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Driving a piece of sh*t in the snow??

6K views 79 replies 24 participants last post by  SB4L 
#1 ·
Well, due to certain circumstances I may be living the season in Bear with a POS car. Like $1k range. I'll be living within a couple miles of the resort I work at and won't be driving long distances in the snow. Will I be OK? Any suggestions/advice? Thanks in advance.

Rob
 
#4 ·
high speed replies here
We got winter tyres so we're not stopping and changing all the time. Chains are bad for your tyres too, apparently. And roads. But who cares about the roads, really.
We got second hand winter tyres for $340 (i'm in Canada, mind you) and they're freakin sweet, never have any problems with them except when there's massive dumps about.
I'm driving a 91 voyager, if that's any help. fits loads of ppl and boards in
 
#39 ·
you'll regret that, i'm just saying.
Putting on chains in cold weather sucks ass, and they break very fast if used frequently. It is meant as an emergency option, not a substitute for winter tires. Buy cheap tires with steal rims, and you wont have to worry about the chains while driving.
Also, the chains have a speedlimit of 40-50 mph, more than that will make them come off, or snap.

bottom line; winter tires is a smart investement ;)
 
G
#6 ·
first off what kind of car we talking? second heres a list of stuff to keep in the trunk. a couple two by fours, a cumalong *mechanical winch, sand or rock salt, have snow tires or chains and you should be good. Other than that should be good.
 
G
#22 ·
your question is kind of silly, don't you think? the answer depends on which kind of car we're talking about.

you can easily pick up a beater jeep or subaru with 4wd/awd for that kin of money in which case, as long as the tires are ok, you'll be in great shape.

alasdair
 
#12 · (Edited)
Get 4 snow tires, you'll be fine.

For that price you'll be lucky to find a decent 4x4 (at least I couldn't for that range in the NE). That being said, get a FWD if you have a steep driveway and don't know how to drive in snow. Otherwise I'd prefer a RWD due to having more control when you go sideways.

Get a front wheel drive for sure, RWD's suck ass in the snow.
Only for those who have no clue how to drive in the snow. All I ever needed in all my years of owning a RWD truck was weight in the rear and 2 snow tires on the rear. I got through the snow better than anyone did in a FWD. Then again I grew up with snow being around usually 5-6 months a year.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I drove a beat up 99 cougar in the snow for two years until I was finally able to buy my BMW ... It sucked at times, but I somehow managed. I remember that one day I parked my car in one of my school's parking lots which was downhill and my car started sliding down the hill, even though I had decent tires on it and stopped in a pole, and I had to run to class so it just sat there for an hour or two, it was so funny. Nobody noticed that my car was actually supporting on that pole ... I laughed.

But if you do get a car, get 4X4 or at least a FWD .... you can get jeep cherokees for 1-2k and with good tires, that thing will do great in the snow.

It's really all about the tires. My friend wrecked his EVO right in front of me while I was following him and ended up in the ditch (his skirts and front bumper got ripped off but other than that they were fine) .... and EVO ... which is kinda crazy cuz those things are ridiculous ... but shitty tires do that.

tires FTW. and then make sure it's a car that will start in the cold, even if it's old and cheap. check the starter before you buy it since that is the number one problem of cars not starting in the snow.

instead of buying chains, invest more money in some good tires that will last you longer and are going to be more helpful in any situation. chains also destroy tires, and you can't use chains in lighter snow/black ice and you will slide.

another suggestion: go to impound lots and try to buy a car that nobody came to pick up and is offered for sale now ... they have really good deals on good cars sometimes.
 
#13 ·
Well here's my scenario:

I'm REALLY tight on cash due to some unforeseen events and throwing a few hundred bucks on snow tires just for 2-3 months of use isn't really an option. My license has been suspended for the past year (NO, I'm not a dipsh*t DUI... I got it suspended for a MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL [2 months from turning 21] while at SDSU.. I walked out of a party with a beer and BOOM 1 year mandatory license suspension :mad: .. But I digress) and I just got it back. So it's not that I don't know how to drive, not by any means.. But when I get this car it will be my first time driving in the snow, and my first time behind the wheel in about a year. The whole scenario is making me kinda nervous. I'm far from a retard driver (especially with how paranoid I will be), so do you guys think I will have potential problems with a $1k FWD with whatever tires come with it and just chains?

Thanks.

Rob
 
#14 ·
There's no way to tell.

Depends on driving conditions (meaning weather, traffic, visibility, ice/snow/salt/sand on the road), depends on the car (weight, wheelbase, ride height, tires) and depends on how hilly it is where you plan to drive.

I would get in touch with locals wherever it is you plan to go and solicit advice. If most of the locals are rolling on snow tires during the season, then you might want to borrow a few bucks from the parentals (or from friends) and invest in tires and chains.

If the locals tell you that you should be ok if you take it easy, then you probably want to ease yourself into driving in wintry conditions.

