1st Porsche/RWD + Snow - Shitting Myself!!
Discussion
OK maybe more of a General Gassing topic and definitely a bit of an exaggeration, but it's just started to snow a little here.
The 987 is the first car I've ever had that's been RWD and vaguely powerful.
If I go out tomorrow and there's a load of snow is there any special knack or is it the usual high gear/low rpms/leave lots of room?
The 987 is the first car I've ever had that's been RWD and vaguely powerful.
If I go out tomorrow and there's a load of snow is there any special knack or is it the usual high gear/low rpms/leave lots of room?
if you're not used to RWD and you have just got a powerful mid engined car I'd advise not taking on any snow!
The combination of the wide rear tyres and realtive lack of weight over them means that you're gonna sit on top of the snow like a big sledge! No amount of PSM will stop you sliding down a hill. A bog standard hatch has skinny tyres with a big lump of and engine sat over them at the front meaning that the wheels have much more chance of cutting through the snow and gripping.
If you do get caught out I probably would just drive really slow! Engine braking is good but don't overdo it 'cos all that will happen if you change down to fast is that the rear wheels will be turning slower and may then lose traction if it's slippy enough.
I once made the mistake of trying to drive my old MR2 up a bit of a snowy hill, got halfway up and then started coming back down backwards! did a 180 before coming to rest on a patch of road inches away from hitting the kerb!
The combination of the wide rear tyres and realtive lack of weight over them means that you're gonna sit on top of the snow like a big sledge! No amount of PSM will stop you sliding down a hill. A bog standard hatch has skinny tyres with a big lump of and engine sat over them at the front meaning that the wheels have much more chance of cutting through the snow and gripping.
If you do get caught out I probably would just drive really slow! Engine braking is good but don't overdo it 'cos all that will happen if you change down to fast is that the rear wheels will be turning slower and may then lose traction if it's slippy enough.
I once made the mistake of trying to drive my old MR2 up a bit of a snowy hill, got halfway up and then started coming back down backwards! did a 180 before coming to rest on a patch of road inches away from hitting the kerb!
Given what you've said: If you have an alternative car - take it.
When I ran only the sports cars and didn't have my Vectra shitter for when its nasty I have, however, driven a 986 Boxster S (my previous one) from Anglesey to Basingstoke one winter. It was -10 and the screen wash was freezing as it came out the nozzles.
It behaved impeccably - even on the compacted snow. Unlike my TVR which wouldn't go up the hill to my house, had to get two mates to push, the Box managed no problem.
It snowed today and I left the cars in the garage - but that's mainly because I try to minimise the amount of salt thrown up against the underside of the car whenever possible...
When I ran only the sports cars and didn't have my Vectra shitter for when its nasty I have, however, driven a 986 Boxster S (my previous one) from Anglesey to Basingstoke one winter. It was -10 and the screen wash was freezing as it came out the nozzles.
It behaved impeccably - even on the compacted snow. Unlike my TVR which wouldn't go up the hill to my house, had to get two mates to push, the Box managed no problem.
It snowed today and I left the cars in the garage - but that's mainly because I try to minimise the amount of salt thrown up against the underside of the car whenever possible...
I'm in the opposite camp to the doom mongers
I picked up my RS this time last year in germany on normal tyres in pretty much blizzrd conditions, had great fun driving back to Blighty
Drop the tyre pressures a touch, start off in second gear with very light throttle, be incredibly smooth with all inputs and have fun!
I picked up my RS this time last year in germany on normal tyres in pretty much blizzrd conditions, had great fun driving back to Blighty
Drop the tyre pressures a touch, start off in second gear with very light throttle, be incredibly smooth with all inputs and have fun!
shoestring7 said:
Do you have a big empty car park near by....?
I agree, not the same I know but I used to drive 3.5 Tonne flet bed truck while I was doing my A Levels and had a brilliant time in a car park in thick snow. Although I remember coming back from a delivery with nothing on the back and span a couple of times going down a hill. I wasnt going fast and twas amazing that I didnt end up in the ditch. Brown trouser moment!!!
The road was sheet ice and I couldnt go faster than 20mph without the rear coming out and larger trucks were over taking me.
I like driving in the snow but as said before many other drives havent got a clue and cause the danger
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