FR-S in chicago

[Guff]

Originally Posted by cassidy0998

Considering RWD was pretty much one of the main options available until about 25-30 years ago, I think it's safe to say that RWD will be just fine if you're smart about it. There are plenty of trucks and SUVs driving around Chicago, most of which are not FWD/AWD. Don't feel as though you need to go out and buy an AWD vehicle just to drive in Chicago (I know people that have used this as an excuse to say "yeah... I need a WRX/Evo"), I'd hate for you to give up on the BRZ/FR-S just for fear of the winter - get you a fwd beater, that's what most people do up north.

Then again I'm from Mississippi, it's 80 something outside and am wearing shorts at the moment.... lol what do I know about winter...

Well, another reason was that I didn't want to subject a brand new car to those conditions and have damage/rust early on. The AWD car I was planning on buying was indeed going to be the beater because I was getting a great deal on a older WRX.

I, having basically no experience driving in adverse conditions, think maybe I should stay away from RWD for the moment and stick to FWD/AWD...

[cassidy0998]

Originally Posted by Guff

Well, another reason was that I didn't want to subject a brand new car to those conditions and have damage/rust early on. The AWD car I was planning on buying was indeed going to be the beater because I was getting a great deal on a older WRX.

I, having basically no experience driving in adverse conditions, think maybe I should stay away from RWD for the moment and stick to FWD/AWD...

I hear ya, I forgot that you have the Supra(s) too. Did you sell the auto one?

[Guff]

Originally Posted by cassidy0998

I hear ya, I forgot that you have the Supra(s) too. Did you sell the auto one?

Nope! Still have it! I just needed space in my sig to put the BRZ sacrament!

The Red MT one is almost sold, and the White Auto will stay with my brother here in Texas...

[cassidy0998]

Originally Posted by Guff

Nope! Still have it! I just needed space in my sig to put the BRZ sacrament!

The Red MT one is almost sold, and the White Auto will stay with my brother here in Texas...

Ah gotcha, well I'm sure you'll hate to see her go!

You definitely need a fun awd vehicle then!

[Khyron686]

Originally Posted by Guff

I'm actually moving to Illinois (Urbana specifically) and so I decided against an FRS/BRZ. I'm not very experienced with snowy conditions (Texas has no winter) so I figured I should go AWD.

It is genuinely difficult to drive RWD in IL? My brother lived in Chicago for 7 years and he said RWD was an absolute no-no.

AWD doesn't help much in the winter, except get you going. Tires are the most important piece, especially for stopping/turning. A FWD/RWD on Blizzaks will eat an AWD on all seasons for dinner. You may want to put 100lbs of sandbags or cat litter in the trunk for extra weight on the rear. One of the old issues with RWD was if you gave it too much gas the rear kicks out, but with traction control that's not much of a problem.

I'm in Canada and my FRS is planned to be a winter car. I have an SUV with higher ground clearance for when the snow's past the bumper.

[Guff]

Originally Posted by cassidy0998

Ah gotcha, well I'm sure you'll hate to see her go!

You definitely need a fun awd vehicle then!

Yup!

[Brett]

Originally Posted by AX_FRS

I don't think everyone has access to a lift with a pressure washer nearby. I don't think that would be as good as never driving it on the salty roads either.

No it wouldn't be as good, but not everyone has the ability or desire to own, store, and insure a second car.

[Brett]

My folks still live in the Chicago area, just south of the lake in Indiana where they get just as much lake effect snow. He has no problems with his 530i in the snow with all season tires. With snow tires it would be a tank. It has 140k miles on it, and the salt hasn't been too bad on it.

It's 2012, cars are made pretty well. Salt doesn't do nearly as much damage as it used to because we're using better materials. We also don't use salt as much anymore, because it has also given way to other substances.

If you don't want a rear wheel drive car in Chicago that's your choice, but I don't want you to think it's absolutely not an option. That's just silly!

[EBrake]

Originally Posted by Khyron686

AWD doesn't help much in the winter, except get you going. Tires are the most important piece, especially for stopping/turning. A FWD/RWD on Blizzaks will eat an AWD on all seasons for dinner. You may want to put 100lbs of sandbags or cat litter in the trunk for extra weight on the rear. One of the old issues with RWD was if you gave it too much gas the rear kicks out, but with traction control that's not much of a problem.

I'm in Canada and my FRS is planned to be a winter car. I have an SUV with higher ground clearance for when the snow's past the bumper.

This. Drivetrain really only effects your acceleration, you don't really want to be going that fast anyways. Most accidents in snow happen because you are going too fast to stop or turn. RWD can cause oversteer, FWD can cause understeer, both can send you into your neighbors mailbox. AWD is nice, but unnecessary... more for offroading or hilly conditions IMO. Driver skill and tires is 99% of it.

Illinois is so flat it doesn't really matter anyways. We usually only get 2-3 good snows a year... the rest of the winter is driving on salt.

[Hawaiian]

Originally Posted by EBrake

This. Drivetrain really only effects your acceleration, you don't really want to be going that fast anyways. Most accidents in snow happen because you are going too fast to stop or turn. RWD can cause oversteer, FWD can cause understeer, both can send you into your neighbors mailbox. AWD is nice, but unnecessary... more for offroading or hilly conditions IMO. Driver skill and tires is 99% of it.

Illinois is so flat it doesn't really matter anyways. We usually only get 2-3 good snows a year... the rest of the winter is driving on salt.

+1. Buy a set of snow tires for the winter and change them out once three first snow is coming. As long as you don't drive like a jerk rwd is fine. I've seen awd suv's eat it in the snow because they think they are invincible.

The main roads get salted and plowed as soon as the snow starts, and despite moving to il from a place that gets 0 snow, I've never been in an accident.

[Sibs44]

.