j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Hello,
This will be my first winter for driving my 84S A/T. I have a regular winter car but my son needs to use it. I'm looking for suggestions or tips from those of you who drive their shark in snow, salt and cold, freezing weather. Tires? Corrosion prevention? Cold starting? Getting unstuck from snow? Whatever you think might help.
With some luck I'll have my winter car back in a year or 2 (2001 Isuzu Vehicross) so my shark can stay inside when it's real cold or bad winter conditions at that time.
Thanks in advance,
Dave McK.

BrianG

The shark sucks in winter........ especially if there's snow. There's precious little ground clearance, so if you run over an ice chunk, you can wipe out the A/C pump or the alternator mounts. That's a $$$ ISSUE!

The 50/50 weight distribution is wonderful if the traction is equal as well........... it understeers like the devil with snows only on the back!

It's aluminum and galvanized steel so corrosion isn't a huge issue.

I'd recommend a $500.00 beater for your winters!

indefactorX

i'd be worried about jack frost saying hello to my windshield after my car finished making out with the ice glazed curb

Big Dave

I drove my '85 for several winters as a daily driver. I used 205/55/16 winter tires on 16" phone dial rims (per Porsche factory recommendations...remember that narrower tires sink through the snow and reach the pavement more easily than fat tires). While it wasn't as good as an all-wheel drive vehicle, it handled better than my wife's mini-van.

I have to agree when people say that if can avoid driving it during the winter, do so. Even if you're very careful, you're still at risk that other drivers will hit you. If nothing else, keep it in the garage while the roads are snow/ice covered. Here in Michigan, that wasn't too often. Usually the snow was plowed and off the main streets within hours of any significant snowfalls. Avoid using your front spoiler as a snow plow, too.

Aside from that, I never had a problem with cold starts or anything else. Wash the car weekly to get rid of the salt and make sure you have coolant and oil appropriate for colder weather.

F4GIB

$500 beater is the way to go. Give IT to your son (help a boy learn the value of hard work).

IcemanG17

I vote for the beater old school subaru for the kid & garage for the shark...but if you must drive it make sure the battery is in good condition too! By the time you buy snow tires & wheels...it will almost pay for the beater!

AO

Cheap POS gets my vote too. I grew up in Minnesota and now live in Michigan, so I know a thing or two about winter driving.

mpesik

I've driven the Beast for a couple of Winters. It's not so bad but, highway driving with the LSD kicking in certainly will keep you awake and your guarenteed to avoid any speeding tickets!

Nicole

My German car magazine recently did a winter tire test. The winners were:

Dunlop SP Winter Sport D3
Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip 7
Pirelli Winter 210 Sotto Zero

They also ran a regular summer tire for compariswon. As expected it was just plain horrible at the low temperatures and in the snow. The summer tires' grip was less than 1/4th of the worst winter tire in the snow. Braking distance was more than 3 times of the worst snow tire, and driving the hendling test took more than twice as long as the worst winter tire. Their conclusion was that driving a summer tire in the winter is like playing Russian Roulette - apart from blocking traffic when getting stuck.

Just thought I'd throw this in...

mulik51

I bought my Bronco II 1985 5speed 4x4 for 700$. Spent 100 on it. Still runs for 2 years allready. Great in snow and off-road. Feels good to go into the PepBoys and parts for under 20$

Klim

ew928

Thanks for the tire tip, Nicole.

I run Michelin Pilot Alpins in 225/50/16 on factory slotted alloys.
I have the option to take the bus so I do that the first few heavy snow days
in the NY/NJ area. The idiots out there forget that there's a snow stopping distance
and they forget snow don't grip like tarmac.
Otherwise snow removal is pretty good so snows are just for insurance.
Do get lot less snow down here than Chicagoland.

I'm at 195mm ride height. Max height.
Used to be at 145mm ride height and it wasn't fun lopping off the tops of them
truck turds (snowpack from 18 wheeler wheel wells) with the bellypan.
Thwonk thwonk thwonk.

Wish I had a nice Audi Quattro for winter fun.
Ernest (NYC)

Intrinsicate

"Winterization", here, means not having to take the windshield sun-deflector with you, for a while!

Tony

and much lower inlet and intercooler temps

Vilhuer

Were those tires made for central European market. Scandinavian countries usually get different types what work much better in really bad weather but will melt away when it's warm. And then there are studded versions what easily beat any normal rubber in icy conditions.

mulik51

True, when I was living in Russia, Scandinavian tires (something like Happekilien) were THE BEST. But don't drive them in summer)

Klim