I drove through snow for for the first time in a few years in Breck 2 weeks ago. Conditions weren't bad going in, but the fog was ri-$$#@@#-diculous on the way back out (couple this with patches of snow and ice on the road)

It a crap shoot!
 
#17 ·
If you're getting a FWD or 4x4, you need 4 snow tires, look for used on craigslist at least.

For a RWD, you can get by with 2 on the rear.
 
#19 ·
Hmm.. I've driven down the mountain at night in a snowstorm where we couldn't see a foot in front of us with a FWD Volvo with chains on the front. Am I missing something?

Not to mention, I'm gonna be in Big Bear, SoCal.. Not like Wisconsin or someplace with a true winter.
 
#20 ·
Well, thing is with a FWD vehicle, you already have power at the front wheel plus the engine weight and more than half the weight of the car on the front end so you already have more traction than the rear wheels. If you get snow tires, or chains just for the front it's making it a lot easier for the rear end to break loose on snow since now it will have even less traction contrast to the front although it already did initially. Once a FWD loses it, it's game over.

With a RWD, once the back end kicks out you can control the slide and power out of it, not so for a FWD. This is why they recommend to get equal grip for the front and rear. So if you upgrade the front, it's best to upgrade the rear as well. I know some people don't and can do o.k. with it, but you better drive conservatively and carefully if you're gonna go that direction.
 
#24 ·
you could probably find a <98 subaru for 1500. other recommendations include vw golf/jetta, 96ish accord, stuff like that. if you want to buy domestic check out a bronco/explorer. STAY AWAY from chryslers/jeeps/etc. my moms bf has a 2001 cherokee and the turn signals/lights work when they feel like it and the mileage is 15 for a V6. if you dont want to bother with the steering wheel getting cold, you could also get an aftermarket leather cover for it at autozone for 30 (totally worth it). just ask if you got any more Q's!
 
#29 ·
STAY AWAY from chryslers/jeeps/etc. my moms bf has a 2001 cherokee and the turn signals/lights work when they feel like it and the mileage is 15 for a V6. if you dont want to bother with the steering wheel getting cold, you could also get an aftermarket leather cover for it at autozone for 30 (totally worth it). just ask if you got any more Q's!
Why can you say this about Jeeps from one expirence. Everyone that has had a Jeep, mostly the GC, has wanted another one. My grandma gave me the car with 227k, and I floor it when I ever feel like it and the pick up is great for a high millage v8. I heard of most Jeeps going over 300k no problem.
 
#26 ·
if you want relible just buy foreign and you will be fine. the outback would be a solid choice since you could fit a ton of shit in it and still make back most of your money when you sell it (they hold their value great!) check craigslist and put the limit on 2k because you could probably negotiate the price down a lot. don't be afraid of high miles on a subie as long as there are good maintanence records.
 
#27 ·
No shit...I said exactly that...get good tires. Trust me, I know about handling a rig in ice and snow and have put more miles on ice and snow driving in all 48 states and Canada than most people have total....;)

My point was that those people who say that chains destroy tires are incorrect; they simply are not using them correctly and good tires or not, when Cal Trans says "chains on all vehicles" you are`nt going to argue your way past the check point so you ought to have a set in the trunk.
I wasnt talking to you when I said that, I know u know what you are talking about, I was just making sure he understands that he needs good tires AND he might need chains also and that good tires are a must before having chains.
 
#31 ·
A Jeep would be my first choice since they are very reliable and easy to perform routine maintenance on. I picked up a 2000 Jeep Wrangler with AT radials and it is almost unstoppable in very deep snow. It does well in icy conditions too as long as you drive slowly - no vehicle does great on ice.
 
#35 ·
I have a 91 dodge Caravan and its great. I have winter tyres on it already. It can go through anything with the right approach. As has been said it is really up to you. You can have the best car/tyres and if you drive like a douche you will end up in a ditch upside down. My car is old so i take it very very easy. Just go slow! cant say this enough. Snowolf has some very good points.
dont buy anything RWD! I have driven FWD, RWD and 4X4. Obviously 4X4 is best but FWD when used properly is very good. RWD will have you in a ditch in no time.
Good luck.
 
#38 ·
RWD will have you in a ditch in no time.
Good luck.
:rolleyes: *sigh* the only people that say this are those who again, don't know how to use a RWD in the snow. Apparently there is a delusion that because the rear end comes around easier on a RWD it will end you in the ditch. Everyone I know who got a FWD and had it come loose in snow, wound up in the ditch or trashed it. Once they learned how to drive a RWD and control the slide they never had an issue.

Take a FWD on a controlled course, and kick it loose trying to control the slide, then do it for a RWD. There is a reason FWD is not known for good use in drifting or racing on dirt; you cannot control the slide. That being said RWD is nothing easy either to pick up if your just getting the hang of driving in snow.

To each their own.
 
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