The Q isnt the greatest winter car.....

[elwesso]

... but not bad.....

We are getting SLAMMED with snow right now.. I went to see a movie tonight (meet the fockers ).. When i went there, there was just a dusting... About hour-45mins later, there was about 2 inches on the ground and coming down hard...

If you dont have winter tires, please spring for it.. I kinda miss TCS, as with the higher stall and 4.08 it makes starting in the snow a little tough (got the back end loose on a few turns, but slow enough that it was no biggie).. But really, in all honesty, TCS was more annoying because of having a little controlled oversteer, it just made you get stuck because it wouldnt propel the car foreward.. The swaying of the rear doesnt bother me much as there was never a time that i was even remotely close to losing it (then again, i never got about 35 MPH).. The Q does handle oversteer controllably, and i suppose HICAS might help a little bit..

Tomorrow Ill be installing my studdies on the rear as we are expected to get more snow... Im glad Ive still got them. I probably dont need them, but better safe than sorry... These all season firestone firehawks do surprisingly well, which is what I have on there now...

Getting going was a little tough but once i got going, it was no problem.. I kinda wish i had a second gear start TCU..

So if your Q45 is your primary winter car, you gotta have snow tires..... However, i think in most of our cases, we have backup transportation..

[squeefoo]

My first winter driver was a '69 Chevelle, then a '74 Pontiac Ventura. All RWD. Accidentally drove the Q in snow once and I think it's a lot more skittish in the snow than the aforementioned. I always park it now for the winter (+ I hate salt). If it went in the ditch it would prob be totalled plus I would really be PO'd since it's mint PLUS ALL that work on it over the last 5 years. I spit upon the boots of the snow gods for they shall never smite my Q car. I have a 2nd gear start TCU -Want it? -What's your address?

Firehawks ??? EEwwwwww Only good for barricades in Haiti

[1qckser]

Wes, did you find out if you had the 4.08s?

[3rd Q]

Wes,Hope you got them on today- weatherman says up to 14" coming your way tonight!

Off the subject, I still can't sign in to member's rides, is it possible to reset my password? Thanks for your help.

[squeefoo]

Wes, weatherman says up to 14" coming your way tonight!

Don't drop the soap! I mean keep it out of the ditch... I mean...

OUCH

[redmanfx]

My first winter driver was a '69 Chevelle, then a '74 Pontiac Ventura. All RWD. Accidentally drove the Q in snow once and I think it's a lot more skittish in the snow than the aforementioned. I always park it now for the winter (+ I hate salt). If it went in the ditch it would prob be totalled plus I would really be PO'd since it's mint PLUS ALL that work on it over the last 5 years.

I have to agree with you guys. Our first freeze and yes even snow here at the beach on Monday gave me my first taste of the Q in winter conditions. You would have thought I wasn't from the North!! I've had Front wheel drives, Jeeps and even no weight in the rear end Firebirds so I just wasn't quite ready for the heavy, powerful Q. I did more fishtales then the local fisherman. It took a while to get it down, but it was quite a choir taming myself at first.

I'm agressive and boy that's not good in Winter with the Q. Anyway, I'll do better on Christmass when were are suppossed to get an inch or two at the beach.

red

[Q45tech]

Having NEVER owned a FWD car myself [in 40 years of ownership]. But driving thousands of rental cars over the years mostly in the snowy NE and Chicago, I never found FWD to have any advantages.

Not buying the correct tires for the job is where RWD owners make their mistakes. Even in Atlanta I use 2 different tires depending on temperatures.

Not having the brakes perfectly balanced [oem pads] and relying on ABS to take up the slack is a winter mistake.

The same tires all around is the first order of busines then unworn shocks.

I just flip my trimode to 2nd gear start and proceed with my almost brand new LSD [55k]...........the 20 mm rear bar and Eibach's mean you must avoid abrupt changes in low traction enviroments.

When tire friction is half [or a third] of what it is in a rain storm. Leave the transmission in 2nd gear and avoid up/down shifts. Practice those 360 [720]degree spins in parking lot snow.

Police cars have been snowing all over US..........if a Crown Vic can do it [with skilled driver training] a Q willl be way better.

The only reason departments downsized to FWD [Impala] was to save gas.

[QShip]

A few years ago, we had some major snow in the NE. I was at work 15 miles from home. When I left work, the snow was at least 10" deep.

I made it home in 2 hours without once getting stuck. When I arrrived at the corner of my street, I noticed the snow was now even with the hood. I punched it and made it all the way to my driveway. However, it took 3 hours to get into my driveway.

[Jesda]

Worst winter car I ever had was a Mercedes 300E. It simply refused to go anywhere. And once it did go, it took the concentration of a buddhist monk to keep it going straight. I remember a 10-minute drive home from a thanksgiving dinner ended up taking 50.

The Mazda 929s (RWD) I owned werent bad. The soft Yokohamas didnt help, but I managed to get by quite well.

