Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Just how bad an idea is it to drive an S2k through winter? 1 2

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  Oct. 21, 2011 12:12 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  I've got my eyes on a couple of local S2ks, but anything I buy need to work through 80% of winter, which includes a little snow. Heavy snow is covered by my CJ provided it doesn't take another Jeepy time-out, but I don't want to drive that thing all the time in winter. Not with that fuel consumption and a 50 mile round trip to work.

  So, the idea is to stick a set of winter tires on whatever I buy and drive that through the regular part of winter, which might include light snow cover (2-3").

  Am I thoroughly mad to entertain this idea?

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  Oct. 21, 2011 12:24 a.m. fast_eddie_72 Dork

  Modern winter tires are amazing things. I'd think you'd be fine. I've driven everything from a '72 Capri to my current MR2 year round in Denver. We've been known to get an inch or 30 of snow from time to time. Only problem I ever have is ground clearance.

  To be fair, the MR2 is actually a great snow car, with the engine over the drive wheels, so may be apples and oranges.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 12:30 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  That's what I was thinking (well, hoping for) but I was getting a little nervous by all these people on the Internet that seem to think you'll have to put your sportcars away and use something with AWD if someone spotted a snowflake within a 100 mile radius.

  The trouble is that I really can't afford to buy both a "good" car and a winter beater at this point in time, plus the only non-Subie option I can think of that would qualify for both sporty and AWD would be an Evo 8 or 9. Given my history with Mitsu AWD cars, I'm not banking on being 3rd time lucky.

  Plus I really like the idea of getting an S2k.

  Sanity is vastly overrated.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 12:35 a.m. nderwater SuperDork

  I'm not one to ever recommend turning down a deal on an S2000.

  Auto photo blog: http://motomania.tumblr.com

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  Oct. 21, 2011 1:13 a.m. ValuePack Dork

  Tires are everything. Doesn't much matter which you pick, any full-depth snow tire will carry you through. You'll be fine in an S2k for winter.

  Those who believe AWD is a must for winter are those who need to turn on their internal grey matter traction control and slow the F down, or they live off the grid in the Yukon somewhere. More than two driven wheels is a luxury, not a necessity.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 2:08 a.m. clutchsmoke Reader

  With winter tires you should have a ball. My brother drives his RX-8 through Chicago winters no problem.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 2:49 a.m. BobOfTheFuture HalfDork

  2 wheels get you in it, and you only need the 4 to get you out of it. As long as "it" is regular streets w/ snow you will be fine.

  Don't think your S2K will be any worse then my MGB was, and I drove that through 4 winters on all seasons w/o missing a day of work due to the car. And the S has a diff, Right?

  If you are afraid, steelies and some narrow snows. Makes it a blast

  Formerly MowogBob

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  Oct. 21, 2011 4:41 a.m. wbjones SuperDork

  ValuePack wrote: Those who believe AWD is a must for winter are those who need to turn on their internal grey matter traction control and slow the F down, or they live off the grid in the Yukon somewhere. More than two driven wheels is a luxury, not a necessity.

  that is the reaction I get tired of hearing over and over again... flat land ( or slight hills .... yeah ) and ValuePack.. you should know better living where you do .. with mountains comes a different set of winter/snow problems.... not you nor anyone I've ever met can make it up my driveway when there's 8+ inches of snow on the ground, without 4 wheels working for you... so "more than two driven wheels IS NOT a luxury .... it IS a necessity"

  and no I don't "live off the grid in the Yukon somewhere..... 10 miles from Asheville NC , 2 miles off the interstate.... we tend to think of it as being within the definition of civilization ....

  understeer: when you hit the wall with the front end,,, oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back end.... horsepower: how hard you hit that wall.... torque: how far you drag that wall

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  Oct. 21, 2011 4:42 a.m. jimbob_racing Dork

  I drove a lowered Miata with an LSD all winter a while back. It had four brand new snow tires on it and it went everywhere that I wanted to go. You'll be fine if you avoid the deep stuff and drive with a light right foot.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 8:17 a.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

  Add some ballast (150lbs should be more than enough) to the trunk along with those snow tires. You'll be fine.

