Learn to drive!

So, this morning I left the Grand Cherokee with four dedicated snow tires in the garage, and drove the LS1 Camaro with ancient and worn Dunlop D60 A2 tires to work. And now it's snowing. Good thing I grew up in Canada. Doofus.

I do have a theory as to why you see so many SUVs pretending to be weeds in a ditch. On the original and summer tires, our GC doesn't give you any information about the surface of the road. Nada. It'll accelerate like the proverbial molested primate (it's the world's least fun vehicle in a snowy parking lot because all it wants to do is hook up) but it'll never tell you what's going on at the contact patches. With snows, it's actually a lot better. So, the problem isn't a feeling of invulnerability on the part of the SUV drivers, it's simple ignorance of the road surface.

Last weekend, I was probably "that guy" in an SUV. Sorry, I run snows. I DO have more traction than you...

DrBoost wrote:

mtn wrote: What if we actually want an El Camino?

Huh? Oh, I get it. You're being funny. I hope........

Nope. I put it about two cars below Miata.

scandanavian flick FTW, little left, little right. slow down early and in a STRAIGHT line, turn repeat.

I remember a number of years ago we got pummeled with over a foot of snow at one shot. I had an 87 celebrity and went wherever. the SUV crowd was sliding all over the place and getting stuck.
these days I find the caravan to be a great winter vehicle, it seems to go through anything.

I find that stuff that I need to go to (most notably, work) gets cancelled due to weather long before I find that I can't drive a rear-drive vehicle safely in it.

Funny line about driving on ice: "It doesn't seem fast until you screw up."

Clem

wherethefmi2000 wrote: scandanavian flick FTW, little left, little right. slow down early and in a STRAIGHT line, turn repeat.

I much prefer the flick, stab throttle, counter steer, yank hand-brake, mash throttle routine. My neighbors.... not so much.

walterj wrote:

wherethefmi2000 wrote: scandanavian flick FTW, little left, little right. slow down early and in a STRAIGHT line, turn repeat.

I much prefer the flick, stab throttle, counter steer, yank hand-brake, mash throttle routine. My neighbors.... not so much.

Hand brake not so easy with the foot pedal. and no need to countersteer with fwd just turn more the same direction and give it a little more gas lol

I wish all the idiots were confined to cars on snow days. New York City has spoiled people to the point where not only can you go from any part of the city to any other part for $2.00 24/7, but they shouldn't experience any delays either. City Buses are the worst driving vehicles in the snow even with tire chains, but these people can't understand why they are waiting 10 minutes in the snow when the schedule clearly says 4 minutes. Then as the bus slides to a stop they start walking into the street to meet it only to haveto try and run back as it starts sliding down the crown of the road towards them. The only people who annoyed me more were the people in motorized wheelchairs and scooters who had to go out. I'm a fat mess myself so I don't often pick on fat people but for the love of God, you're so fat the government gave you a motorized chair, you can go a day without picking up lotto numbers and twinkies. I had two of them at my post. One was trying to cross the street and got bogged down in some slush. When four of us pushed him onto the sidewalk he told us we only had another block and a half to go. The other hit a patch of ice, lost control and got caught between two parked cars. They needed the fire department to get him free, because I'm sure the firemen had nothing better to do. I told my wife if I ever get so fat I get stuck in a parking space to shoot me, and make sure to use the 10 gauge. The .22 would probably just sting.

A friend of mine has a Subaru Wagon. He has four snow tires on it. These came in handy last winter when we drove through a storm going to State College, PA. Going up a mountainous hill we saw a semi, a Ford Exploder, and about 6 other cars all stuck on the side of the road. We just plowed right on past them all with all four tires spinning. We made it the rest of the way uneventfully. I love snow tires.

