Just have to love Subarus

[hubble1953]

So I am going up the I-5 in Northern Calif this morning, snowing like crazy. Of course, have to stop at chain control. The guy waves me on, "subaru", with a big smile, " just keep going". Yep, never have had Caltrans stop me and say, "put those chains on" :smile: .

Have to love Subarus, of course this means I have no excuse for not making it to work :lol:

[Superu264]

If that were me he could have put my life in danger. :roll:

[Wiscon_Mark]

If that were me he could have put my life in danger. :roll:

Bah, a FWD car with a good driver can do fine. I had to make it through a bad snowstorm in a Corolla and I did alright. Besides, you'd have known why he was passing people on.

[Superu264]

Yes, Mark. It was a joke. :banghead:

:wink:

[Reason]

If that were me he could have put my life in danger. :roll:

Bah, a FWD car with a good driver can do fine. I had to make it through a bad snowstorm in a Corolla and I did alright. Besides, you'd have known why he was passing people on.

That's right, I been stuck in my Legacy twice, never in my CRX. And it was the same winter and storm.

[d1giPhux]

If that were me he could have put my life in danger. :roll:

Bah, a FWD car with a good driver can do fine. I had to make it through a bad snowstorm in a Corolla and I did alright. Besides, you'd have known why he was passing people on.

That's right, I been stuck in my Legacy twice, never in my CRX. And it was the same winter and storm.

Funny you were going to reminisce about your crx! Mine got me thought many-a-snowstorm. Once i drove all the way to chicago in about 1.5 feet of snow with my crx, with SUMMER tires on.. man was that some fun. People were crazy that day too.. i had to keep up with the traffic of a bunch of SUV's going around 70-75 MPH on the highway the whole way there.. well.. she got me through! I remember being at a truck stop just going to take a rest..and sitting down in the lounge because i was so exhausted from driving through the hectic storm..and then i looked up and saw the news and the guy was saying 'more than 3 feet of snow headed for new england.. blah blah blah.' I told me friend i would be right back.. went to the bathroom to puke (too much no doze and soda.. damn that shit sucks), came back and made the other 8 hours of the trip! Man i miss my crx! Sometimes i think that thing did better in the snow than my suby! But bah.. i love my suby just as much, she takes care of me!

By the way.. what the hell is chain control? We got 2.5 feet of snow here a few weeks ago.. and we dont have anything like this?

[shazapple]

I've never heard of chain control either. You'd think they would be more concerned with tires than anything.

Tires make all the difference! Im going to guess the Legacy had wider tires than the CRX. Plus you're more willing to go places with the Legacy that you wouldnt in the CRX. I got stuck a lot this winter, but thats cause I high center it on snowdrifts (which has thicker snow)

[rougeben83]

I've never heard of chain control either. You'd think they would be more concerned with tires than anything.

Tires make all the difference! Im going to guess the Legacy had wider tires than the CRX. Plus you're more willing to go places with the Legacy that you wouldnt in the CRX. I got stuck a lot this winter, but thats cause I high center it on snowdrifts (which has thicker snow)

It's a west coast thing. They mostly do it along mountain roads/rural areas, certainly not major interstates or whatever...

[Reason]

I've never heard of chain control either. You'd think they would be more concerned with tires than anything.

Tires make all the difference! Im going to guess the Legacy had wider tires than the CRX. Plus you're more willing to go places with the Legacy that you wouldn't in the CRX. I got stuck a lot this winter, but thats cause I high center it on snowdrifts (which has thicker snow)

Oh yea the CRX tires were skinny. I can't remember what was on there. I never changed them, I can tell you they were cheap tires. I bottomed out the Legacy twice getting out of a parking spot. I ran through a snow bank left by a plow, that was the only way to get out. I had to dig under it to free her.

With the CRX I never really went in anything huge, since I was nervous. But I ended up using that car the whole winter. One storm we had I came home from work. It was 3am and the plows blocked in the driveway. I was living with my GF and we just moved in there. I didn't have a shovel, so I plowed through the snow. It took me about 20 times to get in but I made it and never got stuck.

Don't get me wrong, I went places and done things with my Legacy that most people with 4wd trucks couldn't. Highways in a storm I would always cruise at a comfortable speed passing people no problem. By my ex gf house last winter there is this steep hill. It's awesome to drive when its dry. Up and down, it's steep and winy. Well recently they put up a stop sign half way on the hill. People were stuck trying to go up the hill. Cars turning around sliding down the hill. This guy in a Chevy 3500 4x4 was spinning tires while I passed them. :lol:

[Plays_with_Toys]

The winter blizzard here in CO I definately found an all new respect for the subie. It plowed through stuff so many lifted diesel super trucks were having issues with. It was quite fantastic.

