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Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Toyota Prius: Problems & Solutions 
711 messages, Last post on Oct 27, 2006 at 3:23 AM
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Replying to: texvegas (Sep 04, 2006 10:39 am) However, even a casual review of accident report statistics show that driver confidence in doing without them is misplaced. Most people, including me, just won't put on chains for a "short hop" to the market, and that is when disaster often strikes. As with most bothersome safety precautions, it's hardly worth your life, or that of a family member, especially in areas of the country where lots of snow and ice are the norm, not the exception. Just chat up any State Policeman or Highway Patrol officer... All that said, I have owned several cars and trucks I found problematic in winter driving, even with snow tires or chains. So hardly something the Prius alone displays. 
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Replying to: terry92270 (Sep 04, 2006 12:18 pm) Four "proper" or "competent" all weather tires, such as Nokian WR, will cost $400 - $600. One accident will cost a lot more! If you escape with your life. The stock tires on a number of different vehicles should not be used in winter. The Prius is one of them, along with the RX-8 and others. I'm putting Nokian WRs on my Prius as soon as I get it. Don't care if the stock tires aren't worn. It isn't worth the risk! The Nokians will stay on year round.
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Replying to: pathstar1 (Sep 04, 2006 7:51 pm) When I lived in Maine, I kept an extra set of wheels, on which I had snow tires, and at the end of the season, changed them out. Most people there did. At least those of us who lived out in the sticks, lol. In an accident, even if neither party is totally at fault, even some percentage of "fault" means increased insurance rates, especially if they find out you are driving in the snow and ice without proper equipment. And that is totally fair.
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Replying to: pathstar1 (Sep 04, 2006 7:51 pm) |
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Replying to: texvegas (Sep 03, 2006 11:07 am) Any FWD car is pretty good in snow, even a Prius. And FWD car is especially good if you put snow tires on all four wheels. Now if you are in a really bad winter area use studded snow tires. Now if you want to try the absolute worst car in snow and ice get a manual shift 1970 odlsmobile 442 with anti-spin ( old name for antilock /traction control). It was RWD had a 455 cubic inch engine with 365 horsepower and so much torque 440 ft-lbs, it would spin the wheel when you slowly let out the clutch. Compared to any other car it is absolutely without a doubt the worst; especially with summer performance tires. Cheers YOMV the opinion express above was mine, MidCow
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Replying to: midnightcowboy (Sep 07, 2006 9:50 am) That is just NOT true. I will take a RWD vehicle over a FWD in snow any day of the winter. I did most of my first 10 years of Alaska winter driving with a Datsun RWD PU and a Dodge RWD van. My first FWD car was a 1973 Subaru and it was worthless in snow deeper than 4 inches. At the time only Saab made a good FWD snow vehicle. My 1978 Honda Accord was not much better than the Subaru. The very best vehicle for getting around in snow was the old RWD VW Bug. I went through snow a foot deep with highway tires in that Bug. If it was not impossible to keep warm at 20 below I would have kept driving it. After 37 years of snow and ice driving, I prefer a 4X4 Chevy PU or Suburban.
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Replying to: midnightcowboy (Sep 07, 2006 9:50 am)
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Replying to: typesix (Sep 08, 2006 5:57 am) Just a wild guess, I'd say 50% driver experience, 25% tires, 25% car itself. My hat's off to anyone who can get a light RWD pickup truck through the snow. If I had a Prius, I'd run FOUR snow tires on it and very slightly lower tire pressure.
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Replying to: gagrice (Sep 08, 2006 5:24 am) I will have to ascede to your years of driving experience, I have only been driving since 1963 and in my limited experince RWD sucked in snow and ice. Now if you didn't have snow tires and a if you had a very low ground clearance then maybe just maybe a specific FWD would have more problems than a specifc RWD. But itill contend for most cars and for most people, a FWD does much much better than a RWD in the snow and ice. The funniest to see are AWD or 4WD they can get going better and therefore they drive faster, but all cars stop the same or DON'T. I think more in part is what are host, Mr. Shiftright said "Just a wild guess, I'd say 50% driver experience, 25% tires, 25% car itself. My hat's off to anyone who can get a light RWD pickup truck through the snow." I would chnge the percentages somewhat, I don't think drivier experience is that big of factor maybe 1/3 (33%). If Mr. Shiftright gives hats off to a RWD pickup driver , I would give hats off to a 60s mucle car driver that could do the same; I had a 1970 Oldsmobile 442, but any of those vintage cars would do. The absolute best car I had for getting around in the snow was a 1970 Audi LS 5-speed , 5 cylinder, FWD. Would drive up snow and ice covered hills when other cars were in the ditch. However, the Audi mechanics knew me by first name since I visited them almost weekly. Lately I haven't e countered any snow or ice problems either FWD or RWD, but then there isn't any snow or ice here. MidCow Is you name like "sticker shock" ?
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Replying to: midnightcowboy (Sep 08, 2006 10:02 am)
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