People don't know any better in MN either. I see it every year. I laugh as I drive by in either or of my RWD cars.
Second day of snow..SUV/Truck crashes.
- Thread starter Popinski
- Start date
- Status
4 wheel drive, all wheel drive are tools and are to be used as such. I've had a previous 4x4 and learned young what can and should be done. Which is basically to drive NORMAL. If the roads are bad, slow down. If you are sliding and slipping, slow down, put 4x4 in if necessary.
There are lots of idiots on the road today, I agree with you all. It's not the SUV's, or the trucks. It's the idiot behind the wheel.
There are lots of idiots on the road today, I agree with you all. It's not the SUV's, or the trucks. It's the idiot behind the wheel.
This reminds me of something I read about identifying vehicles off the road in bad weather: If it's in the ditch nose first, it was FWD. If it's in the ditch rear-end first, it was RWD. If it's on the other side of the ditch in the farmer's field on its roof, it was AWD.
Last edited:
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
The AWD/4x4s just fly further off the road in the Buffalo area.
Joel
Joel
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
As somebody who loves using (and knows HOW to use) 4x4 in the winter, just like every year, I'm going to have a blast!
+1
I've been driving manuals in the snow since I was 14.
Subaru 5mt with 4 Conti-Viking3 ice/snow tires. I usually agree with the statement that "you can't stop any faster" but I'll have to disagree with this setup. Downshifting with all 4 tires mechanically connected to the ground with 4 ice/snow tires is an awesome thing to behold
And drifting in the snow at 4-5k rpm brings tears to my eyes in this car. Of course, only ever in wide open spaces with nobody around!
Disclaimer: This is *not* an endorsement to the masses to drive their oversized suv's like a rally car
As somebody who loves using (and knows HOW to use) 4x4 in the winter, just like every year, I'm going to have a blast!
+1
I've been driving manuals in the snow since I was 14.
Subaru 5mt with 4 Conti-Viking3 ice/snow tires. I usually agree with the statement that "you can't stop any faster" but I'll have to disagree with this setup. Downshifting with all 4 tires mechanically connected to the ground with 4 ice/snow tires is an awesome thing to behold
And drifting in the snow at 4-5k rpm brings tears to my eyes in this car. Of course, only ever in wide open spaces with nobody around!
Disclaimer: This is *not* an endorsement to the masses to drive their oversized suv's like a rally car
When there is even a little snow on the road, the best thing to do is to go ahead and put the truck or SUV in 4WD. When you let off the gas or accelerate in 2WD, the back end has a tendency to get loose in snow. Also, if you start to lose it, pop the vehicle in neutral to let the rear wheels coast and track straight again.
Our Subie seems to brake pretty well in snow, even on the OEM Geolanders.
Of course, following traffic may not be able to stop as well as the Subaru.
I had to push it some last winter (it was a new toy in the conditions it was really meant for, after all).
I only pressed it where there was plenty of room, with nothing and no one to run into.
I was very pleased with the Forester's behavior in low traction conditions.
A wise choice for my wife, for her peace of mind as well as mine.
The other side of this is that you end up with a fairly complicated vehicle, which has a pretty heavy thirst and limited acceleration all year long.
You pays your money and you takes your choice, and I had always wanted to own a Subaru.
Of course, following traffic may not be able to stop as well as the Subaru.
I had to push it some last winter (it was a new toy in the conditions it was really meant for, after all).
I only pressed it where there was plenty of room, with nothing and no one to run into.
I was very pleased with the Forester's behavior in low traction conditions.
A wise choice for my wife, for her peace of mind as well as mine.
The other side of this is that you end up with a fairly complicated vehicle, which has a pretty heavy thirst and limited acceleration all year long.
You pays your money and you takes your choice, and I had always wanted to own a Subaru.
I grew up driving heavy RWD cars in the snow for decades. After driving a AWD with traction control in snow for a couple of years it was amazing how my skills had dwindled when I got back in a big RWD. Especially with respect to throttle control (treating the pedal like an egg shell). It is easy to see how the younger among us have so many problems as they have never had to develop those skills in the first place. Same story here, everytime it snows SUVs and trucks off the road everywhere.
