How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

[Fireball27]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

It's pretty rough sometimes here in the winter for me. It gets so cold here that some nights I'm forced to drive with the T-tops on. :omg:

Or anytime it rains... which is most of the time :p

[kala]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

I just got my lisence in april and i got my 94' Firebird in like may and i was wondering how bad its gonna suck to drive in the snow? Will i need winter tires? I live in Massachusetts so it snows alot

Do u have LSD(Limited Slip Differential)? ...my previous car didn't ....so in the rain or snow, it would spin out so badly..... ....on the snow, omg don't even bring up the question......but my current camaro has it so it's WAY MORE controllable......i love it....it's doesn't spin as much in the rain and i haven't driven in the snow but i think LSD will come handy......... One thing in the rain or snow, try NOT no accelarate when u are making a turn......i learned the hard way after doing a 180 degrees on the road and make a complete fool out of myself.......Sandbags would help you ....i had subwoofer btw box :) ....... listen to v6bob .....he knows what he's talking about .....get those tires if u can afford it...

[ZO6vette037]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

My wife and I both drive our two camaros year round in Alaska. They do just fine. We have summer sets of wheels and tires and our winters sets are 215/60 studded tires. Also always keep a full tank of gas and there is no need for sandbags.

[rt1]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

It's pretty rough sometimes here in the winter for me. It gets so cold here that some nights I'm forced to drive with the T-tops on. :omg:

I know, there's those 2 weeks in late Jan that are down right chilly.

Best thing I ever heard of doing is getting a set of the steel rims, the one's that come with the (eewwwww) hub caps, and put some snow tires on them. That way even if you do get some curb rash, it isn't on the good rims.

Rob

[jeffkiernan]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

i dont have lsd and i also have a subwoofer in my trunk and its heavy so hopefully that will help

[RicE-ter]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

Whats "winter"? :slap: :D

the worst ive had is one time making a right onto a semi steep hill while raining the back swung out alil but a corrective steering and easing off the throttle fixed that. there was a lady waiting to make a left and saw by her eyes she got a lil nervous. made me laugh a lil inside plus it wasnt that bad i turned onto a 2 lane street and there was a cement divider that seperated us.

[BLLDOGG]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

Biggest problem driving in snow is the other people. be an extremely sensitive defensive driver

[3.4 slow to go]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

I had no, well not many, issues driving my T/A in the winter around Crystal City way back when. Posi rear & 4sp helped a lot. biggest problem was stupid people driving up hill, then stopping, then driving again. stick shifts aren't that much fun when you're behind one of those maggots. grrrrr. Current bird has tires on them that pretty much say "use these tires in teh snow and you WILL DIE!!!!!" so, don't get the tires like that.

[Fireball27]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

Also always keep a full tank of gas and there is no need for sandbags.

QFT, a full tank of gas weighs 90 odd pounds.

[jrschultz]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

This will be my first experience with my Firebird this winter as well. Those with manuals...does it help to start in 2nd gear?

[HokieBird]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

Biggest problem driving in snow is the other people. be an extremely sensitive defensive driver

Soooooo true. I try to either leave early or late for everything to try to avoid idiots.

I've been screwed by someone stoping on a hill and then I couldn't start again and I have also been driven off the road by a semi truck. Other than that I've had no problems. I use old text books as weight and slip the clutch or shift to 2nd early.

[Leonard 3.8L]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

This will be my first experience with my Firebird this winter as well. Those with manuals...does it help to start in 2nd gear?

Yes, kind of. It really helps with those V8 models.

[CDNFB]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

I drove my 82 T/A in the winter for many years, and I currently drive my 99 in the winter.

Winter for us here is very cold (can get -40*F) and lots of snow and ice.

The limited slip diff (my T/A had this) is a handicap in winter road conditions. Because both rear wheels are being driven, they both spin and the rear end never tracks straight and slides all over the place. You cannot let your guard down for one second!

With an open diff (like my 99) the driven wheel will slip but the other wheel (undriven) will work like a rudder keeping the car straight thus the car exhibits much better control. I found that in extremly slipery conditions the open diff will accellerate better than an LSD because the LSD never tracked straight and the steering corrections required took away any traction/accelleration advantages.

Besides, in conditions like that it's more a question of control and safety than it is of accelleration.

[Niko97RS]

Re: How Bad is it driving F-body in the winter?

i drove mine in winter once..wasnt toobad...never agian though shes already off the road