Hi all,I was wondering how safe are the s13/14s when driving during winter conditions. When the roads are a bit wet, slippery or downright icy.
I know these cars have excellent balance, but without ABS or Traction control found in newer cars, does the handling depend solely on the driver? Or do these cars have a sense of 'forgiveness' in them, like the GTR's (when you mess up, they put you back in place)??
It'll be cool to go drifting in winter and all, but safety does come to mind from time to time.
Thnx all
Winter Driving
The GT-R's have a lot of computer controlled things (especially the R34) as well as 4WD.
The driving a 240 in those kinds of conditions is going to be a little bit unsettling without ABS or Traction control. Its easy to go past the threshold and lose control.
A good way to get to know the car is take it to a parking lot when it rains or snows and find out where that threshold is. But there are always variables you cant account for, so drive at a reasonable speed.
The driving a 240 in those kinds of conditions is going to be a little bit unsettling without ABS or Traction control. Its easy to go past the threshold and lose control.
A good way to get to know the car is take it to a parking lot when it rains or snows and find out where that threshold is. But there are always variables you cant account for, so drive at a reasonable speed.
You just have to be much more careful and aware of what you are doing in a car like the 240 then you would in a FWD car. I am only 19, and got my 240 around 2 years ago . . . first winter with a car of my own (with all-season tires), and I was careful with it, no major problems. Getting started was hard on hills at times, but it wasn't awful at all . . . in fact, the 240's great balance made it easy to recover if the tail started to slide. This past winter, I went through it with SUMMER tires, of all things (too poor to buy snows, heh), and that was livable, even in the New England winters we have, once they put a bit of sand down. So yeah, it's easily doable, you just have to be careful . . .
And I will have to agree with DarkStar. :-) With an exception if you should happen to have snow tires, in which case, you will make it much further than a FWD car with all-seasons. My dad had Blizzaks on his S2000 this winter, and it went through things our beater Olds Aurora (FWD, all-seasons) had a lot of problems with, like a few inches of snow on the ground. Just something to keep in mind . . .
I got my 96 and 98 240's and live in MD where we get ice sleet and snow mixed all the time. I have had the 96 since 1998 or so and as long as I have had good tires on it it drives like a dream, cruisin up 95 in the snow without any problems, but man last winter I took the 96 out with tires that were a little questionable on tread and couldn't keep the back end going straight at all, was kinda fun but not reccomended. Not sure about S13's and there handling in foul weather but keep good tires and the S14's are fine, as long as you don't drive like an idiot or react drastically.
In fact the little blizzard over a couple days MD got last year I was delivering pizzas in my 240 since all my drivers were too chicken to drive LOL made a fortune
In fact the little blizzard over a couple days MD got last year I was delivering pizzas in my 240 since all my drivers were too chicken to drive LOL made a fortune
I've never had any problems driving my 240SX in the snow, and I live in PA. We get way more than 2 or 3 inches of snow at time.
Like others have said, get some good snow tires, drive the car in a nice open parking lot after the first snow of winter and get a feel for it.
Oh, and go slower in the snow...despite what you may think, you're not Tommi Makinen!
Lots of people (especially SUV drivers) tend to forget that last one.
Like others have said, get some good snow tires, drive the car in a nice open parking lot after the first snow of winter and get a feel for it.
Oh, and go slower in the snow...despite what you may think, you're not Tommi Makinen!
Lots of people (especially SUV drivers) tend to forget that last one.
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ILikeMy240sx
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Like everyone said... being careful is the best thing you can do and knowing the limits of your car can definitely help.
I live in Michigan during winter where it snows literally everyday... besides getting out of my parking space during winter it drives fine with good tires when im careful. If I were to give some more gas than usual during wet/snowy condition it always fish tails soo just drive slow/careful when the condition outside isnt too good.
Remember... when your car is coming out of a carwash.. its EXTREMELY slippery... My car made a 90 degree turn when I got my first carwash in the 240... very scary..
If your fishtailing just let go off the gas smoothly and coutersteer
I live in Michigan during winter where it snows literally everyday... besides getting out of my parking space during winter it drives fine with good tires when im careful. If I were to give some more gas than usual during wet/snowy condition it always fish tails soo just drive slow/careful when the condition outside isnt too good.
Remember... when your car is coming out of a carwash.. its EXTREMELY slippery... My car made a 90 degree turn when I got my first carwash in the 240... very scary..
If your fishtailing just let go off the gas smoothly and coutersteer
Thnx for the advice all!
Thnx Mojo for that advice for driving in an empty area just to get used to the limits of the car. I'm just worried that my 240 won't really make it through winter this year. And the thing is, it's been my daily driver since all summer long.
Being a poor college student, I can't afford another beater for winter.
Does the brake balance matter when in snowy/slippery conditions? Have any of you changed brake balance to counter the effect of slippery conditions?
Thnx Mojo for that advice for driving in an empty area just to get used to the limits of the car. I'm just worried that my 240 won't really make it through winter this year. And the thing is, it's been my daily driver since all summer long.
Being a poor college student, I can't afford another beater for winter.
Does the brake balance matter when in snowy/slippery conditions? Have any of you changed brake balance to counter the effect of slippery conditions?
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Maverick7687
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Doomed2Walk
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In live in lexington KY, winters aren't bad here but the city is pretty bad at snow and ice removal. I have had my 91 coupe for eight years now and with good all seasons I have never had a problem. Sand bags will help you from spinning the tires out at starts but will through off the balamce considerably! I am used to the lack of abs and prefer non-abs in any condition, you just have to learn the locking points and with practice due fine. If you have a manual transmission try starting in second gear to reduce torque, and allow for the engine to slow your momentum for stops. If you want some practice early get a couple of large bottles of dawn soap, a large parking lot and some light rain= instant skid pad!Drive Happy!