[hubble1953]

So I guess 'chain control' is a western thing. We need to check to be sure the trucks and everyone else has chains before they get up in the mountains and then they are stuck in the lane blocking everyone.
I-5 is the main road to Portland, so Caltrans has to keep it clear.
Came home yesterday in a white-out up near Lake Shasta. What a mess, but they kept the roads clear. I did notice my car does not like water and snow mixed, seemed to move around a bit in the rear. I have snow and ice tires on the car, so maybe that is the problem.

Anyway, still love the gt, lots of power, confort , and awd. Oh, yes the fwd cars do pretty well going up the freeway, they sometimes have to slow down a little on the hills, but they seem to plow through the snow :lol:

[Bdubs]

I laugh, the busses here have automatic tire chains, yet they cancel school when there's only 2 inches of snow on ground.

[shazapple]

I've been in university for 4 years now and they've only ever cancelled school 3 times at most (9and its usually after 12pm) It would take a freakin massive snowstorm for them to cancel anything for more than half a day.

I love passing Trucks when their wheels are spinning :twisted:

[Superu264]

I dont understand. Is the Subaru AWD system that superior that it can handle much more than other AWD/full 4WD systems?

Or are we just a little full of ourselves?

[d1giPhux]

I dont understand. Is the Subaru AWD system that superior that it can handle much more than other AWD/full 4WD systems?

Or are we just a little full of ourselves?

Maybe a bit of both. This last snow storm we had here, i was pulling people out from snowbanks left and right.. and was out when some trucks didnt even want to be. Some FWD cars are great for winter though.. i definitely get more slippage now with my LGT then i ever did with a FWD.. but eh.. as long as u know what ur doing, its no biggie.

[Reason]

I dont understand. Is the Subaru AWD system that superior that it can handle much more than other AWD/full 4WD systems?

Or are we just a little full of ourselves?

I would say more full of ourselves. You can notice the arrogance of Subaru owners across many forums.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Heh, I wouldn't say I'm full of myself. AWD is nice, but I don't take unnecessary risks in the bad weather, even though I know in the back of my head, I could probably go a lot faster and get away with it with my snow tires. But the AWD system is pretty awesome.

But a lot of the "new Subaru owners" group has taken to the invincibility mentality and they think their WRX is indestructible :roll:

[Reason]

That's my fault, poor choice of words. I understand that we love our Subaru's, but sometimes it's portray that there's nothing else can compare.

[warrior]

Tbut sometimes it's portray that there's nothing else can compare.

Nothing else CAN compare! :lol:

[scottzg]

awd is great for getting your car unstuck after you've slid into a snowbank.


It's a west coast thing. They mostly do it along mountain roads/rural areas, certainly not major interstates or whatever...

other way around. It's only on interstates.

[Kraziken]

I dont understand. Is the Subaru AWD system that superior that it can handle much more than other AWD/full 4WD systems?

Or are we just a little full of ourselves?


I think the vehicle in snow has more to do with tires than anything else, but with AWD you can get away with less tire.

I got thru several snow storms in a 2WD mazda truck. I loaded the rear with lots of sand bags and I had very aggressive Mud Snow tires on.

I've done ok with FWD cars with winter tires.

My suburban also has very aggressive Mud and Snow tires, and deep treads. I passed some Subies that were stuck on one of our hills. I'm guessing they had all seasons on.

One of the negatives of going big rim and low profile is I can't get as deep a tread on my subie.

----------------

Although what I will say is I love AWD because in my area, you get dry patches of road, then ice, then dry, then snow, or wet. With AWD, you can power thru all of it, while a 4WD system, it's really not good for the differentials to run 4WD on dry pavement.

[Plays_with_Toys]

I dont understand. Is the Subaru AWD system that superior that it can handle much more than other AWD/full 4WD systems?

Or are we just a little full of ourselves?

I think alot of factors play into this.

1) Our cars have thinner tires than most trucks. This lets you pierce down through the snow to the more compacted material below. Large wide tires float on snow (which is why they are preferred for beach vehicles)
2) The majority of SUV's are automatic. Alot of the subaru drivers are in manual tranny cars. You have more control over your power input to the ground with a manual.
3) I would say the majority of people on these forums have a better than normal driving knowledge. Most laymen wouldn't know to rock the tires left and right or to rock the car front to rear in a rhythm to get unstuck. Furthermore, that if you give it more gas and keep your momentum going as you get stuck can help push you through. I know from experience my mom will just let the car off and freeze as it gets stuck, which makes the car stop in its tracks. I power through anytime I feel like it's slowing down.
4) I'd say the overall weight of the car helps too. Our cars are much lighter than SUV's, and have a better weight distribution (especially over our rear tires).

[Superu264]

Is the Subaru AWD system more sophisticated than systems from other brands? (Ford, Toyota, etc.)

[Wiscon_Mark]

Depends which system you're talking about ;) (AT or MT)

probably better than some, but not the best system out there. They're good more for the reasons Dan listed, and if you throw a set of narrowish snow tires on, they're just amazing.