No Winter Driving Problems

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by daiheadjai

First time I left my TRAC off for just regular driving today.
As long as you're not dealing with uneven snow and high speeds, the car is very predictable and fun (found a nice subdivision with empty, unplowed side streets - had a blast).
However, I did take my sandbags out of my trunk one day for a drive - and it was a noticeable difference - I immediately put them back in.

Drove BRZ up to Newmarket yesterday, and on the way back down (in the middle of a big snowstorm), had no problems - did get nervous when I took a hilly road (Stouffville) and there was a line up though (kept my fingers crossed that the guys in front wouldn't stop and force me to claw up the icy hill).

BTW - does anyone notice that the heated seats don't really seem to heat up much (or quickly)?
And the front vent (on the dash for occupants) seems to be poorly-designed - the single horizontal slat doesn't do much to direct air up or down.

I'm tempted to take it in to the dealer to get the seats checked (my wife likes heated seats on cold days, and complains that they don't get very warm at all).

Many people have said that, but mine get up to temperature very quickly and are definitely hot enough to keep my back and butt nice and toasty. Way faster than my IS, G35, and GTI.

[FiRStsc10n]

Originally Posted by congee

3. Leg warmers are none existent. I don't feel any hot air going to my legs even at full blast. Does anyone feel this way too

I agree it doesn't feel their is sufficient piping to feet area, barely feel a draft.

Another complaint of mine is that no matter how hard I shake the snow and water off my shoes, I somehow end up with a puddle of salty water under the gas pedal. Now this is normal, but I think due to the driving position sitting very flat, the bottom of my pant legs and socks become soaked. I've ruined pairs of pants and shoes because of the salt damage. Might be the OEM winter mats that pool the water in that area.

[wparsons]

^^ Get some weathertech mats, that should help.

As for the leg warmers, I find if you put your right leg in the wrong place you block the outlet entirely.

[FLYFISHR]

I found with my weathertech mats that when the water build up from all the snow melting and I accelerated the water would flow over the back edge and onto the carpet so I had to prop the back edge up a bit to prevent that from reoccurring.

[STV3]

I find that just about any car does fine in the snow with the proper snow tires. I have a set of winter wheels and tires for my SRT-4, firestone winter force 205/50/15, and the car is like a tank in the snow. I've never gotten stuck no matter how much snow. It was a whole other story before I got a set of dedicated winter wheels for the car and drove around on my summer tires year round like a moron. The car was basically undriveable if there was at least an inch or more of snow.

I've driven the FRS once this winter in a few inches of snow because I took it to work and didn't know it was going to snow and it wasn't the worst car I've driven in the snow.... but... on the stock shitty tires it was far from optimal. Getting up my driveway, which is a hill, wasn't very fun at all. If I had the same snow tires I have on my other car on the FRS I'm sure it would have been a breeze.

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Many people have said that, but mine get up to temperature very quickly and are definitely hot enough to keep my back and butt nice and toasty. Way faster than my IS, G35, and GTI.

That's because it takes forever to warm up leather seating. Cloth works fastest, and the Alcantara seats on this car ain't too slow with the setting on Hi.

[Kfresh23]

I find that for the heated seats, I always put them on the highest setting first (push the button up towards your dash), then turn it down once it get's heating (which is fairly quick, I have had both faster and slower seats in cars past).
I also found what Wparsons found, that your leg may sometimes block the vent.
I did also find that putting weight in the back does make a difference (sorry brzr )
My grip and control were greatly increased while going up a steep, snowy/slippery hill. (I did it both ways one right after the other to compare).

[congee]

I find the heated seats to be just right compared to my previous cars. My other cars, the heat would be unbearable to the point where I need to turn it off and on. I do agree that it takes some time.

On the leg warmers. I will try to adjust my legs. Where exactly are the vents located for the legs?

Oh and another thing that annoys me is the trunk design. The very first time I opened the trunk with ice/snow still on it. The snow just fell right into the trunk. Have to carefully open it now or brush it off by hand before I get my scraper.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Kazuya

@Suberman The hero this city deserves!

Too bad he was banished to parts unknown.

[Rayme]

Originally Posted by STV3

I find that just about any car does fine in the snow with the proper snow tires. I have a set of winter wheels and tires for my SRT-4, firestone winter force 205/50/15, and the car is like a tank in the snow. I've never gotten stuck no matter how much snow. It was a whole other story before I got a set of dedicated winter wheels for the car and drove around on my summer tires year round like a moron. The car was basically undriveable if there was at least an inch or more of snow.

I've driven the FRS once this winter in a few inches of snow because I took it to work and didn't know it was going to snow and it wasn't the worst car I've driven in the snow.... but... on the stock shitty tires it was far from optimal. Getting up my driveway, which is a hill, wasn't very fun at all. If I had the same snow tires I have on my other car on the FRS I'm sure it would have been a breeze.

I would agree that every car with descent tires should be ok.

But I'd have to say, driving an automatic car on snow, especially those with the CVTs = I got no idea what the wheels are doing. With a proper setup (*cough cough, 3 pedals), you can easily accelerate, engine brake or remove power to the wheels, best things ever in snow

[STV3]

Originally Posted by Rayme

I would agree that every car with descent tires should be ok.

But I'd have to say, driving an automatic car on snow, especially those with the CVTs = I got no idea what the wheels are doing. With a proper setup (*cough cough, 3 pedals), you can easily accelerate, engine brake or remove power to the wheels, best things ever in snow

Yeah I def prefer manual in the snow. Hell I've never actually owned an automatic car lol

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Too bad he was banished to parts unknown.

Village justice served?

[PMPB]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Too bad he was banished to parts unknown.

.... SAID NO ONE EVER!

Village Justice indeed.

[jvincent]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Too bad he was banished to parts unknown.

We may yet be graced with slip-angle, friction circle, and mu tutorials since his banishment could only be a temporary time-out.