Keith wrote: So, this morning I left the Grand Cherokee with four dedicated snow tires in the garage, and drove the LS1 Camaro with ancient and worn Dunlop D60 A2 tires to work. And now it's snowing. Good thing I grew up in Canada. Doofus. I do have a theory as to why you see so many SUVs pretending to be weeds in a ditch. On the original and summer tires, our GC doesn't give you any information about the surface of the road. Nada. It'll accelerate like the proverbial molested primate (it's the world's least fun vehicle in a snowy parking lot because all it wants to do is hook up) but it'll never tell you what's going on at the contact patches. With snows, it's actually a lot better. So, the problem isn't a feeling of invulnerability on the part of the SUV drivers, it's simple ignorance of the road surface. Last weekend, I was probably "that guy" in an SUV. Sorry, I run snows. I DO have more traction than you...

Yep, the girlfriend's family loves their Toyota's, so of course she gets a Highlander as a hand me down. The problem? No feedback to the driver. I hate driving it since I can't tell what the damned thing is doing and with the 12" of snow on the ground, the addition of chains almost helps, except the brakes are still overboosted and completely lack feeling.

confuZion3 wrote: A friend of mine has a Subaru Wagon. He has four snow tires on it. These came in handy last winter when we drove through a storm going to State College, PA. Going up a mountainous hill we saw a semi, a Ford Exploder, and about 6 other cars all stuck on the side of the road. We just plowed right on past them all with all four tires spinning. We made it the rest of the way uneventfully. I love snow tires.

People don't understand how big a difference they make. My wife insisted on driving her carpool that day and the other hens couldn't believe how well she drives in the snow blasting past everything else on the road.

that or studed tires, and I LOVE THE GIANT SUV with 22" rims and tires and wonder why they're stuck lol

In reply to wherethefmi2000:

You also forgot the turn in, dab a little left foot brake, while applying some throttle with the right foot. All for a quick course correction.

Oh and it sucks following behind one of those bald tire SUV's (a Pathfinder no less) up a hill when it decides to do an impossible 90 degree snap oversteer maneuver and slam into a guardrail. Sure your SUV is a hell of a lot better in the snow than my crappy econobox with four snows

+1 for the left foot brake, awd drifts are soooooo much fun, in a wagon even more!!! my car perfers trail braking, tends to terminally understeer when i try and filck her. how ever, nothing feels as good as plowing through your nieghborhood going 25, having some guy in a grand prix coming the other way understeer into a mail box, and just 4 wheel spinning around him in a slide induced zen car maneuver the old Scandinavians would do at 1 billion times your speed. still, a man can dream

Yeah, winter seems to bring out the worst in some drivers.

I've seen some pretty "interesting" driving as the weather has gotten worse.

My Miata has a new set of Blizzaks, plus I take it pretty easy. In the last week I've seen at least a dozen people drivng waaay over their skill-level.

I worked late last week and I'm driving home in rain with an annoying tailgater on my bumper. It was almost icy.......might have been icy in some stretches of the road.

As the road I'm driving on changes from one-lane to two lanes, we come to a red light.

Mr. Annoying Tailgater zooms up next to me, revving his engine and creeping forward as the light remains red. He looks like he's ready for a Race To The Death.

By the way, he is driving his Mom's (or wife's) Toyota Corolla. It's either beige or mauve. And it's automatic. It looks just like the car my Aunt Lil drives. She's 92.

The light turns green and Sooper High Perfomance Toyota Racing Corolla zooms ahead. Because I let him. Because I find these sort of people tedious.

As we drive down the road, I stay on His Six, but not tailgating. I realize we are approaching a part of the road that is a single-lane, one-way ramp that tightly turns back over 180 degrees.

I love driving on this ramp since it's one-way and there's no chance of meeting any opposing traffic. I won't race on the street, but I enjoy a bit of spirited oversteer on ramps like this when I'm by myself.

As we enter this ramp, I get closer to him (almost, but not actual tailgating).

Predicably, he has to prove his Manhood by stepping on the gas. And I stay with him

Did I mention it's slippery and raining?

