Bad Road Conditions or in the snow

[CarBrad]

How does the AWD version of the GT do in bad road conditions? Can anyone that lives in the midwest give let me know? Concerned about things like potholes, deeper snow, traction. Everyone around here seems to have a crossover or a truck.

 

[Crisis]

More north than midwest, but I can report that during its first winter, my Stinger performed very well. I ran good winter tires and the AWD system handled the snow & ice very well. Our roads here are generally crap and even worse so in the winter with frozen ruts all over the place, but the Stinger did much better than I would have expected for a relatively low vehicle.

 

[CarBrad]

More north than midwest, but I can report that during its first winter, my Stinger performed very well. I ran good winter tires and the AWD system handled the snow & ice very well. Our roads here are generally crap and even worse so in the winter with frozen ruts all over the place, but the Stinger did much better than I would have expected for a relatively low vehicle.

@Crisis yea, it has been a long time since I have had a car around here. I have been in trucks or suvs in the winter for the past decade. I would hope to get by on all seasons if possible.

So since you have some experience with this. How does the car do with ground clearance? Do you have to worry about bottoming out on driveway entrances and exits or anything like that? I have driven a Corvette before, and Id have to take everything at angle or it would bottom out.

 

[nhcowboy28]

No substitute for skill and proper tires.

Awd isn’t a silver bullet.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I have an AWD with 18" Michelin IceX3 tires and it performed really well this past winter and I drove to work during some pretty serious storms. On two occasions I had to turn around and go home because other vehicles had blocked the roads from being stuck. I'd say if you have any issues it will be strictly related to clearance, the AWD does sit a bit higher than the RWD though.

 

[turboAWD]

Got nearly stuck due to clearance in my '90 GTI once - had a small snow arm piling up almost a foot above my hood in the front once..

On my Corrado, when I did winter rallies, I had my coilovers set to MAXIMUM height to get MORE clearance.

 

[CarBrad]

Yeah, its hard to tell how much clearance the stinger has. It looks like it sits pretty low, but there might be more clearance than it looks like.

 

[NismoDPB]

The stinger's wheels are near the corners so there aren't large overhangs. I find it easy to go over speed bumps and drive crests without scraping. On the flipside I wouldn't fo trudging through deep snow as its ride height and long wheel base is a recipe for getting high centered.

 

[Crisis]

@Crisis yea, it has been a long time since I have had a car around here. I have been in trucks or suvs in the winter for the past decade. I would hope to get by on all seasons if possible.

So since you have some experience with this. How does the car do with ground clearance? Do you have to worry about bottoming out on driveway entrances and exits or anything like that? I have driven a Corvette before, and Id have to take everything at angle or it would bottom out.

I have the opposite background. Unlike almost everyone else in Sask, I've always driven a car as a daily driver - never a pickup or SUV. That being said, I've had no issues going in or out driveways and we have a fairly tall rolled curb at our home. I'm cautious when driving on roads with really deep ice ruts in the winter, but the Stinger is no worse that any of my many family sedans (a few impalas of various generations, an Intrepid and a Sonata most recently) that I've owned in the past. Ground clearance seems better than expected but obviously not as good as an SUV or truck.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Is drifting snow in the "Midwest" particularly nasty? I thought "snow is snow".

We get a lot of snow. Fortunately, typically, not so much in the lowlands/valleys, but still four to half a dozen whoppers per winter are typical. I have seen snow pushing over a foot and a half on the open roads before snow removal crews could get to it. The storm I am remembering was on Xmas day, and my VW Bug got high centered in our street before I could reach our driveway (this was Xmas night, on our way home after a day at my parents' house). The Stinger would never have made it that far, let's be honest: too low.

But, I wouldn't even try in that scenario. Then you just wait it out. As is typical around here (even back then, and the snow removal is a lot better now than back then), the roads were cleared off by later the next day. Around here, I can't remember the last time that the roads weren't dry the day after a heavy snow storm.

AWD on A/S tires got me through the last winter in great shape every time.

