RWD coupes in the winter...

Started by whoaa killaa, November 27, 2006, 10:00:31 AM

whoaa killaa

My mom is looking for a new car to replace her passat (which will become mine? :lol: ) and she is looking to get a rwd coupe.? She really likes the 350z and g35 coupe, but she is unsure about using the car in the winter.? She would not be getting the car until the spring, but we live in Massachusetts and it will be her only car.? In particular storms she could drive my fathers f150, but for 1-6inches of snow she would most likely be using the coupe.? Is it really a big deal to drive a car like this in the snow?? And since she is waiting until the spring she is going to look at the Audi TT with quattro, would that be a better choice?? I have never driven a car like this is the snow so I am not sure about it all.? Thank you for your help.? She is not a terrible driver if that helps (she was the one who taught me to drive stick after all).

Colonel Cadillac

If you live in Mass, I would argue that it might be pretty tough to have a RWD coupe in the winters. I live in Connecticut, so I know what your winters look like (yours are even more snow-laden than ours). I would consider the TT.

S204STi

Ditto the TT quattro.  Unless you could get a G35x Coupe, which IIRC is not an option, you would have a nightmare on your hands.  A salesman at the Nissan dealer I used to work for in New Hampshire parked his 350Z for the winter and drove his Stanza once the snow flew.  Those summer compound tires that stick so well in warm weather are a liability in the cold snow.

Raza

I've had a RWD E320 in some pretty bad Philadelphia area winters, and I was fine.  The G35 and 350Z have a lot more power though.

A user here has a 350Z, and he's prepping it for winter.  Good tires and fine control of your throttle should keep you pretty safe.

Off topic, what year/engine/trans/color is the Passat?  I have the one in my sig, a 1.8T paired, unfortunately, with the automatic. 

Welcome to the forums.
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Quote from: the Teuton on October 05, 2009, 03:53:18 PMIt's impossible to argue with Raza. He wins. Period. End of discussion.

The Pirate

Good snow tires, not the M+S rated variety, but actual soft tires with big gummy tread blocks will make a huge difference on the car.? I have a video of my car (a horrible nasty weather car, one of the worst of driven) blasting through a snowy field with Bridgestone Blizzaks on.?

The downside is you don't want to drive the tires year round (awesome winter traction translates into sloppy handling and a noisy ride in the dry).? Also, you can realistically expect 15,000 miles out of the tires, so they will probably be good for up to 3 winters.

But the difference is amazing, and not just accelerating; braking, turning, and general all around stability are dramatically better.
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After you wake up with the sun at 6am on someone's floor, coughing up cigarette butts and tasting like warm beer, you may well change your opinion on this matter.

JYODER240

I'll be able to get back to you on this soon. I'm getting Dunlop Winter Sport M3's put on my 350Z tonight so as soon as the snow starts to fly, which should be any day now in NE Ohio, i'll let you know.
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ChrisV

Blizzaks or the like and using your brain are all you need with modern RWD cars in the snow.

Wonder how so many of us got through life with RWD cars and no ABS or traction control for decades... ;)
Like a fine Detroit wine, this vehicle has aged to budgetary perfection...

Catman

#7
Quote from: whoaa killaa on November 27, 2006, 10:00:31 AM
My mom is looking for a new car to replace her passat (which will become mine  :lol: ) and she is looking to get a rwd coupe.  She really likes the 350z and g35 coupe, but she is unsure about using the car in the winter.  She would not be getting the car until the spring, but we live in Massachusetts and it will be her only car.  In particular storms she could drive my fathers f150, but for 1-6inches of snow she would most likely be using the coupe.  Is it really a big deal to drive a car like this in the snow?  And since she is waiting until the spring she is going to look at the Audi TT with quattro, would that be a better choice?  I have never driven a car like this is the snow so I am not sure about it all.  Thank you for your help.  She is not a terrible driver if that helps (she was the one who taught me to drive stick after all).

Hey, welcome to CarSPIN.  Nice to have another Masshole here. :ohyeah:  Maybe a coupe isn't suce a good idea.  If she likes the G35 why not look at a G35X which is AWD.  However, if she can afford a TT then that would be a good year round car.  What about this Volvo C70?



The retractable hardtop can't hurt. :praise:

and the BMW 328xi AWD (I'm loving these)








Catman

Quote from: ChrisV on November 27, 2006, 10:51:50 AM
Blizzaks or the like and using your brain are all you need with modern RWD cars in the snow.

Wonder how so many of us got through life with RWD cars and no ABS or traction control for decades... ;)

Good point.  We cops tend to get where we're going too.  Though not easily sometimes.

SaltyDog

Adding weight in the trunk will help traction.  You could add sand bags or something.  You could also get snow tires if that's not enough help.


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S204STi

Just make sure you get a full set of snows.

SJ_GTI

350Z comes with a limited slip, right? It should be "okay" depending on where you live.

