Another One of These: Totaled or Not? Heartbroken

[meeskee2]

Totalled. Why on earth would anyone drive in snow on stock tires.

[HunterGreene]

I know the OP came to the Cleveland area to pick up a Used BRZ, and was intending to head right back to Rochester and get a set of snows (he picked it up last week during the warm spell we had up here).

Any updates @TM ?

[TM]

Yup, I made a quick decision to check out the used BRZ in order to take advantage of the high 40s/low 50s weather in case I do get it. 4.5 hour drive there and 4.5 hour drive back. Everything checks out good, so I got it. It feels SO GOOD to be back inside a BRZ. The Versa rental I was driving to Ohio felt so numb.

The cost of the BRZ was about $1,500 more than the check my insurance wrote me (I'll have to pay another $2,000 for tax when I switch it to NY plates). But it does have 10,000 less miles than my totaled BRZ and comes with a TRD exhaust and auto-dimming rear view mirror, so it's not too bad.

My winter tires just came in yesterday and I swapped them out during work. Blizzaks on the cheapest rims tirerack had. Debating getting sandbags, too, but there're a lot of opposing views on it.

[IronSean]

Originally Posted by AznKirby

That's not true, as good as winter tires' compound is, they aren't miracle workers.
Prudence, slow speeds and minimal steering help as well.

They're not miracle workers, and you can't treat the road like it's Summer. But he was driving in a straight line following the flow of traffic. Winters would have cut down a LOT on the random loss of traction that caused him to lose control.

[Rampage]

Nice looking replacement car!

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by TM

Yup, I made a quick decision to check out the used BRZ in order to take advantage of the high 40s/low 50s weather in case I do get it. 4.5 hour drive there and 4.5 hour drive back. Everything checks out good, so I got it. It feels SO GOOD to be back inside a BRZ. The Versa rental I was driving to Ohio felt so numb.

The cost of the BRZ was about $1,500 more than the check my insurance wrote me (I'll have to pay another $2,000 for tax when I switch it to NY plates). But it does have 10,000 less miles than my totaled BRZ and comes with a TRD exhaust and auto-dimming rear view mirror, so it's not too bad.

My winter tires just came in yesterday and I swapped them out during work. Blizzaks on the cheapest rims tirerack had. Debating getting sandbags, too, but there're a lot of opposing views on it.

Looking good, and congrats on getting back into one of the twins! On the sandbags thing, I'd skip it. Some that have done it have reported that they can accelerate better, but once they lose the rear end, its harder to correct.

Good Luck and drive safe!

[Ralph2sweet]

Congrats on getting your BRZ back! Definitely better than driving a versa around lol

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

[dodj]

Congrats on getting back into a BRZ!

As for sandbags, they will make maintaining control easier.

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by dodj

Congrats on getting back into a BRZ!

As for sandbags, they will make maintaining control easier.

From experiences of other owners, you are wrong. Sorry.

Now, why are you wrong? Well, you're not entirely. Sandbags/extra weight will help you avoid wheel spin, which is good. However, that extra weight in the rear becomes a liability when you start to lose the rear end. Momentum, due to the extra mass, is increased, which means you will have a harder time correcting out of a skid. Also means you are more likely to lose the rear end and possibly skid when you are braking, due to the fact that the front of the car will slow down faster than the rear end.

The "sandbag in the rear" trick, unless I'm wrong, was originated by pickup drivers, where the weight distribution is way towards the front (ours is relatively balanced). The sandbags would bring the distribution more towards the rear, balancing the truck better and making for overall better handling.

Can you drive the twins with extra weight in the back successfully? Sure, if you are experienced. But is it really necessary? Not as far as I have seen.

[jarviz]

Originally Posted by TM

Yup, I made a quick decision to check out the used BRZ in order to take advantage of the high 40s/low 50s weather in case I do get it. 4.5 hour drive there and 4.5 hour drive back. Everything checks out good, so I got it. It feels SO GOOD to be back inside a BRZ. The Versa rental I was driving to Ohio felt so numb.

The cost of the BRZ was about $1,500 more than the check my insurance wrote me (I'll have to pay another $2,000 for tax when I switch it to NY plates). But it does have 10,000 less miles than my totaled BRZ and comes with a TRD exhaust and auto-dimming rear view mirror, so it's not too bad.

My winter tires just came in yesterday and I swapped them out during work. Blizzaks on the cheapest rims tirerack had. Debating getting sandbags, too, but there're a lot of opposing views on it.

nice wheels

[dodj]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

From experiences of other owners, you are wrong. Sorry.

The "sandbag in the rear" trick, unless I'm wrong, was originated by pickup drivers, where the weight distribution is way towards the front (ours is relatively balanced). The sandbags would bring the distribution more towards the rear, balancing the truck better and making for overall better handling.

Can you drive the twins with extra weight in the back successfully? Sure, if you are experienced. But is it really necessary? Not as far as I have seen.

Relatively balanced is a relative term
You are right about the pick up truck deal. The same physics work on the twins, it's just not as extreme.
To each their own I guess. I've tested both ways. With added weight and the aids on, you spin less, lose traction less (IMO). I agree with you that it's not necessary, it's quite stable without the weight, (I don't use any) but if you want every advantage you can get in your winter driving, balance the car with additional weight in the back.