I have owned my first RWD car for 2 winters now and can unequivocally say that I will teach my kids to drive on a RWD car because I have learned more about car control in this 1.5 years than I did in the 6-7 years prior. Blizzaks from November to March, stay inside when I think I might get stuck, it's served me wonderfully and I look forward to forever owning RWD in the snow belt.
Had my BRZ for 4 winters in a town that gets 110" yearly. Trust me, with snow tires, you will have less issues than anyone with AWD and all terrain tires. Also, don't forget, light cars stop easier, they just struggle to accelerate.
I guarantee you my Impreza with all seasons will crush your BRZ in any snowy conditions.. More clearance and more traction. I can go up scary steep unplowed hills where you wouldn't even make it 30 feet.
I daily drive mine here in Canada it does absolutely amazing. a. Little sketchy on icey road, took it on a trip to the mountains on a snow storm was very scary but the traction system does amazing. Still love mine 60,000miles after
@@luxarxtv On the road with fresh snow probably doesn't matter. You will plow with winter tires... I plowed thought about 7 inches on the highway, it did perfectly fine... was doing 110 km/h with massive snow dust cloud behind.
Fully on point. It feels good to hear confirmation and validation of everything I know and have learned driving my 2017 Mustang GT year round in Alberta, Canada. There is no reason to be trepedatious about driving RWD in snow and ice, as long as you have good winter tires. That is the most important thing. Steering with the throttle is FUN!
A huge thank you from the bottom of my heart. Just got an S class, RWD ONLY as a secondary vehicle. Living in Canada, I really needed this. Best regards from Edmonton, Alberta
The spray that comes off the tires is called a "rooster tail". The heavier the vehicle, the more crap it picks up off the road and throws it rearward. Your experience tailing that Jeep is EXACTLY why it needs to be an industry standard to require mud flaps if more than a certain amount of tire is exposed under the body. With 3/4ths tire exposed in inclement weather, trailing cars are basically driving blind.
@@kingkonginthetrunk in the video, is he tailgating? did he got the crap on the windshield? maybe you should say stop modyfing you truck to ridiculous wide tires then.
thing is he got sprayed from the side. mud flaps would have done nothing in this scenario. but yes i agree with a certain ridehight there should be a mud guard or flap
up here in Alaska where its winter most of the year my biggest issues with my miatas and other rwd cars ive owned was more visibility then grip and clearance in winter stopping is more important then going
The winter tire thing... absolutely 100% true. I've been daily driving a BMW 325 E30 for the past four years as my daily, and believe you me, having winter tires makes a huge difference. This car has no assist, RWD (not LSD), no ABS. The only "assist" I give the car is some extra weight in the trunk. I drive up to 60K km a year and the difference is amazing. And don't scimp... if you're getting the car you want, get the right rubber for your prevailing conditions.
I last year with my best friend fly out to Utah and bought a bagged ls400. On the drive back to Colorado (January) it was completely snow. And I have to say it was the must fun and scary moments of my life as I didn’t want to crash his car. The best part of the trip was when a blizzard hit when we were passing copper. We were 10-20 degrees sliding and holding in while people in there trail built jeeps and wrx’s were sliding off the road.
I've driven a 1990 Miata through blizzards, freezing rain, you name it - my coworkers would be amazed that I could get to the office in any conditions. It's all about knowing how your car will react and driving accordingly.
Canadian winter. 370z 330hp rwd. No posi or limited slip. 6spd manual. The wide stance and 50/50 weight distribution, plus 100lbs of sand and winter tires. The car was a beast in the snow, got through everything.
This is the most honest review about driving in the snow, especially about the hills. Are the conditions optimal? No. Is it doable? Yeah, just drive safe and smart.
Honestly I don't mind driving it in the snow. because of things so balanced it's basically always under control and like this is my first manual ever. It's pretty kick ass
100% accurate. I drive my BRZ in the winter year round and yes its amazing. Its not for everyone though. I could see people getting in a lot of trouble if they are on their cell phones or just plain not watching what your doing. Winter tires are a must for exactly what he says grip when you need it slide when you want to. I have a 2wd truck and I feel safer in my BRZ. Some people look disappointed that Im driving a BRZ in the winter but hey I am always smiling because of how fun it is and its not that expensive so go have fun. Tip: I contemplated buying studded tires for the car when I first bought it (I only wanted the best for my baby). Then saw a sick sale on non studded winter tires (Michelin X-Ice 2's) because they were discontinuing them. I have to say there is really no need for studded tires on this car it stops on a dime and goes just a good as a front wheel drive with no studs. Also, you don't have to worry about burning off the studs if your having fun too. ;)
Also, studded tires have to be harder rubber to hold the studs in, great on ice, but not ideal when you're on dry cold roads. For most of the days of winter, the roads around here have been plowed. Regular stud-less winter tires stay softer when temps drop and have better grip.
Looking where you WANT go is THE crucial step for clean slides!! Me and a buddy where doing a tight technical tandem line at this abandoned industrial park and i keept messing up on this 270° roundabout part because i keept looking at the grass on the inside and the huge curb just before it. Then i took the lead and looked further outwards (away from the apex) and i managed no problem. I slightly adapted the throttle input for the new line and it worked perfectly.
EaZee switched to a WRX from a RWD G37 and a 2010 Camaro RS . live in Toronto with driving technique and good tires you'll get through no problem. just know when to bonsai it tires spinning and when to have the stability on. like the highway
EaZee Rwd has more control when sliding because the front tires just need to direct. AWD likes to push the front's. but it'll get through anything much more easily. but Rwd is totally doable
Cianski 06 that's awesome man. Yeah I figured it wouldn't be a big deal anyways because it snows like 8-9 times the whole winter anyways, thanks for the input man
the footage/camerawork/production-value/cinematography was really good on this one! not that all the past work was not good, but this is really on the next level. keep up the good work guys. looking forward to all that is to come. thank you very much :)
I daily a Crown vic in Michigan winters and I do just fine. Tires do make the difference, but also understanding how your car will respond is the most important thing.
