winter tires and never drove rwd.

im89

i have an altima coupe im planning to trade it in..i want to trade it in at the end of december but if i get the z i would have to put winter tires on it. I just want to know how big a differences is driving a rwd car with snow tires than a fwd with all season. I never drove a rwd car before. I just dont want to buy the car and the snow tires and still be stuck with a car that i couldnt drive. Don't know if it makes a difference but I will be getting. 7 speed auto. (live in ozone park new york)

spearfish25

The car drives very well in the winter with snow tires. Keep VDC on for safety, drive responsibly and slowly when indicated (like when it's snowing), and you'll be a-OK. The only limiting factor might be ground clearance for deep snow on unplowed roads. However, I never had any problems and we got 50" of snow in Chicago during Dec and Jan last year.

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im89

thanks...is there any reason majority of the people i ask say its a bad idea?(except tire rack and this forum) They make it seem like driving a rwd car is snow is crazy. Some people that had rwd cars said there cars did 360's in snow or it just get stuck. Is it the vdc or the traction control that helps?

nogoodname

Keep the revs low and no hard accelerations... Should be fine.

Jeffblue

the only thing more risky about rwd in snow vs FWD is turning whilst under power and sudden acelleration. Stopping a RWD is the same as stopping FWD or AWD. Stopping a RWD car with snow tires in snow is going to be easier than to stop a FWD car with all seasons.

i plan to drive my Z this winter with snow tires (dunlop wintersport m3's) on the stock 18s. However, if iwas you i'd try and wait until after winter to get the Z. just b/c its not a very fun time to enjoy a new sports car. but you gotta do what you want to do. if i was you i'd probably end up just getting it asap but yea, with snows on the stock 18's you'll be fine.

ChrisSlicks

With snow tires on the Z you will out brake and out handle the Altima with all seasons in snowy conditions. FWD's are easier to drive because you can mash the gas pedal at any time and not get into trouble but in reality are inferior to RWD cars in snowy conditions because you can only steer the car with one end. With RWD cars you can steer the car with both ends by modulating the throttle input. It will take a bit of practice if you've never done it before so try and find some quiet spots to practice before you have to deal with traffic. The VDC should keep the car going straight most of the time and will limit wheel spin.

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Jeffblue

i agree don't listen to chris. he drives with slicks all winter.

im89

ok so once i have vdc on, traction control, and snow tires i should be good. i dont know how much time im actually going to have to practice because when it snows i have to go to work. in terms of rust and maintenance to part what do you guys do after it snows? just give your car a wash?

Jeffblue

go to one of those car washes that are DIY, and hose down the underside of yoru car and all the suspension etc. When you pickup the car, see if you can get the dealer to 'winterize' it, maybe they spray some BS magic spray on the bottom that helps prevent corrosion. probably does nothing but its worth asking about. i understand that some people never want their cars to see rain or snow. but the reality is that these cars arent' just going to fall apart if they get wet, cold, muddy, or covered in salt. As long as you keep it clean every week or so, you should be ok. you know how many beaters there are out there, driven all winter, all year, that haven't been washed in years? and they run just fine. don't worry about it too much

im89

makes sense lol..thanks

Jeffblue

i came from an altima as well. i had an '08 coupe. You are going to LOVE the Z. its world of difference.

are you coming from a coupe or sedan? MT or AT?

im89

i have a 2009 black coupe auto...and i want a red or white sport package z auto.

Jeffblue

well, as far as driving experience, the 7at in the Z blows the CVT altima out of the water. where in NY are you?

im89

ozone park...honestly when i went to buy my altima i sat in a 370z and said this is the car i want...but it was my first car and everyone told me do you really want a car that you cant drive in the snow and only has two seats, but honestly theres probably only been 5 times that i could remember when i had more than 2 people in my car and if this snow tire thing works out i can be in the car i really want.

Jeffblue

yea i was in the same boat. except there was no 370 when i got my altima, which was my first car. Best thing to do when you buy a new car, and realize you want to sell it and get something else, is to do it ASAP, since the car depreciates very fast in the begining. you cut your losses and then get into an awesome 370z