AWD with traction control is really cool though. Just have to remember that the stopping part has not changed that much in snow and ice, even with ABS. Sometimes ABS makes it more complicated, been there before.
Side note: I saw on an interview on the local news a few years back a guy saying that the most common call to AAA during the first snow of the season is....How do I put my SUV into 4WD? We know the type right?
AWD with traction control is really cool though. Just have to remember that the stopping part has not changed that much in snow and ice, even with ABS. Sometimes ABS makes it more complicated, been there before.
Side note: I saw on an interview on the local news a few years back a guy saying that the most common call to AAA during the first snow of the season is....How do I put my SUV into 4WD? We know the type right?
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
You have to stand on the pedal with ABS.
Originally Posted By: EagleFTE
I grew up driving heavy RWD cars in the snow for decades. After driving a AWD with traction control in snow for a couple of years it was amazing how my skills had dwindled when I got back in a big RWD. Especially with respect to throttle control (treating the pedal like an egg shell). It is easy to see how the younger among us have so many problems as they have never had to develop those skills in the first place. Same story here, everytime it snows SUVs and trucks off the road everywhere.
AWD with traction control is really cool though. Just have to remember that the stopping part has not changed that much in snow and ice, even with ABS. Sometimes ABS makes it more complicated, been there before.
Side note: I saw on an interview on the local news a few years back a guy saying that the most common call to AAA during the first snow of the season is....How do I put my SUV into 4WD? We know the type right?
I learned to drive on snow with a 1974 Monte Carlo. Over thirty years later I still prefer RWD unless the snow is so deep that the car becomes a plow. I had a RWD BMW E36 3er equipped with Michelin Artic Alpins(their spelling, not mine) and with DSC engaged it was ridiculously easy to drive in bad weather. It was much more entertaining -an capable- than my Mazdaspeed.
I grew up driving heavy RWD cars in the snow for decades. After driving a AWD with traction control in snow for a couple of years it was amazing how my skills had dwindled when I got back in a big RWD. Especially with respect to throttle control (treating the pedal like an egg shell). It is easy to see how the younger among us have so many problems as they have never had to develop those skills in the first place. Same story here, everytime it snows SUVs and trucks off the road everywhere.
AWD with traction control is really cool though. Just have to remember that the stopping part has not changed that much in snow and ice, even with ABS. Sometimes ABS makes it more complicated, been there before.
Side note: I saw on an interview on the local news a few years back a guy saying that the most common call to AAA during the first snow of the season is....How do I put my SUV into 4WD? We know the type right?
I learned to drive on snow with a 1974 Monte Carlo. Over thirty years later I still prefer RWD unless the snow is so deep that the car becomes a plow. I had a RWD BMW E36 3er equipped with Michelin Artic Alpins(their spelling, not mine) and with DSC engaged it was ridiculously easy to drive in bad weather. It was much more entertaining -an capable- than my Mazdaspeed.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Our Subie seems to brake pretty well in snow, even on the OEM Geolanders.
Of course, following traffic may not be able to stop as well as the Subaru.
I had to push it some last winter (it was a new toy in the conditions it was really meant for, after all).
I only pressed it where there was plenty of room, with nothing and no one to run into.
I was very pleased with the Forester's behavior in low traction conditions.
A wise choice for my wife, for her peace of mind as well as mine.
The other side of this is that you end up with a fairly complicated vehicle, which has a pretty heavy thirst and limited acceleration all year long.
You pays your money and you takes your choice, and I had always wanted to own a Subaru.
Can't go wrong with that Suby. I had a 2001 Subaru Outback H6 for the last two winters, with Blizzak Revo1 winter tires on it and it was unstoppable. Like you said, a bit thirsty, though.
Subaru does know their AWD..
Our Subie seems to brake pretty well in snow, even on the OEM Geolanders.
Of course, following traffic may not be able to stop as well as the Subaru.
I had to push it some last winter (it was a new toy in the conditions it was really meant for, after all).
I only pressed it where there was plenty of room, with nothing and no one to run into.
