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Winter driving

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Trevor Triumph

Jedi Knight
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Last Wednesday I was driving Interstate 17 south from Flagstaff Arizona. I have not driven in the snow since 1987 while driving north to Flagstaff... The Mustang has the traction/ ABS stuff. I think it worked well and saved us from contacting the car ahead. While going uphill there was a Cadillac CTS coupe not quite off the road. I slowed the car to pull around and started to slide toward the CTS as I tried to accelerate... the look on the CTS driver's face...
I was wondering if the rear wheel drive was a slight advantage while going up the hill - weight transfer. I kept the transmission in drive 2 and didn't push the accelerator pedal at all until we were well under way. I'm thinking the CTS driver just figured the traction control would save her and put her foot in it, or as she tried to accelerate the weight moved to the read of the car- no traction.
There is the mean side of me that felt a bit superior as we drive by the SUV that passed us several miles back now off the road backed into a snow drift.
 
I’ve driven in central Illinois for the last forty odd years and think it is more the driver than the vehicle. While the only hills we have around here are the overpasses over the interstates we do get some snow. Some vehicles are better in snow than others, a lot of drivers could get a farm tractor stuck in an inch of snow.
 
It's because some 4x4 drivers think that owning one means you can still speed - even when there is a major snowfall coming down...

Ten years ago I talked to a lady who commuted regularly between a country home and Calgary, in a 1970's Ford (aka large RWD car), she told me many tales of how she'd always get into Calgary - even on snowy days - by simply going slow and steady as she would pass all the 4x4's sitting in the ditch...
grin.gif
 
It's always fun to spot the idiots in the first snow. People that buy 4X4s and think now they can drive normally in the slop. Yup, you'll get going faster, but you don't stop or turn any better.
My wife's car has ABS and traction control (Nanny mode) I really dislike both. Especially the traction control. Thankfully that has an off button. We had just a bit of snow the other day, and I hadn't put the winter tires on yet. that stupid system wouldn't let me do anything. Lots more tolerable with good tires.
I've gone through many winters with RWD cars. it's all about knowing how it acts and reacts. I've driven past many an SUV in the ditch.
 
Well, I live in a hilly area, and I will say that, when I have to stop at a stoplight on a hill, and it's snowy, I'd rather have front or four wheel drive rather than rear wheel drive. It gets tiresome having to countersteer just to go straight from a stop. If I manage to keep my momentum it's not a problem, and on flat (or moderately inclined) streets I prefer RWD.

For the record, this is my 11th winter driving a Miata. No ABS, no traction control, just a limited slip diff. I've only gotten stuck when snowplows leave a berm for me to go through.

-Wm.
 
Sherlock said:
It's because some 4x4 drivers think that owning one means you can still speed - even when there is a major snowfall coming down...
Click to expand...

little matter of the laws of physics there also
 
I've driven in the snow many times,& have never used chains.
It's all about taking it easy,& using caution.Go around corners & down
hill slowly.

- Doug
 
Having the right tires makes all the difference. I do love having all wheel drive when it snows. The Miata and the MGB are happy in the garage together with the door closed.
 
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