BRZ/FR-S and winter driving: Watch this video if you have any concerns!

[Future]

lol... I've always driven low cars in winter (skyline, miata, silvia, etc... with coilovers or spring/strut combo)... Drive carefully, put winter tires, have fun. (And I mean REAL winters).

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by ngabdala

Lmaoooooo. Ugh I'm starting to lean towards the 128i bimmer

And you think that will somehow be better? I don't get it...

Originally Posted by Future

lol... I've always driven low cars in winter (skyline, miata, silvia, etc... with coilovers or spring/strut combo)... Drive carefully, put winter tires, have fun. (And I mean REAL winters).

+1. My RWD winter car list includes an '88 Camaro, 2 MK1 MR2's (one lowered on ST springs), a MK2 MR2 (lowered on Tanabe springs), and an '89 BMW 325i. Get proper snow tires, be careful, use gentle and controlled inputs and have fun!

[ngabdala]

Well it looks like it comes down to what feels better on a test-drive. The BRZ or 128i.

I would hope the brz feels better. It will save me about $10-12k considering I go base on the brz. That's alot of gas money, insurance payments, the best winter tires, mods that don't void warranty, and plenty back into my pocket even if I wanted diff wheels.

[DantKR]

Drove my Legacy in the mountains 2 winters ago up and down a mountain in TN on stock tires in a foot and a 1/2 of snow(wasn't much ice at the time). Had no issues.

[swift996]

I've driven my Porsche 911 in the snow and also when I had a RX8 and several RX7s and other RWD cars. It's a matter of skill and being smooth on your inputs. Obviously you can't go down unplowed roads with 8 inches of snow but I've never had any issues with my cars in the snow.

[zex]

hmm. this wasnt what I was thinking for "winter driving" it was more of a concern if my car would become a snow plow truck :S

[ryun84]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG8VxdJG60U

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by ngabdala

Well it looks like it comes down to what feels better on a test-drive. The BRZ or 128i.

I would hope the brz feels better. It will save me about $10-12k considering I go base on the brz. That's alot of gas money, insurance payments, the best winter tires, mods that don't void warranty, and plenty back into my pocket even if I wanted diff wheels.

ill tell you this.
If you want a 1series, you'd want a 135. I wouldnt get a 128.

Plus a 1 series would feel substantially heavier than the BRZ/FRS.

[Metallic BRZ]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

And you think that will somehow be better? I don't get it...



+1. My RWD winter car list includes an '88 Camaro, 2 MK1 MR2's (one lowered on ST springs), a MK2 MR2 (lowered on Tanabe springs), and an '89 BMW 325i. Get proper snow tires, be careful, use gentle and controlled inputs and have fun!

I live in Wisconsin and have never had a problem. I've owned my fair share of low RWD cars that I routinely drove in the winter. Most notably two MR2s (both an MK1 and an MK2), an RX7('85), a few heavily modified VW bugs, and a 350Z. I felt comfortable with all of them in the snow. Just need to lower your speed to fit the road conditions. There are only 2-3 days per year that I drive my 08 Tacoma because the snow is too deep (but even that is a 2WD-RWD stripper). The only car I've had that I won't drive in snow is my 92 'vette. But, that's only because I plan to keep it for the next 40 years.

Hey Turbowned, what MR2s did you have? I haven't been on the forums much since I sold my last a couple of years ago. My brother in law has a Mk2 with the camry swap and just finished throwing on the TRD super.

[Droopy]

Winters here in KY very greatly this year we only had 1 good snow, its was 5" deep dropped out of no where, but for the most part no snow. I plan on using my stock rims for some snow tires just in case, and if i dont use them well i store them n the house.

[stockysnail]

I drove my Lotus Elise (no longer have) with summer tires in a snow storm, which in Portland OR means inches of snow. :p It was probably the scariest time driving ever. I had to drive about 15mph all the way home. The guy at the gas station a couple weeks later said he saw a grey Lotus in a ditch when it snowed and he thought it may have been me. I was happy it wasn't! Lotus fiberglass body is so expensive. Yes I'm American and spell gray, grey. I just like it better.

