How does the brz perform in the winter/snowy conditions

[Thor123]

I live in Canada, Saskatchewan and we can get some harsh winters. Really wanting to buy a subaru brz but rwd is the only concern for me and excites me at the same time for drifting lol. I currently drive a fwd car and with good tires it handles our winter very well. So i guess my question is, is how do these cars handle harsh winters with a good set of winter tires?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Thor123

I live in Canada, Saskatchewan and we can get some harsh winters. Really wanting to buy a subaru brz but rwd is the only concern for me and excites me at the same time for drifting lol. I currently drive a fwd car and with good tires it handles our winter very well. So i guess my question is, is how do these cars handle harsh winters with a good set of winter tires?

They rock! Put good snows on, drive responsibly and you will have zero issues. I drive mine 5,000 kilometers a month through every conceivable snow/ice/rain combo possible and never had a single issue. Oh and it is lowered almost 2 inches.
There are probably 100 threads on here on the subject but here is a starter pack for you.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82998
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82962
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80961
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79146

[Tcoat]

Oh and here is some specific Sask info.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12537

[JS + BRZ]

What's snow? Jon Snow?

I'm from LA.

[Thor123]

Thanx for the quick responses and links!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JS + BRZ

What's snow? Jon Snow?

I'm from LA.

For LA it's:

[JS + BRZ]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

For LA it's:

[steeloyangster]

This is a great thread so far.

In my experience (Minnesota) I drove all through last winter with the stock all-seasons (Bridgestone Turanzas?) and the car did amazingly well. She's super balanced so taking a corner at sensible speeds doesn't shift weight back or forth so no surprises mid-corner unless you decide you want some of that with some throttle input. The only particular issues I had driving in the winter were starting and stopping on inclines. It being RWD and having all-seasons on there really doesn't do this car any favors going uphill. The car just wants to go sideways and into a ditch. Just like what tcoat said, get yourself some good winter tires and you'll do fine. I also don't recommend driving in more than 5" of snow. I did this once going to work and I basically plowed the way for everyone else behind me with my front bumper. (And I'm at stock height.) Good luck!

[Stang70Fastback]

Copied this from my Adventure Journal thread. I live in Chicago, and spent the entirety of the "5th largest snow storm in Chicago history" out driving around.

February 2nd, 2015

MASSIVE SNOW STORM!!!

Well, ladies and gents. It happened! This ended up being a MASSIVE snow storm, and the BRZ handled it like a champ! I won't bother you guys with ten paragraphs. Suffice it to say, as you can see in the photos and videos below, that I had an absolute blast! I didn't get stuck once, even when driving through 6+ inches of unplowed snow, and several of my Toyobaru friends even came out to play! Long live RWD and winter tires!

Early on in the storm:





Parked at a friends house waiting for "the gang." Notice I'm already plowing snow here.



Out having fun!



Later that night, a shopping/gas run, because why not?





Later that week (mmm... salty...)

And here are three videos showing some fun. The first is a video I caught of an accident, which also shows the kind of road conditions we were out having fun in. The second video is of me following my friend in her FR-S. This girl's car is lowered 2" and other than a quick instance of getting stuck towards the end of the video, she did fine as well, and this was 6+" of snow here. The third video... I can't remember if it was this same storm, but nonetheless, it's a video I threw together when a bunch of us went out in the snow to have some fun!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFTLyGCggJQ[/ame]


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=encKbvur8kU[/ame]


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-CGeQnd6WQ"]When it snows all day, the Toyobarus will play! - YouTube[/ame]


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[BRZnut]

I guess I'm the exception. Have Michelin all seasons on my BRZ and it is the worst car I have ever driven in the snow. It would slide sideways off the road when stopped because of the crown of the road, never make it up our driveway, and have to be pushed to get it moving. That was in 4 inches of snow! This winter, it stays in the garage when the first flake falls. Not worth the aggravation.

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by BRZnut

I guess I'm the exception. Have Michelin all seasons on my BRZ and it is the worst car I have ever driven in the snow. It would slide sideways off the road when stopped because of the crown of the road, never make it up our driveway, and have to be pushed to get it moving. That was in 4 inches of snow! This winter, it stays in the garage when the first flake falls. Not worth the aggravation.

That's because you were using all-seasons. This car, when stopped, is NO DIFFERENT than any other car when stopped. If you're sliding off the road like that, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the car, and literally EVERYTHING to do with what are apparently REALLY terrible tires.

This car is every bit as capable as any other vehicle in the snow when it comes to cruising down the road, with the exception of the ride height meaning it can't tackle snow quite as deep. The only "disadvantage" to this car is the RWD which makes accelerating a bit more... fun.

Personally, I would never drive a RWD coupe like this in the snow without dedicated winter tires. They are LEAPS AND BOUNDS above even a good set of all-seasons in the winter. Watch this video below:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEMH10Z4s[/ame]

[Pat]

Just like most cars, it's almost all about tires and your driving ability. The small part of the equation that is the car (independent of tires) is horrible. The 86 flat out sucks in snow if you ignore tires and driver. But honestly, unless you're driving on packed snow and/or ice most of the time, and you have good snow tires, it's easy to compensate for it.
Oh, and don't go for performance snow tires. Sacrifice some dry performance and get studdless snow and ice tires.

[why?]

Originally Posted by BRZnut

I guess I'm the exception. Have Michelin all seasons on my BRZ and it is the worst car I have ever driven in the snow. It would slide sideways off the road when stopped because of the crown of the road, never make it up our driveway, and have to be pushed to get it moving. That was in 4 inches of snow! This winter, it stays in the garage when the first flake falls. Not worth the aggravation.

Yea, you didn't put on snow tires. Why on earth not? Has no one ever told you the only thing that actually touches the road is the tires?

[kch]

Originally Posted by BRZnut

all seasons ... snow

well there's your problem

edit: even i know that and it never snows here