Daily Driver: Winter (e.g., ICE & SNOW??)
12-10-2001, 05:01 PM
#1
Track Day
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Daily Driver: Winter (e.g., ICE & SNOW??)
Hey, how about year-round daily driving in snow, sleet, slush, and ice? My 944S usually holds the garage floor down during the winter (Northeast), but I'm thinking about making it a 12-month car. I know that means at least four Alpins or Blizzaks. But what else? Wadda' you people do?
12-10-2001, 05:41 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
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Personally, a '95 'yota 4x4 pick-up w. 8,000 lb. Warn & rear ARB locker (AKA "Ol' OverKill" ).
But unless you're in steep hilly or mountainous country, or where it tends to be deep, wet snow, most any underpowered front-wheel-drive with decent snow tires & a stick shift will probably get you around most of the time. A good battery, heater, defroster, & wipers are pluses... Chains that fit are a nice luxury, as is a functional rear defroster.
Add a few strips of old carpet for traction mats, a folding shovel, and a blanket, and you're pretty well ready to go...maybe a few large garbage bags (makes a great poncho or kneeling mat), some old boots, and some candy bars.
Also, be aware that a FWD car will often go backwards up slippery hills that it won't pull frontwards...
Jim, finally proved that one a few years ago...
But unless you're in steep hilly or mountainous country, or where it tends to be deep, wet snow, most any underpowered front-wheel-drive with decent snow tires & a stick shift will probably get you around most of the time. A good battery, heater, defroster, & wipers are pluses... Chains that fit are a nice luxury, as is a functional rear defroster.
Add a few strips of old carpet for traction mats, a folding shovel, and a blanket, and you're pretty well ready to go...maybe a few large garbage bags (makes a great poncho or kneeling mat), some old boots, and some candy bars.
Also, be aware that a FWD car will often go backwards up slippery hills that it won't pull frontwards...
Jim, finally proved that one a few years ago...
12-10-2001, 06:53 PM
#3
Race Car
In my case, just the Alpins and a telescoping snow brush/ice scraper.
Jim, overkill is an understatement!
Personally, a '95 'yota 4x4 pick-up w. 8,000 lb. Warn & rear ARB locker (AKA "Ol' OverKill" ).
12-10-2001, 07:40 PM
#4
Audis and VW's are quite inexpensive (not new!) and have a proper Tuetonic character. They make great sacraficial vehicles for the times when the roads are covered with car melt and infested with inattentive SUVs that think they are immune from the laws of physics. My 944S will stay safe in it's garage this winter. I will miss it but it will make spring that much sweeter. I am just glad I can still take it out (although snow is predicted by mid week 
)
)
12-10-2001, 07:58 PM
#5
Three Wheelin'
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My heavily modified 944 turbo is daily driven up here in the mountains (Calgary, Alberta, Canada). The roads leading to my house are completely covered in snow/ice.
Michellin Alpin's on stock 16" wheels. I used Blizzak's before but they're overkill and don't last too long.
Michellin Alpin's on stock 16" wheels. I used Blizzak's before but they're overkill and don't last too long.
12-11-2001, 09:01 AM
#6
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Snow is not a big problem...although our cars rarely line up with the ruts created by other traffic and there is the ground clearance issue, but ice sucks no matter what you are driving. I had the pleasure of sitting behind the wheel and watching my S slide at around 10mph into a guardrail last year when I hit a patch of ice on a turn. I agree with Jim, any front wheel drive car (VW's especially) are actually fun in the snow.
12-11-2001, 11:54 PM
#7
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I drive my 87 944 all year here in Colorado. The only time I park it is when the snow is 6+ inches, the ground clearance problem. I am currently running Blizzaks. This will be the second season on them, last year they handled great 
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12-12-2001, 12:25 AM
#9
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i'm with kelly...i have an '88 honda accord h/b and it serves me great...even if i have no brakes, a slipping clutch, and chopped tires in the back. not to mention it runs forever and requires almost zero maintenance!
12-12-2001, 01:17 AM
#10
I have a few choices when the snow starts to fall, 87 Honda Civic 4WD wagon and a 84 Dodge Colt Vista 4WD wagon (it doesn't have enough power to spin the wheels on ice 
) and 84 Chevy Blazer Diesel, 71 88" Landrover (engine out but has been rebuilt).
) and 84 Chevy Blazer Diesel, 71 88" Landrover (engine out but has been rebuilt).
12-12-2001, 10:50 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
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I'll be driving my 951 to school this winter but it will sit in the garage there until april. So in other words there is a potential that for at least a month this year my 951 will be driven in the snow and dirty nasty gritty slush (makes me cringe).