[Jah1mon]

The bigger concern is road salt, cinders, stone chips, and the higher probability that someone can slide into you. I would never chance it, get a winter beater if you can afford it.

On top of that you'll keep the mileage down by driving the car only during the better seasons.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by stockysnail

Yes I'm American and spell gray, grey. I just like it better.

Welcome to the club!

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Metallic BRZ

Hey Turbowned, what MR2s did you have? I haven't been on the forums much since I sold my last a couple of years ago. My brother in law has a Mk2 with the camry swap and just finished throwing on the TRD super.

Nice!! That's a great swap. I had an '87 T-top, '89 Supercharged, '94 Turbo, and currently have a 20v blacktop-swapped '87 hardtop. I tried swapping a JDM 4AGZE in my current MR2 but the engine was a dud, and after that I couldn't find another good motor. Supercharger is definitely the way to go! I hope to put one on the BRZ after it's out of warranty.

[no_name]

As far as getting stuck in the snow is concerned, the standard LSD should help a lot. Having an open diff was the worst part of driving my ae86 in the winter, as the wheel with the least grip was always the one wheel trying to get you out of the snow.

Keep some sand bags in the trunk - you can also use the sand to add grip if you're really stuck, and laying down rubber floor mats under your wheels works as well. A collapseable shovel can be very handy too.

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by no_name

As far as getting stuck in the snow is concerned, the standard LSD should help a lot. Having an open diff was the worst part of driving my ae86 in the winter, as the wheel with the least grip was always the one wheel trying to get you out of the snow.

Keep some sand bags in the trunk - you can also use the sand to add grip if you're really stuck, and laying down rubber floor mats under your wheels works as well. A collapseable shovel can be very handy too.

This is true; the LSD should help.

I wouldn't keep sand bags in the back of the car. It will increase the polar moment of inertia (upset weight distribution) and thus make the car more tail-happy. If something can be added temporarily when you're stuck, that's another thing entirely.

[Metallic BRZ]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Nice!! That's a great swap. I had an '87 T-top, '89 Supercharged, '94 Turbo, and currently have a 20v blacktop-swapped '87 hardtop. I tried swapping a JDM 4AGZE in my current MR2 but the engine was a dud, and after that I couldn't find another good motor. Supercharger is definitely the way to go! I hope to put one on the BRZ after it's out of warranty.

I plan to do the same with my BRZ. I almost put a super on my 89 Mk1 but decided to get my first Mk2 instead. I liked the Mk2 but have kicked myself for getting rid of that very clean Mk1.

[blu_]

Originally Posted by tachi1247

AWD does not provide any additional traction except under acceleration.

I wish people in chicago would figure out that AWD does absolutely nothing to reduce their stopping distance on snowy roads. It only really helps in getting you out of the ditch after you have already gone off the road

Not exactly. It can provide substantial stability as long as the clutch is engaged, both when coasting and compression braking.

[Metallic BRZ]

I agree that sand bags aren't a good idea. It can help by putting weight over the drive wheels but once those wheels slip you are more likely to rotate out of control.

Like normal driving it's all about weight transfer and traction. Obviously, traction is reduced in the wet or snow. So you need to be that much more careful transferring weight from wheel to wheel (accelerating, braking, turning). The smoother you can become the easier driving in the snow will be.

In any case, real fast drivers (on the track) are smooth drivers. Start practicing now

[Turbowned]

Semantics, blu. Let's keep this discussion about RWD.

[sysfailur]

Hwhy are you saying hwhite ford's hwheels hweird?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNgjKDtgCNk

[blu_]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Semantics, blu. Let's keep this discussion about RWD.

Actually he was just flat out wrong :P

Far from semantics.