View Full Version : I love snow.
John V
02-12-2006, 01:04 PM
Shoveled the Boxster out this morning and went driving. Don't know what it is about Maryland but the city workers don't know how to plow for sh1t. They leave a big pile of snow in the middle lane of a three lanes each direction boulevard. :dunno:
I was worried about the lack of an LSD, but as it turns out, not an issue. I only got a couple instances of one-tire fire, easily quelled with some left foot braking. Mid engine + snow tires = holeshotting 4WD trucks away from stoplights in four inches of snow. :D
Also found it the car makes a very effective snowplow. I drove through Ken's unplowed neighborhood with no problem.
I have officially lost interest in buying an AWD subaru for a winter car.
BahnBaum
02-12-2006, 01:06 PM
http://www.marketlaunchers.com/knutso1.gif
Alex
Shoveled the Boxster out this morning and went driving. Don't know what it is about Maryland but the city workers don't know how to plow for sh1t. They leave a big pile of snow in the middle lane of a three lanes each direction boulevard. :dunno:
I was worried about the lack of an LSD, but as it turns out, not an issue. I only got a couple instances of one-tire fire, easily quelled with some left foot braking. Mid engine + snow tires = holeshotting 4WD trucks away from stoplights in four inches of snow. :D
Also found it the car makes a very effective snowplow. I drove through Ken's unplowed neighborhood with no problem.
I have officially lost interest in buying an AWD subaru for a winter car.
Sweet.
I can only imagine the sideways glances you get from people as you tear ass around them in a "summer" car. :lol: Awesome.
rumatt
02-12-2006, 01:27 PM
Ironically, I went for a drive just now. My goal was to make it to a traffic circle about 15 mins away and do some skidpad.
I got stuck about 1500 yards from my house. :lol:
Long, gradual hill. Not steep at all, but the rear just had no traction. I kept experimenting with the throttle, but I was loosing speed slowly no matter what I did.
About 1/2 way up I dipped into an unplowed U-turn and got stuck. Shoveled myself out, and drove home.
God I need snow tires.
BahnBaum
02-12-2006, 01:33 PM
God I need snow tires.
A little common sense would be useful too.
;)
Alex
rumatt
02-12-2006, 01:35 PM
A little common sense would be useful too.
Meh.
Not my fault. I blame BMW. It was the iDrive.
PhilH
02-12-2006, 01:38 PM
Do you even have all seasons? What kind? I thought you just had summers.
rumatt
02-12-2006, 01:39 PM
I was worried about the lack of an LSD, but as it turns out, not an issue.
PSM must be decent? :dunno:
Open diff + snow = the sux0r.
Do you even have all seasons? What kind? I thought you just had summers.
Me? Yeah, I bought a set of wheels/tires from a non-SP 330i off ebay. Conti ContiTouring, or some crap like that. If I remember the tirerack surveys correctly, they're one of the worst all-seasons you can buy in terms of snow traction.
Still can't figure out why I didn't make it up the hill. :D
PhilH
02-12-2006, 01:48 PM
With Dunlop M2 Wintersports, my 330 is just fine in the snow. We have to go to our daughter's piano recital at 3:30 this afternoon and don't expect any problems. I think we have about 14" or so around here.
Time to go use the snowblower on the driveway as it just stopped snowing...
PSM must be decent? :dunno:
Open diff + snow = the sux0r.
But not "teh sux0r," at least.
Roadstergal
02-12-2006, 02:09 PM
It doesn't get much better than driving in snow in a roadster with the top down.
John V
02-12-2006, 02:10 PM
PSM must be decent? :dunno:
Open diff + snow = the sux0r.
PSM is decent. In fact, I hear it's excellent.
But '00 Boxsters didn't get PSM, just traction control as an option. An option this car doesn't have.
Open diff + snow = t3h 0k@y if all the weight is over the driven wheels I guess. :dunno:
rumatt
02-12-2006, 02:13 PM
But '00 Boxsters didn't get PSM, just traction control as an option. An option this car doesn't have.
Huh. :scratch:
Well, the open-ness of the diff is irrelevant until you get near the edge of traction. If you're tires are good enough to keep you away from that edge I guess it doesn't matter.
How about this: open diff + shitty all seasons + hill + snow = th3 sux0r
(that's a real news flash, huh?)
Roadstergal
02-12-2006, 02:37 PM
How about this: open diff + shitty all seasons + hill + snow = th3 sux0r
I think all that's wrong there is the no-seasons. I did hills and snow on the Me-otter and the E30, both with open diffs and no TC.
Huh. :scratch:
Well, the open-ness of the diff is irrelevant until you get near the edge of traction. If you're tires are good enough to keep you away from that edge I guess it doesn't matter.
How about this: open diff + shitty all seasons + hill + snow = th3 sux0r
(that's a real news flash, huh?)
Yeah, you don't really need an LSD unless you get into a situation where one wheel's traction is pretty radically different than the other's. Obviously, if you don't have grip from the tires, you don't have grip from the tires, and an LSD isn't going to change that.