 

[Kazz]

I haven't really tried it after a deep snow without it being plowed. But you know how clean parking lots, corners, etc. are. The plows only do so much. Central Illinois, two winters, GT2 AWD, OEM 18" all-seasons have readily tackled it.

 

[CarBrad]

I haven't really tried it after a deep snow without it being plowed. But you know how clean parking lots, corners, etc. are. The plows only do so much. Central Illinois, two winters, GT2 AWD, OEM 18" all-seasons have readily tackled it.

Do you run an additional vehicle in the winter during the storms? @Kazz

I am out of Indianapolis. Our roads can be pretty terrible. The potholes in particular. I want to get this car, but I do have concerns if it would really be okay all year around. If I was buying it as a secondary vehicle I wouldn't think twice, but I only have enough money really for one car. and the stinger is really more than I would like to spend on a car, but I am overly cautious with spending at times. So I am torn if I would be better off just buying one of the boring crossovers like everyone else here drives.

 

[Kazz]

Do you run an additional vehicle in the winter during the storms? @Kazz

I am out of Indianapolis. Our roads can be pretty terrible. The potholes in particular. I want to get this car, but I do have concerns if it would really be okay all year around. If I was buying it as a secondary vehicle I wouldn't think twice, but I only have enough money really for one car. and the stinger is really more than I would like to spend on a car, but I am overly cautious with spending at times. So I am torn if I would be better off just buying one of the boring crossovers like everyone else here drives.

Well, I think it's a bit subjective. I feel it kind of depends on what car you're driving now. If you're coming from an AWD truck, the Stinger won't compare. I came to the Stinger from much smaller, lighter cars (~2500lbs). I put dedicated winter tires on every car I own (waiting for the OEM all-seasons to wear out, then doing same with the Stinger) and I'm used to being able to sling cars around with ease if not a bit of fun while under control.

I've been much more careful with the Stinger due to size, weight, and yeah, price. But it's now the only car I'll use in the winter. My wife's fwd Acura doesn't get around as well as the Stinger does. The lack of LSD in the '18 AWD bothers me but hasn't shown up in the snow, for instance. The Traction Control will kick in, killing the car's acceleration around a corner, for instance, when hitting a pothole or sliding on ice. I don't dig that when turning onto a busy street, for instance, when I want more control. But I keep forgetting to turn the TC off to see if the AWD just finds a corner that grips and carries on.

I'm in the Peoria area. I can't imagine Indy gets anything worse than we do. She's been very sure-footed at speed on a snow/ice covered interstate and even a trip to Chicago in -26 degree weather. She's all I need in winter.

 

[Revvdmedia]

The single largest contributor to driving dynamics and experience in winter is proper high quality winter tires. I drove a Mustang GT for 3 winters with Nokian Hakka R2's. I've seen Mustangs out and about and absolutely struggling with all season tires. I can't say the Mustang was a tank on ice, but I 100% believe the tires are what made the car drivable in the winter. Everyone thought I was crazy driving it year round, claiming it would be impossible, yet I kept up with most traffic and never once got stuck, sometimes you just need to "control the slide."

Combine good winter tires with an AWD Stinger and you have a perfectly competent vehicle. My Stinger was great this last winter with Nokian Hakka R3's and I never had a single issue, except for one or twice trying to get moving on sheer ice, just simple traction limitations. I don't know how well the Stinger will plow snow higher than the bumper, but I imagine it can a little if the snow is light.

My suggestion regarding car vs SUV/Truck is it depends where you drive. If you drive on roads that are regularly plowed, there is no reason to doubt the Stinger's abilities. If you live out in a rural area and have to drive through a foot or more of snow because it is not plowed, something with more ground clearance will serve you better.

