AWD canadian winters

[Saber123316]

I have looked up some info on these cars ever since high school I have been a big fan,

How do they handle in the winter? I currently own a 4x4 pickup so a little weary about driving this in the winter.

my truck has alot of torque as well (650+ ft lbs)

 

[caboose]

awd is a blast in the snow, if you are experienced and have good tires there are no worries.

 

[Barlow]

I feel that awd + a decent set of winter tires = the best control in the snow - its like point a shoot.
Based on my experience in southern Ontario winters.

 

[Saber123316]

So if I wanted a street and strip car and year round driver a awd tsi will fit the bill?

now the next question... 5 speed or auto... what would work best at the track>

 

[TURBD]

I was plowing threw 2 feet with almost bald summer tires. Don't put a body kit on it if you want it all year round. Manual or auto is your choice. Both trannys can be built to do well. I just prefer 5spd myself.

I can't wait for it to snow with my car, acually go looking for it some days
Buy it and enjoy

 

[Saber123316]

anything to protect against rust?

 

[Barlow]

So if I wanted a street and strip car and year round driver a awd tsi will fit the bill?

now the next question... 5 speed or auto... what would work best at the track>

I would say it fits the bill - depending on your setup - some people have different tunes for summer and winter because of air density changes. I prefer manual trans - although at the track its debateable that auto might be better(the whole no human can shift faster than a computer thoery) so its up to you.

 

[Rob10_99]

<==== yep.

 

[ReYnd]

I was plowing threw 2 feet with almost bald summer tires.:

I've been using some rather crappy Dunlop summer tires since I got this car and it loves the snow. Looking to get some dedicated winter tires eventually... but it will be spring before I finish up the damn maintenance! So I think I'll hold off on those until at least fall, with some other mods in lieu.

Despite their reputation, I feel safe in my Talon. Until things start getting crowded in bad snow... then I start plotting how best to execute some evasive maneuvers to keep from being involved in an accident. Tanks these cars are not.

 

[TURBD]

anything to protect against rust?

No I think I should have though. The back end suspension is looking a little rough. I will clean it up when I do suspension.
If you do undercoat it, only do the rear 3/4 leave the motor area because you will hate yourself if you ever have to work on it.

 

[Boiler2]

Snow is not a worry for me thus far. POR-15 is the best for rust (google it). As far as auto or 5 speed, there are fast cars with either. Depends on your preference. Have fun!

 

[dsmfa9nutter]

If you don't have rust yet, get spray bottle and a big bottle of marvel mystery oil and spray down everywhere your car usually rusts (fender wells, 1/4s, etc). I don't know why this stuff works so well but it does, it's kept my colt rust free for two winters of daily driving through salted slush.

 

[1990AWD]

5spd is better than auto any day! AWD DSM is amazing in snow and the prairie winter! just get a set of winter tires and your set

 

[ricktb]

Best handling of any car I've ever drove in winter.. it would plow through 6-8 inches of snow easy, and I only got stuck two times.. once when I drove into a ditch (snow up over the hood), and another time I backed into a cul-de-sac with a snow drift up to the center of my door, even then I almost got out... just took a minute of shoveling and drove right out.

I can out accerate 4*4 trucks no problem even on ice.. I recommend the Toyo Garit KX tire with microbit technology if you want the best traction.

You would need to worry more about your bumper scooping up the snow into the rad before you got stuck

 

[casperfast]

heres a good refrence YouTube - talon snow

 

[viprez586]

Only thing that sucks on the 1st gens is the understeer issue that needs to be resolved if you go competitive with it.
I have a SST rear sway bar - this helped some, but I also fought with my alignment angles for a good two hours to get decent results, however understeer is still there.

 

[AWDnoobie]

anything to protect against rust?

AutoBodyRustControl CounterAct

 

[TURBD]

AutoBodyRustControl CounterAct

Does this acually work? Have you used it? If so, I will deffinitly get one.

Whats better than snow??? ICE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=438beYmEN_U

 

[Sp1kE]

Got an AWD colt wagon for the winters, pretty much a dsm in van form. We are finally getting some descent snow up here. I am loving this thing. Point and press the gas, makes you go where you want. It however is auto, and no lsd in the rear. I think I will try and fix that for next winter. Try and get any maintenance bugs worked out before the snow so your not stuck on your back in the windy -20deg driveway fixing stuff.

 

[Doubleot]

5spd is better than auto any day!

Personal preference.

 

[dsmfa9nutter]

Does this acually work? Have you used it? If so, I will deffinitly get one.

No, they are snake oil. They claim to use a process (cathodic protection) to prevent rust. The problem is that on things where it does work (ships, underground pipes, etc) there is a sacrificial anode that decays and it uses a lot of power to complete a circuit through the metal (with the metal/moisture completing the circuit). The devices they sell to use on cars don't have an anode to sacrifice and even if they did, your car would have to be under water to complete the circuit to make it work.

tl;dr, It's bs that car dealerships (and jc whitney) use to scam money out of people.

For anyone that defends the product, take a look at the court orders the US government got against the companies to stop selling them because they were fake garbage.

 

[viprez586]

That video really isn't anything special. I just went Ice racing and anything can drift on the ice.
When you get the studded guys out there making a "path" then it becomes real badass and driver skill comes into play.

 

[1990AWD]

Personal preference.

ever driven on ice and snow? 5spd is just easier to handle. don't know why, I think its just because it doesnt' feel like its pulling forward even when your braking. plus automatics are just plain boring.