1st commute in snow..not impressed?

[ricamryman]

Well, this morning we got several inches of heavy wet snow. It was cold when I started out to work this morning at 0610Hrs! It was snowing hard, & I have to say that I was not impressed with how my 1993 LE V6 handled the snow! Seems that the V6 has too much torque, & loves to spin from a start under slippery conditions! I had to get a running start to get up & out of my driveway...slight hill! In comparison, I used to have a 1994 Nissan Maxima VG 3.0 V6, & that thing was a complete tank in the snow!..... The Camry by comparison seems like a much lighter car with too much power! The tires are new Cooper Lifeliner Touring radials too boot!........ I was expecting better.......

[firetridagger]

Do you have snow tires on the Camry?
My camry iwas fine on the snow with Pirelli snow tires. and ya... this morning the road was terrible.. here in Markham Ontario.. we got wet snow then it was raining.. road was flooded .. so it was pretty bad

[Retrospekt]

I run BFG all season tires on my 4 banger and I love how it handles. You have to press the gas with your big toe...it doesn't really depend on the vehicle. Especially in wet snow like you described. Unless you're driving an all wheel drive SUV.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Try getting some weight in the car, keep it evenly distributed between the front and rear. If you have a stick, start in 3rd. You could add a switch to lock the automatic trans into 2nd gear.

[JJ9284]

Yeah I got that storm this morning too haha. I live in eastern CT a little north of the casinos. I had to go to work at like 9:30 and it was starting to rain so it was all slushy. It was my first time really driving in the snow and I was suprised my car did so well, but it does have good tires on it so Im happy

[the_professional]

its your prolly your tires, try to drive a different way, the main thing about driving in snow is to keep moving and always maintain traction.

I drive my camry in snow a lot and it isnt bad at all. Easier than driving the fat old impala.

[EEngineer]

get better tires

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by ricamryman

Well, this morning we got several inches of heavy wet snow. It was cold when I started out to work this morning at 0610Hrs! It was snowing hard, & I have to say that I was not impressed with how my 1993 LE V6 handled the snow! Seems that the V6 has too much torque, & loves to spin from a start under slippery conditions! I had to get a running start to get up & out of my driveway...slight hill! In comparison, I used to have a 1994 Nissan Maxima VG 3.0 V6, & that thing was a complete tank in the snow!..... The Camry by comparison seems like a much lighter car with too much power! The tires are new Cooper Lifeliner Touring radials too boot!........ I was expecting better.......

well tanks handle better in snow cuz they are heavier which the maxima is. honestly im not surprised. want a good car in the snow...get an car that is good in the snow. whoever told ya the camry is lied. somthing with awd and a 4cyl sounds right up you alley. fun rant though.

the only thing that will help is better tires and a lighter foot, thats all. extra weight wont help much at all since ya cant get any more weight over the drive wheels...extra weight may make it worse.

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by bigbird

well tanks handle better in snow cuz they are heavier which the maxima is. honestly im not surprised. want a good car in the snow...get an car that is good in the snow. whoever told ya the camry is lied. somthing with awd and a 4cyl sounds right up you alley. fun rant though.

the only thing that will help is better tires and a lighter foot, thats all. extra weight wont help much at all since ya cant get any more weight over the drive wheels...extra weight may make it worse.

How much heavier was my 94 Maxima over my 93 Camry? Both have Iron Blocks & FWD?........

[LE05]

agreed on the tires.

people always think that an AWD or a SUV is the first thing to get to increase safe driving in the snow... when really its the tires! if your tires cannot grip, then those traction and awd systems don't do jack shit. granted, they may help you start moving and stay moving, but when you have to stop, they don't do much. it's all in the tires!

and to the OP, if you think all season tires will do well in the snow, you've just learned your lesson.

just my 2 cents.

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by ricamryman

How much heavier was my 94 Maxima over my 93 Camry? Both have Iron Blocks & FWD?........

your the one calling the maxima a tank friend, but its about hundred lbs depending on options. my buddies 94 weighed in at 3328 on a scale at the track(it was a loaded model though), camry LE is 3200 or less depending on how equipt. the 3vz has TQ lower then the 1mz so it takes some getting used to in the snow. but your biggest problem, is that it sucks in the snow period without dedicated snow tires. youll get used to it...or crash and get somthing else, i hope thats not the case.

[SexieWASD]

Originally Posted by bigbird

want a good car in the snow...get an car that is good in the snow. whoever told ya the camry is lied.

My Camry is awesome in the snow, stable up to about 60mph in an average storm, 40mph in the worst conditions (over a foot unpacked on the road). Starting from a dead stop isn't great, but once you get going it's really good. I have blizzaks on it now, but my studded wintermarks do better (not as wide).

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by bigbird

your the one calling the maxima a tank friend, but its about hundred lbs depending on options. my buddies 94 weighed in at 3328 on a scale at the track(it was a loaded model though), camry LE is 3200 or less depending on how equipt. the 3vz has TQ lower then the 1mz so it takes some getting used to in the snow. but your biggest problem, is that it sucks in the snow period without dedicated snow tires. youll get used to it...or crash and get somthing else, i hope thats not the case.

No I won't crash?....(LOL)..I just learned today next time to take my 2007 F-150 SuperCrew 4x4....(LOL)........

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by SexieWASD

My Camry is awesome in the snow, stable up to about 60mph in an average storm, 40mph in the worst conditions (over a foot unpacked on the road). Starting from a dead stop isn't great, but once you get going it's really good. I have blizzaks on it now, but my studded wintermarks do better (not as wide).

mine never did unless i had snow tires. but i learned how to drive it good enough to get around.

Originally Posted by ricamryman

No I won't crash?....(LOL)..I just learned today next time to take my 2007 F-150 SuperCrew 4x4....(LOL)........

well shit. that will do the job id say. Oh and my buddy's maxima did much better in the snow then my camry did, like yours.

[SexieWASD]

I've tried driving it in the snow without snow tires on it, kumho ecstas. It did not work, at all. Turning just did not happen, and that was if you were lucky enough to get going in the first place.