  Old enough to know better, too young too care!

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  Oct. 21, 2011 8:20 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  Go for it. My buddy accepted his fate and is going to be doing it over the winter in his.

  That said, Indy =! mountains.

  SCAVENGE THE SEA FLOOR FOR NUTRIENTS

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  Oct. 21, 2011 8:26 a.m. mw HalfDork

  I dd'd a miata on snows for a season. I didn't have any issues. We get a decent amount of snow, but it's relatively flat here and most of the roads get plowed. I did do a lot of hooning on backspace and parking lots. I would recommend a hardtop for the s2k (it's nice to have on the track too).

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  Oct. 21, 2011 8:48 a.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

  A buddy of mine in Chicago drives a 72 Datsun 240Z as his daily driver in the winter, a S2K has to be better than that..

  His 2 commuter cars are a 69 Datsun 2000 for the summer and the 240Z for the winter since about 1980...

  I just noticed I was a Super Dork. What do I win?

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  Oct. 21, 2011 8:50 a.m. Joe Gearin Associate Publisher

  Back when we had our GRM project S2000 I took it up to Georgia in the Winter and ran into a horrid ice storm. After sliding all over the place, and finally spinning it (without hitting anything) I pulled under a gas station awning and spent the night.
  

  I'm sure driving an S2000 through the winter can be done, but don't skimp on your winter tires. With a pair of good snows you may be able to make it work.

  Keep in mind Winter is brutal on a nice car. If they salt the roads you'll rust, if they gravel the roads you'll get stone chips and broken windshields. You'll also live in fear of being sideswiped by someone who didn't ante up for good Winter tires.

  I'd buy a $2K beater and wait till Spring to buy the Honda. But that's just me. (lived in MA, IL, and CO)

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  Oct. 21, 2011 8:58 a.m. iceracer SuperDork

  What is an S2K ? My ZX2 with Blizzaks would climb my hill better than my KJ would with all seasons and 4wd.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 9:05 a.m. dj06482 HalfDork

  I could never do it where I live. Winter tires are a necessity even with FWD and AWD/4WD is really preferable. A combination of snow, hills, and lack of plowing make for some interesting moments around here. I'm in SW CT, and not off the grid by any means. I've seen some really bad conditions out there over the past few years, and our immediate neighborhood is a disaster (narrow, hilly, all off-camber turns, etc.)

  If it makes everyone feel better, I usually drive my truck in 2WD until I get stuck, and only then do I wimp out and put it in 4WD.

  '05 Odyssey | '06 RAV4 | '06 Dodge RAM 1500 QC

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  Oct. 21, 2011 9:59 a.m. emodspitfire Reader

  Tall, skinny snow tires on steelies, and you should be fine.

  Rog

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  Oct. 21, 2011 12:30 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  Joe Gearin wrote: Back when we had our GRM project S2000 I took it up to Georgia in the Winter and ran into a horrid ice storm. After sliding all over the place, and finally spinning it (without hitting anything) I pulled under a gas station awning and spent the night. I'm sure driving an S2000 through the winter can be done, but don't skimp on your winter tires. With a pair of good snows you may be able to make it work.

  Snows are a given. We get several snow storms through but usually the roads thaw out again after a few days.

  The main issue is that I'm living in the mountains, and have to go over a pass to get the work. A couple of people at work made do with 2WD for the whole winter, but they live in the "Tahoe bowl".

  Joe Gearin wrote: Keep in mind Winter is brutal on a nice car. If they salt the roads you'll rust, if they gravel the roads you'll get stone chips and broken windshields. You'll also live in fear of being sideswiped by someone who didn't ante up for good Winter tires.

  Fortunately not salt on the roads IIRC - they seems to sand them with a little grit mixed in.

