Rear-Wheel Drive??

[brian33309]

So this question has probably been asked before, but have any of you that live in icey/snowy conditions had trouble with the handling of the rear-wheel drive of the CTS? I've been shopping around for one and my girlfriend is adament that I don't buy one because of this issue. Your comments are much appreciated!

Thanks,
Brian

[DABEARS]

I live in chicago and it isnt bad at all, this is a sedan not a trans am!!!!

Dont let the girlfriend tell you what to do ya puss

[Acqua7]

yeah i think its very good in the snow, especially for a RWD sedan. Winter tires do help a good amount, but it can handle itself in the snow just fine.

[kfx]

i live in wi and can get around fine. i put some weight in the trunk and the traction control works really well. trade the girlfriend in for the cts.

[Coma]

If she will be driving it, better not get one. She will wreck it. Wait until you can get a 2008 with AWD.

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by xocomaox

If she will be driving it, better not get one. She will wreck it. Wait until you can get a 2008 with AWD.

If you give in on this you'll be a whipped dog loser the rest of your life.

[Caddy Man]

I'm not gonna sit here and tell you fairy tales that it handles fine like others are. Ive had front wheel drive before and no its not as good as a FWD in the snow...BUT i will tell you I would not trade the fun I have in this car being RWD anyday. The winter driving isnt BAD...its not just as good as a FWD.

[RScar627]

True, it's not as good as front wheel drive in the snow but between the traction control and the snowflake button I was pleasantly surprised. I live around a corner at the bottom of a hill and had no problem getting out of my neighborhood.

[the cadillac kid]

ya bro i dont know -- i love this car a lot and i bought it the day after a huge snow storm, knowing it was rear wheel drive... i didnt care because i absolutely love this car and i would rather drive it 362 days of the year and leave it in the driveway/garage for the 3 bad snow days we may have in a year . . .

i've gotten stuck in snow before, have to push it out... have had to do the whole reverse, drive, reverse, drive, reverse, drive thing... i have slipped. HOWEVER, each and EVERY time the traction control has come on and helped me a bit. Add some weight to the back (rock salt, sand bag, w/e) and u will be fine.
just dont try to drive when theres a few inches of snow on the ground...


my parents only drive SUV's and compared to the jeeps and mb ... well... -- in those cars you can drive the posted speed with absolutely no issues, with the cts you have to be a little more cautious.


my advice; get the car


Side effects
caution: upon owning a CTS and being a member of this forum, girlfriends WILL get pissed.

[Jon]

RWD > FWD in snow.

I got my CTS in 2004. The first winter we had after that, I drove it with the OEM tires. They were Goodyear RSA all seasons. No problems at all. My CTS doesn't even have stabilitrak. If you know what you're doing, RWD is AWESOME in the winter. Being able to turn the car with the throttle is a huge plus IMO.

I drove my CTS-V through 1 winter with Blizzak LM22s. The car handled absolutely solid.

My daily driver is a FWD Ford Windstar. It's worse in the winter because it can understeer. And oversteer is MUCH easier to correct than understeer.

I've also driven a Ford Explorer 4x4 in the winter. It's better than FWD, but it still understeers a little.

I will take RWD over anything else in the winter any day of the week. I've driven the CTS on Goodyear RSAs over a foot of unplowed snow on the ground. Made it home from my friend's house without any issues.

[B0000rt]

The traction control works wonders.

Be smart about driving and FWD RWD or AWD it doesn't really matter.

[the cadillac kid]

Originally Posted by Jon

I will take RWD over anything else in the winter any day of the week. I've driven the CTS on Goodyear RSAs over a foot of unplowed snow on the ground. Made it home from my friend's house without any issues.

wow jon i read that and thought that was remarkable . . .
my friends mustang ended up on someones front lawn... on the opposite side of the road... when he was making a turn in like 2 inches of snow . . . . thats after he got stuck 10 mins prior.

[bigblockcadillac]

It's all about how you drive. If you drive recklessly, then you will wreck. I've have had no problem with my CTS in the New York snow.

[03cts sport]

Mine has stabilitrac and is a standard. While I made it through the first couple of winters with the OEM all seasons I broke down last winter and bought snow tires. They made a huge difference! I should have put them on the first winter. One other point...although my wife can drive a standard, she prefers not to. Therefore she rarely drives the CTS which has turned out to be a bonus. Hopefully you'll have the same luck with your girlfriend not wanting to drive your CTS in the winter.

[SvB4EvA]

tell her to buy her own damn ride. nuff said.