Driving in snow, is driving in snow. Same as in Michigan..... in a gsx you are AWD. You already have an advantage over me being FWD. Just go slow, and leave earlier. It isnt hard driving in snow, people are just stupid and drive to fast.

It also comes down to learning and feeling your car. I would go in empty parking lots, drive then cut the wheel. I would practice ebrakes and sliding in the snow (yes sometimes for fun) but i would do it to learn how my car handled.

But really, i highly doubt the roads will be bad. Its still early in the season. Only real tip to give you is DONT TURN FAST. If you turn sharp, while on snow you wont always turn or make the angle you wanted, thus going into the ditch or oncoming traffic. Oh and sometimes you will have to start in 2nd gear if you cant get any decent traction.

I have an awd laser. They are very good in the snow. Just take it easy and you wont have any problems.

Lived in Alaska for 6 years and ran cheap fusion all weather tires. Fwd with no studs or chains and basically driving on sheets of ice. Never had a problem just take it easy if you don't know how to drive in the snow

That's definitely do-able. Are there any mechanical things to do. I'm probably going to change the oil and coolant just because it's like a 3 hours away .

decent tires and no power-steering is how I role in these Michigan winters. You never realise how much more road to hand feel a manual rack gives you over PS...

You'll be fine, Im sure Michigan is worse with the simple fact that they start salting in my are at around 6:00 and Im always out before then so I have to drive FWD through 9" of snow with 80% Kumho Ecsta Supra's which are Z rated summer sport tires....Just go slow and be cautious...Watch your rear-view mirror too!! People suck

Snow Tires are great, I just picked up 4 for 100 bucks of craigslist

Never ever run out of windshield fluid.

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you have AWD, I wouldn't even worry. Just dont turn hard and brake hard...

I also thought spent my first winter in a mustang and got to be a great snow driver.
Then my next winter I had my AWD Talon... made it stupid easy.
Only thing I worry about anymore is other drivers.

does lowering the car have any effect on driving in snow/ice. I drove last year in fresh snow and ice and had no problems. The car will be lowered once my suspension gets here and i wanted to know if it would make any difference on driving under these same conditions

All season tires DO NOT mean all weather condition tires. Get GOOD snow tires and you will be fine. Lowering the car and hindering it's ability to body roll takes a negative toll on handling in the snow. A stock car with fresh suspension will grip better in turns in the snow than a car with stiff springs, shocks, and sway bars. Flex is also important in the tires. A 16" skinny high profile snow tire is going to be good and something like a 35 or 40 series 18" will be useless crap. Lowering also means less ground clearance. I'd bet a bone stock fresh car with good skinny snow tires would do better in the snow with "all season" tires than a car with crazy suspension mods with some crazy 18s and high-end snow tires. Just like it being illegal to run studded snow tires outside of the winter months it should be illegal to drive in the snow without REAL snow tires, and I'd possibly go so far to say, and illegal without studs at least in the rear.

haha i thought that would be the answer but was hoping for something else, i just have konis with eibach pro kits in the mail. 1.3 inch drop. Nothing too crazy

bsbllfit7 said:

does lowering the car have any effect on driving in snow/ice. I drove last year in fresh snow and ice and had no problems. The car will be lowered once my suspension gets here and i wanted to know if it would make any difference on driving under these same conditions

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Yes, it will, you become a plow.

1.3 inches is just asking for trouble. You just don't lower a car and stiffen its suspension and expect it to actually turn in the snow. Experience. I have had many cars before with "all season" tires with plenty of tread and I couldn't even take turns that would normally be 50 mph at 10-15 without plowing off the road because of being lowered and whatnot.

looks like im taking the range rover to the mountain instead

Tires are key. It'll be way easier with a set of all-weather or snow tires. Performance tires suck in the snow, as they should. But as has been said it all comes down to practice. I've driven just about every type of car in the snow from a rear wheel drive V8 Trans-Am to a 4x4. It just takes practice and patience.

Also keep in mind that even though you are AWD, you don't have AWD while braking with the clutch in (if you're a manual). I almost slid into a ditch last year as I was making a turn (I am also AWD), but as soon as I released the clutch and put my foot on the gas, I had traction and avoided it.

So remember in snow to slow down early when coming to a turn and have your foot on the gas slightly accelerating around the corner rather than your foot on the break. Also, if the snow is really bad, don't stop unless you have to. For example, if you are in a residential area and a stop sign is coming up, no cars around, then slow down close to stopping but don't stop as it's harder to get going again. And yes, snow tires would be the best. And if you carry chains, make sure you have a set for the front and rear tires since AWD.

Have fun!

Yes, I was thinking for while now to pick up some 16s and put some snow tires on them just for this purpose . I'm really lookin foreword to boarding this year, the drive is just, well, the getting there. The only part where I'll most likely drive in the snow is not the drove up there, but when I actually get there and am parking or driving to a certain slope. Fun fun!

I think your thinking its going to be way worse than it is, last winter i had low pro summer tires on 17's my car is also lowered on the prokit. I didn't have one problem with traction or breaking. The only thing that sucked is when the wheels would pack full of snow and throw the wheels off balance. You will be fine with some decent tires, make sure your coolant is a good mix so it doesn't freeze wile your on the slopes. I cant wait to board this winter!

If you're going to drive a car in the winter (rather then a truck or SUV), an AWD DSM isn't a bad one to drive at all. I drove mine last winter and drove past Ford Explorers that were stuck. Snow tire make a big difference, but as long as you're careful they're not needed. Just as snow tires are better then all season tires in the snow, all season tires are better in the snow then performance tires. I simply used cheap all season tires on the stock 16" Talon swirlies and had no issues at all. Just be really easy on the brakes (downshift and engine brake if you have a manual) and sometimes you may want to accelerate in a higher gear then usual so you don't break traction (again, if you have a manual). Driving in the snow is more about knowing how to drive in the snow then what car you're driving.

Good buddy of mine ran (4) studded snow tires on his 2G TSi AWD during the winter months when it was still his daily driver....I swear that car could climb a brick wall. I felt safer in it than I did the 4x4 Ford I had at the time.

I'll see about some cheap season tires, and I took my upper back seats and my sub and my 158 board fits right in and my 6'7" compadre that's going to be my copilot haha. Any tips on a better performing heater, mine works. Just takes a long ass time to warm up, even in like 60 degree weather, if nothing really helps, it's not a prob, I can definitely roll with no a/c.

Go slow in turns. If you feel yourself beginning to slide, DON'T hit the brake....give it some gas.

Last winter was pretty bad here in the northeast. I had goodyear assurance triple tread tires. Pretty good in the snow.

You should be fine with snow tires and carefull driving. Lowering your car will also just make a plow like some people have said and mess up your bumper. I've been through many snowstorms here in NM and AZ with the talon. Trust me, just drive slow when you think it is bad and dont brake hard.

Yea slow driving it is , and if I can't manage to get some snow tires, I think I'll be fine as is. And my front bumper is pretty much on it's way out appeal-wise. But I doubt the snow will be that high on the road on the way.