mazdaspeed562
Member
Thinking about selling my ms3 because pa winters make me nervous, the problem is i dont know what to buy next... i have 20gs to spend looking for something stick shift preferably awd any suggestions???
Where to go from here....
- Thread starter mazdaspeed562
- Start date
mazdaspeed562
Member
its not that i want something else but even with blizaks i dont see my speed going anywhere this winter
Saskatchewan17
Member
- :
- 2008 TR Mazdaspeed 3
Snow tires.
oaklandopen
Member
if you're that worried get a jeep or something. wrangler ftw because you can strap a couple ropes to the bumper, get a few friends with innertubes, crack the whip on those mother effers and watch'em fly!!!
RUMBLEFISH
Member
This car is no better or worse then any other car in the snow with good snow tires. Now a subi or any other 4x4 will always be better in the snow. Dont be such a pussy and just enjoy your car or buy a truck.
Too many people are sucked into the 'must have AWD' syndrome to bother pointing this out. Why do you think Lexus makes the IS250AWD, Infiniti with the G35x, the BMW 335x, etc. The list goes on and on and car mfgs have done an incredible sales pitch having consumers believe that AWD is 'safer'.
Few people realise that AWD doesn't help one brake or corner any better compared to 2WD and if we're talking about winter driving, an AWD with M+S, all seasons or summer tires is more dangerous than a 2WD car with snow tires. Sadly, the folks who think they need AWD don't understand that regardless how many wheels are powered, the tires are what really matter. Similar to folks who buy the big brake kits or vented rotors.... if there's crap tires between the brakes and the pavement, vented rotors are not going to do jack.
So you can spend ~$600 on snow tires and wheels or take a huge depreciation hit on trading in the MS3, buying an AWD car and then getting stuck in the winter with the summer tires it comes with.... unless you also spend ~$600 getting snow tires for the new ride.
Hmmm, might be more cost effective just buying the snow tires for the MS3.
BTW, have you driven the MS3 in the snow with snow tires yet?
Few people realise that AWD doesn't help one brake or corner any better compared to 2WD and if we're talking about winter driving, an AWD with M+S, all seasons or summer tires is more dangerous than a 2WD car with snow tires. Sadly, the folks who think they need AWD don't understand that regardless how many wheels are powered, the tires are what really matter. Similar to folks who buy the big brake kits or vented rotors.... if there's crap tires between the brakes and the pavement, vented rotors are not going to do jack.
So you can spend ~$600 on snow tires and wheels or take a huge depreciation hit on trading in the MS3, buying an AWD car and then getting stuck in the winter with the summer tires it comes with.... unless you also spend ~$600 getting snow tires for the new ride.
Hmmm, might be more cost effective just buying the snow tires for the MS3.
BTW, have you driven the MS3 in the snow with snow tires yet?
Super Unique
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3 Black Mica
+1 for snow tires. I spent a few winters getting my snow driving skills, tires are the number 1 factor in effective winter driving in northern climates. There is also a whole set of changes you need to make to your driving habits to be safer in the snow and ice. Smoothness of control is key, moderated braking, steering and throttle input wins the day. You would be surprised at just how effective these are at keeping things under control, even in the nastiest of conditions. Also, use your defensive skills to keep an eye on traffic further ahead than normal, anticipating traffic flow allows you to adjust speed and direction sooner and smoother than always just reacting.