I've only had RWD vehicles since I got my license that was oh 6ish years ago now. And I have got to agree it's the tires and drivers attentiveness beyond anything that determines who is and who isn't gonna end up in the ditch
Beautiful area you're around. I enjoyed your video. As someone who's driven a 5.0 mustang convertible in the mountains of eastern pa, you covered all the best points of snow driving. RWD doesn't matter-it's proper tires that are the absolute key to success in the snow. Great little vid. I'd like to see more driving in winter vids to enjoy your scenery :)
daily my '16 Mustang GT in the snow. all about having winter tires and using your head. is it the best in snowy conditions? no bought it to enjoy on the other 350 days of the year.
this gives me more confidence about looking into RWD cars as someone who lives in the Northeast with bad winters (as long as I have the right tires and maintain caution). thx.
Great little vid Todd. The little FRS is proving to be great all season, weather machine. With the right tyres and capable driving inputs and ability of course. Really enjoying the podcasts too. Keep up the great work.
2019 WRX Dunlop supermax almost sent me into another car when they decided to stop on a hill. Snows would have actually stopped and saved mean heart attack
Had a 2004 F150, manual, rear drive only, in Iowa... had it for 7 years, and NEVER GOT STUCK anywhere. Had a lot of fun showing people what it could do, left them with their jaw dropped more often than not.
Really great video Todd thank you! Your stream of consciousness when going up and down the hill is very helpful. I think a similar video on canon carving in the spring/summer would also be interesting.
I used to daily my Monte Carlo ss year round in Massachusetts. With studded snows on the back that thing amazing in the snow. Never got stuck and I used to drive around in blizzards for fun.
Watching this gives me much more confidence in driving in the snow. Lived in California all my life, recently just moved to Minnesota at the start of winter, or should I say snowfall. I have a RWD Lexus GS350 f sport and currently running on all season tires. But I think with steady handling with enough gas power, i should be fine. The drive is all about the driver’s driving abilities 🤙🏼
All common sense and experience. I had a BRZ with Blizzaks in 2014 and as you mention, the only thing that really stopped me was ground clearance. But, that said, the 86 can't really handle 7" of unplowed snow, so i did learn to respect its limitations.
I had no problems with 7" of fresh snow, but I also have a lip that serves an important purpouse - it is lower than the rest of the car and doesn't pack the snow under the center of the car.
I love my FWD car, i have gone through the whole winter up and down hills, snowy and icy. Only all season tires. Not even good ones. And they dont have even tread all around. No problems that i deal with :)
i drove a civic si through 11 new jersey winters, never got snow tires, never got stuck. now im planning on getting a camaro ss. its a hunch but im thinking all seasons arent gonna work so well on the camaro. ill definitely get winter tires for it. ty for the inspiration.
I have my BRZ out 12 months a year and live in Syracuse, NY (123.8 inches of average snowfall a year). This is winter number three and just got a new 2017. I even have more fun with it in the winter!
As a kid I remember my dad taking on Colorado Loveland pass, Vail pass in a 1980s toyota corolla rwd. Never a problem, even in a whiteout blizzard. Inevitably, a jeep Cherokee would blow our doors off....10 miles up the road, it was on the ditch....
Good video. I have a RWD turbo Cadillac ATS with snow tires...it still slides all over the place if I even look at the throttle. But like you demonstrate, it's insta-fun when you want. I guess that's why we bought our cars in the first place.
I have been driving my frs for 4 years now on stock tires here in cincinnati ohio, no problems with snow at all. Like Todd said when driving in the snow its all about easy and smooth driving.
My 2013 Hot Lava FR-S is going to be going through it's first winter this year... I'm a scared, inexperienced driver with a sports car, but you guys really did give me a little peace of mind. I did get some winter tires a week ago, and they look like they'll help. It was a dumb choice of first car for the upper corner of Indiana, but hey, it's doable.
With winter tires we expect you'll be fine and enjoy the FR-S in the snow as much as Todd did. Leave more room to stop and don't make sudden moves. We've all been told it's impossible, but RWD in the snow is very doable. Thanks for watching and enjoy!
EverydayDriver It’s my first winter with my first ever RWD but I’ve been too chicken to drive in the snow. I let it sit when there’s too much snow out, but your videos have really helped to start to give me confidence. I’m about to give it a go! Any tips for driving up a sleet or ice covered road that’s on a steep hill? I have 4 blizzak ws80s on my ‘15 ecoboost and the car has a snow/wet mode. Should I be ok for such a hill?
A steep hill covered in a sheet of Ice will be difficult for any car, even AWD. But, short of that most extreme condition, you should be fine everywhere you need to go. Getting going on hills takes some finesse, but with those tires you should have better traction than most people. Take it slow and leave yourself time to respond to the car. Overall, we expect it will be easier than you think. Thanks for watching!
Good video. I'll be driving my Camaro SS in the winter with winter wheels/tires installed. First big snowfall I'm going straight to a parking lot to get a feel for it being my first ever RWD car. People think I'm nuts, now I just need to carefully prove them wrong that it is doable :).
I had a very similar experience with my Genesis Coupe Turbo in the snow. With snow tires, traction wasn't the problem at all. It was running out of ground clearance when the snow became too deep.
Yeah, having grown up in NY (a lot of snow, but def. not as much as Utah, but it still gets buried under many feet in upstate NY) I agree with everything you're saying 100%. The largest problem in snow is usually people with improper tires. They lave the piece of shit all-seasons the stealership puts on which are utter trash in the snow. If you're driving in the snow, regardless of how many (and which) wheels are spinning, you need proper deep lug snow tires. They make a world of difference. Night & day.
Fantastic video as always, Todd. Your enthusiasm for the FR-s shows and I love how much you enjoy this car. I chose to buy a Fiesta ST but man... i'll eventually own one of these things
Hill start - if can't get going, slightly apply hand brake. then release once get going. It helps put power to both wheels. Tip from old Shell driving commercials in the 1980's (or 1970's?)
YES. More than traction, clearance is the issue. I've had very little problem with this car in the snow,with snow tires, other than really deep snow. I've not gotten stuck yet, but I've also had lots of practice with snow driving.
Great video! I'm filming a snow driving video this weekend in my FR-S as well. I couldn't agree more about the tires - they make ALL the difference. Make sure you have winter tires in the winter and not all seasons!
I just did a similar video on my channel with my FWD Volkswagen. I agree with almost everything in the video, being smooth and controlled makes a huge difference as do tires!
i do exactly the same thing with my NB miata with blizzaks snow tires on it i've driven through like three snow storms already, and while it does lose some traction in first, if i just let off the throttle is bites in an acts like nothing happened. i can lose traction whenever i want in a totally controlled way. it's EXTREMELY fun and i will often intentionally drive during snow storms because of it now
As someone who has had a Scion FRS for 7 winters i have to say that the only time I had any issues with traction and sliding off the road it was a holy trinity of conditions and bad judgement: 1. Freshly dumped snow was heavily compacted. 2. Roads have not been serviced by crews (no plowing, gravel, or salt). 3. I turned off traction control because I wanted to slide around. Light turned green, hit the gas, spun the tires and lost control, got stuck on the sidewalk and needed a tow. Which honestly, could happen to anyone regardless of the car and drive train. I was just being dumb that night honestly cause other than that, in the winters I drive carefully with weight in the trunk, good winter tires, and I've been fine every season.
This winter has been crazy in Utah! I've been driving my Z in it though, the matter of actually having clearance is no joke. Hey if you do see this, you should join the Utah SCCA for some events some time!
Just finally saw this video, I'm going to be going to Utah next October for a few months with my coilovers z32 vert and want to know how bad is the snow in inches because the last time I was in Utah there was still snow on snowbird on the 4th of july
I havent tried my brz in snow yet so the most fun ive actually had so far was with a mr2. Slides perfect on throttle and corrects when lifting off. Even had my mate on skiis behind on tow rope. Even managed so steep icy hills. Was so much fun
Watching this again 4 years later because I’m considering getting the new GR86... November to March we get about 80” of snow on average. Got another 6 months to think about it!
I just got a 2022 BRZ. I've had some trouble finding winter tires in stock and at that they are almost 200 a piece. I'm hoping the pilotsport 4s will hold me in place. But. I remember when I was first driving and I had an S10 with almost half tires no tcs no abs and I did fine for two winters. Really it's all about your capability and confidence on whether or not ur gonna do ok. And just a side note. I have only lost control of a vehicle when it has first started raining.
I live in the snow belt with winter approaching, and I'm currently eyeing a '13 FR-S and was worried about RWD. This entire series has helped a lot, I've decided to get it. Thanks guys.
i live in alberta canada and people daily this shit!! i've seen mustangs,brz/frs, 370z, chrysler 300 in the snow all the time!! you just really need dedicated winter tires and drive smart not dumb.
comment man comment man whereabouts in Alberta are you located? I'm in Edmonton and I see these cars daily driven as well, but I also see them stuck on the residential streets after a good snowfall.
8 ปีที่แล้ว +4
FerpiliciousProducts whatever the driving wheels, cars can get stuck. Again it is about the way you drive, the places you venture and how smart you drive. Have a nice day. :)
FerpiliciousProducts live in edmonton too!! my neighbor has a brz and literally drives it every day, i've seen alot of mustang too lately at winter. It all depends on tires man, and obviously how much inches the snow is specialy unplowed.
Jean-René Boutin do you live in a place where cars get stuck being parked overnight? AWD and ground clearance with winter tires will get you out 90% of the time. I have had to tow my neighbours BRZ off our street many times, and he has Blizzaks. My Evo, the truck, our BMW, never get stuck on our street from a heavy snowfall.
Agreed, I had a tuned eta e30 with a shorter final drive w/lsd and Blizzaks that could drive sideways all day and be brought back under control with the lightest of wrist flicks. 180s from parking spots were also as easy as turn to lock an mash throttle. On more than one occasion I went up steep grades that left many all-season equipped cars (even awd!) on the shoulder.
Depending on how much snow fall but you can drive a frs/brz on any tires as long as you know the limitations of those tires. I’ve driving my brz on complete summer track tires during a snow storm we had. Of course I knew what I had so I wasn’t driving like I was a rally racer. But you can get around town just fine. Although your senses better be sharp because you gotta worry about people being bad drivers
I have learned so much about tires from this video and I love rear well drive car but have been afraid to drive them in the winter snow. (two days of the year). In most placês we can not justify buying two sets of tires. I have all season tires on my BMW Z3. I think the reason that I have slipped before was when my tires were not that good in the first placê!!!
I drove my FR-S this winter with WS80s. If I could give any advice to anyone considering it, honestly don't. I live in a hilly area of BC Canada and I haven't had a hard time getting around, but It's the other people you have to worry about. I avoided a crash by a few cms. This car is amazing and I love it to death, which is why I felt like shit putting it in danger this season. Get a beater if you can, and save yourself the trouble.
So Todd, when you engine brake in a RWD car, you're only braking the rear wheels. It has the same impact as pulling the handbrake slightly. This does allow you to manage your speed without using the brake, but it's not the safe way to do it in low traction situations. You'll hit your traction limit much sooner than with slight brake pedal pressure. Also, as you pointed out on the podcast, it doesn't warn drivers behind you of your deceleration because there are no brake lights.
Willy Lamb dude engine brake doesn't use the hand brake it's literally downshifting and letting the car rev higher thus giving the wheels more resistance to spin faster
The advantage of engine braking is you can control your tire speed, from slight braking to balance and slight acceleration without the weightshift of using the brake pedal. He's talking about using it as a control technique not as a braking technique.
Ohh Please Willy ! *Reasonable* downshifts don't lock up rear wheels. I do realize drift racing drivers use this technique. Key word here... *reasonable* Also if someone is driving on your ass in holy shit weather heel and toe.
I remember I had to drive my C5 to Oregon in the winter on NT05s. I was worried .. somehow it worked out fine saw two SUV’s in the ditch & one truck losing it. Later on a Panamera was Pacing me lol. Scariest thing was semi drivers not seeing me .
