Finaly got to drive the Smart on uncleared roads. I had a nice snow packed/ icy open road this morning to play on. I always like to try out a new car and try to figure out how far I can push it so I am bettter prepaired in an emergency.
I tried hard to get this thing to fishtail but no go. Sorry folks it is just to conservitive a car. I only got to get up to 2nd gear on this road so I still don't know what it will be like at higher speeds.
When in a downhill slide on snow or ice... stay OFF the brakes.
It happens every time. The first snowfall of the season and the local news media parks their TV cameras at the bottom of the hilly streets in the Seattle and Portland areas, here in the Pacific Northwest. They are obtaining news footage for the evening news of people sliding downhill with their brakes locked. You see the panic look on the driver’s faces as they turn their wheels this way & that to no avail… “C-CRASH!” Right into another car, bus, truck… whatever. It’s like ‘follow-the-leader.’ You could set a slow waltz to it as cars pirouette around each other. It happens regardless how slow you’re driving. It’s a helpless feeling.
I can’t emphasize enough and for those living in snowy areas, you know this to be true… when in a downhill slide on ice or snow, stay off the brakes or at the very least, don’t let your wheels lock-up. This will help you regain some steering control possible enough to navigate around the carnage of vehicles that lay ahead and prevent you from being a statistic on the 6-o’clock news.
It happens every time. The first snowfall of the season and the local news media parks their TV cameras at the bottom of the hilly streets in the Seattle and Portland areas, here in the Pacific Northwest. They are obtaining news footage for the evening news of people sliding downhill with their brakes locked. You see the panic look on the driver’s faces as they turn their wheels this way & that to no avail… “C-CRASH!” Right into another car, bus, truck… whatever. It’s like ‘follow-the-leader.’ You could set a slow waltz to it as cars pirouette around each other. It happens regardless how slow you’re driving. It’s a helpless feeling.
I can’t emphasize enough and for those living in snowy areas, you know this to be true… when in a downhill slide on ice or snow, stay off the brakes or at the very least, don’t let your wheels lock-up. This will help you regain some steering control possible enough to navigate around the carnage of vehicles that lay ahead and prevent you from being a statistic on the 6-o’clock news.
-Tom L.
I love those youtube clips like this one from Portland
My new beetle was a 99 2.0 auto, and it didn't do worth a crap in snow, and that was with 4 snow and ice tires on it. Was ok if it was really light snow, but anything over 4" it was helpless, especially trying to go up my driveway. My wife's had a PT Cruiser, and it would go right up, with street tires.
That's interesting because my best friend used to own a PT Cruiser, and it seemed to me my New Beetle did better than his PT Cruiser in the snow. I also want to add the New Beetle had nearly bald tires and the PT Cruiser had good tires on it.
Well, still no real snow to play in here in west central Indiana. But plenty of ICE!
Last night I went to Walmart and bought 100 pounds of ice melt. Put it in the boot. By the time I came out of the store, my car was nearly frozen shut. Freezing mist. Roads were starting to glaze. This AM, as my friend put it, most roads look like they used a ZAMBONI on them!
Going home was pretty much a non issue. Traction control was working overtime in my little rural neighborhood. But I got in and out from my house (steep hill driveway) just fine. Going down the US highway, I was actually passing some folks VERY carefully, but still 20 below the limit.
I think the additional weight in the back end helped. The car still feels light, and if there was the slightest bit of wind out there, I would have been creeping even slower. I swear that some buffets (blustery wind or behind semis) feel strong enough that they might actually cause the smart to break traction and start to slide. On ice that is.
Also as a side note, I was a bit concerned last week during a torrent of rain with 30mph winds and behind a semi. I was waiting for hydroplaning to cause me to spin, but the smart stayed put. Guess the body roll with the buffeting causes some undue concern. Or maybe not undue. But I was thinking about changing my front tires (or all around) to get a bigger footprint, and then I thought that might lighten the contact patch to the point where slippage might be a LOT worse. Nervous Nelly, that's me. I'm leaving the wheels and tires stock. Winter tires? Well, we'll see.
Anyway, extra weight helps. I'm not yet convinced that my smart is an all weather vehicle. But so far so good! Doesn't seem as agile as my old BUG (30+ years ago), but better than expected. One think I DON'T like is how the "manual" transmission still wants to downshift when you are trying to granny in low low rpms.
My wife made a new observation yeasterday about the car while driving in fresh powder on icy roads.
Most rear wheel drive cars and trucks have the Tail wagging the Dog. SHe described it like being the last person on a conga line on ince skates where the person on the back can whip around and effect the front of the line.
But with the smart the Conga line is only 1 person because it is so short. To tail to whip you around.
Bumble Flea and I did great coming in to work today on the icy roads, the windshield wipers lastnight had a hard time keeping up with the freezing ice on the windshield. I'm pretty impressed, I miss the Hummer on these days, however, Im impressed on the way Bumble Flea handled herself today.. Way to go BUMBLE FLEA!!
We got about 3 inches of snow last night, I was out in the nasty weather last night and driving in the aftermath this morning. My smart handled as well as any other vehicle. Traction control and stability program worked flawlessly. The state isn't salting anything up here, which in my opinion is a good thing(not that we have to worry about our smarts rusting). In fact, I found that the tranny that so many complain about, is a blessing in nasty weather. If you take it easy, and leave it in auto, it will slow you down to a crawl without touching the brakes. I will drive my smart all winter long. Bring on the snow!
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