I was very pleased with the Forester's behavior in low traction conditions.
A wise choice for my wife, for her peace of mind as well as mine.
The other side of this is that you end up with a fairly complicated vehicle, which has a pretty heavy thirst and limited acceleration all year long.
You pays your money and you takes your choice, and I had always wanted to own a Subaru.
Can't go wrong with that Suby. I had a 2001 Subaru Outback H6 for the last two winters, with Blizzak Revo1 winter tires on it and it was unstoppable. Like you said, a bit thirsty, though.
Subaru does know their AWD..
To chime in from Michigan....when I lived in the Upper Peninsula, people seemed to adjust to snow conditions immediately. In the southern 1/3, it's the same as you guys describe. It takes about 5 snow events for people to start slowing down.
Now, to all here belittling others and boasting of their own winter driving skills....I wish you a hearty "knock on wood" for a safe and slow winter driving season.
Now, to all here belittling others and boasting of their own winter driving skills....I wish you a hearty "knock on wood" for a safe and slow winter driving season.
I grew up with RWD as well.
The year I learned to drive, we had a Corvair (cheating) and a Kingswood Estate wagon, along with a Caprice Classic four door sedan.
These cars were not bad at all in the snow, and would plow through really deep stuff with maybe less trouble than modern FWDs.
Also, being able to use the throttle to bring the back around in a corner is an advantage, something you can't do with FWD (yeah, you could use the hand brake, but the right pedal is just so natural to use).
The year I learned to drive, we had a Corvair (cheating) and a Kingswood Estate wagon, along with a Caprice Classic four door sedan.
These cars were not bad at all in the snow, and would plow through really deep stuff with maybe less trouble than modern FWDs.
Also, being able to use the throttle to bring the back around in a corner is an advantage, something you can't do with FWD (yeah, you could use the hand brake, but the right pedal is just so natural to use).
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Someone has more fingers than brain cells.
Someone has more fingers than brain cells.
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Someone has more fingers than brain cells.
In NH it is illegal to drive like that. I watched a state trooper sit in his warm car with blues and cute girl in her business suit/skirt and heels clear her windows off a similar car with a broken ice scraper during a nice snow storm last year.
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Someone has more fingers than brain cells.
In NH it is illegal to drive like that. I watched a state trooper sit in his warm car with blues and cute girl in her business suit/skirt and heels clear her windows off a similar car with a broken ice scraper during a nice snow storm last year.
Had a dusting of snow in the Louisville area today. It did a first-rate job of weeding out the dimwit drivers. I saw at least eight cars that looked to be close -if not- totaled. My favorite was an incompetent who managed to spin his Blazer 180 degrees so that he hit the car in front of him with the rear bumper. Strong work.
Originally Posted By: cousincletus
When there is even a little snow on the road, the best thing to do is to go ahead and put the truck or SUV in 4WD. When you let off the gas or accelerate in 2WD, the back end has a tendency to get loose in snow. Also, if you start to lose it, pop the vehicle in neutral to let the rear wheels coast and track straight again.
I rode with someone who yanked it into 4wd just before turning off pavement onto a dirt road because he was "going to need it".
The U-joints were complaining pretty hard core on that corner.
When there is even a little snow on the road, the best thing to do is to go ahead and put the truck or SUV in 4WD. When you let off the gas or accelerate in 2WD, the back end has a tendency to get loose in snow. Also, if you start to lose it, pop the vehicle in neutral to let the rear wheels coast and track straight again.
I rode with someone who yanked it into 4wd just before turning off pavement onto a dirt road because he was "going to need it".
The U-joints were complaining pretty hard core on that corner.
Originally Posted By: rjundi
I watched a state trooper sit in his warm car with blues and cute girl in her business suit/skirt and heels clear her windows off a similar car with a broken ice scraper during a nice snow storm last year.
You watched him watch
I watched a state trooper sit in his warm car with blues and cute girl in her business suit/skirt and heels clear her windows off a similar car with a broken ice scraper during a nice snow storm last year.
You watched him watch
Last edited:
- Status
