Benjamin T

iTrader: (2)

my gs400 is the first rwd car i've driven in the snow, and my only experience driving in the white stuff has been in fwd or awd vehicles, so it's been a learning experience.

so far i've figured out:

- all seasons+rwd=bad, snow tires+supra lsd=good!
- the ect snow mode is there for a reason
- the vsc does work.

i try to keep my speed down to 40-50km/h or less, and i have yet to get stuck (knock on wood), but steep hills with right hand camber scares me as i have to get a running start and the tail loves to drift to the right and i'm always playing chicken with the curb

but i get frustrated by these idiots tailgaiting me or doing 60km/h+ past me and spraying slush on my windshield, etc. however, i've figured out to deal with this. big *** rwd car, give it some gas, and the tail comes out wide... and suddenly everyone behind you keeps well back

UberNoob

hahaha good one
ill have to drive up to SFU soon to meet up with someone
its gonna be a dangerous drive up the mountain...

i wish i have snow tires on now...

are we supposed to stay in SNOW ECT mode the whole time we are driving or only when we are starting from a stop?
starting from a stop right?

drive safe everyone!!

Benjamin T

iTrader: (2)

i turn the ect off when there is enough traction to not need it, otherwise it's always on... the snow mode burns a lot of gas and there is a significant loss in power

UberNoob

yeah its like a low gear ratio with reduced torque eh
thats what i use it as
to accelerate from stops in the snow

most of the roads have been cleared up
id say vancouver is much more prepared for snow this time around

legomaniac

snow tires FTW!

i got nokian WRs and they kick ***... other than being a bit noisy...

ignore the speed demons... they'll get their due... i had an x5 zip by me during that second dump of snow we got... 1/2 block later in a curve the guy wiped out and went sideways... didn't flip lucky for him...

how does snow mode burn gas? it just uses the ECT to dampen the throttle response... i've used it in stop 'n go traffic and found it to use less gas cuz i'm not zooming fwd only to jump on the brakes...

Benjamin T

iTrader: (2)

ect does control throttle, but it also governs when the transmission shifts gears. the snow mode shifts earlier at lower rpms, which isn't optimal under normal conditions and the engine ends up lugging it when it should be in a higher gear. i'm not 100% sure but i think it also does 2nd gear starts from a dead stop when it senses too much wheelspin/lack of traction.

as for snow clearing in vancouver... i reserve judgement for tomorrow morning when they said everything will freeze over.

UberNoob

damn it, it is coming down hard here in burnaby for the past hour or so

looks like my dinner plan with friends will have to be canceled

i wish i have a set of new rims and tires for all season and also a set of nokian all weather tires on the stock rims...

btw yeah snow ECT also starts in 2nd gear instead of 1st
for 2GS anyways

Benjamin T

iTrader: (2)

i just got back home from work in vancouver and it started dumping when i got to n. bby... i wouldn't go to sfu if i were u

UberNoob

yeah i take back what i said b4 about the clearing of the snow

it is getting freakishly white now
big big flakes...

Ben, u got snow tires on?

LeXusFiTs

I live in Toronto, and I'm keepin' my fingers crossed in hopes of no snow!!

legomaniac

drove from d/t to oakridge at around 6:30... damn... 41st was a sheet of ice... i didn't notice until i saw a bmw next to me moving forward with one front wheel stopped completely while others rolled... then i stopped near a manhole cover or something and my car shifted and settled... i bailed and took to the snowy side streets instead...

604IS350

Hey guys waz up!

I got my snow tires installed about 3 weeks ago and now it is working so much better. I lived around the area of SFU and as some of you might of known, I got stuck right before my house a while back with the stock summer tires and just now today I had no problem. Snow tires makes a huge difference. Note: My g/f was driving behind me and she told me that she had a little bit of trouble going up hill wz her RSX. I m just glad that spending 1100 on snow tires is well worth it.

Hope everyone got home safely.

Danny

Benjamin T

iTrader: (2)

it's 7am and i finally made it in to work... as usual vancouver city crews ignored the side streets again... makes me wonder where are all the tax dollars going.

yeah i'm on snows. i'm on hankook w300 icebears i bought 2 years back. i was going to get nokians but kal tire at the time didn't have my size in stock, and i couldn't afford blizzaks. i had blizzaks on my old type-r and those were invincible! but unfortunately they wore out after 2 winters

UberNoob

oh yeah Danny, I remember you telling me you got snows on now, glad they are working out so much better than the summers for you hahah

Which ones did you get?

So do you guys have all-seasons/summer on aftermarket rims and snows on stock rims or what?

i dont know where i can keep my tires if i get rims and tires for snow as i live in an apartment and storage is minimal...

Benjamin T

iTrader: (2)

my snows are on my stock 17's.

i don't know what to say about storage. when i used to live in an apt. my storage locker was broken into in the underground parking and i lost everything... damn thieves.

my summer stuff is in my parents' basement. i still haven't heard the end of it w/regards to how much space it's taking up

wow... $1100 for snow tires... must be good stuff!