Agreed. Weight and ride height get truck drivers feeling like "gods" when it's snowing. I drive an Evo X with winter tires and that thing is superior in most ways at acceleration, turning and stopping in snow... plowing is good too.
Actually weight helps in a situation where you're trying to form traction, seeing as traction can be derived from F = C * N in a rudimentary manner. F is your overall friction, C is the coefficient your tires provide you, and N is the vertical force being applied to said tires (weight). The only thing weight can really help with is creating more surface area for soft tires to attempt to mate with, and ideally those tires will be squished front to back and not side to side so the rest of the surface can form traction on the compacted snow.
Agreed - a 2 wheel drive car on Winter Tyres will outperform a 4WD car on summer tyres by almost 100%. Most fun I have had?- 99 Impreza on winter Tyres! A 40 mile country journey took only 10 mins longer than in the summer on snow covered roads in Wales.
Jealous of your snowfall! Illinois is bone dry right now! I enjoy driving with driver's assist off. The only issue where I live, is even though we get snow fall every year with plenty of warning, my city never clears the roads for close to a week.
I live in Minnesota, and I actually prefer RWD over FWD. AWD is a given to have the best overall traction, because all four wheels can grab for it, but my 2002 Crown Victoria, and my 1997 Thunderbird both did fantastically well in the snow so long as they had good snow tires on them. My 1999 Mustang GT would have done well, but it was lowered, so clearance was an issue as you mentioned in your video. I've had more issues with FWD getting stuck or worse, losing control than RWD.
I have a manual BRZ and I drive it in the winter in Southern Ontario. I run Michelin X-ice3 tires. It for sure can be done, but you need to be paying more attention and really using your "Butt Gauge" and your eyes a lot more. Gentle inputs is for sure the key, and really using the manual gearbox the right way makes a ton of difference. I've also removed 75 lbs of weight from the car as well... My biggest complaint is reversing in slippery conditions. The LSD really seems to hate it. =P
I love my BRZ in the snow. Today in PA we got about 6 inches, had no trouble making it to work before the plow trucks were able to get out. I have all season tires, and put 2 25lbs sand bags in the trunk - works just fine. I have a mix of back roads and main roads and it just digs right through the snow.
Forget the GT86 content for a minute, this should be in driver's ed classes...well done.
Learning car control in poor weather is a thing in Finnish drivers ed. I don't understand why it's not in USA and Canada.
@riser It looks fine lol. Hideous is a strong word to use
I have owned my first RWD car for 2 winters now and can unequivocally say that I will teach my kids to drive on a RWD car because I have learned more about car control in this 1.5 years than I did in the 6-7 years prior. Blizzaks from November to March, stay inside when I think I might get stuck, it's served me wonderfully and I look forward to forever owning RWD in the snow belt.
Kenny What RWD are you driving?
@CHOCOMIL what do you think dummy
@choco-milObviously you need all 4. Just getting 2 tires is really dumb and dangerous if you can't steer
@@ChicaneMedia You know absolutely nothing
I hate driving FDW cars in winter, for me I am safer with RWD in winter, in summer it do not really matter...
I'm surprised ppl need to be reminded about winter tyres..here in Sweden it's illegal to not have winter tyres during the winter seasons..
Yee here in my country if u get pulled over and you dont have winter tires you gonna be goin home with a ticket...
Same here, even in globally-warmed central Europe
Tow truck company needs work and money.
same in Eastern Europe
A few times when I was talking about what a huge difference winter tires make to Americans I got laughed at.
Good: it actually works
Bad: feeling of death every second
Sliding: enjoy the feeling of death
😂
Had my BRZ for 4 winters in a town that gets 110" yearly. Trust me, with snow tires, you will have less issues than anyone with AWD and all terrain tires. Also, don't forget, light cars stop easier, they just struggle to accelerate.
I guarantee you my Impreza with all seasons will crush your BRZ in any snowy conditions.. More clearance and more traction. I can go up scary steep unplowed hills where you wouldn't even make it 30 feet.
I believe you will crush with your all season
AWD Impreza with good all season is better in the snow than a BRZ with snow tires.
But AWD Impreza with proper winter tires is waaay better than with allseasons.
Yeah but Soul Charter thinks his BRZ with winter tires is better in snow than my Impreza with all seasons, that's just pure nonsense.
It's never about RWD, FWD, AWD OR 4X4 it's all about the driver and his skills.
And good proper weather tires bro he said it like 10 times
agree with you but ice is the great equalizer and can make great drivers look foolish
I daily drive mine here in Canada it does absolutely amazing. a. Little sketchy on icey road, took it on a trip to the mountains on a snow storm was very scary but the traction system does amazing. Still love mine 60,000miles after
All cars wiil be sketch on icy roads, not just RWD. RWD in winter is amazing fun.
hello fellow canada person. how many inches of snow do u think is safe for the 86? i am just scared to get stuck...
Do u mean 60km?
Drive smart, keep in mind your lower ride height, I have never got stuck in mine.
@@luxarxtv On the road with fresh snow probably doesn't matter. You will plow with winter tires... I plowed thought about 7 inches on the highway, it did perfectly fine... was doing 110 km/h with massive snow dust cloud behind.
Fully on point. It feels good to hear confirmation and validation of everything I know and have learned driving my 2017 Mustang GT year round in Alberta, Canada. There is no reason to be trepedatious about driving RWD in snow and ice, as long as you have good winter tires. That is the most important thing. Steering with the throttle is FUN!
A huge thank you from the bottom of my heart. Just got an S class, RWD ONLY as a secondary vehicle.
Living in Canada, I really needed this.
Best regards from Edmonton, Alberta
The spray that comes off the tires is called a "rooster tail". The heavier the vehicle, the more crap it picks up off the road and throws it rearward. Your experience tailing that Jeep is EXACTLY why it needs to be an industry standard to require mud flaps if more than a certain amount of tire is exposed under the body. With 3/4ths tire exposed in inclement weather, trailing cars are basically driving blind.