I have some family in Mass., and where they live I would prefer AWD myself. It very hilly and has lots of small curvy roads with steep inclines. Its beautiful and fun in nice weather, but I wouldn't want to drive a sports car on snowy and icy roads there.

If your mom is like me I think the upcoming Audi TT quattro will be a great compromise. The 328xi that Catman mentioned is also a good idea.

whoaa killaa

Thanks for all your help.  Realistically my mom will not have an extra set of tires lying around, so would all-seasons be any good?  She has her heart set on a coupe because everyone is off at college and she wants a fun car.  The 328xi is a good idea though and I will have her take a look at that.  AWD is the best choice for her I think so the TT and BMW seem to be the best fit.

As for the passat it is the 1.8t fwd 2001 (New passat though with the crome trim etc.) with 5 speed and baise with black interior.  I drive it whenever I can, I love it.

SJ_GTI

If she isn't going to have dedicated snow tires, definitely get all seasons. And try to get all-seasons that are designed for cold weather! Definitely avoid "performance" all-seasons. She would probably be okay with the factory tires from BMW/Audi, assuming they are all-seasons.

I will say though, that when I lived in montreal I used snow tires even though I had an AWD A4. They do make a noticable difference in traction.

MX793

I managed to get around in a RWD 240SX for 5 years in central NY winters (Syracuse, NY, where I went to college, is the 4th snowiest metropolitan area in the lower 48 States).  Wasn't necessarily easy, but doable.  I didn't even have snow tires, merely a set of all-seasons and a couple of sand bags in the trunk.  Snow tires would certainly make for easier going.  I personally would consider another RWD car as a year-round driver, but I'm not exactly the typical driver.  FWD and AWD have a definate traction advantage in the winter and if all weather traction is really a concern, a Quattro Audi TT would probably be a better choice.
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850CSi

Like a lot of other guys are saying, a careful right foot along with the right tires and you'll be fine. Trouble with RWD in the winter is overrated IMO; people make it seem like it's some impossible scary wall to climb but it's not like these cars were engineered to just drive on dry pavement. That said, there's no doubt that FWD and AWD are more manageable.

My car's RWD, we get a fair amount of Snow in Suburban Chicago and I survived last winter without any problem. I wish I could get two different sets of tires but all-seasons work pretty well if you don't want to go that route.

I personally don't believe in AWD BMWs, if she ends up really wanting AWD, I'd go for the TT.

SVT_Power

Quote from: Catman on November 27, 2006, 11:19:29 AM
and the BMW 328xi AWD (I'm loving these)




You can get AWD on the coupes now?
"On a given day, a given circumstance, you think you have a limit. And you then go for this limit and you touch this limit, and you think, 'Okay, this is the limit'. And so you touch this limit, something happens and you suddenly can go a little bit further. With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and the experience as well, you can fly very high." - Ayrton Senna

Catman

Quote from: whoaa killaa on November 27, 2006, 01:31:11 PM
Thanks for all your help.  Realistically my mom will not have an extra set of tires lying around, so would all-seasons be any good?  She has her heart set on a coupe because everyone is off at college and she wants a fun car.  The 328xi is a good idea though and I will have her take a look at that.  AWD is the best choice for her I think so the TT and BMW seem to be the best fit.

As for the passat it is the 1.8t fwd 2001 (New passat though with the crome trim etc.) with 5 speed and baise with black interior.  I drive it whenever I can, I love it.

I have a 4WD Sequoia and have snow tires for the Winter.  All-season tires are a huge compromise.  For a RWD coupe I'd say snow tires are required.


SVT_Power

Wow how did I not hear about this? 328Xi is the only AWD coupe?
"On a given day, a given circumstance, you think you have a limit. And you then go for this limit and you touch this limit, and you think, 'Okay, this is the limit'. And so you touch this limit, something happens and you suddenly can go a little bit further. With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and the experience as well, you can fly very high." - Ayrton Senna

ro51092

RWD isn't as much a pain as many make it out to be. Some snow tires should do fine. But if you do want AWD, which is understandable, I would also go for the BMW 328xi.

ifcar

Quote from: M_power on November 27, 2006, 03:00:00 PM
Wow how did I not hear about this? 328Xi is the only AWD coupe?

Of course not. This is what they said:

"Introducing the 328xi Coupe, the only coupe in its class to offer xDrive all-wheel drive."

This is what that means:

"None of the 328xi's competitors offer BMW's all-wheel-drive system."

The Audi TT is the only coupe in its class  to offer Quattro all-wheel drive, but both cars have it.

SJ_GTI

Quote from: ifcar on November 27, 2006, 03:40:53 PM
Of course not. This is what they said:

"Introducing the 328xi Coupe, the only coupe in its class to offer xDrive all-wheel drive."

This is what that means:

"None of the 328xi's competitors offer BMW's all-wheel-drive system."

The Audi TT is the only coupe in its class? to offer Quattro all-wheel drive, but both cars have it.

I'm not sure I would call the TT a 3-series competitor?

