quick questions about this car in snow - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

andrewmay9 · 10-03-2014, 01:56 AM

Im in the toronto area and our winters can get pretty bad and i have my 2014 frs as my DD so i will be taking it through the winter. Just wanted to know how this car holds up in winter with proper snow tires? I only have experience driving FWD cars in winter with all season/snow tires so a bit worried about the upcoming winter.

Also i was curious about rust-proofing. I've been told that i don't need to rust proof the car just keep it clean by washing it every other week, just undercoat the bottom with a spray which i intend to do at the end of october. Any insights on this? I came from a rust-bucket mazda which even rustproofing couldn't save.

jbsali · 10-03-2014, 03:59 AM

I'm in the same boat as you, just opposite side of the country. First RWD in the winter. Would be great if we could get some member experiences/ opinions in here!

Tcoat · 10-03-2014, 04:39 AM

Search is your friend!
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71701
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9150
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7507
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/index.php

juliog · 10-03-2014, 04:40 AM

Problem?

HiredGun · 10-03-2014, 10:32 AM

I'm thinking the LSD is going to be very helpful in the winter, at least you won't get stuck with one wheel spinning. That said the killer is the ride height. Anything more than an inch of loose snow and the front bumper is going to be plowing. That's not gonna work out too well. Maybe we should consider a lift kit?

BRZZZZZZZZZZ · 10-03-2014, 10:38 AM

I live in Calgary and had the chance to drive my BRZ a few times last winter on brand new Hankook W310s I have laying around, much better than my 2008 135i in terms of predictability and taking off from a stop. Downsides are ground clearance, and even with traction control/VSC fully on, I feel the car is allowed to slide too much before it intrudes.

ArmanFRS · 10-03-2014, 10:51 AM

Im also from toronto and i had a set of michellin snow tires last winter and had no issues at all..did not get stuck even one time..traction and stability control are the saviours

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DarkSunrise · 10-03-2014, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRZZZZZZZZZZ

Downsides are ground clearance, and even with traction control/VSC fully on, I feel the car is allowed to slide too much before it intrudes.

I had a moment of snap oversteer even with the traction control fully on. Was accelerating in a straight line over ice/snow and the rear end came around quickly. I countersteered and saved it (thank you track driving) but I was surprised how TC let the car get sideways in a hurry.

The irony is I feel traction control has the opposite problem on a dry track. Way too intrusive, even on sport mode.

Would have been better for Toyota/Subaru to create a separate snow mode rather than a one-size-fits-all TC.

HiredGun · 10-03-2014, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Would have been better for Toyota/Subaru to create a separate snow mode rather than a one-size-fits-all TC.

What's the snow button do then? Just start it in second gear (for the automatic)? I thought it did something with the TC

FR-S89 · 10-03-2014, 11:35 AM

<- DD a FRS in Toronto... and through that horrid winter we had last year. Hadn't been stuck a single time.. in fact during the blizzards i was passing people on the left lane

Just need a good set of tires (i have Xi3) and be a bit more careful on the throttle when accelerating (but not around corners

)

Enjoy! As for rust proof. I can't tell ya. I got krown rust proofing prior to last winter and the underside of my car was covered in rust when i replaced my exhaust.. they said it's just surface rust.. but still... i guess nobody can really save us from the nuclear salt they put on these dam roads..

DarkSunrise · 10-03-2014, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiredGun

What's the snow button do then? Just start it in second gear (for the automatic)? I thought it did something with the TC

No idea - I've got a MT so I don't have a snow button.

HiredGun · 10-03-2014, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

No idea - I've got a MT so I don't have a snow button.

I just looked in a stick and saw it wasn't there, learn something new every day!

ArmanFRS · 10-03-2014, 11:46 AM

The snow button in the auto just starts u from 2nd gear. U could just that manually in a manual car

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Superhatch · 10-03-2014, 12:38 PM

Snow tires = no problems.

I'm going on Winter #3. I'd suggest not going with a snow sport tire if you get some serious snows. I did snow tires the first year, sold them and got a snow sport and was disappointed with their light snow/packed snow performance.

10-03-2014, 01:56 AM	#1
andrewmay9 Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2014 scion frs asphalt Location: toronto Posts: 27 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	quick questions about this car in snow Im in the toronto area and our winters can get pretty bad and i have my 2014 frs as my DD so i will be taking it through the winter. Just wanted to know how this car holds up in winter with proper snow tires? I only have experience driving FWD cars in winter with all season/snow tires so a bit worried about the upcoming winter. Also i was curious about rust-proofing. I've been told that i don't need to rust proof the car just keep it clean by washing it every other week, just undercoat the bottom with a spray which i intend to do at the end of october. Any insights on this? I came from a rust-bucket mazda which even rustproofing couldn't save.

10-03-2014, 12:38 PM	#14
Superhatch AIM4APX Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 2013 WRB BRZ Limited Location: Milwaukee Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 642 Thanked 749 Times in 324 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Snow tires = no problems. I'm going on Winter #3. I'd suggest not going with a snow sport tire if you get some serious snows. I did snow tires the first year, sold them and got a snow sport and was disappointed with their light snow/packed snow performance. __________________ "It's very difficult to present technology as an overtly positive sales device to people who want an emotional car" -Chris Harris

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10-03-2014, 03:59 AM	#2
jbsali Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ (Limited) Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 264 Thanks: 640 Thanked 69 Times in 49 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm in the same boat as you, just opposite side of the country. First RWD in the winter. Would be great if we could get some member experiences/ opinions in here!

10-03-2014, 04:39 AM	#3
Tcoat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2020 Hakone Location: London, Ont Posts: 69,841 Thanks: 61,656 Thanked 108,295 Times in 46,456 Posts Mentioned: 2499 Post(s) Tagged: 50 Thread(s)	Search is your friend! http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71701 http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9150 http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7507 http://www.ft86club.com/forums/index.php

10-03-2014, 10:32 AM	#5
HiredGun Livin' the dream Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 2013 Toyota Avalon Location: Massachusetts Posts: 32 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm thinking the LSD is going to be very helpful in the winter, at least you won't get stuck with one wheel spinning. That said the killer is the ride height. Anything more than an inch of loose snow and the front bumper is going to be plowing. That's not gonna work out too well. Maybe we should consider a lift kit?

10-03-2014, 10:38 AM	#6
BRZZZZZZZZZZ Car Nut Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: BMW 335d, Toyota Echo RS, FRS Location: Calgary Posts: 1,557 Thanks: 368 Thanked 603 Times in 346 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I live in Calgary and had the chance to drive my BRZ a few times last winter on brand new Hankook W310s I have laying around, much better than my 2008 135i in terms of predictability and taking off from a stop. Downsides are ground clearance, and even with traction control/VSC fully on, I feel the car is allowed to slide too much before it intrudes.

10-03-2014, 11:35 AM	#10
FR-S89 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S Location: Toronto Posts: 101 Thanks: 7 Thanked 22 Times in 13 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	<- DD a FRS in Toronto... and through that horrid winter we had last year. Hadn't been stuck a single time.. in fact during the blizzards i was passing people on the left lane Just need a good set of tires (i have Xi3) and be a bit more careful on the throttle when accelerating (but not around corners ) Enjoy! As for rust proof. I can't tell ya. I got krown rust proofing prior to last winter and the underside of my car was covered in rust when i replaced my exhaust.. they said it's just surface rust.. but still... i guess nobody can really save us from the nuclear salt they put on these dam roads..

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