S2000 + snow = bad?
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Joined: Mar 2010
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Tires make WAY more difference than the drive system. I live in Minnesota (plenty of snow, another 10" coming Monday) and own a WRX and an S2K. I am selling the WRX, because it is not needed. AWD will help you accelerate, that's it. Good tires will help you accelerate, steer and stop. Get some good tires and practice in a snowy parking lot until you understand how your car reacts to various inputs and you should do just fine.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2010
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hey 
i live in colorado in aurora!!!
and drive the s every day that there has been snow,
my pockets arent deep by a long shot,
so im running summer tires (i think not sure what they are)
up front and all season tires in the rear,
i drove in snow ice and even snow as deep as a foot with out a problem
(im not dropped)
i keep about 100 pounds of extra stuff in the back to help out
traction, jack, springs, bag of sand, etc.
just have to stay under 2k rpm or you tires will start to spin
and brake ahead of time and if your going straight just slightly press the breaks or abs will
kick in and you will slide a LOT, so if this happens just use e brake to stop
thats what i found helpfull and wish somone would have told me
but go drift to see how to corret your back is unstable
so if you slide you know how to correct it, takes less than a second,
just left off gas and let go of the wheel so it straights it self out
but dont throw your hands up like your dancing haha just dont steer for it,
its now a awd car that needs you to match front to rear to stop sliding.
its really easy to regain contral
i live in colorado in aurora!!!and drive the s every day that there has been snow,
my pockets arent deep by a long shot,
so im running summer tires (i think not sure what they are)
up front and all season tires in the rear,
i drove in snow ice and even snow as deep as a foot with out a problem
(im not dropped)
i keep about 100 pounds of extra stuff in the back to help out
traction, jack, springs, bag of sand, etc.
just have to stay under 2k rpm or you tires will start to spin
and brake ahead of time and if your going straight just slightly press the breaks or abs will
kick in and you will slide a LOT, so if this happens just use e brake to stop
thats what i found helpfull and wish somone would have told me
but go drift to see how to corret your back is unstable
so if you slide you know how to correct it, takes less than a second,
just left off gas and let go of the wheel so it straights it self out
but dont throw your hands up like your dancing haha just dont steer for it,
its now a awd car that needs you to match front to rear to stop sliding.
its really easy to regain contral
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 24
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So I'm learning out of all this that it's all about the tires you put on and the way you drive. You drive like an idiot or have bad tires then regardless of what car you drive it's not gonna be to amazing. Still would like to maybe have a car with more room though too for snow boards and stuff...but if I can't sell it I'll some good snow tires then. Cool, thanks everybody...
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 7
So I'm learning out of all this that it's all about the tires you put on and the way you drive. You drive like an idiot or have bad tires then regardless of what car you drive it's not gonna be to amazing. Still would like to maybe have a car with more room though too for snow boards and stuff...but if I can't sell it I'll some good snow tires then. Cool, thanks everybody...
i went boarding last week and the snow is amazing this year like always!
your going to love colorado (:
but it doesnt snow THAT often, maybe 2-3 weeks during winter
and it just sticks around all winter, but the roads are good
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,187
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I drive mine year round in Salt Lake City. Getting dedicated snow tires is the only trick I need. With proper equipment, you're in great shape. You on reasonably new snow tires in the S are better off than most AWD cars on all seasons.
VSA is more beneficial in winter driving than normally; it can clean up slides effortlessly with the independent brake application if you hit a patch of ice unexpectedly. Without it, on the really bad days you just have to be more conscious of slick spots that might make the car let go (esp. around corners) since your safety net is your driving skill alone. No big deal, you just have to be careful.
You will probably need to replace snow tires before the tread is worn away--they can't do their job in the snow without a bit of tread depth to work with. A lot of them lose a significant amount of snow performance when the tread is half spent. And most snow tires seem to squirm like SOBs and offer only poor to modest grip on nice days compared to the summer tires I get used to. But playing around in the snow can be fun in its own right, so that helps a bit.
Getting a cheap second car eliminates both the cost of snow tires and the risk of you crashing your S in the winter. If your winter car is cheap to insure, that can help offset for any upkeep costs. But even if it's cheaper to run, you do have to put up the cash buy it, find a place to park it, maintain both, etc. I prefer to just drive the S2000.
VSA is more beneficial in winter driving than normally; it can clean up slides effortlessly with the independent brake application if you hit a patch of ice unexpectedly. Without it, on the really bad days you just have to be more conscious of slick spots that might make the car let go (esp. around corners) since your safety net is your driving skill alone. No big deal, you just have to be careful.
You will probably need to replace snow tires before the tread is worn away--they can't do their job in the snow without a bit of tread depth to work with. A lot of them lose a significant amount of snow performance when the tread is half spent. And most snow tires seem to squirm like SOBs and offer only poor to modest grip on nice days compared to the summer tires I get used to. But playing around in the snow can be fun in its own right, so that helps a bit.
Getting a cheap second car eliminates both the cost of snow tires and the risk of you crashing your S in the winter. If your winter car is cheap to insure, that can help offset for any upkeep costs. But even if it's cheaper to run, you do have to put up the cash buy it, find a place to park it, maintain both, etc. I prefer to just drive the S2000.
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Joined: Oct 2010
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if im driving in fresh powder or icey conditons i shift right at when i hit 2 and
if your at around 3 or 4k and just step on it a little bit your tires will spin even if they
are snow tires i tried it trust me
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 63
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So I'm learning out of all this that it's all about the tires you put on and the way you drive. You drive like an idiot or have bad tires then regardless of what car you drive it's not gonna be to amazing. Still would like to maybe have a car with more room though too for snow boards and stuff...but if I can't sell it I'll some good snow tires then. Cool, thanks everybody...
Come Monday I will be able to post pictures of my $100 removable board rack. Carrying capacity isn't a huge issue if you're willing to be inventive.