Winter 928 driving
#1
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From: Park Ridge, IL (near Chicago)
Winter 928 driving
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.
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.
#2
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!
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!
#4
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From: Brighton, MI
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.
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.
#6
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!
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#9
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From: Silly Valley, CA
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...
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...
#11
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From: New York
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)
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)
#13
Originally Posted by Intrinsicate
"Winterization", here, means not having to take the windshield sun-deflector with you, for a while!
#14
Originally Posted by Nicole
My German car magazine recently did a winter tire test.