GT In snow?

billybob10 · Aug 1, 2011

Hello,

I'm hoping to purchase a 2006-2008 Mustang GT (most likely '06), but my parents need some convincing that it is safe in snow. I have read in forums that winter tires and/or a bag of sand in the trunk usually suffice, but I need an article or a lot of testimonial to confirm this.

Thanks!

Ronin38 · Aug 1, 2011

A set of 4 good snow tires, some extra weight in the trunk, and good DRIVER TRAINING will work pretty well in the snow!

streethorse · Aug 1, 2011

Without winter tires and an unexperienced driver behind the wheel
they are not real safe. If you want safe, a 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive
car , jeep or suv is much better. Even my daughters 02 front wheel drive VW Beetle is
better on snow.

billybob10 · Aug 1, 2011

Can anyone direct me to an article or a large set of testimonials or something that can confirm the effectiveness of winter tires (or trunk sand bag) in making the Mustang more or less as safe in snow as other FWD coupes/sedans?

mbuckcoyote · Aug 1, 2011

Google is your friend...

If your looking for a pat answer, don't read the rest of this...

Outside of that, what is your experience in snow? I don't care what you drive, if you treat snow or ice ( is synonomous with snow) for that matter with anything but respect, you will lose. FWD? Eh. I have never been convinced that FWD cars are better in snow than RWDs. FWD just seem to spin out a little differently.

It would seem that you are young and inexperienced in the art of winter driving, let alone driving period. A Mustang in the snow would not be my first choice to learn. Best car I think I've seen for snow is the old VW Beetle.

Long story short, get a car that you won't care to much getting dinged up or stuck to drive around in snow. For what it's worth, My Mustang goes into hybernation in the winter and I drive my 4x4 Ranger. Be careful out their!

DavidPR · Aug 6, 2011

I plan to drive mine in winter here in Iowa. They do a good job here clearing the roads in winter and the roads are mostly clear unless it is actually snowing or a storm has passed recently. I have an Audi A6 2.7T available for when the roads are covered.

Even though I won't be driving my Mustang GT over snow covered roads, I still plan on getting winter tires just because of the summer compound getting real hard in the cold.

Ateup · Aug 6, 2011

billybob10 said:
Can anyone direct me to an article or a large set of testimonials or something that can confirm the effectiveness of winter tires (or trunk sand bag) in making the Mustang more or less as safe in snow as other FWD coupes/sedans?

LOL! Sorry buddy. Your parents win this one,

Ronin38 · Aug 6, 2011

billybob10 said:
Can anyone direct me to an article or a large set of testimonials or something that can confirm the effectiveness of winter tires (or trunk sand bag) in making the Mustang more or less as safe in snow as other FWD coupes/sedans?

Check out the video's by Tire Rack!

All-Season vs. Winter Tires

Al J · Aug 7, 2011

Buy a set of 4 Blizzaks. Craig's list a good source---and put 'em on rims, swap 'em on & it'll be fine. I have 18s. I did not buy a winter garage queen & find the Mustang to be just fine in winter---plus, the wife's got a 4-wheel drive Volvo if the snow's ass-deep. Just remember no quick starts or stops & don't tailgate.

StreetsideStig · Aug 8, 2011

Just put it to them this way: If you learn to drive a Mustang in the snow, you'll be able to drive just about anything in the snow.

vtdave · Aug 12, 2011

Think about the Mustang as if it were a lowered 2WD pickup truck. It's basically the same thing: RWD, solid rear axle, and big engine.

If you live someplace relatively flat with good road crews, you can drive it in the winter with serious snow tires, some added weight, and (as others have stressed) skill and patience. If you live in the hills or mountains, FORGET IT - you will at some point find yourself traveling backwards down a hill.

If your winter activities include stuff like "ski trip," "going up to the cabin," "ice fishin" or "Tuesday night bobsled racing," a Mustang is not your winter vehicle. If instead, your activities consist of "take I-65 to the mall," "go to the beach," or "it's sleeting - time to take the bus," you're all set.

Good luck,
Dave

PS - Your parents should remember back in the day when most cars were RWD with a solid rear axle, and that will answer their question.

Ronin38 · Aug 12, 2011

vtdave- I learned how to drive in a 70's Chevy station wagon in W. Pa. (I'm 47 yrs. old) I also worked at a ski area in the winter and frequently drove in before the snow plows had been out.

RWD, big engine, light rear end GOOD TECHNIQUE AND GOOD SNOW TIRES and you don't have to worry about things like HILLS.

vtdave · Aug 12, 2011

Ronin38 said:
vtdave- I learned how to drive in a 70's Chevy station wagon in W. Pa. (I'm 47 yrs. old) I also worked at a ski area in the winter and frequently drove in before the snow plows had been out.

