So how is it in the snow?

[Docthrock]

All right you Midwesterners! Now that some of you folks have had a chance to drive in a little ice and snow, tell us how it is?

Terre Haute got barely a dusting and when I went out yesterday it was a non event. Today, there were some icy patches and got to test the ABS. The car started going sideways a bit, so I didn't push it too much. More testing will come later, when we get significant snow and ice.

ITMT it was interesting to "feel" the ABS engage. Compared to even the ABS on my Yamaha motorcycle, it felt "toyish". Not to say it didn't work, it worked fine (until I started sliding off the crown of the road toward the stop sign). Just was surprised at how light the ABS action was and how it felt on the pedal. Must be those teeny tires and wheels up front.

BTW, I told Chief that my heater was weak. I was off base, although I still think the adjustment range is biased WAY at the top of the temperature slider. But the smart gets plenty warm with OATs into the 20s. And the seat heaters come on quick and are VERY effective.

Can't wait to see if the traction control will let me do donuts in the parking lot! Bet I can pull the fuse on that one and have some fun?!?!

[pdboilermaker]

We only had 3" up here in Frankfort, but it didnt do to bad, wife reports "It aint my h3".

Doughnuts are difficult, dont be alarmed by the speedos flashing triangle with a ! in the middle

[WhiteNBlack08]

Doc, I can tell you the traction control won't let you spin the tires, we had a significant layer of ice and snow the other day, and I purposely floored it trying to get it to spin. All that happened was the traction control light blinked furiously and I took off like nothing was wrong, totally un-eventful!

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by Docthrock

Can't wait to see if the traction control will let me do donuts in the parking lot! Bet I can pull the fuse on that one and have some fun?!?!

Your best bet is going to be an emergency break sliding stop.

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by Docthrock

...BTW, I told Chief that my heater was weak. I was off base, although I still think the adjustment range is biased WAY at the top of the temperature slider. But the smart gets plenty warm with OATs into the 20s. And the seat heaters come on quick and are VERY effective.

Can't wait to see if the traction control will let me do donuts in the parking lot! Bet I can pull the fuse on that one and have some fun?!?!

Docthrock

Glad to hear you "retract" your heater statement. I'm getting SO close to my smart I can "taste" it Can't wait to try out those heated seats

Yes, I'm sure you can pull fuse (11 is it?) and have a ball

[Macaw]

Went out in the snow early Sunday and was greated with a rather boring drive as the smart was too smart to let me have any fun... Traction/Stability control work very well! And the ABS works well too... Night and day difference between driving the smart vrs the '99 Bug

[Redwarf]

I think the traction control is good. But my other cars do not have that feature. And the first time I went out in my smart with ice on the road, that my foot was as fast as traction control at letting up on the gas or stopping the rear tire from slipping. It slipped twice while taking off in first gear. Haven't hit the breaks hard enough in the ice to check out the ABS.

[SuperGeek]

The ABS, ESP and other programs are controlled by Fuse 11. Pulling it, from what I've read on other posts, isn't as "fun" as you'd expect. The car depends on computer controlled thrust and braking for even dry cornering, and if you pull that fuse, you might get a rough ride.

But I can tell you that in 3-4 inches of fresh clay mud, the ESP and traction control systems did a great job... I only lost control just prior to the warning triangle; after that, it crept up the road at 5mph until it got traction. In a car without the traction control, tires spin free, fishtailing... only fun until someone else comes around that corner doing 35.

The Smart's safety and traction systems are actually pretty decent for a $12,000 car. I could tell snow traction would be horrible just by looking at the stock Conti tread. But the flipside is, those wide tires with narrow grooves would hold a dry road like a champ - and I've never lost traction even with moderate rain. Winter = winter tires.

[EinsteinsMommy]

We had some pretty nasty conditions in Plymouth tonight. My ABS works great and so does my ESP. It does seem to do it a little easier when you don't have a loaded cargo area, but I don't think I'll have any trouble driving my little guy this winter...except maybe getting up our driveway (on a hill) if it doesn't get shoveled/plowed.

[PlainCityVWBug]

Originally Posted by Macaw

Went out in the snow early Sunday and was greated with a rather boring drive as the smart was too smart to let me have any fun... Traction/Stability control work very well! And the ABS works well too... Night and day difference between driving the smart vrs the '99 Bug

So how much a difference in the snow is there between the Smart Fortwo and you're '99 Bug. Your post particularly caught my attention because I drive a '98 Bug everyday and I am very curious at the differences in the snow the Bug has vs. what the Smart has. Your response will carry a huge weight in my decision on my future car purchase.