GS300 Traction Control:How Good in Snow?

[wrenchtech]

I'm currently a '99 Nissan Maxima owner. One of the good aspects of this car for all-season driving is the front wheel drive. I've never driven anything with rear wheel drive and traction control. I'm looking for first-hand reports on how well it works, particularly in the early second generation ('99 -'01) GS300. -- Matt

[clubfoot]

If you use winter (not snow) rated tires you should be good.

[wrenchtech]

Clubfoot, Thanks for your input. i figured that with rear wheel drive some real good winter tires would be helpful. All my vehicles now are either front wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. It's been a long time since I drove a rear wheel drive car in the snow (except for 18 wheelers with two drive axles, locking mid differential and 8 drive tires ;-). But really, anybody out there that can give me a good comparison between front wheel and rear wheel w/traction control? -- Matt

[liquidsilver]

Originally Posted by wrenchtech

Clubfoot, Thanks for your input. i figured that with rear wheel drive some real good winter tires would be helpful. All my vehicles now are either front wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. It's been a long time since I drove a rear wheel drive car in the snow (except for 18 wheelers with two drive axles, locking mid differential and 8 drive tires ;-). But really, anybody out there that can give me a good comparison between front wheel and rear wheel w/traction control? -- Matt

Well, I had GS400 and whole bunch of front wheel and all wheel drive cars and trucks. I hate to tell you this but if you're used to front wheel drive maxima, then ur gonna hate the GS in snow. OK to be honest, its not bad when its just snowing a little but once u have that snow storm, dont even think about going out. Even with traction control, all it does is cut out the engine power which sometime worsens the icy traction. What does help IMO is the VSC....which reduces fish tailing/skidding sideways...yes it does work and I truly believe in that safety feature.

Put it this way......I remember the day after the storm, I removed most snow in the driveway and I still couldn't get the gs400 out cause it was icy and the traction control just cuts out the power. It's definitely not a great car in snow and ice so I now purchased AWD highlander I hope this helps.

[wrenchtech]

liquidsilver, Thanks for your firsthand report. That's exactly what i was looking for. Sad to hear, but maybe I need to be looking at the all wheel drive Infinity G35x or BMW 330xi. Although I'm not above the idea of a used 4runner or a Subaru for winter and the GS for the rest of the year. -- Matt

[clubfoot]

Originally Posted by liquidsilver

Put it this way......I remember the day after the storm, I removed most snow in the driveway and I still couldn't get the gs400 out cause it was icy and the traction control just cuts out the power. It's definitely not a great car in snow and ice so I now purchased AWD highlander I hope this helps.

Guess what, I came from driving an AWD Hylander on all season tires to an IS350 on 18" Pirelli performance winter tires as my all year round transportation. I have driven through two winters in all types of winter weather here in Toronto Canada and have never gotten stuck or had problems in unplowed snow or ice storms. It all has to do with the tires you choose and how you drive.

I have another co worker who has an '02 GS430 on 16" Dunplo M3 winter tires and it is his daily driver, again no problems driving in winter here.

If you must go AWD because you don't want to think about the weather outside add the Subaru Legacy GT Spec B to your short list.

[liquidsilver]

Originally Posted by clubfoot

Guess what, I came from driving an AWD Hylander on all season tires to an IS350 on 18" Pirelli performance winter tires as my all year round transportation. I have driven through two winters in all types of winter weather here in Toronto Canada and have never gotten stuck or had problems in unplowed snow or ice storms. It all has to do with the tires you choose and how you drive.

I have another co worker who has an '02 GS430 on 16" Dunplo M3 winter tires and it is his daily driver, again no problems driving in winter here.

If you must go AWD because you don't want to think about the weather outside add the Subaru Legacy GT Spec B to your short list.

I hear u 100% but I find that snow/ice melts much quicker in Toronto.......compare to where I live about an hour away from T.O in the country side......which makes it easier to live with rear wheel drive in bigger cities. It all depends where ulive and the tires. My dad also has GS400 with winter tires and I find that u can only go so far with rear wheel drive /300hp combination....even with snow tires

[leasaunce]

yeah nearly all TC system cuts power to the wheel. But the new HONDA LEGEND instead of cutting power it adds more power.