08 In Snow: Trouble or Just Fine

[GSMetal]

I live in Wisconsin and I'm looking at buying a 08 Avalon Touring.

I've been hearing that this car is a nightmare in the snow since you can't disengage the traction control.

Can anyone in snowy climates give me a review of how you're car does in snow.

BTW, I've lived in Wisconsin all my life so I'm fully aware of how to drive in snow.

Thanks in advance for your input!

[Tom in Tacoma]

My experience has been a positive one. I live in the Seattle area where we don't get much snow - consequently we don't have much snow removal equipment either and we have lots of hills!

Three times now I've come through Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 during blizzard/white-out conditions. The car performed flawlessly going through six inches of snow. The last time I went through the pass a state trooper made me chain up and I was upset at having to do it because I knew I would be fine without them.

While I'm aware of some folk's displeasure at not being able to disengage traction control, I've not had an issue with it.

[roysleight]

Don't like it at all. Especially for people that are used to driving in snow and ice. It's customary to let the tires do some spinning to pull a grade in snow but this car will disengage the throttle when it detects the tire spin and then you're stuck; probably on an uphill grade, traffic behind you, and the only way to go is backwards if traffic will let you. It's dangerous and embarrassing. There is the "dance" to do before hitting the road that will disable the TRAC control, but you need to do it again if you turn off the ignition. Really needs a button to allow you to switch it off.

[tfelton]

For some reason my '08 Ltd. doesn't have traction control. Even though I live in Arkansas where snow in my part of the state is rare (we do get ice) I've had the car plenty of times in Utah, etc in some pretty big snow storms and I am very pleased the way it handles. I'm using Goodyear TripleTreds as tires.

[TheUltimateBohab]

I also live in Wisconsin I don’t know about the 08 but I’ve got an 05 and it seems really good in snow to me I’ve only had one problem with the traction control in spring when everything started to melt I got stuck in the mud in my yard, but driving on the road I’ve never had a problem

[grandpapa]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateBohab

I also live in Wisconsin I don’t know about the 08 but I’ve got an 05 and it seems really good in snow to me I’ve only had one problem with the traction control in spring when everything started to melt I got stuck in the mud in my yard, but driving on the road I’ve never had a problem

I had trouble with our 06 last time going up hill, now with the 05, I expect I will have the same issue this winter.
Will see, I may try to disable the traction control by doing all the steps it mentioned from other forum.

[riceqx2]

There is "Traction Control", and "Stability Control".

Traction C happens at low speeds below 40mph.
Stability Control happens at faster speed (above 40).
When the car handles fine driving in 6 inches of snow on the highway, well, thats Stability Control helping to keep the car stable at the higher speed.
Getting out of a parking space with 6 inches of snow, well, thats Traction Control.

Toyota made a mistake by not having a switch to disable it.
It could be hazardous in snowy climates.

[boosted-fc3s]

With good tires I was fine. With lousy tires the TCS and Stability control were over active and would cause the car to virtually stop dead while pulling into traffic from a snowy driveway.