Oh boy, this is going to be fun.

Half way through the turn, the wheezing Corolla is experiencing a Mighty Battle between testosterone and physics. And physics is winning.

Meanwhile, the Miata, with new Blizzaks is "right there" and rock solid.

Pretty soon the Corolla brake lights go on. Then the steering wheel goes to full-lock right. Then full-lock left. Then a clumsy pirouette and the little Toyota is going backwards down the ramp until it harmlessly stops of it's own accord. No thanks to the conglomeration of protoplasm aboard.

I almost wet my pants laughing.

I gave him a cheerful horn toot and wave as I drove past. Idiot.

My Aunt Lil would have done much better.

For the last two years I had a 2wd F-150 in Colorado. No issues. In Nebraska I got used to driving out of the side window of my 2nd Gen RX7, and every time Ipassed a 4x4 stuck in the median I waved my GA liscnece in their face.,

It was hit on earlier and I am too lazy to find it, but you need to accept a delayed reaction from your vehicle and a given loss of a certian percentage of traction.

Got the wife a CX9 earlier this year, and while it defaults to undertseer in the dry, a stab of throttle induces the most lovely controlled oversteer. Man does she had it when I do that.

Somoens else mentioned work getting cancelled, I have a good buddy here who won't buy a car. Only motorcycles. He works for the school system and on the rare days he does have to go in, he has a Honda Metropolitian outfitted with plugs for his heated vest and gloves.

SVreX wrote: I'm guessing most of you haven't seen a '60 model El Camino. This one's mine: My '60 Elky

That is hot.

My first time in snow story, driving to Ohio from LA decided to go the northerly route in November, picked up a 75 Plymouth Fury with the monster 318 and 1975 issue tires in LA, began to drive North leaving 90 degree LA in my mirrors.

Got to Colorado and as I began climbing the mountains, I noticed some gray ash falling on the car, hmm I thought must be a bushfire, a short time later I discover that this is snow.....

Turn on the heat, its an LA car, that heater has never been turned on and wasn't about to start today.

As I drive higher, the car goes slower and slower when I realize that the air is getting thinner and the LA carb isn't allowing for this.

Up and onward at the flying 8mph maximum, waiting for the beast to die and me shortly after to follow it.

As I drive I begin to see a strange sight, Semis, SUVs, 4x4 trucks, even Subarus are in the center medium, and off the side of the road. At first I thought they were waiting for the weather to break until I realized that they were all stranded after sliding off the road.

The old girl kept on plugging along, and I kept on praying.

Finally I reached the tunnel at the top and began to descend wondering what had made those new nice cars slide off the road when I realized it was that age old car problem the nut behind the wheel.

Since that time 9 years ago I have easily driven 1,000,000 miles and all of them have been in V8 RWD cars, I have never been stranding, slid off the road or wrecked. I am experienced but no super driver either. I regularly pass new SUVs doing 40 mph in 55 zones in my cars and when nobody is about I drive slideways whenever I can.

Bring on the snow....I for one love it.

