Well, we got the snow. In fact it's bizzarding like crazy here. And, believe it or not, there are people out driving in it. Not me. While I trust my Saab I'd surely feel more comfortable if it had AWD, like the Forester I recently drove. We've recently tested two cars with AWD so check 'em out if you find you're the kind to go out in this type of weather a lot: Audi allroad Quattro and Subaru Forester. Meanwhile, I've made the cocoa hot and toasted up the socks.—Bob SchultiesWell, we got the snow. In fact it's bizzarding like crazy here. And, believe it or not, there are people out driving in it. Not me. While I trust my Saab I'd surely feel more comfortable if it had AWD, like the Forester I recently drove. We've recently tested two cars with AWD so check 'em out if you find you're the kind to go out in this type of weather a lot: Audi allroad Quattro and Subaru Forester. Meanwhile, I've made the cocoa hot and toasted up the socks.—Bob SchultiesExplore Cars
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Hey i drive in the snow every winter… i guess you could say im a bit an expert (not totally of course), so i would like to share some things with you people we call “flat-landers” to make the road safer for you and me…
First dont think about driving on roads that havn’t been plowed unless you have driven in snow many many times… its better to live than lose your job. belive me i have seen at least 15 casulties in the 16 years iv been in the snow.
Second your car –
1. automatic gizmos for traction control will in fact get you into more trouble. when you go up a hill somtimes your forced to break traction.
2. anti-lock brakes are a plus
3. the first chance you get in any car you drive every time you drive in the snow immediatly test bounderies and tolerances, in a safe spot-every snow is different.
once i was forced to fish-tail my bug around a snow-plow-tracter-grader that lost all traction. iv even seen a 30 car pile-up with snow-plows pulling out snow-plows and getting stuck.
4. all cars were not created equal nor will they ever be. when im driving in a white out with 8 inches of snow the only cars actually driving on the road are old (not new) VW’s, Subarus, and snowplows (somtimes).
5. a good all around speed for any car in any snow or ice is 20mph. go too slow your gonna get stuck on a hill, too fast your gonna end up in the ditch.
6. chains – dont go over 30 mph theyll break and wrap around your axle. forget the guy tailgating you to go faster (your probly saving his life by keeping his speed down). always put on chains the first chance you get. for example: im going up the grade and i see the rain on my winshield trying to snow (youll know what i mean, little pieces of ice in the rain) pull over immediatly and put on those chains. its not any fun to put em on when you really need em after your stuck in 6 inches of snow…
WARNING: do not spin your tires with chaines on they will break and wrap around your axle. its easyier to get stuck and walk to a gas station to call a tow-truck than to get a chain off that axle.
7. if you have a jeep pretend its a ford escort it acts like one in the snow with 4 wheel drive and chains. i had a jeep and a VW my Bug would outdo the jeep any day with its 2 wheel drive (with no chains) while the jeep would have chains on all four wheels. if you move to the mountains i suggest you forget that pickup truck unless you need it and get a subaru outback its the best bang for the buck youll ever get if your new to snow.
8. transmission; automatics stay away from snow at all costs, you just dont have the controll of a stick – guys with sticks try to use the tranny to slow the car just dont use the brakes at all.
9. stop signs… if you can get away with it dont stop your much less likely to get stuck…all the cops are busy with accidents anyways so dont worry about a ticket.
10. an SUV is NOT a good off road car don’t get fooled in to thinking it is. my grandmas old cadillac is better for off roading.
11. most important of all-dress for the weather like your walking 10 miles in it. if you wear a sweater in 30 degree weather and you get stuck in the snow (probly a 50% chance)you may end up walking 15 miles to shelter dont get cought with your pants down in the snow you can die very easily.
12. if you have any questions or comments or whatever go ahead and e-mail me im glad to help-ethanphoto@gmail.com
im sorry one more thing spider spikes are not chains they are easy to put on because they dont touch the ground – therfore they dont get traction, all they are is a false sense of security.
second get hard chains not cables nothing grips like hard chains.
third always always get mud and snows nothing is as good as them (i found they grip the street much better than street tires anyways so i use em all year long)
if you see someone floundering stay away from them
i have driven all manner of vehicles in the snow somwhere from 20-30 and i tell you if you can learn to shift properly get a VW bug or van (old ones) not only are they cheap they will take you everywhere till the day they die. (and they get great gas milage)
but as a said earlyier if you have to have an automatic get a subaru outback. if you cant offord one get an 80’s subaru hatchback (iv gone much farther off road with my old subaru than those big jacked up trucks could dream up)
hummers are not good for snow, all they are is eye candy. please hummer owners for your safty i plead with you not to take your car out. iv seen the brains of one hummer owner and the bones of another. the one with the broken leg i got to the hospital and he lived. hummers are some of the worst cars for snow not only do that handle like tanks they are too wide for 3 lane highways plowed to 1 lane for both ways to share
last but not least if you feel scared and like yoru going to kill your self stop the car and get out you shouldnt be driving. to drive in the snow you must exude confidence.
——————–
what is virtue without integrity
Ethan 2005