Is it difficult & dangerous to drive in the snow with Rear wheel drive car, 200 HP in the winter?

Happy Hopping

Happy Hopping

Happy Hopping

Associate
Joined
29 Apr 2017
Posts
87
Back in 1980's, my folks owns a Trans AM, and it's a V8. As a rear wheel drive car, during the winter, where we have snow, and the car keep spinning, although they were not using winter tires at the time.

After all these decades, is there any improvement on that? I'm thinking of a Toyota 86, in which it's a rear wheel drive w/ 200 HP. But if it's dangerous to drive and it still spins in the snow, then I can buy a Honda Civic Si Coupe, in which it's a front wheel drive, also 200 HP.

what do you guys think?
 
Snow tyres and chains and you will be fine. Something like a GT86 might actually be quite predictable in the snow. Strangely my MGTF was really good in the snow (handled much better than on Tarmac!). I think the weight being over the rear axle helped.

If you're really worried get a 4x4, although they still only have 4 wheels and 4 brakes so not always better.
 
winter tyres and something really heavy in the boot.

like anything, if your an idiot and overstretch the ability of yourself and your car then ofc you can crash/get stuck.

with modern traction control and stability systems it's far safer now than its ever been.
 
I drove my GT86 through winter on the standard Primacy HP tyres and had no problems. On actual snow, most RWD cars can be a handful though. Especially without the proper tyres etc.

Traction control helps, but in a GT86 it will only stop you spinning the car, not actually sliding. You can still "drift" it to an extent even with TC fully on (it's designed to do that). Basically you just need to be careful in bad conditions because it's always up for some fun. Slow down below the point where you can feel the grip fading away.
 
Last edited:
Driven more powerful cars in worse conditions. There's just a knack to it. Of course, always situations where there's naff all you can do about it – but you'll get those with FWD/AWD/4WD vehicles, too. Confidence, control and tyres are the key, really.
 
A GT86 on the stock primacys will spin it's rear wheels in the dry, let alone the snow.

You'll get fed up nannying the car around if you're often in snowy conditions.
 
Has physics changed since the 80s?

Switch to the correct tyres and you could drive anything (within reason). I'd rather a RWD car than a FWD as it'll be more fun when it isn't snowing.
 
If you have enough snow that this is a concern then surely you want 4wd?

From experience my MX-5 was useless in the snow. Yes I could get where I wanted to go if I drove like a saint, feathered the throttle and did everything perfectly. But even then it almost bit me sending me flying into oncoming traffic at the dizzying speed of 20mph when the back end suddenly went in some of the worst snow I drove it in.

If this is only a few day a year thing just make less journeys and enjoy the rwd for the other 95% of the time. If you actually need winter tyres and have months of snow get yourself an Audi Quattro / Golf R / Impreza etc.
 
EVH said:
Has physics changed since the 80s?

Switch to the correct tyres and you could drive anything (within reason). I'd rather a RWD car than a FWD as it'll be more fun when it isn't snowing.
Click to expand...

Physics might not have changed but the various electronics to manage the effects of physics most certainly has come on leaps and bounds since.. :)
 
It'll be largely the same as the trans am tbh. Sure it's a bit of a laugh slithering around in the snow but I'd imagine living somewhere with considerable snow it would get tiresome quickly.
 
EVH said:
Has physics changed since the 80s?

Switch to the correct tyres and you could drive anything (within reason). I'd rather a RWD car than a FWD as it'll be more fun when it isn't snowing.
Click to expand...

no, but electronic controls and more importantly tyre tech has come on leaps and bounds.

tbh we all know the solution to this: subaru impreza with a sticker on the boot reading "relax, i *******got this"
 
adolf hamster said:
winter tyres and something really heavy in the boot.

like anything, if your an idiot and overstretch the ability of yourself and your car then ofc you can crash/get stuck.

with modern traction control and stability systems it's far safer now than its ever been.
Click to expand...

BS - it took me 2 hours to get halfway to work (15 minute drive) before i decided it was stupid to try and get any further and turned around. this was this year too and in Scotland. He's in -20c weather.

I even had a couple have to push me up a small hill, that is when I decided enough was enough. I wasn't going to get up the next one.

I now know if it's snowing walk to train station and get the train in or take the wifes car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom