Front wheel drive is "ok".. but I wouldn't want it. What happens when you
try to go up a steep hill in a front wheel drive car? The weight shifts to
the back, and your traction turns to shit.
Best car I've ever had in the snow was a 86 BMW 325 with 4 Hakkepelita Nokia
snow tires. It was amazing, and was only limited by ground clearance.
-----Original Message-----
From owner-spridgets at autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-spridgets@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jim Juhas
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 11:21 AM
To: David Lieb
Cc: spridgets@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: What makes a good snow car?
I agree with two out of the three criteria you list, but you are a rookie!
I grew up in northwestern Connecticut where at the time it meant that your
one
car had better be a snow car. My 1961 Corvair Monza w/ 4 speed would go
anywhere at all. Later, my 1966 Chevelle Malibu convertible, small 283,
posi
and 4 speed was a tank when fitted with studded snow tires.
I later had a 1971 Pinto with a 75# steel plate in the back, and later still
had
a 1970 Peugeot 504 that shouldn't have been good but was.
Didn't need no stinkin' front wheel drive.
David Lieb wrote:
> My personal formula is:
> 1. Front-wheel drive
> 2. Clutch
> 3. Handbrake
>
> My 1987 Duster had these and went right where you pointed it.
> My 1995 Escort Wagon likewise.
> My 2002 GTi has these plus ABS/traction control, but I don't like it in
snow
> as much as I did the Escort. Probably a factor of the wider tires on the
> GTi.
> I also appreciated the torque steer that the Duster and the Escort
> exhibited; it meant that it pulled to the left a bit under acceleration
and
> to the right a bit when decelerating, perfect!
> Obviously, most of the standard features that contribute to good dry
> handling like low roll center and center of gravity, etc help as well.
> You will also notice that none of these features actually apply to Stupid
> Useless Vehicles. SUVs do ok in snow, as long as they do not try to go too
> fast; therefore they tend to get in the way of those of us who have cars
> that can handle decently on a snowy road. I will not challenge them when
it
> comes to off-road ability to get to Point B, but ON a snowy road, they get
> in the way.
>
> David Lieb
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