Winter driving

[Wardsweb]

Being in Texas I don't ever see snow. I've been watching the news and see some record snow fall up north and was wondering how it affects you? Do you do something to "winterize" your car? How does it change your driving habits? Does the snow, salt, temp... wear on you car much? Sorry for all the questions, just wondering.

[feferic]

I live in Nebraska and we received a pretty good snow storm this weekend (three-inches of heavy wet snow in Lincoln, eight or so in Omaha). I just purchased my Accord less than a week ago and was looking forward to see how well it would do on snow and ice. I was amazed at how well it handled. The Traction Control and ABS worked great – I can basically drive like there is no snow at all (although I would not recommend doing this). The basics apply here -- when it snows or the roads are bad, you need to drive slow and allow plenty of room between cars so you don’t run into the back of them if you hit ice or a slick part on the road. Based on how well the Traction Control and ABS did this weekend - I think it would be more likely for someone to run into the back of you because their car's ABS might not be as good as Honda's.

As far as winter conditions in relation to the maintenance of the car, the dealer told me I’d want to follow the ‘sever’ driving maintenance schedule. It's not unusual to have 50-degree changes in the tempetaure in one day. Gravel and salt can do a number on your car and you need to wash it frequently to remove road salt. Needless to say, the car washes are quite busy on nice days in the winter.

ED
2003 Accord EX V-6

[hondacuraworld]

Check out this thread I posted from the worst snowstorm I have ever been through in my life:

http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=4112

[Wardsweb]

:eek: Dang ! That's a lot of snow. Glad you and yours survived. I had no idea.

[Mike (CR) V]

Well we did not get as much as our neighbours to the south recently but a couple of weeks earlier we had a fair bit of snow that left drifts over a metre high in my driveway. Here is link to the pics:

http://www.hondasuv.com/forum_crv/viewtopic.php?t=2035

The CR-V is unstoppable. I have to be more careful in my Accord but the front wheel drive handles very well. Since it was the base model for '95 though I have to very careful as there is no ABS.

Whenever we are in for bad weather I play it safe and leave the wife and baby stranded at home so I can have the CR-V for the near 100km drive to work.

The sand and salt are merciless on the vehicles as they have many dings and chips as well as a couple of rust spots developing on the Accord. Just comes with the territory.

I haven't found a need for snow tires on the CR-V though they would be a good idea for the Accord.

I would love to have new Accord but would not get one if there wasn't a CR-V in the garage. It is the best vehicle I have ever driven for surviving the Canadian winter.

Just my $0.02.

Mike

[stiller fan]

i have never gotten stuck in my 93 accord yet...once i had to back up back into the gas stationed cause i almost got stuck...but i went another way out, and was good to go from there. ps: i even had a running start....

i put blizzaks on the front and try to get it stuck, but to no avail... :D

[anysia]

i drive slower and leave more room like everyone has said! my dad made a huge deal out of teaching us how to drie in snow so it has never bothered me much. i get a kick out of seeing suv's in ditches though! :lmao: couldn't stop when everyone else did could ya?? haha!

both of my civics were terrific in the winter, well, once i got rid of the firestone tires on the first one! ;) i hope the accord handles just as well this winter!

[illiniguy]

it's like I've always told my better half about SUV's (she has a Pilot) they may get rolling a little quicker but they stop like anybody else.

[jbuffethed]

Up here in BFE, I mean Minot it started snowing in Oct and didnt melt til March, then snowed again 2 more days in May(Pic below) As far as winterizing, Honda told me the oil and antifreeze was fine, we do need block heaters though, it got down to-30 and -60windchill. I have yet to get stuck. I drove through about 6 inches and didnt get stuck while I laughed at others who did. The only thing I dont like is it gets so cold, the floor mats freeze to the shape of the floor or freeze to the floor lol.