Driving your FRS/BRZ in Winter
 

I know most people will say store that beauty in a garage, you're an idiot for driving a RWD car in Canadian winter. Truth is, I'm considering driving my FRS through winter; I've had the car both rust proof and rust protection which are two different things. I am considering buying good winter tires and driving it all winter. Who here has driven their FRS/BRZ in winter? how was your experience... what do you guys have to say about it?

Its fine as a winter daily driver :) I did it last year with little regret if any. As long as you're aware of deep snow (or areas that haven't been plowed after a large snowfall) You can get through pretty much anything as long as you keep moving and play with the throttle. Just make sure you have weathertech floor mats in your car and scotch guard the HELL outta your carpet in the fall to somewhat control the salt going in your car from your shoes/boots.

Drove it last winter in the GTA and it was ok. Obviously not ideal car to try and plow through 1 foot of snow, but with Blizzak winter tires and careful throttle control I managed.

The only day it was really bad was when a massive storm hit quickly in January and the highways weren't cleared yet. I was sliding sideways just trying to go straight, but even 4x4's and AWD cars were as well so it wasn't just my FRS.

Drove it every day last winter (one of the worst I can remember here in MI). Worked fine, even on stock tires. Would have been even better with good snow tires. Yes, you get sideways a lot, but if you adjust to the conditions, you can drive it without much issue. Just give yourself more space to stop, be more gentle on the brake and accelerator, and get good at counter-steering. Don't try to drive on un-plowed roads...that should be a given for any low car, though. Wait for the plows to go through or get a ride...be safe, and remember it's not a Jeep. Understand the limitations and work with them, and you'll be fine. Don't expect the car to do something it physically can't.

Why would you be an idiot for driving a RWD in the winter? I learned to on RWD cars in the winter many moons ago before FWD took over.

I drove my FRS last winter and we got a lot more snow that you guys in the GTA.

Just get decent winter tires in a -1 size, I was using 205/55/16, and you'll be fine. Just don't expect to drive as fast or corner as hard as you do in the summer.

I brought mine in January and it became my daily driver. I live in Chicago and the winter was pretty bad over here, the only problems i had was getting in and out of parking, mostly cause i had to parallel park. Driving wise it did fine even while it was snowing. I did have problems when the snow got to over a foot weather it was snowing or not but nothing a little throttle control couldnt fix. A piece of advise if you do parallel park in the snow, have a shovel in the trunk. That shovel helped me out more times than i care to count.

I did have alot of fun with all the snow on the ground though , whipping it around corners and doing donuts.

Good point on the donuts.

I took my daughter out with me after one big snow into a large empty parking lot and went crazy.

I was rusty, so I wasn't able to do a figure 8, but I got close. This year.

Nothing like a bit of snow on the ground to make you feel like a drift god...I swear, this is the most controllable car I've ever driven...seems more controllable when it's sideways than some cars are in a straight line.

Last winter I was more comfortable driving my car on winters than my dad's corolla on all-seasons. It is definitely a very controllable car. It knows what it's doing and the nannies will save you most times.

I have lived in Minnesota all my life. I will confine my response to "drive-ability" and not "road salt and sand".

Disclaimer - I do not have an FR-S yet.

The three best cars I have ever driven in snow and ice conditions were:

(3) 1970 Corvette 4 speed manual, no traction control
(2) 1997 BMW M3 - 5 speed manual, traction control but turned off
(1) 1993 Toyota MR2 - 5 speed manual, no traction control

My wife drove the M3 for many years on her 35 miles each way commute to and from work. She left the traction control on.

The only caveat was that the M3 and the MR2 both had Hakkapeliitta snow tires on them. Not "all [IMHO 'no'] season" tires, but tires designed to be used in the winter.

There is a very long incline on the primary road between work and home. On several occasions I have been able to pass 4 wheel drive SUV's ... one NoSeason tire on each axle merrily spinning away ... on the commute.

Prepare the car appropriately for the expected conditions, drive based on the conditions, enjoy.

Just my experience,
Arvid

I live in chicago area - not canada winters, but close enough to have insight...