RWD, big engine, light rear end GOOD TECHNIQUE AND GOOD SNOW TIRES and you don't have to worry about things like HILLS.

Point taken - at least for your average snowstorm (~ 6 inches, moderate moisture content flakes, etc.). I was thinking more about the conditions where you step out of your car and immediately fall on your butt because it's that slippery. It happens around here about 7 days each winter. For that, studded snows, AWD/4WD and some excellent skills are what's needed. My other "car" is a plow truck.

Ateup · Aug 12, 2011

StreetsideStig said:
Just put it to them this way: If you learn to drive a Mustang in the snow, you'll be able to drive just about anything in the snow.

Good point! Back in high school in the 80s my buddy had a 5.0. Had it for 6 months before he totaled it in the snow. Hard lesson to learn.

streethorse · Aug 12, 2011

Ford Mustang (Saleen?) Stuck in the Snow - NYC Blizzard 2010 - YouTube

GOLDENPONY · Aug 12, 2011

Ronin38 said:
Check out the video's by Tire Rack!

All-Season vs. Winter Tires

BINGO! This says it all.

Ronin38 · Aug 12, 2011

vtdave said:
Point taken - at least for your average snowstorm (~ 6 inches, moderate moisture content flakes, etc.). I was thinking more about the conditions where you step out of your car and immediately fall on your butt because it's that slippery. It happens around here about 7 days each winter. For that, studded snows, AWD/4WD and some excellent skills are what's needed. My other "car" is a plow truck.

Gotcha. I've heard the Eskimo's have something like 20 different words for "snow". Sometimes I don't think that's enough!

fwiw: My family used to have a Subaru SVX and it was fantastic on that kind of extra-slick stuff! (If driven properly, of course.)

ill advised · Aug 12, 2011

billybob10 said:
Hello,

I'm hoping to purchase a 2006-2008 Mustang GT (most likely '06), but my parents need some convincing that it is safe in snow. I have read in forums that winter tires and/or a bag of sand in the trunk usually suffice, but I need an article or a lot of testimonial to confirm this.

Thanks!

Just curious if there's an update. I gotta side with the parents on this one. That's a pretty nice bit of car to be trudging around in the snow (not to mention the power and that it's rwd). Especially if you're relatively inexperienced. To me this falls under "just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be".

shadango · Aug 15, 2011

I know the OP wont want to hear this, but I also agree with the folks.

A rear wheel drive car , even with studs, will NEVER be anywhere near as sure footed on snow like a FWD or AWD/4WD is. Unless its a super heavy car. My wife's 76 Nova 4-door (back in the late 80s) with studs was a tank but it got her around in the snow OK but even with that she had her moments...LOL.

Backstory - Back when I was about 20 I had the chance to get a 68 Camaro.....gorgeous car....just redone and almost perfect......rumbly 350, duals etc. My grandparents were going to loan me some of the $5k the owner was asking for it (remember, this was 20+ years ago when you coudlnt give gas hogs away...LOL)......It was my (then) dream car. They at first were going to loan me the $$$. Then said they would not. Turns out that they and my other grandparents had a chat and decided it wasnt the kind of car they should back. Boy was I PISSED.

Turns out, not long after, I realized that that car would have been all wrong at that time in my life. The snows in SW Pa arent like those in the great white north, but we usually get a few good snow storms and lots of ice. If I could have somehow made it thru the winters driving that car I would have at LEAST sealed the cars fate to a rusty death.

It took 20+ years but I finally have a couple toys and they stay garaged in the winter.

My opinion, if this is your main ride all year round and you get any kind of winter weather where you live, drive something else for a while til you can swing TWO cars...one for the winter and one for the fun months.

Black'02 · Aug 15, 2011

I live in Buffalo and have driven a GT in the winters here for the past 4 years or so. I have a dedicated set of snow tires on a pair of steel 16" rims. I have never gotten stuck, and frequently pass Jeeps and other 4WD vehicles stuck in a ditch.

It takes time to develop the feel for it but overall my car is much more maneuverable in the snow due to the inherent oversteer characteristics of RWD (which in the snow i think is much preferable to an understeer situation you get with FWD).

Also, one key point to keep in mind is that the narrower the tire, the better it will handle in the snow. Most of those who claim that FWD is better is because they generally have narrower tires than what you would find on most RWD vehicles. If you have equivalent width tires on a FWD and RWD vehicle in the snow, the RWD would typically outhandle the other just as it would in a normal pavement situation. The only difference would be that their oversteer and understeer characteristics would be enhanced significantly due to the reduced traction on the drive wheels.

GT In snow?

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