Stop tail gating then.
@@kingkonginthetrunk in the video, is he tailgating? did he got the crap on the windshield? maybe you should say stop modyfing you truck to ridiculous wide tires then.
If it is a mix of mud and snow, then you get a cocktail of rooster-tail on your windshield, right?
u know theres these things called windshield wipers? you should try em they're great. the idea is that they wipe your windshield. crazy
thing is he got sprayed from the side. mud flaps would have done nothing in this scenario. but yes i agree with a certain ridehight there should be a mud guard or flap
up here in Alaska where its winter most of the year my biggest issues with my miatas and other rwd cars ive owned was more visibility then grip and clearance
in winter stopping is more important then going
siamiam hey I live in Alaska too and Im in highschool and I want to build a daily driver that I can drift.
Put the top down, instant visibility
We shared this on our FB page - hope you did not mind - Great Video
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and we appreciate you sharing.
👊
The winter tire thing... absolutely 100% true. I've been daily driving a BMW 325 E30 for the past four years as my daily, and believe you me, having winter tires makes a huge difference. This car has no assist, RWD (not LSD), no ABS. The only "assist" I give the car is some extra weight in the trunk. I drive up to 60K km a year and the difference is amazing. And don't scimp... if you're getting the car you want, get the right rubber for your prevailing conditions.
I last year with my best friend fly out to Utah and bought a bagged ls400. On the drive back to Colorado (January) it was completely snow. And I have to say it was the must fun and scary moments of my life as I didn’t want to crash his car. The best part of the trip was when a blizzard hit when we were passing copper. We were 10-20 degrees sliding and holding in while people in there trail built jeeps and wrx’s were sliding off the road.
I've driven a 1990 Miata through blizzards, freezing rain, you name it - my coworkers would be amazed that I could get to the office in any conditions. It's all about knowing how your car will react and driving accordingly.
This is how I've always felt. I'll take a great driver over an average driver with AWD and every current safety feature available.
Do you put any weight in the trunk?
Canadian winter. 370z 330hp rwd. No posi or limited slip. 6spd manual. The wide stance and 50/50 weight distribution, plus 100lbs of sand and winter tires. The car was a beast in the snow, got through everything.
The sand is actually detrimental to the overall drivability of the car, I'd avoid it because it's just going to make the rear end snap harder
I thought the Z had LSD standard.
Just came to this channel on this video and I am already addicted to this man’s demeanor and voice. Subscribed!
This is the most honest review about driving in the snow, especially about the hills. Are the conditions optimal? No. Is it doable? Yeah, just drive safe and smart.
I love sliding my 86 around in the snow, wish it snowed more here. Although last time I did end up in a hedge... but it was fun so worth it.
Yep I seen that 😂
Honestly I don't mind driving it in the snow. because of things so balanced it's basically always under control and like this is my first manual ever.
It's pretty kick ass
Lol "Sabaru" aye
He's referring to his Saab 9-2x, nicknamed the Saabaru
ZDY ayy
ohh okay. thats makes more sense
I know what the f was that
Basically a Saab and a Subaru had a one night stand and created a turbo charged wild child that no one knows exists
This guys voice always reminded me of the leader on Project D.
Omg you're right!!
Projectttt D
Honestly, it's a less exaggerated version of Ryosuke Takahashi
100% accurate. I drive my BRZ in the winter year round and yes its amazing. Its not for everyone though. I could see people getting in a lot of trouble if they are on their cell phones or just plain not watching what your doing. Winter tires are a must for exactly what he says grip when you need it slide when you want to. I have a 2wd truck and I feel safer in my BRZ. Some people look disappointed that Im driving a BRZ in the winter but hey I am always smiling because of how fun it is and its not that expensive so go have fun.
Tip: I contemplated buying studded tires for the car when I first bought it (I only wanted the best for my baby). Then saw a sick sale on non studded winter tires (Michelin X-Ice 2's) because they were discontinuing them. I have to say there is really no need for studded tires on this car it stops on a dime and goes just a good as a front wheel drive with no studs. Also, you don't have to worry about burning off the studs if your having fun too. ;)
Also, studded tires have to be harder rubber to hold the studs in, great on ice, but not ideal when you're on dry cold roads. For most of the days of winter, the roads around here have been plowed. Regular stud-less winter tires stay softer when temps drop and have better grip.
best winter tires you can buy IMO
Sincerely,
A Canadian
Thank you for helping me feel good about buying the '23 BRZ, and driving it in Canadian winter.
Glad to help. Tires are the most important thing!
Looking where you WANT go is THE crucial step for clean slides!!
Me and a buddy where doing a tight technical tandem line at this abandoned industrial park and i keept messing up on this 270° roundabout part because i keept looking at the grass on the inside and the huge curb just before it. Then i took the lead and looked further outwards (away from the apex) and i managed no problem. I slightly adapted the throttle input for the new line and it worked perfectly.
THIS IS THE VIDEO IVE BEEN WAITING FOR WOO. Part of the reason I'm getting an FR-S
EaZee switched to a WRX from a RWD G37 and a 2010 Camaro RS . live in Toronto with driving technique and good tires you'll get through no problem. just know when to bonsai it tires spinning and when to have the stability on. like the highway
EaZee Rwd has more control when sliding because the front tires just need to direct. AWD likes to push the front's. but it'll get through anything much more easily. but Rwd is totally doable
Cianski 06 that's awesome man. Yeah I figured it wouldn't be a big deal anyways because it snows like 8-9 times the whole winter anyways, thanks for the input man
EaZee anytime! enjoy the FRS/gt86 man it's a wicked car. my buddy has one and it's a fantastic drive.
Cianski 06 thanks! I've heard mostly good things about it :)
It still amazes me that the rest of the nation it is snowing... here in Phoenix it was 74*F... (23.3*C)
yeah, get back to us when its 115
I subscribed a long time ago when I was purchasing a car, but its consumer advice videos like this that I remember why I still subscribe.
the footage/camerawork/production-value/cinematography was really good on this one! not that all the past work was not good, but this is really on the next level. keep up the good work guys. looking forward to all that is to come. thank you very much :)
Puru Chaudhary funny because this one was all Todd lol but he was trying out some new gear that we were all looking forward to using. :)
I daily a Crown vic in Michigan winters and I do just fine. Tires do make the difference, but also understanding how your car will respond is the most important thing.
I've only had RWD vehicles since I got my license that was oh 6ish years ago now. And I have got to agree it's the tires and drivers attentiveness beyond anything that determines who is and who isn't gonna end up in the ditch
Yes Todd you are a child and it's awesome. Your enthusiasm is what makes your videos great, the same goes for Paul.
Beautiful area you're around. I enjoyed your video. As someone who's driven a 5.0 mustang convertible in the mountains of eastern pa, you covered all the best points of snow driving. RWD doesn't matter-it's proper tires that are the absolute key to success in the snow. Great little vid. I'd like to see more driving in winter vids to enjoy your scenery :)
daily my '16 Mustang GT in the snow. all about having winter tires and using your head. is it the best in snowy conditions? no bought it to enjoy on the other 350 days of the year.
1) Winter tires
2) Weight in the truck or back seats
3) Skill
How to drive a RWD sports car 101
Is it a convertible?
But what if there's snow 200 days a year?
Now let’s say I live in place with snow like 200 days a year?
What if I'm somewhere it snows 200 days a year?
this gives me more confidence about looking into RWD cars as someone who lives in the Northeast with bad winters (as long as I have the right tires and maintain caution). thx.
Great little vid Todd. The little FRS is proving to be great all season, weather machine. With the right tyres and capable driving inputs and ability of course. Really enjoying the podcasts too. Keep up the great work.
DO NOT DRIVE IN SNOW ON THE STOCK TIRES.
My manual fwd Hyundai on wore out Walmart summer tires are fine thanx....with snow chains
Mathieu Morin LMAO I can relate
2019 WRX Dunlop supermax almost sent me into another car when they decided to stop on a hill. Snows would have actually stopped and saved mean heart attack
The stock tires are summer tires which i forgot about n almost died
Shit, don't use the stock tires in the summer unless you want to feel like you are on snow.
Had a 2004 F150, manual, rear drive only, in Iowa... had it for 7 years, and NEVER GOT STUCK anywhere. Had a lot of fun showing people what it could do, left them with their jaw dropped more often than not.
Really great video Todd thank you! Your stream of consciousness when going up and down the hill is very helpful. I think a similar video on canon carving in the spring/summer would also be interesting.
1:15 that's my boy right there, only reason to own a RWD in the winter.
I used to daily my Monte Carlo ss year round in Massachusetts. With studded snows on the back that thing amazing in the snow. Never got stuck and I used to drive around in blizzards for fun.
I just bought myself a 3.8 Genesis Coupe that I will be using for the winter as well so this video helps a lot!
Watching this gives me much more confidence in driving in the snow. Lived in California all my life, recently just moved to Minnesota at the start of winter, or should I say snowfall. I have a RWD Lexus GS350 f sport and currently running on all season tires. But I think with steady handling with enough gas power, i should be fine. The drive is all about the driver’s driving abilities 🤙🏼
If your area gets much snow, then full winter tires will help you much more than all seasons. Glad this was helpful to you!
Anybody dares to drive a RWD in the snow, deserves a thumbs up.
All I've driven for the last 10 years. 2001 Crown Vic
All common sense and experience. I had a BRZ with Blizzaks in 2014 and as you mention, the only thing that really stopped me was ground clearance. But, that said, the 86 can't really handle 7" of unplowed snow, so i did learn to respect its limitations.
I had no problems with 7" of fresh snow, but I also have a lip that serves an important purpouse - it is lower than the rest of the car and doesn't pack the snow under the center of the car.
Got a BMW 5 series about a month ago and almost sent it into a sideway drift on a slick, decline on-ramp today. Definitely caught me off guard!
I love my FWD car, i have gone through the whole winter up and down hills, snowy and icy. Only all season tires. Not even good ones. And they dont have even tread all around. No problems that i deal with :)
i drove a civic si through 11 new jersey winters, never got snow tires, never got stuck. now im planning on getting a camaro ss. its a hunch but im thinking all seasons arent gonna work so well on the camaro. ill definitely get winter tires for it. ty for the inspiration.
I have my BRZ out 12 months a year and live in Syracuse, NY (123.8 inches of average snowfall a year). This is winter number three and just got a new 2017. I even have more fun with it in the winter!
Great video, great voice, audio is also top notch and entertaining, loving the FRS!
As a kid I remember my dad taking on Colorado Loveland pass, Vail pass in a 1980s toyota corolla rwd. Never a problem, even in a whiteout blizzard.
Inevitably, a jeep Cherokee would blow our doors off....10 miles up the road, it was on the ditch....
Good video. I have a RWD turbo Cadillac ATS with snow tires...it still slides all over the place if I even look at the throttle. But like you demonstrate, it's insta-fun when you want. I guess that's why we bought our cars in the first place.
I have been driving my frs for 4 years now on stock tires here in cincinnati ohio, no problems with snow at all. Like Todd said when driving in the snow its all about easy and smooth driving.
me: *gets sideways*
gf: what are you doing!??!
me: sorry I had to check my blindspot
My 2013 Hot Lava FR-S is going to be going through it's first winter this year... I'm a scared, inexperienced driver with a sports car, but you guys really did give me a little peace of mind. I did get some winter tires a week ago, and they look like they'll help. It was a dumb choice of first car for the upper corner of Indiana, but hey, it's doable.
With winter tires we expect you'll be fine and enjoy the FR-S in the snow as much as Todd did. Leave more room to stop and don't make sudden moves. We've all been told it's impossible, but RWD in the snow is very doable. Thanks for watching and enjoy!
That's pretty much what my mother said. lol. Thanks for the reply, and keep up the good and interesting work.
