Topic: First storm of the season. The G8 made it to work!

[ktm525]

Wing's review of the G8 had me a little nervous about the G8 in the snow. Last night the first storm of the year blew in. Nasty stuff this morning, the falling temp as the snow started created a layer of ice covered by about 10cm of heavy then light snow. The Continental ExtremeWinterContacts were beyond awesome. I passed a number of stuck FWD cars and a Porsche Cayanne on steep hills. The only place where RWD has an edge on FWD. Steering and stopping was impressive.

I don't know what Wing was complaining about, the Stabilitrac on the G8 was almost perfect. It allowed some waggle but keept the rear in check. I think downsizing the width to 225s may have helped as well. Just have to feather the threottle lightly, no stomping today.  Perhaps Wing drove a Subaru the day before?

[Shnak]

I might be wrong, but I believe the G8 James reviewed only had all-season tires on it, not winter tires.

The fact that you passed stuck FWD and a Cayenne on steep hills shows how much winter tires are important.

Glad your enjoying the G8, definitely one of the nicer GM vehicles ever made!

EDIT: Nope, his G8 had winter tires. Maybe it had crappy winter tires?
My tester is equipped with winter tires, so I left my driveway thinking: “This will be fun, I’ll just drift out of the driveway onto the street.” Well that back fired, as I did a 180-degree spin! It was all in good fun and after another one-eighty back the other way and off I went.

[Frontier1]

I can't wait for snow this year...and Juke it out!!

[ktm525]

I might be wrong, but I believe the G8 James reviewed only had all-season tires on it, not winter tires.

The fact that you passed stuck FWD and a Cayenne on steep hills shows how much winter tires are important.

Glad your enjoying the G8, definitely one of the nicer GM vehicles ever made!

EDIT: Nope, his G6 had winter tires. Maybe it had crappy winter tires?
My tester is equipped with winter tires, so I left my driveway thinking: “This will be fun, I’ll just drift out of the driveway onto the street.” Well that back fired, as I did a 180-degree spin! It was all in good fun and after another one-eighty back the other way and off I went.

Trick is to be real light on the throttle, real light. .

[Shnak]

I might be wrong, but I believe the G8 James reviewed only had all-season tires on it, not winter tires.

The fact that you passed stuck FWD and a Cayenne on steep hills shows how much winter tires are important.

Glad your enjoying the G8, definitely one of the nicer GM vehicles ever made!

EDIT: Nope, his G6 had winter tires. Maybe it had crappy winter tires?
My tester is equipped with winter tires, so I left my driveway thinking: “This will be fun, I’ll just drift out of the driveway onto the street.” Well that back fired, as I did a 180-degree spin! It was all in good fun and after another one-eighty back the other way and off I went.

Trick is to be real light on the throttle, real light. .

Oops! Just realized I had initially written G6 instead of G8... What a difference a digit makes, LOL! 

[Mike]

I can't wait for snow this year...and Juke it out!!

I am pumped for the winter as well.

Glad to hear the G8 is doing well, AWD and RWD and a hell of a lot of fun in the snow

[wing]

It was like -40 too when I drove the G8, I'm guessing the tires were crap.  But I remember it was very tail happy which had my smiling.

[ktm525]

WRX would be a beast in the snow. Much different driving though. I did miss the Volvo V70R AWD and getting on the throttle early in the turn and power drifting though. With the G8 it is more of a "keep up the momentum" type driving. More tail wagging and less power drifts.

[Mike]

WRX would be a beast in the snow. Much different driving though. I did miss the Volvo V70R AWD and getting on the throttle early in the turn and power drifting though. With the G8 it is more of a "keep up the momentum" type driving. More tail wagging and less power drifts.

Sounds like my RX-8 in the snow

[G0dspd]

I passed a number of stuck FWD cars and a Porsche Cayenne on steep hills. The only place where RWD has an edge on FWD. Steering and stopping was impressive.

Trick is to be real light on the throttle, real light. .

It just shows that RWD vehicles aren't as hopeless in winter as most people think.  With decent winter tires and a little planning, you can have a very pleasant winter.

You should have rolled down your window while you were passing the Cayenne and ask him/her if he needed a push. 

[Erik]

WRX would be a beast in the snow. Much different driving though. I did miss the Volvo V70R AWD and getting on the throttle early in the turn and power drifting though. With the G8 it is more of a "keep up the momentum" type driving. More tail wagging and less power drifts.

Sounds like my RX-8 in the snow

Except you had the benefit of no torque.

[Brig]

I don't know what temps you had KTM, but wouldn't tires behave quite differently at -40C?  Even winters turn into hockey pucks at some time, don't they?

Either way, I'm glad you had fun.  I always look forward to winter in the Jetta with her winter boots.  It's a blast, and she's a tank.  FWD, but a quick yank going around a snowy corner when no one's around and yeehaw!   

[mrthompson]

176 accidents in Calgary
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2010/11/17/16178691.html

[ktm525]

176 accidents in Calgary
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2010/11/17/16178691.html

It was a nasty storm as it was well above freezing when the snow started. The temp fell steadily so we were left with a nice layer of ice,  covered with partially melted snow and then frozen snow, covered by our typical light and fluffy snow. Our current temp of -14 isn't helping either. A few more degrees and salt loses it's ability to melt.  Here comes the gravel.

As for the 10cm I doubt that amount. The wind really drifted the areas around my place. Over my kness on the front yard.

[TopGun]

Sounds like my RX-8 in the snow

Except you had the benefit of no torque.
[/quote]

Aw crap...beat me to it.  Railton drove his RX-8 for years in the winter...he did really well with it.

Ya, I would've thought the G8 would've been real tail happy.

[ktm525]

Sounds like my RX-8 in the snow

Except you had the benefit of no torque.

Aw crap...beat me to it.  Railton drove his RX-8 for years in the winter...he did really well with it.

Ya, I would've thought the G8 would've been real tail happy.
[/quote]

The GM stabilitrak keeps the rear end in line. I just wish I could defeat the ESP (spin control) and keep the stability on. It's either both on or both off. I am willing to bet Wing had his off when he did that first 180.

[johngenx]

We're getting it here today, and my Scoob is in the shop getting a new axle...   

But, my Buick rental has X-Ice tires on it, so I got back to school fine.

FWD, RWD, AWD: It's still just tires on the road.

[tenpenny]

Anyone who learned to drive on something like a 73 Pontiac with a 350 4bbl knows that rwd is perfectly fine in winter driving...if you bother to learn how to drive, and equip it with proper tires, and drive for the conditions.

[rrocket]

Anyone who learned to drive on something like a 73 Pontiac with a 350 4bbl knows that rwd is perfectly fine in winter driving...if you bother to learn how to drive, and equip it with proper tires, and drive for the conditions.

+1

[Ex-airbalancer]

Anyone who learned to drive on something like a 73 Pontiac with a 350 4bbl knows that rwd is perfectly fine in winter driving...if you bother to learn how to drive, and equip it with proper tires, and drive for the conditions.

71 Buick Lesabre