Great in the Snow

[GRStinger]

We’re getting our first true blast of winter snows here. I’ve driven a couple of times in an inch or so of the stuff, but today’s morning commute was the first REAL winter driving experience in my GT2 AWD. We had 4-5 inches last night (and it’s still coming down). The heavy, wet stuff - you know, really greasy and slippery. I was absolutely delighted with the handling and sure-footedness of the car! Left it in Comfort the whole ride. My route is country 2-lanes and suburban 4-lanes; less than half of it had been plowed. Walked right thru the heavier/un-plowed stuff, and it was just as good on the plowed/polished sections. Not one unwanted slip. The stability and traction control do an excellent job, but let you spin/feather the wheels and do a little power-slide if you want to. My winter wheel/tire setup include the Michelin X-Ice Xi3, and they seem excellent. Of course, they’re just a marginal help with braking, but those laws of physics can’t be broken! I was a little reluctant and almost took the wife’s SUV, mostly because for the first of the winter driving, a lot of drivers ‘forget’ how to drive in the snow (saw an SUV and a pickup in the ditch). I didn’t want someone sliding into my baby! But I always hit the road early, and schools were closed so that helped a lot with the traffic. I’m actually looking forward to the ride home!

 

[Revvdmedia]

The AWD Stinger dominates in winter, and it doesn't hurt to have the overall dynamics of a RWD biased AWD system. The biggest hurdle I think the car will have is that less experienced drivers will forget that even though this car can move in the snow and handles well, at some point you need to scrub off that speed. It's almost too fast for its own good in the snow...lol.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Winter tires will be more secure than A/S, that is expected. But when I finally drive through snow, slush and ice, then I will know if my expectations are accurate: I expect this car to blow away anything I've ever driven in such conditions. I learned on a '62 Chevy four door; almost lost it on a Cadillac; really learned how to drive in the snow on a VW Beetle (good car in the snow); and from there it was all large sedans, vans and front wheel drive compacts after that, all on A/S tires. So AWD with monitored suspension, traction and stability control, ought to be aggressively better than anything I've experienced. Then I'll know that snow tires will be just that much better.

(I'm going to use this thread to make my report when I've driven in the snow for the first time; who knows when: over the weekend we had our first snow in the Valley, a couple of inches; but I stayed home all day, nursing a cold and plugged up ear: and thus my clean Stinger remained clean. Next time.)

 

[GRStinger]

The AWD Stinger dominates in winter, and it doesn't hurt to have the overall dynamics of a RWD biased AWD system. The biggest hurdle I think the car will have is that less experienced drivers will forget that even though this car can move in the snow and handles well, at some point you need to scrub off that speed. It's almost too fast for its own good in the snow...lol.

Absolutely right! I always give the snow a little 'test' when I first start out: hit the gas a bit then hit the brakes hard to see what we're dealing with. In the snow - especially with a winter tire set-up, the differential in this car between the general handling/traction "sticky-ness" and the braking is pretty big, an that's where folks can get surprised. Again, those laws of physics. Overall though, I found things very predictable after just a couple of minutes. One little trick I do to bleed some speed if it's very slippery/icy: go to manual mode, downshift, and let the engine and transmission do a bit of the braking. Not something you want to do often for wear/tear reasons, but it can come in handy.

 

[Jonathan Lasich]

I have winter tires on my AWD. Drove in a foot of snow a week and a half ago. No problems whatsoever! Driving at 20 MPH, mashed the gas, car lost traction for a half second, and before it even drifted off course, you could feel the nannies taking over--severely limited power until traction re-established. I drive in "ECO" mode in the snow. The retarded throttle response helps to maintain traction. It's going to take a major league snow bank to stop this thing! As good as any other AWD car I've winter driven in the past! As the title says "Great in the Snow"!

 

[MerlintheMad]

One little trick I do to bleed some speed if it's very slippery/icy: go to manual mode, downshift, and let the engine and transmission do a bit of the braking. Not something you want to do often for wear/tear reasons, but it can come in handy.

I've already decided to not do that, at least starting out. The trans downshifts on its own with alacrity. Anything I do manually will probably not be any improvement!

 

[StingerNYC]

When we received the 4 inches of slush/snow two weeks ago I still had summer tires on and I got stuck in an empty parking lot. AWD did nothing. I have new tires on now and hopefully this car is as good as my cadillac ats awd was during the winter. Loved the way it handled the snow. I will be driving to northern michigan/wisconsin in a month so I will find out!

 

[Revvdmedia]

you could feel the nannies taking over--severely limited power until traction re-established.

Funny you mention this. I've experienced this for years, including on the Stinger, but I hate when the car completely pulls power when it senses heavy slip. The Stinger does this too. The worst situation is when you are making a right turn onto a main road and the car decides you should have no throttle input. I drove a RWD Mustang for 3 years in our winters and I'm confident in my determination of road conditions and when I can or should not attempt to merge into traffic. Obviously this can be remedied with the traction control button, but I hate that orange dummy light in the dash lol. I'll have to keep the trigger finger ready to hit the TCS button on a whim, it was knee jerk in the Mustang and I was pretty proficient at it.

 

[Jonathan Lasich]

Funny you mention this. I've experienced this for years, including on the Stinger, but I hate when the car completely pulls power when it senses heavy slip. The Stinger does this too. The worst situation is when you are making a right turn onto a main road and the car decides you should have no throttle input. I drove a RWD Mustang for 3 years in our winters and I'm confident in my determination of road conditions and when I can or should not attempt to merge into traffic. Obviously this can be remedied with the traction control button, but I hate that orange dummy light in the dash lol. I'll have to keep the trigger finger ready to hit the TCS button on a whim, it was knee jerk in the Mustang and I was pretty proficient at it.

You have to be judicious with your throttle to prevent this from happening. In other words---drive like a great grandpa behind the wheel (one who smokes a pipe and wears a cap!).

 

[GRStinger]

I will be driving to northern michigan/wisconsin in a month so I will find out!

Driving up there in December should give you a great chance to find out! Going thru the UP? That's my old stompin' grounds. They've already had a lot, even by their standards.

 

[Revvdmedia]

You have to be judicious with your throttle to prevent this from happening. In other words---drive like a great grandpa behind the wheel (one who smokes a pipe and wears a cap!).

Now why would I want to do that when I can get all 4 tires spinning at once? I'd much prefer to make a scene.

 

[StingerNYC]

Driving up there in December should give you a great chance to find out! Going thru the UP? That's my old stompin' grounds. They've already had a lot, even by their standards.

Yes. I have a lot of family in the small town of Ewen michigan and then family spread out around northern Wisconsin.

 

[Jonathan Lasich]

Now why would I want to do that when I can get all 4 tires spinning at once? I'd much prefer to make a scene.

Totally understandable!! Make a right turn....do a 360....continue on as if nothing happened!!

 

[DaBears4Lyfe]

Ya I have the RWD.... It was interesting lol. No worst than any other. I had a 2003 Crown Vic interceptor and about the same amount of control.

 

[GRStinger]

Yes. I have a lot of family in the small town of Ewen michigan and then family spread out around northern Wisconsin.

Another Yooper? “Holy wha, eh?” I’m very familiar with Ewen. Lived 5 years in Hancock; born/raised in the central UP – north of Gladstone.