EverydayDriver It’s my first winter with my first ever RWD but I’ve been too chicken to drive in the snow. I let it sit when there’s too much snow out, but your videos have really helped to start to give me confidence. I’m about to give it a go! Any tips for driving up a sleet or ice covered road that’s on a steep hill? I have 4 blizzak ws80s on my ‘15 ecoboost and the car has a snow/wet mode. Should I be ok for such a hill?
A steep hill covered in a sheet of Ice will be difficult for any car, even AWD. But, short of that most extreme condition, you should be fine everywhere you need to go. Getting going on hills takes some finesse, but with those tires you should have better traction than most people. Take it slow and leave yourself time to respond to the car. Overall, we expect it will be easier than you think. Thanks for watching!
This video made me smile.
Good video. I'll be driving my Camaro SS in the winter with winter wheels/tires installed. First big snowfall I'm going straight to a parking lot to get a feel for it being my first ever RWD car. People think I'm nuts, now I just need to carefully prove them wrong that it is doable :).
I had a very similar experience with my Genesis Coupe Turbo in the snow. With snow tires, traction wasn't the problem at all. It was running out of ground clearance when the snow became too deep.
Yeah, having grown up in NY (a lot of snow, but def. not as much as Utah, but it still gets buried under many feet in upstate NY) I agree with everything you're saying 100%. The largest problem in snow is usually people with improper tires. They lave the piece of shit all-seasons the stealership puts on which are utter trash in the snow. If you're driving in the snow, regardless of how many (and which) wheels are spinning, you need proper deep lug snow tires. They make a world of difference. Night & day.
Excellent and real-world advice. Oh, and we are ALL children when it comes to snow, an empty parking lot and a car to play with!
Fantastic video as always, Todd. Your enthusiasm for the FR-s shows and I love how much you enjoy this car. I chose to buy a Fiesta ST but man... i'll eventually own one of these things
Hill start - if can't get going, slightly apply hand brake. then release once get going. It helps put power to both wheels. Tip from old Shell driving commercials in the 1980's (or 1970's?)
Wish I could upvote this multiple times. Good job explaining it!
YES. More than traction, clearance is the issue. I've had very little problem with this car in the snow,with snow tires, other than really deep snow. I've not gotten stuck yet, but I've also had lots of practice with snow driving.
Great video! I'm filming a snow driving video this weekend in my FR-S as well. I couldn't agree more about the tires - they make ALL the difference. Make sure you have winter tires in the winter and not all seasons!
I just did a similar video on my channel with my FWD Volkswagen. I agree with almost everything in the video, being smooth and controlled makes a huge difference as do tires!
i do exactly the same thing with my NB miata with blizzaks snow tires on it
i've driven through like three snow storms already, and while it does lose some traction in first, if i just let off the throttle is bites in an acts like nothing happened.
i can lose traction whenever i want in a totally controlled way. it's EXTREMELY fun and i will often intentionally drive during snow storms because of it now
I just got my winter tires and I'm looking forward to my first winter with RWD (an NB Miata). :)
As someone who has had a Scion FRS for 7 winters i have to say that the only time I had any issues with traction and sliding off the road it was a holy trinity of conditions and bad judgement: 1. Freshly dumped snow was heavily compacted. 2. Roads have not been serviced by crews (no plowing, gravel, or salt). 3. I turned off traction control because I wanted to slide around. Light turned green, hit the gas, spun the tires and lost control, got stuck on the sidewalk and needed a tow. Which honestly, could happen to anyone regardless of the car and drive train. I was just being dumb that night honestly cause other than that, in the winters I drive carefully with weight in the trunk, good winter tires, and I've been fine every season.
I agree, clearance is the key factor. Otherwise it's fine.
a nother tip is get a spare set of heavy rims for your winter tires will also help
This winter has been crazy in Utah! I've been driving my Z in it though, the matter of actually having clearance is no joke. Hey if you do see this, you should join the Utah SCCA for some events some time!
Just finally saw this video, I'm going to be going to Utah next October for a few months with my coilovers z32 vert and want to know how bad is the snow in inches because the last time I was in Utah there was still snow on snowbird on the 4th of july
experience is so much in this video. nice control
I havent tried my brz in snow yet so the most fun ive actually had so far was with a mr2. Slides perfect on throttle and corrects when lifting off. Even had my mate on skiis behind on tow rope. Even managed so steep icy hills. Was so much fun
Watching this again 4 years later because I’m considering getting the new GR86...
November to March we get about 80” of snow on average.
Got another 6 months to think about it!
The second the video started before you said where you were located, I thought to myself, "Hey, I think I live near there". Hahaha
MX5 with winter tires- very similar. What a hoot!
I just got a 2022 BRZ. I've had some trouble finding winter tires in stock and at that they are almost 200 a piece. I'm hoping the pilotsport 4s will hold me in place. But. I remember when I was first driving and I had an S10 with almost half tires no tcs no abs and I did fine for two winters. Really it's all about your capability and confidence on whether or not ur gonna do ok. And just a side note. I have only lost control of a vehicle when it has first started raining.
Very knowledgeable and professional video, well-presented!
Awesome video. You sound like Ryosuke Takahashi from Initial D btw
I live in the snow belt with winter approaching, and I'm currently eyeing a '13 FR-S and was worried about RWD. This entire series has helped a lot, I've decided to get it.
Thanks guys.
Thrilled to hear it helped you. Incredibly fun cars in any weather. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for your simple and easy to understand knowledge of information! Truly
i live in alberta canada and people daily this shit!! i've seen mustangs,brz/frs, 370z, chrysler 300 in the snow all the time!! you just really need dedicated winter tires and drive smart not dumb.
comment man comment man whereabouts in Alberta are you located? I'm in Edmonton and I see these cars daily driven as well, but I also see them stuck on the residential streets after a good snowfall.
FerpiliciousProducts whatever the driving wheels, cars can get stuck. Again it is about the way you drive, the places you venture and how smart you drive.
Have a nice day. :)
FerpiliciousProducts live in edmonton too!! my neighbor has a brz and literally drives it every day, i've seen alot of mustang too lately at winter. It all depends on tires man, and obviously how much inches the snow is specialy unplowed.