  Joe Gearin wrote: I'd buy a $2K beater and wait till Spring to buy the Honda. But that's just me. (lived in MA, IL, and CO)

  Well, I do have the CJ for really bad weather, I just have to undo some further PO bodges but I'm almost done. And get the gearbox resealed. But I really don't want to drive something that maxes out at 11mpg all winter.

  Buying a $2k beater out here is pretty much impossible IME if you want something that actually works. Plus given my adventures in cheap car land out here, that's a good way to get a divorce quickly (wife is fed up with my being fed up/mad at cars that don't work).

  Most people seem to squirrel away their nice cars but I'm not really in a position to do that right now - our "nice" Corvette doesn't go out in winter, but whatever I buy now will have to. And it will have to be able to Auto-X/HPDE.

  Sanity is vastly overrated.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 12:37 p.m. NOHOME HalfDork

  Gearheadotaku wrote: Add some ballast (150lbs should be more than enough) to the trunk along with those snow tires. You'll be fine.

  DO NOT add weight to the back of a car that is close to 50-50 balanced already. The extra portion of mass in the ass is just going to spin you around every time traction in the back gets low.

  Put good snow tires on the car and every time it snows you can play pro-rally driver.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 1:11 p.m. donalson SuperDork

  wonder if these would fit...

  

  i'm going with the "get some good SNOW tires" if you still have issues stud em... also i'd personaly keep some chains in the car just in case...

  that being said... beyond the first snow of the year and hitting the local parking lot I don't miss snow at all :)...

  "Just because you can think outside of the box, it doesn't mean we are going to let you out of it." ~ John Brown

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  Oct. 21, 2011 1:21 p.m. docwyte Reader

  You'll get around ok with snow tires, you just need to be careful. I've driven my previous M3's with snow tires in the winter and got to where I needed to go. Nowhere near as confidently or easily as my Audi quattro's with snow tires though...

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  Oct. 21, 2011 1:41 p.m. mtn SuperDork

  I DD a Miata through Chicago winters. It isn't bad. The only thing I would worry about is you being in the mountains. Hills are tough. If you have the Jeep for the bad snow storms, you should be okay for most of the winter. Leave the stook at home on those days, you'd be fine.

  wbjones wrote:

  ValuePack wrote: Those who believe AWD is a must for winter are those who need to turn on their internal grey matter traction control and slow the F down, or they live off the grid in the Yukon somewhere. More than two driven wheels is a luxury, not a necessity.

  not you nor anyone I've ever met can make it up my driveway when there's 8+ inches of snow on the ground, without 4 wheels working for you... so "more than two driven wheels IS NOT a luxury .... it IS a necessity"

  8+ inches of snow is enough to close businesses and schools down. You should have that shoveled if you hope to get up it, any other ideas are just foolish. I'd have serious doubts whether I could get our old SAAB (best winter car I've ever driven, including various AWD) could even get up my driveway with that much snow due to it being too low to the ground. You'd be plowing it.

  Anytime somebody tells you that vodka mixes well with anything, slide them a jar of mayonnaise and tell them to practice what they preach.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 1:42 p.m. bigbens6 Reader

  with the exception of drive line tires have much more impact than the car or suspension itself, remember to go narrow with your tires, so they dig in better, but with good snows you will be fine.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 3:16 p.m. ahaidet New Reader

  My buddy used to drive his 03 and 07 350Zs all year round with Bridgestone Blizzaks. He is a phenomenal driver as well though. Only time he had an issue was when someone slid into him... just a fender bender though.

  I should note that this was in Akron, Oh, so a fair bit of yearly snow.

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  Oct. 21, 2011 4:09 p.m. Hal Dork

  I have been driving in SW Pennsylvania and western Maryland (moderate snow area) since 1959. Have had a variety of FWD and RWD vehicles and never got stuck. Always had and still have a full set of winter tires on the vehicle.

  2010 Transit Connect XLT 2001 Ford Focus with a little help from Powerworks

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