schultze

I was wondering on the thoughs about sevens in the cold and snowy weather. I really want to take my car back to school with me in Billings Montana. I don't plan on driving it in the snow and ice unless I really have to. I want the opinion of some people that live in that kind of weather. I just always remember the first seven I saw in montana, a nice green gen 3. Except for the fact that it was totaled out on the back of a flat bed tow truck.

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

My bro's GSL-SE did just fine in Fort Collins, CO in December. It had 70 series tires instead of the stock 60 series, which helped a bit in that kind of weather.

You wanna know something funny? Since he got that car in December, he never knew how it handled in the rain until springtime.

nevarmore

Bought mine in early Feb.

Only two issues, cold starts and weight. The cold starts were a combonation of the dealer not having driven the car too much, I had forgotten how to handle a cold carb'd car, and a junk battery. It takes some getting used to, but I learned to get it to fire the first time. Tune the car up in October and you'll be good. The other issue is weight on the back tyres, the car is just too light to press down on the tyres and get a good grip on ice or hardpack snow.

I also am going to try a trick I got from a Porsche buddy on the lake this winter. Get a salt-water below the waterline marine metal varnish/protector and spray it on the bottom of the car and any uncoated metal in the engine. It prevents corrosion and can be removed come spring. Brand name and more specific directions coming soon.

What are MT winters like? Are they like icy windy OH winters? Do you get assloads of snow like upstate NY? Or is it a different beast?

82transam

iTrader: (18)

I have never had any problems drivng mine in nasty Jersey winters. A good set of mud/snow tires is all it takes. The car is already balanced enough not to need sand bags in teh hatch or anything like that. Mine always started right up with no problems, takes awhile to get up to operating temp though. Every chance I get during the winter I wash it off, especially the underside.

Bob Holton

I drive mine in Michigan all winter. Just remember it is rear wheel drive , go practice skids in a parking lot if you are used to a front wheel drive, a bag of dog food in the rear can help with traction, use the auto car wash ,because it gets the bottom of the car where the salt is and make sure the squirts and wipers work. Bob

82transam

iTrader: (18)

yea, I try to go to the auto car wash a couple times over the winter.

slashdawg00110

I agree. I drove my first one through 3 Minnesota winters without any problems. Just be smart and remember what you're driving ... unless you're fond of facing traffic on the wrong side of the road. You'll have the smallest snowplow on the road.

peejay

They kick *** in the snow if you have an open diff.

With an LSD it's tricky, easier to get stuck on hills and damn near impossible to turn the car around in a parking lot.

elwood

iTrader: (1)

Peejay, I don't understand how an LSD would be worse. I'd think the extra traction would be a benefit, although I have to admit I haven't done a back-to-back comparison.

The narrowest tires possible (that will carry the load) are definitely a benefit. Bridgestone Blizzaks are very good. They have traction that rivals studded tires.

peejay

With LSD, when one tire spins, both spin. So when you lose traction, you are more likely to lose lateral stability.

So say you're trying to pull away from a stop on a hill. With the open diff, one tire will have less traction than the other, so it'll spin first, so you just keep laying in the throttle until the tire burns down to pavement and eventually you get moving. With the LSD, the back end slides towards the curb (since both tires are spinning) and you wedge into the snowbank. Only solution is, if there's no traffic, and you're not wedged yet, back up, do a Rockford turn, and find another way to go that doesn't involve being stopped on a hill.

Making a sharp turn to turn around: With an open diff, no problem. With the LSD, there isn't enough road traction for the tires to overcome the diff's preload, so the tires don't grip. End result is the car crabs sideways when you're actually trying to turn. Solution is to try to brak the back end free, which is not always a good idea if it's a crowded parking lot or you're at a gas station.

My GSL got eminently more driveable in the snow after I burnt the LSD out... there's practically no preload grip now. But hills are still tricky.

Remember, there isn't more traction, there's LESS traction, because both tires are guaranteed to spin.

SPERRYsan

iTrader: (1)

Mine sits in my driveway waiting for efi

damn North Dakota winters

OneRotor

iTrader: (3)

the one time i've had the privelage of driving her in the snow, it was, well, interesting. Bridgestone Potenza RE910 in 195/50R15. no LSD. There was 2 or 3 inches of hard pack on my road, and it was like driving a 2wd truck. Later that day i was at a self spray car wash, and there was 4 inches of very wet snow, and it wasn't too bad driving in that. got through it, no trouble. I'd say if you're going to drive her in the snow, get a few bags of Tube Sand from your local hardware store (Quickrete makes it), and you'll be set. they're 80lb bags of pretty corse sand that is great for traction.

no_name

I live in Canada, and these cars when driven corectly with a set of winter tires, can actualy go through 2 feet of snow fairly well. The bigest problem is road salt, because it will eat through your car very easily if you do not prepair for it. You must get your car oilsprayed at least once. More is better. You should also learn how to control drifts when you corner, because they will happens, so use it to your advantage.... and make you look super cool

Rotary Weasel

we had our first snow here last week..a few inches..with my 205/50-15 Proxes 4's I couldn't get more than 50 feet from my apt..sideways the whole time..once I switched to the stock wheels with Hanook studded snow tires it was a beast..except at 60+ mph on the freeway..lol the car gets a tad loose..the price of studs...next year I plan on running the Toyo winter tire or Blizzaks on 16 inch Borbets..my stock rims are quite old and tarnished and the Konig 15's have the new Proxes on them

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

I moved to Ohio from Australia, never had a snowy winter until 6 years ago, now I live for winters in my 7, more fun than should be legal. I probably should use winter tires but so far just run good all weather tires, with LSD, and I have a freaking blast, mind you there's no hills in my area, none, nada, zip.

frisbeedog

You should be ok in Billings. The snow melts off pretty quick around town, but the worst part would be the trip over from Oregon. You have something like 4 or 5 passes top make it over.

And lucky for you that Montana does not use salt to de-ice the roads. The gravel they do use is sure to put a nice crack in your windshield.

Also in the summer you can drive the Beartooth Pass "Top of the World", which runs along about 11,000 foot elevation and has lots of turns and climbs.

SparkienSuggah

dont let anyone stop you from driving a sports car in the snow. get underneath the back of your RX: what do you see? a watts link! this is a rally bred beast, not some cushy, wanabe sports car designed for banked turns and warm, smooth ashphalt.

i find the lsd much nicer to drive than the open diff personally.. gentle launches make use of the LSD, while clutch dumps in the middle of a tight turn make the turn tighter

admittedly, because the car isnt cushy, it isnt forgiving. the light weight *** end (pay attention SA22's) loves to get squirrelly (my term) anytime you get gas happy, or brake happy, or wheel happy. drive it like your mothers buick and you car will treat you with respect, drive it like you're (insert favorite Dakkar rally driver here) and you're asking for the untamed beast.

lastly: **** ABS, i got abs in my right leg! i love winter.

PATZ

buy a beater and junk it when schools done