Driving in the snow

[Clowd]

OK.. So I got caught in the middle of the snow the other day, and it really isn't a big deal... for some reason the 944 handles better in the snow than any of my friend's front wheel drive cars.. I mean, the back will start sliding every now and then, but it's not hard to control... So what's the big deal? Everyone thinks I'm insane for driving it in the snow, my friend called me a "crazy bastard" last night

Who else drives in the snow and has no problems?

[IceShark]

Well, there are a few reasons the 944 isn't good for snow. Salt will hurt these cars that are on average 18 years old by now. They will take salt better than most cars but if you have worked underneath the car, have fun breaking free bolts that have never been loose since it left the factory.

If you put on narrow SNOW tires you will be fine due to the 50-50 weight split. Try with wide performance tires and you are dead meat in much over a dusting.

The final problem, which there isn't much you can do about is ground clearance. Being a snow plow of sorts can really stop you. And if you go over a ridge and lift weight off the rear end, game is over without help.

[Clowd]

Well, I wasn't going to drive it in the snow, but everyone here said go ahead it won't hurt..

I don't have snow tires on the car, it can be a handful sometimes but I can always control it. (let's hope it stays that way)

[livewirevoodoo]

although i was initially weary of driving in the snow, my fears were without cause. no problem driving in the snow.

however, due to the increase in accidents b/c of the crappy driving conditions, and the $$ of parts, labor, etc., what i've been doing the past couple of days is driving my neighbor's '94 oldsmobile 88 back and forth to work.

plus, while there is no problem with the porsche for city stop and go traffic in the snow, it just ain't fun.

[Zero10]

I drove my 86 944 through 1 1/2 winters. I had winter tires. But, I never got stuck, and I was frequently faster from the lights than the 4wd SUV's. They're great handling cars in the snow and ice, and since my front spoiler was already broken, deep snow didn't really bother me

[CJFusco]

well, the 944 just doesn't have the traction in snow that a normal car would... but i find that once you start to slide a little, the 944 is very easy to keep under control becuse you can feel exactly what the car is doing through the steering wheel and through the pedals

Not so in, say, a 1997 Olds Cutlass.

That being said, my 944 entered a sort of hibernation today... I will take it out when the roads are dry for a few days, but I am starting to worry about rust from salt. Since I have a 2nd car, I might as well drive that while the roads are slushy.

[UconnTim97]

I found I had a hard time getting traction with this amount of snow. Mostly due to the wide (225s) rear tires. It did slide a little, but was predictable and easy to control. With lesser amounts of snow, I had no problems at all.

Mine went in hibernation today as well. I drove my roomates A4 today, much better in the snow to say the least.

I think I will have to invest in a set of snow tires for next winter.

[Zero10]

My snow tires were all 205's, I found I had pretty good bite in deep snow, yet still had lots of traction on a sheet of ice (which our roads frequently are).

[AaronM]

I had no problems with my 924S in a Pittsburgh winter a couple years ago when we got 14 inches of snow overnight. University was closed the next day so I went out for a drive. On all-season tires (Potenza RE-950's), on un-ploughed roads. No problems.

Now, the 944 I have now was _very_ skittish on a light dusting this winter, but it has much wider tires (924S runs 195/65's) and they'rw summer-only.

[Chris_924s]

Driven mine in 8 winters now.. it's da bomb..