BRZ in the snow

[Kaaskop]

Nice pics so far, keep em coming!

My other vehicle is a 1 ton GM diesel truck. I have people ask me why I drive a sports car in the snow when I have a truck, and honestly, I'd much rather drive the BRZ in the snow than the truck. Just the weight difference and balance alone makes the BRZ much better when it comes to turning and stopping. Plus you can't turn the traction control off in the truck (it comes back on automatically above 50 kmh).

[Pat]

Make no mistake, people. These cars suck in the snow. But Hakka 9s, especially with studs, are amazing snow tires. Put those on any car and it'll do great in the snow.
Oh, and if you think this car rotates quickly, try driving something with an engine right behind the driver. It makes the BRZ seem mundane by comparison.

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by Pat

Make no mistake, people. These cars suck in the snow

These cars are no worse than any other RWD car in the snow. In fact the light weight makes them more nimble. It's the stock SUMMER tires thst suck in the snow, lol.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Pat

Make no mistake, people. These cars suck in the snow. But Hakka 9s, especially with studs, are amazing snow tires. Put those on any car and it'll do great in the snow.
Oh, and if you think this car rotates quickly, try driving something with an engine right behind the driver. It makes the BRZ seem mundane by comparison.

The man has a point. Tires are everything especially in the snow. But, that doesn't necessarily make the twins bad in the snow. Unless you are on stock tires, then you're F'ed.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Pat

Make no mistake, people. These cars suck in the snow. But Hakka 9s, especially with studs, are amazing snow tires. Put those on any car and it'll do great in the snow.
Oh, and if you think this car rotates quickly, try driving something with an engine right behind the driver. It makes the BRZ seem mundane by comparison.

They only suck in the winter if you try to drive it the same as in the summer. Any decent snow tires work just fine.

I have about 30K winter miles in a lowered FRS with cheap Champiro snows and have never had a single issue.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

These cars are no worse than any other RWD car in the snow. In fact the light weight makes them more nimble. It's the stock SUMMER tires thst suck in the snow, lol.

This ^
Little old ladies drive Mustangs and Cameros around in the snow here and don't think anything of it.
For most of the history of the automobile everybody drove around in RWD cars in the snow. On bias ply tires, no power brakes or steering, no traction control or electronic aids, no ABS and frequently with vacuum powered windshield wipers and no heater. Now all of a sudden a lightweight car full of assisting devices is hard to drive in the snow for some people?

[Pat]

I grew up driving RWD cars, instructed on tracks and frozen lakes for many years, and have driven a ton of cars, including many that were RWD. I stand by my original comment. I preferred my E30 in the snow to this car. My original comment has nothing to do with modern technology. It was written to be independent of tire choice, which I failed to specify. As I said, "Put [any great snow tire] on any car and it'll do great in the snow."

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Pat

I grew up driving RWD cars, instructed on tracks and frozen lakes for many years, and have driven a ton of cars, including many that were RWD. I stand by my original comment. I preferred my E30 in the snow to this car. My original comment has nothing to do with modern technology. It was written to be independent of tire choice, which I failed to specify. As I said, "Put [any great snow tire] on any car and it'll do great in the snow."

So ultimately it isn't the car that sucks in the snow but the tires.
Preferring a different car in the snow does not make this one suck.

[gravitylover]

@Pat I beg to differ on an E30 being better in the snow than this car. Just by nature of a lower CG this car is easier to drive well in slippery conditions. I also think that this car tracks better in mixed conditions and has more predictable braking characteristics.

I also have a truck and prefer driving my BRZ over the Durango until it gets deeper than about 5 inches. At that point clearance and weight win, especially since the only other vehicles out in those conditions are also usually big and bulky and poorly driven.

[why?]

Originally Posted by Pat

Make no mistake, people. These cars suck in the snow. But Hakka 9s, especially with studs, are amazing snow tires. Put those on any car and it'll do great in the snow.
Oh, and if you think this car rotates quickly, try driving something with an engine right behind the driver. It makes the BRZ seem mundane by comparison.

just dumb. I'll take the BRZ with snow tires over anything else. I have cheap General altimax arctic's and drove through 3 blizzards in total white out conditions on untreated roads like the snow wasn't even there. On the highway the idiots in SUV's were scared to go over 20 and I literally never even slipped on ice once as I passed them all.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

So ultimately it isn't the car that sucks in the snow but the tires.
Preferring a different car in the snow does not make this one suck.

My comment was about the car, independent of tires.
You are correct, Tcoat, preferring a different car in the snow does not make this one suck. That said, preferring nearly every car, independent of tires, does make this one suck. IMO, of course.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by why?

just dumb. I'll take the BRZ with snow tires over anything else.

You'll take it over anything else? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume you want a car that is good in snow. If that is accurate, what you're essentially saying is the BRZ is the best snow car ever. How else could one legitimately interpret that statement?

Now...what's dumb?

[venturaII]

The 86, with 4 good snows and a reasonably skilled driver, is perfectly fine in the snow. Is it as good as an Audi Quattro Coupe with locked diffs and studs? No..and no one is saying that. If we're having this discussion it's because you daily drive this car, so you need to weigh benefit and penalties for having that level of traction. The few times a winter that you ACTUALLY need to engage maximum traction capabilities is few compared to the amount of time the rest of the season (and the rest of the year) where you're driving on roads that have been cleared and the 86 is at no disadvantage whatsoever. In those cases, 4 snow tires and some common sense can get you anywhere you'd ever want to take this car. Id rather have the 86 any day over having to drag around the poor handling and weight associated with an AWD system.

[Stephen W.]

Originally Posted by venturaII

< snip >
Id rather have the 86 any day over having to drag around the poor handling and weight associated with an AWD system.

Said no Subaru WRX or STi owner EVER!