FerpiliciousProducts btw sick evo4 bro, pretty sure i've seen that b4.
Jean-René Boutin do you live in a place where cars get stuck being parked overnight? AWD and ground clearance with winter tires will get you out 90% of the time. I have had to tow my neighbours BRZ off our street many times, and he has Blizzaks. My Evo, the truck, our BMW, never get stuck on our street from a heavy snowfall.
This video makes me miss my old e30 in the Minnesota winters now that I'm on the snow-free coast :/
Agreed, I had a tuned eta e30 with a shorter final drive w/lsd and Blizzaks that could drive sideways all day and be brought back under control with the lightest of wrist flicks. 180s from parking spots were also as easy as turn to lock an mash throttle. On more than one occasion I went up steep grades that left many all-season equipped cars (even awd!) on the shoulder.
Depending on how much snow fall but you can drive a frs/brz on any tires as long as you know the limitations of those tires. I’ve driving my brz on complete summer track tires during a snow storm we had. Of course I knew what I had so I wasn’t driving like I was a rally racer. But you can get around town just fine. Although your senses better be sharp because you gotta worry about people being bad drivers
I have learned so much about tires from this video and I love rear well drive car but have been afraid to drive them in the winter snow. (two days of the year). In most placês we can not justify buying two sets of tires. I have all season tires on my BMW Z3. I think the reason that I have slipped before was when my tires were not that good in the first placê!!!
I drove my FR-S this winter with WS80s. If I could give any advice to anyone considering it, honestly don't. I live in a hilly area of BC Canada and I haven't had a hard time getting around, but It's the other people you have to worry about. I avoided a crash by a few cms. This car is amazing and I love it to death, which is why I felt like shit putting it in danger this season. Get a beater if you can, and save yourself the trouble.
Running Nokian WR D4 on my e90 RWD and i've passed heavy winters without a problem.
So Todd, when you engine brake in a RWD car, you're only braking the rear wheels. It has the same impact as pulling the handbrake slightly. This does allow you to manage your speed without using the brake, but it's not the safe way to do it in low traction situations. You'll hit your traction limit much sooner than with slight brake pedal pressure. Also, as you pointed out on the podcast, it doesn't warn drivers behind you of your deceleration because there are no brake lights.
Willy Lamb dude engine brake doesn't use the hand brake it's literally downshifting and letting the car rev higher thus giving the wheels more resistance to spin faster
Austin Lintelman It's LIKE pulling the handbrake because engine braking in a rwd car only "brakes" the rear wheels.
The advantage of engine braking is you can control your tire speed, from slight braking to balance and slight acceleration without the weightshift of using the brake pedal. He's talking about using it as a control technique not as a braking technique.
Willy Willy
Ohh Please Willy ! *Reasonable* downshifts don't lock up rear wheels. I do realize drift racing drivers use this technique. Key word here... *reasonable* Also if someone is driving on your ass in holy shit weather heel and toe.
We have had a very mild Pennsylvania winter so far. I am still on my summer only tires on my Focus ST. Minimal snow so far.
I remember I had to drive my C5 to Oregon in the winter on NT05s. I was worried .. somehow it worked out fine saw two SUV’s in the ditch & one truck losing it. Later on a Panamera was Pacing me lol. Scariest thing was semi drivers not seeing me .
We got some decent snow this winter here in PA. Unfortunately, I don't have an FRS/BRZ, but I did get to slide a bit in empty parking lots. Xp
my rear wheel drive charger has fun in the snow
The locking diff in the FRS also helps with traction, but other than that I agree that these snow tyres are more important for slowing down the car.
Hi Todd and Paul,
AWD gives a false sense of security : AMEN and so does ride height and weight.
Salutations,
JRB
P.S.: I live in Canada. ;~}
Agreed. Weight and ride height get truck drivers feeling like "gods" when it's snowing. I drive an Evo X with winter tires and that thing is superior in most ways at acceleration, turning and stopping in snow... plowing is good too.
Actually weight helps in a situation where you're trying to form traction, seeing as traction can be derived from F = C * N in a rudimentary manner. F is your overall friction, C is the coefficient your tires provide you, and N is the vertical force being applied to said tires (weight). The only thing weight can really help with is creating more surface area for soft tires to attempt to mate with, and ideally those tires will be squished front to back and not side to side so the rest of the surface can form traction on the compacted snow.
Agreed - a 2 wheel drive car on Winter Tyres will outperform a 4WD car on summer tyres by almost 100%. Most fun I have had?- 99 Impreza on winter Tyres! A 40 mile country journey took only 10 mins longer than in the summer on snow covered roads in Wales.
Jealous of your snowfall! Illinois is bone dry right now! I enjoy driving with driver's assist off. The only issue where I live, is even though we get snow fall every year with plenty of warning, my city never clears the roads for close to a week.
I live in Minnesota, and I actually prefer RWD over FWD. AWD is a given to have the best overall traction, because all four wheels can grab for it, but my 2002 Crown Victoria, and my 1997 Thunderbird both did fantastically well in the snow so long as they had good snow tires on them. My 1999 Mustang GT would have done well, but it was lowered, so clearance was an issue as you mentioned in your video. I've had more issues with FWD getting stuck or worse, losing control than RWD.
I have a manual BRZ and I drive it in the winter in Southern Ontario. I run Michelin X-ice3 tires. It for sure can be done, but you need to be paying more attention and really using your "Butt Gauge" and your eyes a lot more. Gentle inputs is for sure the key, and really using the manual gearbox the right way makes a ton of difference. I've also removed 75 lbs of weight from the car as well... My biggest complaint is reversing in slippery conditions. The LSD really seems to hate it. =P
I love my BRZ in the snow. Today in PA we got about 6 inches, had no trouble making it to work before the plow trucks were able to get out. I have all season tires, and put 2 25lbs sand bags in the trunk - works just fine. I have a mix of back roads and main roads and it just digs right through the snow.
You guys are doing a very good job, but you should make much more videos. You deserve more like 1 million subs.