The Mazda MPV (RWD) wasnt bad either, but all of these cars paled in comparison to my old 1988 Nissan Sentra. You give it snow, rain, wind, mud (I did some mud bogging with it... hey I was 16 stfu), and it would just GO.The only problem was emergency steering. FWD isnt great for that. I've plowed into a couple fences.

[elwesso]

My first winter driver was a '69 Chevelle, then a '74 Pontiac Ventura. All RWD. Accidentally drove the Q in snow once and I think it's a lot more skittish in the snow than the aforementioned. I always park it now for the winter (+ I hate salt). If it went in the ditch it would prob be totalled plus I would really be PO'd since it's mint PLUS ALL that work on it over the last 5 years. I spit upon the boots of the snow gods for they shall never smite my Q car. I have a 2nd gear start TCU -Want it? -What's your address?

Firehawks ??? EEwwwwww Only good for barricades in Haiti

Squee.. Email me plz...

Wes,Hope you got them on today- weatherman says up to 14" coming your way tonight!

Off the subject, I still can't sign in to member's rides, is it possible to reset my password? Thanks for your help.

Paul im trying to take care of that... If you dont get it done asap email one of the admins, as they are the ones that ultimately do it..... Im not ignoring you

Probably wont worry about it today, as if I were to back out of the garage (which i weasled my way in to begin with), the snow would cover the exhuast and probably come up to the bumper.. The Q isnt going anywhere today, and by tomorrow the roads should be good.....

[sultan]

the weight distribution certainly doesn't help for traction. the worst we usually get is ice on bridges but i had no problem this morning on icy bridges even with azeni st115 tires.

does the rear defroster ever turn itself off?

[louiegz]

Having NEVER owned a FWD car myself [in 40 years of ownership]. But driving thousands of rental cars over the years mostly in the snowy NE and Chicago, I never found FWD to have any advantages.

Actually, it dose seem to have an advantage as far as getting the car started. Most of the cars weigh is over the drive wheels and since FWD pulls your car instead of RWD pushing your car, you can’t kick out the rear end in a FWD car from sudden acceleration. I use to have a 1986 Chevy Cavalier with a 5 speed. It had no ABS or traction control. POS, but that car was a blast to drive in the snow. I would lock us the rear drums and the car had a predicable slide. I always knew what it was going to do. I only got stuck in the snow once, but that was more of a ground clearance problem as the snow was as high as the front bumper. My Honda Accord suffered a lot from ground clearance issues, but it still drove fine in 2”-3” inches of the white stuff. I never used snow tires until last year that I had purchased a weekend home in the Poconos. There’s a part of the way to my home that I have to take a dirt road and I was worried about getting stranded. I’m glad I did because it started snowing on a Sunday when I had to go back home. I felt more secure with my Blizzacks then with the Michelins that I had before. Those Michelins suck in the snow. All season, my arse. A Q with a proper set of snow tires makes for a competent vehicle in the snow. I’d still prefer to drive a FWD or a 4WD car for the snow, but I’m still confident with my Q and Blizzacks.

[louiegz]

Tomorrow Ill be installing my studdies on the rear as we are expected to get more snow.

Wes, you should always do all fours. Remember, the front wheels need traction to steer and brake.

[96Qowner]

Not bad is right. I live 100 miles from Canada, and have driven in and on snow and ice all my life. My learning experiences were all with RWDs of course, but for the past 15 years I've driven my Accord, so the Q was, shall we say, a tad disconcerting when I first had to drive it on slippery streets last winter. Four times a year, I have to make a business trip to Atlanta, roughly 1500 miles. In winter, I pass through every weather zone along the way, from subzero packed snow, into warm falling snow, and then through 30 degree sleet and glare ice.

This past January, I chased and drove through a winter storm front which passed over me in Illinois overnight. The next morning I caught it again, just as it finished depositing ice all over Georgia and South Carolina. Some of you might remember it. My day started at 6:00 AM with pillow drifts for 60 miles - the Q just powered right through them, with hardly a flinch. Later in the afternoon I hit the front, falling, blowing snow, and again the Q handled it masterfully. That night, as I approached Georgia via Chattenooga, the interstate became covered in packed snow and ice, all lumpy n slippery. Again, the Q took it all in stride.

The finishing touch was the trip from Atlanta to Greenville SC. 60 miles out of Greenville, the surface turned to genuine 30 degree ice. I was still able to hold speed with a fair amount of confidance in the car. When I exited the freeway, the surface roads were completely shiny - the town was shut down, a few poor Southern souls vainly trying to make their cars go where they wanted them, slipping slowly sideways into the curb, etc. While it was a bit hairy, I ended up supremely impressed with a car that should have been an impossible beast in those conditions. I made it to where I was going with nary an incident. I was barely able to drive up the small incline into a parking space. In fact, in the morning, the car had slipped 3 feet back all by itself overnight, it was that bad.

Despite its weight and RWD, this is a very nimble handling car. I am duly impressed, as only a flatlander Northerner can be.