I think the 3-series competition is the CLK-class, G35, and...from Audi I guess the upcoming A5.

The TT is more of a Z4/Boxtser/SLK competitor.

I think those are logical and reasonable classes, and in those cases the 3-series and TT are the only cars in their repsective classes with any type of AWD.

Raza

The Passat's a kickass car.  I love the B5.

Has she thought about an Eos?  The 2.0T comes with a stick, though I believe the 3.6 V6 is automatic only. 
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Quote from: the Teuton on October 05, 2009, 03:53:18 PMIt's impossible to argue with Raza. He wins. Period. End of discussion.

Submariner

Quote from: Raza on November 27, 2006, 10:21:40 AM
I've had a RWD E320 in some pretty bad Philadelphia area winters, and I was fine. The G35 and 350Z have a lot more power though.

A user here has a 350Z, and he's prepping it for winter. Good tires and fine control of your throttle should keep you pretty safe.

Off topic, what year/engine/trans/color is the Passat? I have the one in my sig, a 1.8T paired, unfortunately, with the automatic.

Welcome to the forums.

Grandma.  :rolleyes:

Back on topic...I am a Mass. boy.  I'm in the western part of the state, but frequent Boston as well as Vermont and south Ct.  I'm driving a RWD sedan and there have been times where i've gotten stuck and needed a friend to tow me out.  Luckily, my parents picked up a 4x4 and are willing to let me take it out whenever.  :praise:

You might be able to get away with the coupe (if you're in Boston, then I wold give you definate thumbs up.  But in more rural areas...I would go with something with AWD.
2010 G-550  //  2019 GLS-550

Raza

Quote from: Submariner on November 27, 2006, 04:21:12 PM
Grandma.  :rolleyes:

Back on topic...I am a Mass. boy.  I'm in the western part of the state, but frequent Boston as well as Vermont and south Ct.  I'm driving a RWD sedan and there have been times where i've gotten stuck and needed a friend to tow me out.  Luckily, my parents picked up a 4x4 and are willing to let me take it out whenever.  :praise:

You might be able to get away with the coupe (if you're in Boston, then I wold give you definate thumbs up.  But in more rural areas...I would go with something with AWD.

You're the one looking for Lexus SC and a Buick Lesabre.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
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Quote from: the Teuton on October 05, 2009, 03:53:18 PMIt's impossible to argue with Raza. He wins. Period. End of discussion.

gasoline

Quote from: Colonel Cadillac on November 27, 2006, 10:08:36 AM
If you live in Mass, I would argue that it might be pretty tough to have a RWD coupe in the winters. I live in Connecticut, so I know what your winters look like (yours are even more snow-laden than ours). I would consider the TT.
A friend of mine had an IS300 in the winter in Maine (college).
It was a tricky proposition from what I could see, but I am not authoritative.
It was his first car, and he tried not to drive too often.

Keep in mind that in the Northeast, it doesn't snow every single day (but you know this...) and snow rarely ever remains on the roads for very long--even if it stays elsewhere.

People with FWD rarely ever drive in bad snow themselves.
I'd say you need to:
Drive carefully and keep a sandbag in the trunk.
It's doable if you shovel your (non-steep) driveway and drive in "six inches" of snow.
Mind you, if you live in the New England I live in, the snowplow is out the minute snow begins to fall, and works all night long.

And don't forget winter tires.
This "all-season" thingamajig doesn't work all that well.
Between that and traction control, you'll be fine for most of the winter (especially if she drives an F-150 on bad, bad days).
-----------------------------------

Submariner

Quote from: Raza on November 27, 2006, 04:34:32 PM
You're the one looking for Lexus SC and a Buick Lesabre.

It's Lincoln Town Car and Cadillac Fleetwood you idiot.
2010 G-550  //  2019 GLS-550

S204STi

Quote from: SJ_GTI on November 27, 2006, 02:02:17 PM
If she isn't going to have dedicated snow tires, definitely get all seasons. And try to get all-seasons that are designed for cold weather! Definitely avoid "performance" all-seasons. She would probably be okay with the factory tires from BMW/Audi, assuming they are all-seasons.

I will say though, that when I lived in montreal I used snow tires even though I had an AWD A4. They do make a noticable difference in traction.

C/D did an article comparing Goodyear Eagle RS-As (performance all-season) with the Goodyear high-performance snows and Eagle F1 high-performance summers, ad the Eagle RS-As compared very favorably in the snow to the dedicated snow tires, IIRC, but outperformed the snows considerably and nearly matched the summers in wet traction.

Catman

Quote from: R-inge on November 27, 2006, 07:16:17 PM
C/D did an article comparing Goodyear Eagle RS-As (performance all-season) with the Goodyear high-performance snows and Eagle F1 high-performance summers, ad the Eagle RS-As compared very favorably in the snow to the dedicated snow tires, IIRC, but outperformed the snows considerably and nearly matched the summers in wet traction.

The Goodyear snows they put on the police cars are horrible.  Ultragrips or something.