M45 in snow?

Post by **rydwhite** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

Hey for those of you M45 drivers out there, how does the M handle in snow?

Too bad they are changing the design and we will never see it with AWD.

Post by **maxnix** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

Kind of like asking how a rowboat does under water, don't you think? It is neither designed as nor equipped for travel on snow and ice.

Post by **rydwhite** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

I was just curious. My G coupe is rwd and handles great in the snow, but I have the 17'' and all weather tires on it. I really wasn't sure what the weight distribution was on the M. I know that that helps the G out alot becuase it is really close to 50-50.

Post by **PalmerWMD** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

Like any modern car it should do perfectly fine.

With premium winter Tires and standard TCS it will out-trac SUV's on all season tires.

Maxnix: Remember police cars are all RWD too and they dont shut down in the winter, and they have a less faviorable weight distribution to boot.

It is "designed" like any modern car to be an all season automobile.

Fred..

Post by **Q45tech** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

Police are professional race drivers compared to 99% of the population since they must take a two week driving course and a refresher every few years.

How besides the radio are that able to function in a RWD Crown Vic..............very decent tires in 225/60/16 [sometimes chains/studs] and a LSD...................and skill levels greater than most fleers.

Post by **dezm45** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

We've had a bit of snow here in the northeast, but I've been afraid to drive it in the snow and I've chickened out by driving the wife's little front wheel drive car !

But, if anyone has tried it yet -- let me know ! I'm curious as well !

Post by **maxnix** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

Yeah, for some reason I don't see a M45 being a joy to drive in deep snow, even with all season tires. Snow tire fitment would be a must.

In a column in Autoweek this month, the columnist was recalling how in the fifties everyone would change to snow tires (at least on the rear) for the winter. Seems like we have forgotten that skill. Some guy with an IS300 was moaning that the dealer didn't warn him that the performance tires would not work in the winter in upstate NY.

Sheesh.

__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

Post by **AZhitman** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

Q45tech wrote:Police are professional race drivers compared to 99% of the population since they must take a two week driving course and a refresher every few years.

Wow! Thanks Tech!

That's quite a compliment, since I have been through the 2 week course twice and refreshers EVERY year thereafter, in addition to my stints at Bondurant...

Of course, it TAKES a professional to do anything worthwhile in an Interceptor (Vic). Horribly underpowered and a sketchy handler at best...

Post by **Altiman94** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

I don't think that a rwd car with snow tires would fair better than a 4wd vehicle with all seasons. On a side note, my 240 with all seasons has done just fine this winter so far in the snow.

Post by **elwesso** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

Im sure they do better than the Q, and even with my all seasons (havent gotten the snows put on yet) its good.... I CANT get the car to spin with TCS on..... I cant get it to slide either.....

Post by **ptm03m45x** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

I got WinterSport M3 's for my M45 from Tire Rack and we got a foot of snow here in dirty jersey. It ran absolutely awesome with those tires. As far as snow is concerned, any car will run great if you have the right tires on it. AWD is nice from a standing start but the right tires make all the difference.ThanksPete

Post by **J-Owner** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

When did rydwhite get 769 posts. Talk about a post whore!

Geez!

Post by **rydwhite** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

I'm always posting. That is all I do at work.

Post by **MAQ45t** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

After a year of not driving in the snow, then a year of driving in the snow with summer tires. I finally broke down and purchased four Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 snow tires. Not as good as an SUV with snow tires, but it will let you drive your car with more confidance and not worry so much about the weather. Saved me 30k on a QX4.

Post by **Q45tech** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

When I lived in NJ for 10 years [1970-1980], I always drove top of the line Chevy Station Wagons [replaced every 3-4 years] with the FULL Police Package massive rear sway bar/springs.....350 V8 fully cammed, real dual exhaust, 4 bbl carb and 3.50 Positraction diff and 4 FOUR Snow tires Goodyear H rated for Police use only which I scrapped every year!

It only got 8-9 mpg on a good day...........2800 rpm in top gear at 60 mph and would hit 125-130 mph.

There was no place I couldn't go and always carried tow chains to pull cars out of ditches. I even had 110vac auxillary power and extra battery and 4 twoway radios in under trunk for ballast.

I had a 24 hour emergency call situation 365 days a year

Never owned a FWD car except for a Eldorado in the late 70's rarely used the beast.

We use to get out at 3AM and spin the wagons loop t loop in the snow. Great fun and therapy.

FWD cars are for people who don't know how to drive in snow.

Post by **elwesso** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

Haha Dennis, thats golden!! Im sure you still do donuts in the Q45 when it snows in Atlanta (which is pretty much never)....

Post by **JHowell37** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

I would think that if you can exercise some self control and good sense, any car will do just fine in the snow.

Post by **HeavyDuty** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:39 am

AZhitman wrote:Of course, it TAKES a professional to do anything worthwhile in an Interceptor (Vic). Horribly underpowered and a sketchy handler at best...

Yup, but the 2003 Panthers had quite a few improvements over the 02's, boxed frame, different shock location, rack & pinion (vs recip ball) and some other stuff I forgot while researching a Marauder before buying my Q.

I thought: "Geez, it's going to take a minimum of an aftercooled Vortech, gears, converter & other stuff to make this thing what it should have been, plus it's a hyperpathetic piston, higher compression setup to begin with.......I'll pass for now, pick one up in a couple of years & do the 03 Cobra swap myself."

I heard through the grapevine there's going to be a 04 or 05 Super Marauder is coming with the 03 Cobra mill? :ylsuper

PHP has one that was converted from the alum block 4v non s/c to the iron block forged internal 4v s/c that I *think* has run a best of 12.2's I believe???

No relevant snow info here, other than the HELL winter 93-94 I spent in Roanoke, VA in a brand new black on black Mark VIII. Wooohooo!

Q45Tech is spot on, FWD is more forgiving for those with little experience.

M45 in snow?

M45 in snow?

Use the right tool for the job!

Q45 in the snow

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