I take a trip north most years for the holidays, thus I am faced with driving in bad weather, although I live in the deep south so my car has good all season tires which are sufficient to drive in the snow when needed. The speed 3 does very, very well on snow and ice. I can't see spending money to get into an awd car just because of winter weather. Sure, awd with studded snow tires would get you through more than a speed 3 on the same tires, but you reach a point where a car is really the wrong tool for the task at hand. Many times having awd or a 4x4 vehicle imparts a false sense of security, and drivers go past the point of no return. I see lots of SUV and pickups upside down in ditches, wonder how that happens? It's called driving too fast for conditions
I take a trip north most years for the holidays, thus I am faced with driving in bad weather, although I live in the deep south so my car has good all season tires which are sufficient to drive in the snow when needed. The speed 3 does very, very well on snow and ice. I can't see spending money to get into an awd car just because of winter weather. Sure, awd with studded snow tires would get you through more than a speed 3 on the same tires, but you reach a point where a car is really the wrong tool for the task at hand. Many times having awd or a 4x4 vehicle imparts a false sense of security, and drivers go past the point of no return. I see lots of SUV and pickups upside down in ditches, wonder how that happens? It's called driving too fast for conditions
I was looking into a nissan 350z once, but decided it was a no-go because of the Rear Wheel Drive and boston weather. 1/2 the guys on the nissan board will tell u that even a RWD car is fine in the winter if you have good winter tires.
I don't know if I buy into that.... but yeah, FWD, you should have no problem if you get a winter tire package,,, 16' w/ steel rims FTW.
I don't know if I buy into that.... but yeah, FWD, you should have no problem if you get a winter tire package,,, 16' w/ steel rims FTW.
- :
- 2010 Mazda CX-9 GT Dolphin Gray
Where do you live? Just buy snows
I live in the NE and used to own a Pilot and before that a Pathfinder. My wife now drives a Mz5 and I drive a MS3 with snows we have no issues driving anywhere. In fact it's kinda fun. I think they're even safer than an SUV since they have a lower center of gravity and excellent weight distribution.
The myth that AWD/SUVs are safer is a dangerous myth because it makes people believe that they will be safe no matter how badly they drive.
I've seen a ton more SUVs go off the road in winter weather than any other car and a few Subaru's that have as well.
Bottom line buy some winter tires and drive sensibly and you'll be fine. The only thing you need to watch out for is the MS3's ground clearance, other than that the car is a tank in the snow. Oh and I also turn off DSC in the winter since it tends to get a bit skittish if it hits slippery areas.
I live in the NE and used to own a Pilot and before that a Pathfinder. My wife now drives a Mz5 and I drive a MS3 with snows we have no issues driving anywhere. In fact it's kinda fun. I think they're even safer than an SUV since they have a lower center of gravity and excellent weight distribution.
The myth that AWD/SUVs are safer is a dangerous myth because it makes people believe that they will be safe no matter how badly they drive.
I've seen a ton more SUVs go off the road in winter weather than any other car and a few Subaru's that have as well.
Bottom line buy some winter tires and drive sensibly and you'll be fine. The only thing you need to watch out for is the MS3's ground clearance, other than that the car is a tank in the snow. Oh and I also turn off DSC in the winter since it tends to get a bit skittish if it hits slippery areas.
Smart observation!
It's funny to see a pile of SUV's and Subaru's in the ditch or flipped over since the vast majority of the drivers in those cars 'thought' they had superior traction and were safer. The only thing touching the road is that small contact patch of rubber, and if it's all season or summer rated tires, that rubber is rock hard and provides no grip/traction.
oaklandopen
Member
the old VW beetles were said to have been the best cars in the snow. reason being because they had plenty of weight on their driving wheels, and the tires were so skinny they were able to contact the pavement better than wider series tires. therefore, it sorta just cut right through the snow
that and there wasn't enough power in that thing to overcome traction so the risk of spinning as soon as you step on the gas would have been less
that and there wasn't enough power in that thing to overcome traction so the risk of spinning as soon as you step on the gas would have been less
RUMBLEFISH
Member
I had a 68 beattle back in the day. They are like tanks in the sand and the snow. The only problem in the snow is when you touch the brakes the fronts lock up because its so lite and now you have no steering at all. But yea I loved that thing in the winter. Everything else about the car sucked like no defrosters no heater fan zero balls underbody rot. But hey for 400 bucks it passed inspection.
///M Compact
Member
Exactly; I've driven RWD and FWD cars in extremely nasty weather with no problems whatsoever. Proper winter tires make all the difference. Anyone can't handle winter in an MS3 with winter tires should do us all a favor and take the bus.
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