aeronca65t wrote: Yeah, winter seems to bring out the worst in some drivers. I've seen some pretty "interesting" driving as the weather has gotten worse. My Miata has a new set of Blizzaks, plus I take it pretty easy. In the last week I've seen at least a dozen people drivng *waaay* over their skill-level. I worked late last week and I'm driving home in rain with an annoying tailgater on my bumper. It was *almost* icy.......might have been icy in some stretches of the road. As the road I'm driving on changes from one-lane to two lanes, we come to a red light. Mr. Annoying Tailgater zooms up next to me, revving his engine and creeping forward as the light remains red. He looks like he's ready for a Race To The Death. By the way, he is driving his Mom's (or wife's) Toyota Corolla. It's either beige or mauve. And it's automatic. It looks just like the car my Aunt Lil drives. She's 92. The light turns green and Sooper High Perfomance Toyota Racing Corolla zooms ahead. Because I let him. Because I find these sort of people tedious. As we drive down the road, I stay on His Six, but not tailgating. I realize we are approaching a part of the road that is a single-lane, one-way ramp that tightly turns back over 180 degrees. I love driving on this ramp since it's one-way and there's no chance of meeting any opposing traffic. I won't race on the street, but I enjoy a bit of spirited oversteer on ramps like this when I'm by myself. As we enter this ramp, I get closer to him (*almost*, but not actual tailgating). Predicably, he has to prove his Manhood by stepping on the gas. And I stay with him Did I mention it's slippery and raining? Oh boy, this is going to be *fun*. Half way through the turn, the wheezing Corolla is experiencing a Mighty Battle between testosterone and physics. And physics is winning. Meanwhile, the Miata, with new Blizzaks is "right there" and rock solid. Pretty soon the Corolla brake lights go on. Then the steering wheel goes to full-lock right. Then full-lock left. Then a clumsy pirouette and the little Toyota is going backwards down the ramp until it harmlessly stops of it's own accord. No thanks to the conglomeration of protoplasm aboard. I almost wet my pants laughing. I gave him a cheerful horn toot and wave as I drove past. Idiot. My Aunt Lil would have done much better.

best story so far!!!!

Mental wrote: For the last two years I had a 2wd F-150 in Colorado. No issues.

You're the only one. There's a reason 2wd trucks have absolutely no resale value in Colorado. They suck in the snow.

Mental wrote:

SVreX wrote: I'm guessing most of you haven't seen a '60 model El Camino. This one's mine: My '60 Elky

That is hot.

Thanks!

Though, I will admit that it is a drifting animal. Breaking loose in the thing is extremely easy. So what's wrong with drifting?

Keith wrote: Last weekend, I was probably "that guy" in an SUV. Sorry, I run snows. I DO have more traction than you...

Yup. Same here with the Rangie. Spent the weekend in CT with snow and ice. And good tires. Lots of feedback, easy to drive in the snow, including cornering and, yes, braking. You DO have to drive different, but you can still go plenty quickly, simply by using those laws of physics to your advantage. Otherwise rally drivers could only go slowly in snow, too.

The problem, as some have said here, is NOT the SUV, but the person drivng that has no clue as to 1) how to utilize, rather than ignore, the laws of physics, and 2) utilize proper tires in this weather.

I watched a Jeep driver ahead of me drive in the left lane of the interstate where the snow was still unplowed right next to him, slightly cross over into that unplowed snow, and get tugged hard to the left. When he let off the gas due to that tugging, it got worse and he started swerving around. Got it straightened out, but could've been bad. I felt the same thing in the Rangie a couple times, but you don't immediately let off the throttle. All that does is make the snow drag that tire around even worse, as instead of you pulling through the snow, the snow is pulling on you. A touch of throttle and steering ever so slightly back in the way you want to be pointed and you stay on course.

I had a blast driving the Rangies in the snow over the years...

tuffburn wrote:

aeronca65t wrote: A very amusing anecdote.

best story so far!!!!

Yep. Good one. I needed that laugh. Thanks, aeronca65t.

It is time for the fun to start again. I have seen people driving slow because they refuse to clear the frost from their windows. They screw with everyone else due to sloth

I don't see the big deal. I drove through last winter on my FSP celica complete with RS2s. It was super. Never got stuck.

Won't be trying that this year, though. Instead, i'll be driving a 300+whp torque monster of a FWD failmobile on Nexens.

BRING IT OOONNNNN!!!

I'm basically a Florida boy, but born and raised in snow country- N.E Ohio. Lived in Baltimore for a couple of years and found drivers there to be extremely entertaining during the rare snow days. They had NO concept about how to drive in slippery conditions, the area closed down until that white stuff went away. It would be priceless to see it really snow in Florida!!