Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 6927
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:51 pm
- Cars: 1994 Corolla, 1990 Miata
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Oh boy! I went for another drive with the Miata after it had snowed a few more inches:
This thing is a monster in the snow. I went into an unplowed parking lot with maybe 4-5 inches of powder in it and it just drifted and hauled ass everywhere. Even when I spun out, it could easily start back up and get going. I then drove to walmart to pick something up and most of the roads were unplowed. I was able to pass up SUVs and trucks without a care. It is very easy to control it; even when the back end started sliding getting it back in line was just a simple matter of adjusting the throttle. This thing is massive amounts of fun in the snow.
This thing is a monster in the snow. I went into an unplowed parking lot with maybe 4-5 inches of powder in it and it just drifted and hauled ass everywhere. Even when I spun out, it could easily start back up and get going. I then drove to walmart to pick something up and most of the roads were unplowed. I was able to pass up SUVs and trucks without a care. It is very easy to control it; even when the back end started sliding getting it back in line was just a simple matter of adjusting the throttle. This thing is massive amounts of fun in the snow.
- AHTOXA
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 14693
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
- Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
- Location: Irving, TX
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Speaking of winter hoonage. I was out and about a few times this weekend, doing donuts and what not in empty parking lots as there was plenty of ice. I have to admit that the stability program in the Sonic is designed very well. I purposely proceeded to try to spin out by getting into a fishtail and it was difficult to do. The system was engaging rather smoothly working individual calipers and getting the car back inline. It's not going to do miracles and will not stop all spins, of course, but it worked well and did what it was supposed to do - stop minor fishtails and spins before things got out of hand. This will work great for most drivers out there.
This system, along with traction control, is defeatable with a press of a button.
This system, along with traction control, is defeatable with a press of a button.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
- theholycow
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 16021
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
- Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
- Location: Glocester, RI
- Contact:
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
That's how mine is too. Perhaps RWD + studded winter tires + manual transmission + driver who's really at one with his car = good results.94Corolla5Speed wrote:I then drove to walmart to pick something up and most of the roads were unplowed. I was able to pass up SUVs and trucks without a care. It is very easy to control it; even when the back end started sliding getting it back in line was just a simple matter of adjusting the throttle.
Don't forget that your increased acceleration traction may not always be there for you for turning and braking though, so make sure you still have PLENTY of margin...so don't enjoy too much passing SUVs and trucks, and don't do any of it without a care.
1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT
Put your car in your sig!
Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
Put your car in your sig!
Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 6927
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:51 pm
- Cars: 1994 Corolla, 1990 Miata
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Wise words. I went out yesterday quite late (around 11-midnight) so there was nearly no one on the roads. Admittedly I was hooning a bit, wanted to know the limits so I wouldn't be surprised when the tail steps out in traffic. I am surely dialing it back next time the snow comes around, just wanted to know its potential.theholycow wrote:That's how mine is too. Perhaps RWD + studded winter tires + manual transmission + driver who's really at one with his car = good results.94Corolla5Speed wrote:I then drove to walmart to pick something up and most of the roads were unplowed. I was able to pass up SUVs and trucks without a care. It is very easy to control it; even when the back end started sliding getting it back in line was just a simple matter of adjusting the throttle.
Don't forget that your increased acceleration traction may not always be there for you for turning and braking though, so make sure you still have PLENTY of margin...so don't enjoy too much passing SUVs and trucks, and don't do any of it without a care.
Funny little anecdote about braking: I spent about 5 minutes just drifting around in that parking lot without really braking at all. I got onto the small street next to it and started braking for a turn. Nothing happened The snow had either cooled the brakes so much or stuffed itself everywhere that the pads were doing nothing. Needed to ride the brakes for a bit after that to get them to work properly again.
- potownrob
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7833
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
- Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
- Location: Dutchess County
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
sounds like ebrake dorifto time to me94Corolla5Speed wrote: Funny little anecdote about braking: I spent about 5 minutes just drifting around in that parking lot without really braking at all. I got onto the small street next to it and started braking for a turn. Nothing happened The snow had either cooled the brakes so much or stuffed itself everywhere that the pads were doing nothing. Needed to ride the brakes for a bit after that to get them to work properly again.
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 9380
- Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:57 pm
- Cars: 1986 Mazda RX-7 x2
- Location: Sterling Heights, Michigan
- Contact:
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Hooray for random car door lock failures! Especially when it's -100º and you're only wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
1986 Mazda RX-7 sport - slowly returning to the Earth
1986 Mazda RX-7 base - Project car, ???, In pieces, turbo parts around.
1986 Mazda RX-7 base - Project car, ???, In pieces, turbo parts around.
- AHTOXA
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 14693
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
- Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
- Location: Irving, TX
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
The ice we got on Friday is still around. Wreaking havoc on the morning commute
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
- potownrob
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7833
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
- Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
- Location: Dutchess County
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
must find salt and attach salter to back (or front?! ) of sonic
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
- theholycow
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 16021
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
- Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
- Location: Glocester, RI
- Contact:
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Can you get a 2" hitch receiver for the Sonic?
1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT
Put your car in your sig!
Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
Put your car in your sig!
Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
- AHTOXA
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 14693
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
- Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
- Location: Irving, TX
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
I have an inch and a quarter hitch already on mine, but I don't want this car to ever see salt. I may not keep it for more than a few years from now but I hate salt.
Not like I can salt the entire 4 mile drive to work.
Not like I can salt the entire 4 mile drive to work.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
- ClutchFork
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 1948
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:55 pm
- Cars: 2008 Fusion 2.3L manual
- Location: Detroit MI
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Do like trains and have sand pour under the wheels as you brake.potownrob wrote:must find salt and attach salter to back (or front?! ) of sonic
Stick shiftin since '77
theholycow wrote:Why in the world would you even want to be as smooth as an automatic? Might as well just drive an automatic...
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
You can, it just might take several days worth of work. But since the ice has been around closing in on a week now...AHTOXA wrote:I have an inch and a quarter hitch already on mine, but I don't want this car to ever see salt. I may not keep it for more than a few years from now but I hate salt.
Not like I can salt the entire 4 mile drive to work.
I listen to a podcast from time to time of a sports radio show. They happened to visit Dallas last week for a basketball game last Friday and the consensus was that Dallas has NO idea what to do with snow/ice - so it's far worse than any place with the faintest idea of what a salt truck is.
'15 Mazda 3 iSport Hatch 6MT
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!
- AHTOXA
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 14693
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
- Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
- Location: Irving, TX
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Well, yeah. Snow doesn't happen here and icing like this is very, very rare based on stats. Usually ice develops overnight when rain turns into freezing rain, but by noon it's normally all melted. This time, the cold's staying around longer and complicating the problem immensely.
It's OK. Forecast is talking about 70's by next Friday.
It's OK. Forecast is talking about 70's by next Friday.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 4029
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:04 pm
- Cars: 17 Mazda6 To, 18 Mazda3 i
- Location: Shakopee, MN
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
I think the battery in Olie is shot again. A one year old Walmart battery ftf.
-
- Senior Standardshifter
- Posts: 755
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:50 pm
- Cars: 2009 Mazda 5 2.3L 5MT
- Location: Detroit area
Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Mine is 6 years old and going strong.
09 Mazda 5 2.3 5-speed manual 171k
11 Subaru Forester auto 113k
92 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 5-speed manual 151k
11 Subaru Forester auto 113k
92 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 5-speed manual 151k