills that I REALLY didn't think possible, the kind you can spin your tires going up in the wet. Running Firestone Winterfires.

I had nowhere to go but wanted to play a little and see if I could get the car out with no shovel...

My car as I found it tonight
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 001.jpg

After clearing the snow from it:
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 004.jpg
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 005.jpg

This was no soft snow, this is what the plows had pushed against my car. I'm standing on it level with the bottom of the door frame (took quite a bit of work to open the door).
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 007.jpg

This is where I was...notice how the snow is shaped to my car. I can't believe I drove out of that with no shovel, no pushing, no clearing snow from around the car. Nada.
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 008.jpg

This is one road (part of the track). It has probably had about 20 cars all day and hasn't been plowed for at least 18 hours. There was about 4" of packed snow and 6" on top of that.
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 010.jpg
I even managed to get back into my spot!
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 012.jpg

My wonderful ~4" of ground clearance made all of this so easy...
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 013.jpg
It looks like I went plowing...
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/brjones/Snow Storm 2.17.2003 014.jpg

My car is a beast in the snow!

[uiuc240]

cars were RWD before they were FWD. people were cruising around in big Chevys and Oldsmobuicks with RWD in Montana. it's completely fine. all you need is snow tires (like everyone else up there). you will be a snow-drift champ! trust me, bro, i get places with my 240 and Blizzaks that i never dreamed possible. and that's with a lowered suspension even! only time things ever get a bit hairy is if i take a turn a little hot and the boost comes on quicker than expected because the inside tire is spinning or something. but that's easily avoidable. 240 is awesome in snow.

Eric

[weirdstyles.net]

stoppin is the biggest problem... not actually doing it, but afterward when you want to go again....


This was my first winter and, yea I got stuck a few times, but no life threatening situations and I am hella moer confident in myself as a driver

[AceInHole]

lol.... dude. i wish i took pictures of my car during the blizzard. my car was completely submerged in snow, as in you couldn't see any of it. all i did was clear off the windsheild, clear enough snow out of the way so i could open my door, then plow myself out of there with my eibach sportline lowered car with no VLSD. headed right out of my spot, up the hill that is my parking lot, and stopped to help a truck get out.

[poo]

wow thanks for all the replys. dont tell anyone, but i think zilvia is one of the best 240 forums out there. oh and Kookaburraz, you are a brave soul. im getting a white s14a now. i dont think ill have any problems unless i drive like i have a civic with a weld on. thanks again and good luck with all ur cars

[direb0y]

i ate a curb today, front pass. side shock blown, flat tire, the rim is fine. maybe this is a sign...buy snow tires. heh.

btw it's my first accident EVER. wow.

[direb0y]

oh yeah, like everyone else says KEEP OUT OF THE POWERBAND!! it just started snowing here and i didn't think the roads were too bad...hit 3500 in second gear (guesstimated, my tachs trying to die) not paying attention to the sound of my engine cause the music was up...ass end started swinging to the left a little and my sister started screaming. the little old lady driving behind me slowed wayyyy down...

[mrdirty]

Firstly, I live in Thunder Bay A.K.A Snowville, I daily drive my 240 and have no trouble. It's really a blast to drive in the winter (ESPECIALLY in the power band); it'll take some time to learn though...

I find it easier to drive my car than most FWDs, but you do have to learn a few tricks.

Edit:
Jesus Kookaburraz, that's a lot of snow!

[blaqsilvia]

snow and powerband equals the same in as telling your girlfriend you've been cheating-- lotsa mayhem and hell since you'll lose control of the situation-- but drive slow and slow down way before and you'll be good-- No sudden braking either--

my 2 cents ;)

[Stee Flo]

My 240 is okay in the snow i guesse. Like everyone says just keep them revs low and start out slow. Its a HUGE help if you have an lsd. My open differential sux so much. Sometimes i get stuck in place with one tire spinning. Takes me a good minute to get going. If your mom wants you to get a good snow car maybe you can convice her to buy you a RS or WRX.:D Those things are awesome in the snow. Love driving in a snowy parking lot with those things!

[poo]

an rs, speaking of which. heres a defeat story for you all. i was looking to buy one about a month ago. i found a white '00 5spd. beautiful car, well maintained, 35k miles, everything you could want. i got the dealership salesman to go down to $12.5 from 14k. i dunno who knows what about imprezas, but i might as well have broke into the lot and taken the thing at that price. so the day before i go to lay down the money, someone else buys it. and it had been sitting on the lot for a month beforehand!! but now i can get a 240 so i think its better it worked like that.

[poo]

oh, and blaqsilvia, the supra style wing looks damn nice on ur car. ive never seen it on anything except accords and mazdas and it looks horrible, well imo. but real good on your car, and supras of course.

[96SEChick]

I got my car stuck in 2 parking lots this week--glad I had ice-melt!! I've been trying soooo hard not to get my drive wheel on the ice, but I couldn't avoid it both times. I got quite a few odd looks when I was pouring ice-melt & oil-dry underneath my rear PS tire (probably thinking--why the hell is that girl doing that herself? :D )

No other problems this past week w/ a crapload of snow & ice :D The worst time I had was last year--I had BALD rear tires (the fronts were only 7 months old). I couldn't shift, turn, brake, accelerate, or even breathe, without my rear end getting squirly on me. That's the most nervous I've ever been while driving. Luckily, my parents bought me 2 new tires for Christmas last year! Thanks mom & dad! I had a blast auto-xing that next summer!! :D

[poo]

when i 1st got my car in nj it might as well as not had any tires and i spun out in the rain infront of some guy in a brand new bmw z3. i was trying not to hit a pole, but my friend said the look on his face was priceless. i was surprised he was out in the rain now that i think of it

[blaqsilvia]

Originally posted by poo
oh, and blaqsilvia, the supra style wing looks damn nice on ur car. ive never seen it on anything except accords and mazdas and it looks horrible, well imo. but real good on your car, and supras of course.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ebnerscarpet/zeeek6c.jpg
<b>
nope it doesn't have those stickers no more for you people that like to flame--
</b>
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ebnerscarpet/zeeek6e.jpg