Elise in the snow/cold?

[Si1]

I am wanting to drive down to Austria this year for some quality snowboarding/skiing. But I want to take my elise rather than my saab. Will I have problems (apart from the usual traction)?
What I mean is, how well does the elise cope with cold/freezing weather? the saab is perfect of course, but I want to enjoy the drive down through germany a little more.

Si.

[Bonce]

If you take the elise, you'll be riding it down the hills like a snowboard!

You won't have any problems with the car starting and running if your battery is in good condition and your washer fluid has anti-freeze, but to want to drive it through snowy mountains is a little bit

[Gargamel]

hmm there is a chap in monaco who regularly runs his liz up to the ski resorts of the alps and has not reported any cold weather problems - and the scottish owners haven;'t either.

But - light body - big rear tyres - not a great combination .... winter tyres or effective snow chains an absolute must.

Personally an autobahn blast with ski gear to austria in the liz - holds no appeal - Saab every time for me.

If it was a back road blast then different story...

[hungryjim]

Take the SAAB!
Better safe than sorry and you may be SORRY if anything happens to it
Ie.
-Stuck in ice
-Freezing Locks
-Cold Gearnob
-Spinning of the road
-Any damage from the less than perfect Area

[Andy P]

Taken mine to the Alps twice, although later in the season. Descended from Val D'Isere with 6 fresh inches on the road. No traction problems on newish P0's but the knuckles were a bit white until we dropped beneath the snowline.

I will be doing it again next year. Driving on the mountain roads beats anything we have here and lunacy is appreciated if not almost expected.

I suppose you know the shit about chains on spare front rims etc? My policy if globaal warming ever permits proper snowfalls again would be to dump the car at the bottom and catch a bus up the hill.

If you want to see stunned looking pedestrians, you cant beat cruising around resort in an Elise!

[fergusd]

Andy P, I'm amazed you had no traction probs in snow, I drove my S1 about 30 miles in 4 inches of fresh snow last year in Scotland, and I would prefer never to choose to do that again.

IMHO the Elise is too light and has too wide a tyre on the rear to be practically usable in the snow, frankly it's bl00dy dangerous.

As for cold weather, it's not really cold enough in Scotland to comment IMHO, but I've never had any car problems stored inside (now) or outside (on occasion) in cold weather, just make sure your battery is in perfect condition before you go.

Personally I'd take the Saab dude . . .

Fd

[fergusd]

Andy P, I'm amazed you had no traction probs in snow, I drove my S1 about 30 miles in 4 inches of fresh snow last year in Scotland, and I would prefer never to choose to do that again.

IMHO the Elise is too light and has too wide a tyre on the rear to be practically usable in the snow, frankly it's bl00dy dangerous.

As for cold weather, it's not really cold enough in Scotland to comment IMHO, but I've never had any car problems stored inside (now) or outside (on occasion) in cold weather, just make sure your battery is in perfect condition before you go.

Personally I'd take the Saab dude . . .

Fd

[hoganscrogan]

I'd get some chains and take the elise! Lifes an adventure BTW my S2000 was only a probelm in the snow when manoeuvring in carparks, very hard to move at all as car was going sideways at 0.3 mph, chains would have sorted this out tho'

[Andy P]

Fergus

French snow = dry, squeaky, champagne powder

Scottish snow = wet

Thats your difference !

[fergusd]

Fair enough

Fd