I drive mine all year long, and last year was our snowiest since I was 10 years old. I kept expecting the snow to stop so I just made do with the A/S bridgestones it came with (we often get those instead of the primacy summer rubber up here, i'm sure you may too).

I had very little issue, honestly. I'm not saying it's a jeep, but the only real problems I had were starting from a stand-still in over 1.5" of snow. That gets annoying, but once moving it brakes well, it turns well, and it drifts extremely easily and controllably.

I'm probably ponying up for winter tires this year, and with my experience with winter tires, i'm sure it'll fix the start/stop issue I had last year.

DO IT - it's not really a big deal.

I find it much easier to drive in the snow with RWD vs FWD. Lol when you pass SUV's in ditches or on the side of the highway.

mine is a DD all year. good set of snow tires and you are all set.
the only thing that can stop you is if they snow is so deep its over the front lip.
that being said, you MUST get a good set of snows... you would be stupid and a danger to everyone if you do not.

this car + snow in a empty parking lot = the best times

I put about 25000km on it last winter split between the GTA and out in the country. I never got stuck or had an issue with traction or control. I suffered 2-3 stone chips but its the cost of doing business for how and when I drive. Only prep I did were weathertech mats and Continental EWC on 16" steelies and rust proofing of course.

I had a blast all winter, I still got to enjoy the car but never felt worried or afraid behind the wheel. I felt more in control than a lot of FWD cars that I've driven.

If you want to do it, it can be done...imo its awesome

Thanks for calling me an idiot, I don't have the luxury of a garage to store my frs and buying a beater ;)

Anyway, I drove my FRS last year here in Thunder Bay ( Im from S. Ontario but am up here for work) with no problems. The cars on 205/55/16 general tire altimax arctic's. The car is a lot of fun in the winter .

As long as you take your time, you wont have any issues. Drive like a moron, and well you might end up in a ditch like others have said. I don't know how many lifted trucks I saw go of the road last winter.


This picture was taken in late March or early April when we got 20cm over nighthttp://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t.../Snowstrom.jpg

I plan on getting another set of wheels to slap the blizzaks I had on my STI on to the FRS this winter. I live in Reno, NV. So, some winters we barely see a couple inches, some winters we get 5+ feet at a time.

I also head into the mountains and a ski racing coach on the weekends... so I may still end up getting something a little more suited for true snow driving for that. But I do plan to daily the FRS with blizzaks in the snow, summers when its dry.

Two sets of wheels makes it really nice.

2 winters
 

have been through 2 winters now with 0 issues. Have a set of winter tires on the original rims and it has been fine. only time I have gotten stuck is in my driveway.

We don't get a ton of snow around here, but I drive mine year-round. I swap winter wheels (my OEM wheels with Wintersport M3) on in November and then back off again in March.

But its only like 60 degrees out during winter time. <3 soCal haha

I DD mine all year in MD. when it snows... the only issue is getting out of neighborhood roads that are unplowed or partially plowed... other than that, the main roads are plowed really quickly and I have no problems getting around. Just have to take my time in the neighborhoods and not try to be Takumi chasing a Celica GT4 in the snow in 3rd stage...

awd/4wd is really not needed unless you live in a state/province that is snowing every other day.

Drove mine part of last winter, have to watch out for how much oversteer it has even with traction control fully engaged, otherwise business as usual.

Bought my FRS in December and survived a Syracuse winter. I had 4 Blizzaks that were a must and and the traction control always seemed to take control when the car slipped too much. It was one of the worst winters we'd ever have, and some days, it was a necessity for me to take my parents Camry. Making a turn at any speed always resulted in the back sliding out and be prepared for all-wheel drive vehicles to tailgate you always. The all-weather floor mats definitely saved the interior of some wear. Some common sense reminders: drive slower, avoid deep snow, and have a plan B for a commute. If you can't afford a winter beater like myself, then I guess your stuck driving the FRS regardless, but it should get you through the winter without too much trouble. Save travels mate

I don't buy garage queens, and Henry didn't mass produce the car for it to sit on a trailer. Of course mine will get driven this winter, real bad weather it can stay home and we'll just drive the truck. The biggest thing to driving in snow is common sense, good winter tires. Never go cheap on tires, you do not save in the long run. The best thing you can do for your car to help it survive a Maritime winter is have it undercoated.

