Extremely happy with 100 in the snow/ice (Atlanta)

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The first thing is to go slow. If the road is a complete ice slick, and there are other cars around, then 40 mph could be too fast. The CDL will help you if you are in deep snow or maybe on a steep grade. Otherwise, it can make you more likely to spin out. In 2-4 niches of snow, which is nothing for these trucks, assuming you get ice, too, just press the "2nd" button to help you with starting off. Frankly, unless I am in a foot plus of snow or on a really steep icy hill, I don't do anything different than normal. My guess is also that since you are in Atlanta you may not have the best tires for snow.
 
I have the BFG A/T with roughly 10K on them right now, so the tires are good. I was amazed at how much grip I had. I was driving 40MPH on a 8 lane highway in the middle of the night, with no traffic. That was the fastest I was able to drive comfortably. There was no drama what so ever. Truly impressed. During the day with other traffic I was well under 20MPH. I just want to know the best setup for avoiding a car that may spin out. Accident avoidance can be tricky for us southerners.

My policy, we have a LOT more go, but the same stop as everybody else. That is the main problem with 4X4 drivers down here.
 
For me, under those conditions, it would be to not have the CDL locked, leaving the VSC on, keeping my distance, not making any drastic moves with steering or brakes and to be really cognizant of others switching lanes since that's when issues usually occur. Also, a lot of people instinctively try to regain control once they start sliding sideways, thus steering their car back into the traffic lanes and often into oncoming traffic, which often can get them killed. Hitting a snowbank or guard rail is a lot better than getting flatten by a semi (or a Land Cruiser). Haha. I know you were only asking about the car set up. I rambled...
 
I was flattened by a semi once. That was a 2005 honda accord vs 1989 peterbuilt. I felt inspired to travel in a larger vehicle after that. And in the snow, I hate vsc. Like previously mentioned, I'd rather drive and have the car act predictably than have technology step in to "help." I'm always center locked in the snow.

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Cfbrenton is right in the money in every way. Winter is 8 months a year in most parts of canada, so we tend to have a lot of experience. No diff lock and all electronic gizmos should be on. The vsc will drag individual wheels by braking each independently - this is impossible to do as a driver and usually we aren't able to execute normal evasive manoeuvres in an emergency in ice or snow unless you have lots of distance and your speed is appropriate for conditions. Any all wheel drive is superior for getting traction going forward, but no different than anything else to stop or steer in snow/ice. In fact, high Center of gravity with the cruisers is very hard to control once out of control. I argue you have better control in an emergency scenario in a low slung sports car - low centre gravity, responsive feel of the car, quick to respond when needed and forces you to behave like a human that is vulnerable to snow/ice. Now, would I rather be in a wreck with a sports car, no. Physics wins every time. The argument to to not use vsc is like like the old argument to not use abs. In the majority if cases, computer recognition of yaw rates, g forces etc is faster and more accurate than human recognition and resulting reaction.


Nick, I had BFF a/t's on my cruiser for a winter and eventually changes them. They are good all round, but anything short of a dedicated snow tire is insufficient for those conditions. It's an extra margin of safety to increase your reaction time when you have close to a 30% improvement on stopping distance with snow tire vs an all season. At +7 all season tires start to lose their grip abilities as the rubber isn't able to be soft enough to flex. It's like a hockey puck on ice vs a gummy rubber tennis shoe. Tread design also consists of lots of micro grooves that allow the rubber to flex as well.

My .02


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Damn that's a bad one. What's the deal with Hondas? Yesterday we were on a 150 mike road trip through the snow. We counted 14 cars off the road: 3 semis, 6 Hondas, a Nissan, a pickup truck, a volkswagon and I forget the other two. My friend who has no bias remarked at all the Hondas off the road.

I have screwed around trying to activities the VSC, it takes a pretty measurable slide and it does a way better job getting control than a human would 95 percent of the time. It does give you a chance to try before it activates, though.
 
Jordan is right about the tires. Those are decent tires, but not awesome. It also depends on which version you have. Some pass the "snowflake" test, some don't.

I have one LX470 with the BfG's on it, one with stock tires and one with dedicated snow. The stock tires are the worst, the BfG's aren't bad, but don't stop well and the dedicated snows clearly stop better. In deep snow or when going across the snow humps on the highway, the BfG's feel better.
 
Jordan345 said:
I argue you have better control in an emergency scenario in a low slung sports car - low centre gravity, responsive feel of the car, quick to respond when needed and forces you to behave like a human that is vulnerable to snow/ice. Now, would I rather be in a wreck with a sports car, no. Physics wins every time.
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I had an all wheel drive Audi TT for a few years and when I put snow tires on it I could go basically anywhere the ground clearance allowed. It also was the easiest car ever to regain control of once you start slipping and drifting was controllable and effective at times. I prefer the 100 for safety, but once it starts sliding or spins out of control it's a nightmare to correct!
 
X2 on the Audi. Just sold an rs4 with 420 and it was unstoppable in poor weather with winter tires.


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I have a 335i Dinan with all wheel drive and 390hp. I refuse to take the summer performance tires off, so it is atrocious in the snow. It sticks to dry pavement like super glue tho! Thankfully, I have an LX for winter.
 
The other day here in Arkansas we had some pretty decent snow and ice. It came down quick too. I was pretty confident with my truck and safely was driving a little faster than everybody else. I didn't hit any buttons or turn anything off. The only problem I had was I underestimated the conditions because my truck was driving so well. I slowed down too fast to turn off the highway and got a little sideways. My truck beeped at me as I started going sideways at about 25-30 MPH and basically righted itself. It was fantastic! I know how to drive in these conditions, but got a little too over confident. MT tires 4X4 and 6k pound truck doesn't mean anything on ice!
 
After having a 99 and an 01 taco both without abs and a variety of tires in high country colorado now an 00 series 100 one winter on terra grapplers now on slightly used blizzaks. To me it's matter of giving a little trust to the asc. Once you learn how it behaves you just get a sense when you want it and not. It seems that if you try to old school drive it while the computer is trying new school it, things get iffy. Go play in the ice in an open parking lot like you were a kid:) I get a kick out of trying to fishtail in this beast on a safe straight slick road or open parking lot. I leave the cdl off unless I want to slide on purpose.
 
We got the snow last week here in NC too. It took me 2 hours to get home in my 2wd company Silverado and I got rear ended. I was waiting for traffic to get out of the way on the next hill so I'd have enough momentum to clear it. A woman in a Grand Cherokee misjudged how long it would take to stop and hit me. Truck was fine, her Jeep not so much.

Anyway, I got in the 100 when I got home to go pick up my wife from work as her rwd Lexus was junk in the snow. What a difference. The 100 is flat out the best car I've ever driven in snow. I picked up several of my employees the next day and pulled a F-150 out that was nose dived in a ditch like it wasn't even there.

I too, also attempted donuts in a parking lot. The ATRAC beeping is annoying. They're calling for 7-10 inches tomorrow. I left the company truck at home :popcorn:
 
The 100 is a beast in these conditions. I was out yesterday, pulling trucks out and giving rides to all the walkers. The 100 did not miss a beat.
 
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