Lastly, regarding a "boring" SUV vs the Stinger, it depends how important driving dynamics are to you. I don't have a perfect Stinger quality wise, but I am always surprised how well it drives, truly European feeling. Every time I drive something "boring" like my wife's Santa Fe, I'm reminded just how well the Stinger drives overall. I went from a complete rattletrap Cobalt SS Turbo that was a blast to drive flat out to a Kia Sportage SX Turbo. I was constantly disappointed with how unfun the Sportage was, taking hard corners lead to suspension making banging sounds (bottoming out it seems), and it really wasn't all that fast (7.4s 0-60). I'm surprised how enjoyable the Stinger is even compared to my factory ordered baby, the 6 speed manual 5.0 Mustang. The only none dynamics related advice I would give is it seems the Stinger does have some quality issues here and there (some have "perfect cars" though), if you're OCD, it might not be the best choice based on my own experience.

 

[turboAWD]

Yeah, snow tires are much better than in the past.. Our '79 Dodge had trouble getting up a maybe 3-4% grade, even with snow tires on the back and 150-200 lbs of sand in the back.. Our '82 Civic wagon (snow tires) would have made it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The clincher, imho, is whether or not where you live/drive has cleared roads. Here in the Valley the roads are dry the next day after a heavy snow storm. Snow tires are not necessary: coupled with our extensive periods throughout the winter where daytime temperatures are well above freezing: A/S make the most sense for driving most of the time.

 

[Crisis]

The single largest contributor to driving dynamics and experience in winter is proper high quality winter tires. ......
Combine good winter tires with an AWD Stinger and you have a perfectly competent vehicle. My Stinger was great this last winter with Nokian Hakka R3's and I never had a single issue, except for one or twice trying to get moving on sheer ice, just simple traction limitations. I don't know how well the Stinger will plow snow higher than the bumper, but I imagine it can a little if the snow is light.

+1 on the comments above. Winter tires are a huge step up from all season, albeit at additional cost. I also run Nokian Hakkapelitta R3s. I believe that they are the best winter tire on the market.

 

[BlaydeX15]

I know a lot of people have mentioned the snow performance, and I can confirm. Put good tires on it, and you'll survive even the worst storms. Try to avoid going out if the car is bottoming out in snow though, that's the only time I've gotten stuck. 8" of snow and I got my drive wheels stuck in the gutter in my driveway. Just left it there and went back to bed. Haha.

We got 30" of snow last year, and my car is RWD, but with Michelin X-Ice 3's, I drove it to work every day and never had any problems. No slipping, no traction issues, uphill starts from a stop, I even drove home 30 miles in a blizzard where the roads were solid white compacted snow. Just don't drive like you're invincible.

As for potholes, avoid them. The sidewalls are too thin to absorb much impact. Rough bumpy roads won't feel great, the car suspension is anything but floaty, but are fine as long as you don't hit a huge pothole at speed. I've done rough gravel roads in mine, but I wouldn't go offroading, the car is too low to handle ruts.

Steep driveways are perfectly fine. The car is deceptively high off of the ground. My last driveway was so steep that my wife's car would roll backwards in drive (The Stinger has hill hold, so it was fine), and the gutter was deep, but I could back out and pull in without scraping. The proximity sensor would freak out because it could see the ground, but I never actually scraped.

You won't have problems with speed bumps or most curbs either, at least standard height. You'll be able to pull the nose over parking blocks and 4-6" standard curbs just fine. 7-8" curbs will be pushing it though. Last time I pulled up to one, it touched the unpainted black part in the middle of the bumper, and I had to back up a bit. That part sticks out further than the painted "teeth" on the left and right side of the bumper, so it's nice that it protects the paint. The only place I've ever scraped has been HERE, but if you can't tell by the gouges in the road, so does everyone else.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The only place I've ever scraped has been HERE, but if you can't tell by the gouges in the road, so does everyone else.

And I bet only once, then you angled after that. Right? I'm an angler, since losing my drain plug off my battery box (and bashing the hole around the plug into a warped mess - still need to do something about that).

 

[BlaydeX15]

And I bet only once, then you angled after that. Right? I'm an angler, since losing my drain plug off my battery box (and bashing the hole around the plug into a warped mess - still need to do something about that).

I lived like a block from there for ~12 years, so I knew how bad it was. Hadn't been there in a few years, wasn't thinking when I exited on that side, and couldn't turn around. Took it at the shallowest angle I could and still scraped. Lol.