How much snow is too much? Guelph/London/ Barrie driving?

[rpvnwnkl]

These cars are fun in winter with a decent set of snow tires. Had no trouble most of the winter in TO last year, only once when it was slushy and deep.

Just wondering what the drives in Guelph/London/Barrie are like with the amount of snow you guys get? These cars obviously won't go through everything- what is too much that it just gets beached?

Does anyone drive in Guelph? How's the winters over there?

[Cole]

The twins are awful in the snow and they'll burn to the ground as soon as they touch snow. At least that's the opinion of many on here.

I live in Guelph and dailyed my car which was lowered 3" last winter. Just carry momentum, and be smart about where and what you're driving in/on

[yanfoo]

I live in QC so we get as much as you guys, sometimes even more...

Never had issues, of course if there's a foot deep like said you need to carry momentum, or stay home.

The car is very good in all kind of conditions, but if there's a lot of snow, you're going to bottom out at some point.

I think I stayed home a day or two last winter, not more for sure. It needs to be very bad for me to stay home.

Most of the time anyway the roads have been mostly cleared when I leave for work, so no real issues.

[wparsons]

I grew up in Guelph, and still go back a bunch of times a year. I've had zero issues anytime I've been back there (lowered on swift sport springs). I've also had zero issues up in Collingwood on snowy days.

The only time I've been stuck was in about 8-10" of fresh snow in a parking lot that hadn't been plowed at all. Don't try to plow through too much and you'll be totally fine!

[fumanchu1]

Originally Posted by Cole

The twins are awful in the snow and they'll burn to the ground as soon as they touch snow. At least that's the opinion of many on here.

I live in Guelph and dailyed my car which was lowered 3" last winter. Just carry momentum, and be smart about where and what you're driving in/on

Cough* others on here need to learn to drive *cough

[trix202]

With a great set of snow tires and smart driving I went to and from work everyday last winter. A main road was closed one day so I took a back road and went bashing through a few drifts that come over the hood but with momentum and the road to myself it wasn't an issue. I got in the habit of starting the car and immediately turning traction control off, it's useless in the winter.

[rpvnwnkl]

The momentum argument is senseless when you're stopped at a light or in traffic.

Wparsons, agree with you, it's the days we get 8"+ of snow that it can get beached in parking lots, etc. Just figured London/Guelph or wherever gets more of those than Toronto. It's a lot of fun to drive in the winter otherwise.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by rpvnwnkl

The momentum argument is senseless when you're stopped at a light or in traffic.

Wparsons, agree with you, it's the days we get 8"+ of snow that it can get beached in parking lots, etc. Just figured London/Guelph or wherever gets more of those than Toronto. It's a lot of fun to drive in the winter otherwise.

If you're stuck in traffic, you're probably on a plowed road. Obviously there's a time and a place for carrying momentum. But hey, a bunch of us from those cities you mentioned have some real world experience, but let's just disregard it entirely.

[rpvnwnkl]

@Cole why so negative??

I'm not disregarding anything, the fact these guys drove most/all of last winter is indicative of what these cars can do. That said, the QC guy stayed home a few days, and a few of us agree that it can get beached once the snow exceeds a foot or so (which being Canada, it does happen a few times a season).

I guess the question is how many days in the cities mentioned above does the snow truly make it undriveable?

Ps. I leave first thing in the morning. There are stoplights, and the plows haven't had time yet to get to all the roads. Momentum works- when you can use it.

[yanfoo]

Originally Posted by rpvnwnkl

@Cole why so negative??

I'm not disregarding anything, the fact these guys drove most/all of last winter is indicative of what these cars can do. That said, the QC guy stayed home a few days, and a few of us agree that it can get beached once the snow exceeds a foot or so (which being Canada, it does happen a few times a season).

I guess the question is how many days in the cities mentioned above does the snow truly make it undriveable?

Ps. I leave first thing in the morning. There are stoplights, and the plows haven't had time yet to get to all the roads. Momentum works- when you can use it.

The days I chose to stay home last year I would have been able to make it to work anyway...

I have the possibility of working from home so for me it was just a no brainer to stay those 2-3 days instead of spending 3 hours stuck in traffic.

@trix202 I don't understand the TRAC/OFF part as for me it is doing a wonderful job. I carry 2 bags of salt in the trunk, around 40 pounds total maybe(old habit), and I'm always launching easily at stop signs/red lights.

Of course TRAC is off when I find an empty parking lot, or when I'm all alone on the roads...

This car is a blast in snow!

[jvincent]

Coming up on my third winter.

Haven't got stuck once yet, and I often have to ram through a 2 foot high bank crossing a main road that usually get's plowed before one of the streets I use to get to work. As others have said, momentum is key.

[daiheadjai]

Originally Posted by Cole

If you're stuck in traffic, you're probably on a plowed road. Obviously there's a time and a place for carrying momentum. But hey, a bunch of us from those cities you mentioned have some real world experience, but let's just disregard it entirely.

Actually, this isn't always true (thankfully, it usually is).
Case in point: My old drive home from work took me up a steep-ish hill on Bayview (near the DVP).
Unfortunately there's a stoplight located near the top of the hill, and I've had instances where I've begged and prayed that the light would stay green and that the people in front of me wouldn't stop, because of the fresh sheen of frozen rain and ice that made climbing that hill from a standstill impossible.

But all in all, I've had no problems.

[wparsons]

I find the hardest part about winter driving in SLICK conditions is being light on the throttle. It's easy to give it too much throttle and overpower the rear tires in lower gears.

I've driven other more powerful RWD cars (944 turbo, 993 911) in the snow, and found it easier just because the initial throttle tip in was more linear/gradual. If you're light on the throttle you can get up a hill just as easily as a FWD car.

[illmatic_frs]

Coming up on my first winter. I have snows ready to be mounted. Will try with and without trac.

Does anyone advise sand/salt bags in the trunk? Or am I ok without?

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