Oh, and this was all on those hard, shiny Michelins - not snows.

[PoorManQ45]

Don't front wheel drive cars have an advantage to begin with? I mean, about 60%~70% of there weight is on the drive wheels, so wouldn't that aid in traction alittle?

I know that FWD is really unpredictable when they finally do lose traction though.

*wes* It sounds like you need a 93- TCU. It would probably really great to have those 2nd gear starts right about now.

Oh, and should I put on my snow tires too?

[elwesso]

Wes, you should always do all fours. Remember, the front wheels need traction to steer and brake.

If I had 4, id install 4... These all seasons really are good enough, as if there is much more snow than what I had, I woudlnt be able to drive the Q anyway.. I can do maybe 4-6in tops.....

96Q.. I agree with you... Despite, the Q is a great winter car... Not idea, but not bad...

WIth my TCS and studdies last year, the Q did just as good as our FWD grandprix with FWD...

[PoorManQ45]

You only installed 2 snow tires? You do know that you have to steer, right?

[Repo Man]

Wes, I can say your car goes sideways quite nicely! hehehehehehe...

[AZhitman]

^ Agreed.

Especially at 50mph in the Majer's parking lot.

p.s. What is this "Snow" of which you speak?

[elwesso]

Wes, I can say your car goes sideways quite nicely! hehehehehehe...

LOL.. Im not going to be conservative, I already know it was completely deflowered in lexington

As soon as this damn "snow emergency" is lifted, its off to the nearest parking lot

Also, no wonder the rear tires are quite a bit more worn than the front ones

Greg, heres some pics for you

The Q safely tucked away in the garage

GTP in the driveway, where it belongs...

[AZhitman]

Hahaha - attaboy, I'm proud of you!

That domestic does a good job of keeping the snow off the driveway.

[elwesso]

This is actually its last day in the snipes household...

Tomorrow we take possession of a 05 Grand prix GTP comp G... That tap shifter thing is kinda nifty..... We were gonna get a bonneville, but we are paying LESS money to get this car than we are paying now.. hmm, pay less to get a new car, cant go wrong..... We have a lease deal with the local pontiac guys.. That new bonneville with the northstar is pretty nice.. Less power than the Q, but its got a very throaty sound, and suede.....

My dad will eventually get an infiniti.. I told him straight up that it doesnt matter what he gets, we all know whats superior.....

He said "i wont challenge that"...

[Repo Man]

My dad will eventually get an infiniti.. I told him straight up that it doesnt matter what he gets, we all know whats superior.....

He said "i wont challenge that"...

Then he said "But son, I can't buy an Infiniti GMS and take advantage of the Pull-Ahead program."

[driverdriver]

I pulled a neighbours G20 out of ditch this morning with my Jeep, He was going to fast and spun.

Like Wes, we got walloped up here with some snow, but mostly freezing rain.

My J is stored in the garage as it should be.

[squeefoo]

Alot of snow probs are caused by having tires that are too wide. They float. When the tire starts slipping/spinning the pressure makes the snow melt slightly underneath it, like an ice skate, killing any contact patch torque. I read this in a study done by some tire research group years ago.

[96Qowner]

That may be partially true, but wider tires are better than narrow under almost all conditions. What you refer to is something most people don't realize: that snow and ice basically provide just as much traction as concrete or asphalt, as long as they stay good and cold. It's the film of melt that forms between the tire and the surface under pressure that is slippery. Being from Wisconsin, you certainly know what snow sounds like when it's at -20 - it squeaks and crunches under the tires, and the grip is pretty darned good - far FAR better than at +20 degrees.

In loose, relatively warm snow, narrow tires might have a slight advantage, because they'll sink in for a better grip, but a wider tire will still expose more tread lugs to the surface, whether spinning or not. That's been my experience, at least. If you're spinning the tires enough to pack the treads with snow, you've already lost half the battle - all you have then is a nice wide smooth surface with no grip at all.

[squeefoo]

Makes one think of all the variables involved. Good points. I was thinking about my Jeep and FWD drive experiences, and I've found thinner is better under all winter conditions. Everytime I buy tires for winter duty they give you three choices of width for stock rims and the thinnest for that rim size always best for me. At my urging, my ex went thinner and likes it better on a '98 Bonneville overall, too bad the Yoko's keep rim leaking. On my Q no leaks at all with Yoko's.

[Jesda]

Tomorrow we take possession of a 05 Grand prix GTP comp G...

I've never actually met Pontiac people, other than your folks. I always wonder who buys them. The upcoming Grand Prix GXP is supposed to have a V8!

[elwesso]

I've never actually met Pontiac people, other than your folks. I always wonder who buys them. The upcoming Grand Prix GXP is supposed to have a V8!

I drove that car... Northstar... i want to drive one sometime with about 10k miles on it.. Fully broken in..... It was quite a bit weaker than the Q...

[maxnix]

Make mine a half-track if not a full track, for winter, please.