Topic: Worst Winter Car?

[sailor723]

What do you think is the worst car for a Canadian winter? I mean something that might reasonably be a daily driver so I would exclude exotics like Lamborghini, Ferrari etc.  I'm guessing our Cooper S cabrio would at least make the short list. It's not terrible in terms of traction with 4 Dunlop winters and traction/stability control but the low ground clearance and terrible rear visibility (tiny rear window that becomes opaque with road dirt within a mile or two) make it not much fun on a messy day.

[CanuckS2K]

This probably wouldn't be all that great in the snow.   

[tortoise]

 A Jeep?

Despite being a 4x4, the cold noisy soft top and relentless desire to trade ends thanks to the short wheelbase would become pretty tiring.

[sailor723]

A Jeep?

Despite being a 4x4, the cold noisy soft top and relentless desire to trade ends thanks to the short wheelbase would become pretty tiring.

I'd forgotten about those. A friend had a 70's era CJ5....not a pleasant ride in January!

[mmret]

Give it a few more storms and I'll tell you if its my car.

[tpl]

A CTS-V with its OE tires ?   or a  Caddy DTS ( the RWD one) again with its OE tires.   Too big to push and no grip.

[Erik]

300C with the Stock Conti's is pretty close to useless. And oddly, my back tires were worn more than the fronts when they came off....

[dr_spock]

A Jeep?

Despite being a 4x4, the cold noisy soft top and relentless desire to trade ends thanks to the short wheelbase would become pretty tiring.

I'd forgotten about those. A friend had a 70's era CJ5....not a pleasant ride in January!

Same here.  He has holes in his passenger side floor board.   Not nice when going through slush.

I think the worst one I've driven so far was a Sunfire.  The side mirror gets covered with road crap too easily. 

[TopGun]

.....my back tires were worn more than the fronts when they came off....

Why would that be?   

My fronts are always more worn...right around the edges.

[Arthur Dent]

Years ago we had a 96 Mustang GT on all season tires - wasn't great.

I drove my old Triumph Spitfire exactly once in the winter. No ground clearance, plus rear wheel drive with no weight and bald all season tires made it a wild ride (just around the block).

[footlong58]

I had a 1985 Fiero V6 that I drove for one winter, with just A/S tires.  That was an experience.

[johngenx]

I need heat.  I can drive RWD, FWD, or AWD as long as I have good snow tires.  The TR6 had no top and the heater was less powerful than just breathing into the "cabin."  It would have been akin to riding a motorcycle in the winter.

There is one exception to the RWD rule.  A 2WD pick up.  With the bed empty, those things are stupid in the winter.  Every day I see guys spending a whole green light cycle trying to get their pick up into the intersection.

[blur911]

Years ago we had a 96 Mustang GT on all season tires - wasn't great.

Had a very low '78 Mustang Cobra with summer tires when I was a starving student.  That was an adventure I don't wish to repeat.

[sailor723]

I need heat.  I can drive RWD, FWD, or AWD as long as I have good snow tires.  The TR6 had no top and the heater was less powerful than just breathing into the "cabin."  It would have been akin to riding a motorcycle in the winter.

There is one exception to the RWD rule.  A 2WD pick up.  With the bed empty, those things are stupid in the winter.  Every day I see guys spending a whole green light cycle trying to get their pick up into the intersection.

I actually drove a TR6 year 'round all through university. It actually wasn't bad (with snow tires) compared to the RWD cars of the era but I agree about the heat. In mine you could burn your feet and freeze your face all at the same time.

[bridgecity]

I think johngenx hit the nail on the head with a 2-wheel drive pickup.  Thats the winner.

[safristi]

..is this PUSSIES.Communists.COM site.... .................the Worst winter car with a decent driver is 10X the  ALL TARTED OUT 4 wheeler with all tha GIZMOS.....IMHO....


   In My Hactual Observations..............

[blur911]

I actually drove a TR6 year 'round all through university. It actually wasn't bad (with snow tires) compared to the RWD cars of the era but I agree about the heat. In mine you could burn your feet and freeze your face all at the same time.

I drove my MG Midget through some of  the winter in my last year of high school.  It wasn't so bad, the heater actually worked well,  except that time the wiring went up in flames, but that was still heat 
Traction was surprisingly good due to the steel belts sticking out of the tread..

[Schmengie]

I think johngenx hit the nail on the head with a 2-wheel drive pickup.  Thats the winner.

 I totally agree. Winter traction was something you could only dream about in my father-in-law's '77 Datsun pickup. That thing was beyond scary on snow and ice,  even with winter tires and a couple of hundred pounds of sandbags in the back. Other than that, it was actually an amazingly useful and likeable little truck.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I had a 2wd Ranger and Toyota pickup. Both had studded snows and about 50kg of weight in the back. If it was snowing a lot, I'd let the snow accumulate for a bit more weight in the back. I also had a set of chains, just in case.

I had a Jeep YJ too. If I left the soft top on late into the season, it was a bit draughty, but the heater was strong enough to melt your boots to the floor. You really had to watch stability though, it didn't take much for it to swap ends without warning.

Original Mini was essentially useless through winter. Either the moisture wouldn't let it start, or it became stuck in anything deeper than hoarfrost.

[gordben]

So do our readers or expert auto contributors have an opinion as to which is the BEST vehicle for winter driving ?                            With or without winter tires.