Time For Snow Driving -Any Experience Yet

[Davesatdoasisbar]

Well the snow has fallen in different areas. Has anybody had their 1st RT / snow experience?

[hewinutah]

We got some snow / slush here a few weeks ago, and the Magnum ran like a champ. The traction control did it's job. Now for some background, I grew up in Michigan and drove rear wheel cars in more storms then I can count. So i know how to drive in the snow and crap of winter with this kind of car. It really all comes down to the following for driving in the snow:

1. Slow down!
2. When making a turn, make it in three separate steps.
2.1 Slow down for the turn.
2.2 Turn the car
2.3 Accelerate
-- Trying to do the any of the above together will make you loose control.
3. Add more distance between you and the car in front of you.
4. Add more stopping distance then you think you need. You never know if there will be an ice patch ahead, etc

Ok I will step off the soap box now

Just one more thing, when it's dry and sunny.....Drive it like you stole it!!!!

[IDSmoker]

Has anyone taken their RT RWD out to a large, empty, snow covered section of asphalt (like a high school parking lot on an early weekend morning) to really see how these babies handle on the slick stuff?

This was the technique my father used to teach me to drive on slick roads, and I've always tried to relearn the lesson with each new vehicle I've owned. I'm really looking forwart to going back to school this year!!! :twisted:


I'll follow hewinutah's example and give my advice for handling the slick stuff...

I've forgotten all of the "proper" terms for this, that I learned way back in college, but the essence is that traction is determined by the slipperyness of the road surface and the changes in your tire speed.

Since your tire's momentum (or velocity) is altered every time you accelerate, decelerate, or turn, then it makes sense that the quicker you perform any of these actions the lower your traction becomes. When your traction becomes less than what the slipperyness of the road will support, your tire(s) break loose and you slide.

It's not driving at 75mph on a slick highway that's dangerous, any more than it's particularly safe to drive 25mph in the same situation; it's the sudden application of your brakes that will cause you to die (or suddenly jerking the steering wheel for that matter) no matter how fast you were traveling (though the higher speed will exaggerate any mistakes you make).

So, the key to driving safely on slick roads isn't necessarily driving slowly, it's making certain that you accelerate slowly... decelerate slowly... and make slower/wider turns. You have to allow more time to look/plan ahead.

[markyneutron]

Bang on Hew!!!

I grew up in Saskatchewan and we never had the problems that people have around here. Sure life is busier here but when it snows it seems some people but there brains away with their shorts.

They say it may snow this weekend here and I'm eagerly awaiting bcuz we have a brand new parking lot just around the corner WOO-HOO!!

Sunday I'm taking my first real road trip around 350K in one shot.

[bigjim]

Comin this way??
Jim

[markyneutron]

north
I'll let you guys know when I eventually head south

[1cobrakid]

IDSmoker,

You are basically right about the Traction thing. You are thinking about coefficent of friction. The coefficent of friction times the force perpendicular to the surface (think strait down) give you a force. In any given combination of tire, road and other (snow, water, slushies) there is a given ammount of force (traction) that can be transmitted to the car through the tires. That force can go to acellerate, decellerate, turn, or some combination. The reason that you shouldn't turn and accellerate on snow or ice is that you will quicky exceed the total traction avalible. If this sounds basically like a driving school it is, but just at much lower speeds.

I agree with all of the advice above, here are some more tidbits FROM 20+ years of Driving in MI snow.

When snowy, always assume it is more slippery than you think it is. Most likely it will be just up the road.

Watch out for "black ice" that looks like dry pavement. Its ice all right, and a major pants filler if you find it at high speed.

If you have AWD be carful. While you WILL be secure and have great traction, you won't realize its slippery until you are facing backwards in the ditch. All the other cars are going slower for a reason. That's why you frequently see Audis in the ditch in a snowstorm.

