My Smart and the snow

[ASmartMan]

Greetings All

Even thought the 2008 Smarts have 90% redesigned parts (that is what they say) in it, I feel comfortable comparing my 2006 450 to the new 451's as far as handling the roads and the snow.

What a ride I had coming home tonight (first time I drove it in real snow), but first lets start out with the funny part.

On a main road I saw a Ford Explorer had spun off the road, the occupants were standing along side the SUV, they saw me, they nudged each other, and pointed as I drove by. I had a smile that went from ear to ear and could not resist tooting the horn as I passed.

Now for the ride, well the traction control and the ABS brakes were working overtime tonight. My first experience (of the evening) was going down hill, down shifting, and having my rear wheels loose their traction, that was a scary slide down the hill (I guess I should of kicked it in natural and used the brakes, I'll try that the next time).

Then (because I was on the back roads and not wanting to get caught in the traffic jam) on the UN-plowed roads with about 4-5 inches of snow on them, WOW does the front end plow (@ about 25 MPH) forcing me to slow WAY down.

Then I got caught in the ruts left by the other cars, if I tried to pull out of the ruts in to the soft snow the traction control would kick in and slow me down. The car wanted to follow these ruts and it was a job steering it out of them.

Now granted this was the first time I have driven in snow with this and to say I wasn't white knuckled would be a lie (even though I did start to calm down at the end of my 20 mile ride). Needless to say though, it got me home using the UN-plowed back roads and even made it up (with out spinning) my UN-plowed drive way, something my truck wouldn't of accomplished (2WD Ranger).

I post this for those who live in the snowy region of the country, this car is VERY different in the snow than any I have every driven before. I'm not saying it's bad, just different and will require a learning curve to drive in UN-plowed roads.

I wanted to document my first impression while still fresh in my mind ( at my age things tend to change as time goes by ), and include a few pictures.

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7284067
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7284066
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7284065

ASM

[Harleyduo]

Are those the stock summer tires you were driving in the snow with? I wasn't sure because you seem to have steel wheels so I didn't know if you had a Pure, or had purchased steel wheels and winter tires.

[knelson]

Thanks ASM!

As I drove home tonight in the snow/sleet of Southern CT, I was wondering what the Smart would be like.

Thank you for taking the time to share.

[ASmartMan]

Harleyduo

They are snow tires, I have a Passion and everything I have read on the CA thread says the MB rims don't hold up well to the salt in the snow.

I bought 4 steel rims and Continental snow tires from Eddy in CA.

I don't know how well the car would of handled with the stock tires and rims, BUT every one in CA recommended snow tires.

Hope it answered your question

ASM

[propes]

Thanks for the info. Is there an on/off button for the traction control?

We don't get as much snow here in Minnesota (I lived for a short while in Connecticut, and longer in Syracuse, NY), but my alleyway is rarely plowed, and I've gotten stuck a couple of times in my Saturn just trying to get into my garage, and when that happen, you *need* to turn off traction control.

[canon1753]

Hmm..... As I am next door in VT and may consider the smart my only car, this does give me some pause. I'm used to FWD cars, so a midengined car will handle different in the snow, but I guess hmm.. is the right word.

I suspect I'll have to worry about that next winter, as a 1307 I bet I'll have to worry about A/C more than snow....

Thanks!

Though, nothing is fun on unplowed roads in the dark when you want to get home and have dinner

[rgaus]

Okay, time for a rookie's (idiot's?) comments. Standard, non-snow tires with 40# pressure in tires. Recipe for disaster if faced with bad snow. But without a really bad snow in St. Louis for the past five years, why worry. Bad calculation. Was caught in the worst road situation in at least 10 years in St. Louis last night. Though most all traffic was all over the place, my "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" (reference: Disney World) was full of learning. Only one 270 degree mishap. No collisions with other cars or property and, with constantly learned handling techniques, made it home... ten miles of unparalleled focus. Suggest snow tires, normal pressure and quick shifting to next gears if wanting to travel faster than a snail's pace. Snail's pace not a bad option. But who wants advice from an idiot... Not sure if extra weight in back would have assisted or not. I do feel that the overinflated tires were most of cause for my particular adventure.

Ron Gaus, aSmartCar.com, St. Louis

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by rgaus

Okay, time for a rookie's (idiot's?) comments. Standard, non-snow tires with 40# pressure in tires. Recipe for disaster if faced with bad snow. But without a really bad snow in St. Louis for the past five years, why worry. Bad calculation. Was caught in the worst road situation in at least 10 years in St. Louis last night. Though most all traffic was all over the place, my "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" (reference: Disney World) was full of learning. Only one 270 degree mishap. No collisions with other cars or property and, with constantly learned handling techniques, made it home... ten miles of unparalleled focus. Suggest snow tires, normal pressure and quick shifting to next gears if wanting to travel faster than a snail's pace. Snail's pace not a bad option. But who wants advice from an idiot... Not sure if extra weight in back would have assisted or not. I do feel that the overinflated tires were most of cause for my particular adventure.

Ron Gaus, aSmartCar.com, St. Louis

I would expect around 26 or so. Yes, 40 psi would be kinda hard I would t hink for that light car....no traction at all I bet.......

[ASmartMan]

Ron

Sounds like another white knuckle ride , because I didn't want to try the first snow storm with out snow tires so I can't tell you the difference they made.

The one thing I will do is install the wire to turn traction control off with the flip of a switch, I could see where traction control could cause you to get stuck.

As you can see in the picture, I'm waiting for the current storm to stop, this year has been a bad year (for snow), I'll wait till after the game to start cleaning

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7298864

ASM

[jwight]

ASM,

Just curious, but why no car cover? I plan to pick one up at delivery from the dealer, although we'll probably be past snow season by then.