Went to the "Grand Opening" at smart Buffalo, NY and drove a passion coupe for a good ways.
It had snowed the night before and I'll give them the benefit of a doubt and hope they just didn't think anyone would come - so they REALLY cheaped out and had bottled water, popcorn and a 6" plate of fruit that may have been one of the salesman's lunch.
Anyway, we were given the car and we took off on some side streets that wind around that area and came across some patchy snow and ice.
The car didn't do anything "bad" but took it like how a Beetle used to if I remember it right. Kind of hunting front end and back end as wheels hit the different surfaces.
I didn't do any sporting driving, in fact for half the trip I used it in full auto mode. This was a bit slow for the first 2 seconds and then fine, with the expected surprise shift thrown in now and then that after a couple miles was less of a surprise. We both had no feeling of being in a short, small car, very roomy and comfortable with a good view out front.
We got out on the major roads and found the paddles. I didn't work them too long so I never perfected the "smooth shift" technique but the biggest difference I found was that when you did it yourself, you expected what you got and it seemed smoother. I have a feeling I'll run mine in auto and just get used to it's timing.
We were going along without much effort and got to 70 MPH and it was fine, no different than any other car, perfectly stable and solid. I suspect getting many more MPH will take some extra effort though.
When we got back, the pace had picked up and we were no longer the only ones there.
Final feeling was that even with snows, it won't replace the Roos for winter driving, they are just too good to not use when it's bad out. But if you get stuck using one in snow, it'll do OK, but have real winter tires on.
Linear Mode