I'd like to CHECK my spelling, but Word is hosed and my computer is in a software death spiral so I guess you are got me in the raw. :oops:

[bigjim]

The way I see it I will be returning to driving the way I learned in the early 70's. The big thing to remember is that these beasts weigh over two tons EMPTY. They will tend to NOT turn on anything but wet or dry roads. I have purchased Blizzack WS-50 235/55 18 snows that will go on next week. I just had to keep the contis on to try to destroy them so I don't have to store them and can get some real tires in the spring! Think snow!!

Jim

[henry]

Bang on Hew!!!
They say it may snow this weekend here and I'm eagerly awaiting bcuz we have a brand new parking lot just around the corner WOO-HOO!!

You might be disappointed with the lack of drama. These cars are extremely capable winter performers and you'll be surprised actually how good the ESP turns out to be. That's not to say that you should throw caution to the wind and drive as if it were summer. I'm just saying that the ESP is extremely smart. There are a few articles that illustrate this:

http://popularmechanics.com/automoti...magnum_winter/

http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/18/pf/a...inter_driving/

And especially this article:
http://www.policedriving.com/Magnum.htm

[OA-5599]

We had a few inches here in Colorado this past weekend. I ran out for coffee Sunday morning and fiddled around in a large, empty parking lot. ESP is strange, as soon as the back end comes out, there is a gentle nudge on the outside front wheel to poke it back in. I tried to get aggressive with it and had the throttle shut way down when I tried to force a side slide. Same goes for acceleration on slick, throttle is like stepping on a plum. Donuts are out of the question; but what an amazing piece of engineering!

[EHUPP01]

Whats snow,rain, and cold? Never heard of it. BTW Thats the first good thing I have ever said about El Paso, TX. 8)

[E8502]

Also, look at this link, http://www.allpar.com/cars/lx/lx-cars-snow.html

[realslimbrady]

I live in Utah and I'm about 4 weeks FROM placing my Magnum ORDER and am debating whether to get the AWD model or the RWD. I think I prefer the RWD.

However, my buddy has a mustang with "traction control" and he can't go anywhere when it snows. With "traction control" on, the wheels keep FROM spinning but it means he doesn't move anywhere. He says the only way to get moving is to turn "traction control" off and gas her, spinning the tires and ever slowly moving forward.

I've heard several different versions of what is is recommended by the salesmen. Any suggestions? Additionally, will there be few after market products for the AWD vs. the RWD?

[IDSmoker]

1cobrakid: Thanks! It was driving me nuts that I couldn't remember the correct terms (kinda like when a song gets stuck in your head).

Theweeb: Did you try it without the ESP? You know... just for the sake of comparision? As an experiment? Yeah that's it... an experiment! <grin>

[Magnum666]

I live in Utah and I'm about 4 weeks FROM placing my Magnum ORDER and am debating whether to get the AWD model or the RWD. I think I prefer the RWD.

However, my buddy has a mustang with "traction control" and he can't go anywhere when it snows. With "traction control" on, the wheels keep FROM spinning but it means he doesn't move anywhere. He says the only way to get moving is to turn "traction control" off and gas her, spinning the tires and ever slowly moving forward.

I've heard several different versions of what is is recommended by the salesmen. Any suggestions? Additionally, will there be few after market products for the AWD vs. the RWD?

Your buddy just doesn't know how to drive in the snow. Spinning your tires does absolutely nothing but create ice. I drive my Mustang with no traction control all winter long (Canadian winters on the prairies can last up to 6 months) with proper WINTER tires and I have no problems at all. I have friends with Mustangs with traction control who have an easier time of it then me because traction control is the best thing to ever happen to a RWD car for the winter. I don't accelerate as fast as a FWD or AWD, but you shouldn't be going that fast in the snow anyway. As soon as I spin my tires I don't move. I short shift and feather the clutch to get started, after that it's good to go. I also stop just fine without ABS. You have to be careful and take it slow INTO intersections and you'll be fine. The secrets are...WINTER tires, and to remember that to drive in the winter, it is the opposite of how you drive in the summer.