I've driven a semi-stripped RB20 swapped 240sx in winter.
Only got stuck once and it was in my driveway - driveway got super icy and in my 3-point turn I became stuck in ruts.


Good tires, be aware of your surroundings, and you're ok.
This will be my first winter with my BRZ, so I have no first hand experience. However, what do you think they did in the 60s? Everything was RWD. Did they even have winter tires back then? Even if they did, it was crappy bias-ply tires anyways lol.

Drove with it all winter and had no problems. It is very predictable. One thing i did notice were the the paint is very thin. I got quite a few stone chips i had to fix.

Definitely get the weathertech floor mats. The stock winter mats don't do anything to protect the carpet from salt stains.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5569/...000b3da5_c.jpg

You need winter tires for safety in winter, on any vehicle. Just because it is possible to drive without doesn't mean you should. This can be easily proved objectively. In fact, if ambient temperatures are below freezing for any length of time where you drive fitting winter tries is safer. This too can be objectively proved.

The FRS/BRZ have traction issues in winter that are more serious than the usual rwd set up.

By all means drive it year round, I do. Be aware that the car can be a bit of a joke in slippery corners (even in the wet actually) and you will likely get it stuck occasionally if the snow is deep (six inches will present a challenge).

this is true. the outside of my floor mats still have the salt stains

Good point on the undercoat i got mine done for 7 bills. I think that's a must

You guys made some good points and I never thought so many people drove this car in winter.

I'll be looking forward to winter driving... preferably some empty parking lots lol

:thanks:

The car performs admirably in a Massachusetts winter. We didn't get hit very hard last year but still.... I had Michelin x-ice 3's put on with steelies. Can be so much fun driving on roads with a fresh coating of snow before the salt trucks get out.......

I've driven RWD BMW's in the winter also. This car actually did better for me with the snows than my BMW's.....

Weathertech floor mats are a must. Grab a set of Blizzak WS 70's. Mine are on 16 inch cheapo steelies. Dont worry about the sensors. Just keep your pressures in check the old fashion way. Tc on most of the time. Tc off for getting out of parking spots or you wont move. Be aware of the idiots and any snow drift above a foot (unplowed alleys/streets) and you should be good. With those things in mind, I actually looked forward to driving in the snow. Didn't need weight added to the trunk either. Keep a small plastic shovel, blanket and a bit of cat litter in the trunk though. Just in case.

Agreed, my brz /w x-ice3s performs better than many cars on a road in the snow.

On a side note. I just came back from Boston for the comic-con. That city was a nightmare to park and navigate in for me. :lol:

No winters for me. Headin south. The "spray on" salt they use now is murder. Much more damaging than the old salt. I had a license plate fall off after 3 winters cause it ate thru the holes holding it on. Brake lines looked like they were something off of the Titanic.

Count me as another for BRZ+Xice3's. Made it through the winter in Halifax and Saint John, by far the worst winter I've ever driven in and the first RWD vehicle I've ever driven.


The best attribute of the car in poor conditions was how predictable it was. (after the tires were broken in, it was a bit more troublesome before they had miles on them) It never surprised me and when it did slide it was very easy to control and bring back in line. My opinion would be that if this car was snap overseeing for anyone, they were going too fast or didn't have winter tires.

Did you have any corrosion issues with your aftermarket exhaust parts as a result of driving through winter. Im in the market for the Perrin CBE and OFH as well.

God damn that's alot of salt, even with the weather tech you still get abit of salt on your carpet for some damn reason .

I get my car oil guarded every year at krown and no rust at all. The OFH if you want extra protection have it ceramic coated.

Weather tech and a good set of winter tires.
This car is the only RWD I've driven in the winter
And it was way easier to drive than I had expected.