Backing up John V's point, think about how many FWD cars are running around without LSDs (nearly all), yet with decent tires they are fine in the snow. Just e.g., my old Contour SE with all-season tires was unstoppable in the snow--my Contour SVT with Eagle GS-Cs was unstartable.
lemming
02-12-2006, 03:21 PM
ran out to grab some milk in the silver lead sled. it spins the wheels like crazy when i turn off TC. but on inclines, i can get stuck pretty easily and unless i turn off TC, i'll get stuck --then it's the LSD that saves my bacon. snow tires or not. the car can be a handful.
rumatt
02-12-2006, 03:34 PM
Yeah, you don't really need an LSD unless you get into a situation where one wheel's traction is pretty radically different than the other's. Obviously, if you don't have grip from the tires, you don't have grip from the tires, and an LSD isn't going to change that.
Well, it's not entirely useless. There are often times that one wheel has more grip than the other: uneven salting, etc. The LSD will take advantage of that; with the open, you get the minimum traction of the two.
The point about FWD cars is a good one. I guess RWD just gets into the trouble zone sooner by having less weight over the drive wheels.
I just need to buy snow tires and STFU.
lemming
02-12-2006, 03:43 PM
Well, it's not entirely useless. There are often times that one wheel has more grip than the other: uneven salting, etc. The LSD will take advantage of that; with the open, you get the minimum traction of the two.
The point about FWD cars is a good one. I guess RWD just gets into the trouble zone sooner by having less weight over the drive wheels.
I just need to buy snow tires and STFU.
snow tires help a lot. they mean that i could actually get out and about without getting stuck, but it's still really hairy when i am stopped at an intersection on an incline with cars behind me.
You convertible guys are nuts :D My father shows up at my house in his S4 Cab with summer tires ... the snow was literally up to the bumper and he thinks he has a truck ...
I have officially lost interest in buying an AWD subaru for a winter car.
In the very thick of it with about 10-20" in places, took my girlfriend's '96 impreza wagon out. No abs, no stability, just good old gas and steering. Also worn a/s tires = lotsa 4000 rpm four wheel spinning drifts. :banana:
My first deep snow driving with the subie. It really passed the test, seems as good as my audi q (the car I owned for the longest time).
My Focus with plain-jane Pirelli all-seasons = no problem in a few inches of snow. Same with summer tires = spin city in 0.5". Guess my purchase actually paid off.
lupinsea
02-12-2006, 11:49 PM
Well, how about having 2 LSDs?
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-11-03%2011.21.09%20-0800/Image-BCC7343C2DCB11D9.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-12-12%2002.29.34%20-0800/Image-192853BE6AF911DA.jpg
's no fair. You get get snow right outside your front door. We have to go up into the mountains to get to our snow. :irate:
Of course, this afternoon I was driving around with the top down on the Miata with warm sun shining on me enjoying the near spring-like weather. :D
rumatt
02-13-2006, 12:03 AM
You know, if you don't stop posting these cool-as-shit off roading pictures, I'm going to end up buying a Jeep in the next few years.
:mad2:
Great pics.
hmmm snow??? mid 70's all weekend. =P
John V
02-13-2006, 07:53 AM
Well, how about having 2 LSDs?
LSDs or lockers?
Great pics!
lupinsea
02-13-2006, 01:19 PM
Two torsen LSDs. One for each axle.
And unlike the frigg'n expensive clutch-pack after market LSD for the 3 series these only ran ~$340 ea. I decided to stay away from lockers on this rig.
John V
02-13-2006, 01:45 PM
Two torsen LSDs. One for each axle.
And unlike the frigg'n expensive clutch-pack after market LSD for the 3 series these only ran ~$340 ea. I decided to stay away from lockers on this rig.
Neat.
If it snowed more here and there were more places to play, I'd probably have an old Wrangler or Cherokee.
lemming
02-13-2006, 10:09 PM
Neat.
If it snowed more here and there were more places to play, I'd probably have an old Wrangler or Cherokee.
i know this is going to sound obvious, but i'm constantly amazed at how well the snow tires work on 3 inches of packed snow on the roads around here (secondary roads are still dicey in some places). it's like an entirely different tire from the loud squishy things i've been driving.
and just as advertised, they stop really well.
i know this is going to sound obvious, but i'm constantly amazed at how well the snow tires work on 3 inches of packed snow on the roads around here (secondary roads are still dicey in some places). it's like an entirely different tire from the loud squishy things i've been driving.
and just as advertised, they stop really well.
:+1
lemming
02-13-2006, 11:05 PM
:+1
i'm tempted to outfit the C3 with snows because it would be one tank of a snow tire'd car. it does have posi and the traction control would be my right foot and the steering wheel.
after this winter's experience, i don't think i'll go without snow tires again, to be honest with you. even the fx is marginal with all seasons (here i'm comparing stopping distances to the V with snows on the same snowy "test" road).
John V
02-14-2006, 07:50 AM
i know this is going to sound obvious, but i'm constantly amazed at how well the snow tires work on 3 inches of packed snow on the roads around here (secondary roads are still dicey in some places). it's like an entirely different tire from the loud squishy things i've been driving.
and just as advertised, they stop really well.
Agreed. I bought the "high performance :rolleyes: " snows and they're just ridiculous on ice and snow. :)
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