The snow is coming down today!!!

[blackbeagle]

Wondering how all the new owners are getting around in this stuff. In Lakeville, we've gotten almost 6" today. I drove around the block with the snows and it did fairly well. The true test was the uphill climb from a dead stop. It spun a bit but I eased up on the gas and she clawed her way right up.

[jefferios]

It can be a challenge when the bottom begins to "plow" the snow. I'm not going out to test in this stuff because there are too many college students going out to perform donuts.

[forestacademy]

Last friday was my first time out with the samrt in serious snow. My wife has driven in it many times but it was my first go at it. If I had waited an Hr my story would be very different.

I took off durring the snow storm realizing that we had added about 5 inches in the past 2 hours on top of the 2 inches we already had and it was till comming down very hard.

Traveling the first country mile to the main road I was driving in conditions where I couldn't tell where the edges of the road were so I just went down the middle. Triangle was blinking most of the time

When I made it to the main road I was lucky enough to have a nice large opening and didn't have to stop. So I didn't have to get going from a dead stop. One thing I learned early on driving in WI is Momentun, if used right is your friend in snowy driving conditions. (not the same for Ice) Once On the main road it was clear that it had not been plowed either but it had been traveled and was full of ruts and snow that was quite deep. I can see what many have been complaining about. Because the traction control will not let me spin the tires and fishtail, it also will not let me accelerate. I was in 2nd trying to get up enough speed to get into 3rd but the more it sliped the more I lost speed (momentum). My fear was someone would come up from behind with plenty of speed. After about a mile I was able to get into 3rd and passed a plow going the other way. I was trying to get up to about 40 so I wouldn't get run over but just coudn't do it. Eventualy the line of cars behind the plow went by and I was able to sneek a tire into the other lane and get some traction to get up to speed. Speed being 4th gear at 40 mph. Good enough not to get run over in this weather. Once I got up to speed I had no problem keeping the speed (momentum is my friend).

Of course when I got to town none of the parking lots were cleared but at least they were not full of ruts.

On my return trip home the roads were cleared including the one I live on. This ment the plow left me a present at the end of my driveway. With some momentum I was able to easly pull into my drive and garage. When I got out I noticeed I was able to drive in with the smart bottoming out in the snow several times in my drive.

Now this was all with standard tires on our car and no real hills to speek of. But I was quite happy with the Smarts performance over all considering the conditions. I wouldn't have expected anything better from any other card I have ever Owned.

Now We will see how it does in the Fridgid Fridgid cold comming up

[PerryA]

Gotg plenty of snow last weekend. Smart with dealer-offered Continental winter tires and my cautious driving, all went well. Toughest part was the remnants from the city snow plow at the end of the drive. Otherwise ESP and ABS kept me on the straight and narrow. Glad to say, not much activity from either - went cross town in Cleveland from snow belt east side to west side and back with no traction or sliding problems.

[T-smart]

I was out in the midst of the mess, downtown MPLS to Highland Park in St Pau, yesterday. With my Conti's (4k miles), I had been white-knuckled in equivalent _and less_ snows. I was relaxed and in control with the new Blizzaks. ABS and EHS kicked in a few times, as expected, but the difference in control was remarkable. Even driving on East River Road in MPLS, up and down the hills, was just fine. No significant slippage or sliding side-to-side, and stopping was rock solid.

If you don't have snow tires yet, and plan to drive your Smart in the snow here, GET THEM!

[blackbeagle]

It just baffles me how you hear about people, especially ones in MN, that say they can get around just fine in their stocks. I guess they are better drivers than me. There would be no way I would drive the Smart with stocks in this condition.

In my neighborhood, in order to get out onto the main drag, you have to go up an incline (then go either left or right from the stop sign). That area is always covered with ice. I've seen people slip and slid only to turn around and take another route. I've seen people fly through the stop sign with momentum so they can make it but man is that dangerous with traffic going by each way.

I've not been stuck once with the Smart+Blizzaks. But today, being it's -9 outside, the Smart will be resting in the garage.

[jimvw57]

I was driving around a 1971 Firebird with a 350 V8 in heavy snow We can only dream about. No traction control or ABS, just a light foot on the gas.

[donnyonee]

80+ degrees today!

[jefferios]

Donnyonee, I like you as a SCOA member and vendor...but now you just rubbing salt in the wound.

I'd like to see you out in this weather for 5 mins. Bwahahaha!

[blackbeagle]

Originally Posted by donnyonee

80+ degrees today!

I don't think people realize how cold it is until they see the experiment where you can throw a cup of coffee in the air. When it comes down, it comes down as crystals. Now that is cold!!!