Would love to trade in my 02 Avalanche on an 07 DTS but am concerned about the DTS' snow capabilities. Can I get current owner's opinions of the DTS in the snow?

I'd love to know as well! My '01 Eldorado is fantastic in the snow. Since the DTS is also front-drive, I'd expect good things.

Incidentally, I think I'd most prefer an XLR, but I don't think it'd do well in the snow. My other car is a Corvette and I need something that's snow-capable!

For the OP, you are kind of stacking the deck...Av's are great in snow. I made a 300+ mile trip in an '02 Avalanche in 10 inch snow, when the only vehicles on the Interstate were full size SUVs and semis. Everything else I saw was in the ditch. Now it took 10 hours instead of 5, but I made it "home for Christmas"... Now granted, in the almost 5 years since, I've driven in snow twice and it was only a couple of inches each time -- so not much of a need :-)

I would think ground clearance would be your main issue. The DTS is heavy, FWD, and has Traction Control.

My 1992 Toronado w/o Traction Control was a total tank in the snow (at least for the amount of snow we got in St. Louis). 1999 Grand Prix, also was great in snow...more power=bad, but TC=good, so it balanced out. I've also driven a 300M extensively in snow, and also very good.

I have yet to drive my Riv or Concours in snow, as we rarely get snow here in AR. But I would feel as confident in either of them as I would in any other FWD car. And for 4-6" or less, they'd do fine unless maybe I was dealing w/a huge hill.

I doubt there would be a FWD car that would do better than a DTS. There are an awful lot of AWD cars out now -- but I can't think of one as big as a DTS except for an S-Class 4-Matic. It just depends on how much snow you get and how well your roads are maintained. But if you regularly get a foot of snow or in that range, I'd stick w/the SUV.

I have had 9 Deville/DTSs since 1986 and they are great in the snow. Being heavy and front wheel drive they will go about anywhere you need to go. As mentioned above, the only issue is ground clearance in heavy snow. When I lived in St. Louis we had several snows of 4-6 inches and the cars performed well. For me, if my Caddy can't get me where I want to go, I will just stay home.
Larry

I have had 9 Deville/DTSs since 1986 and they are great in the snow. Being heavy and front wheel drive they will go about anywhere you need to go. As mentioned above, the only issue is ground clearance in heavy snow. When I lived in St. Louis we had several snows of 4-6 inches and the cars performed well. For me, if my Caddy can't get me where I want to go, I will just stay home.
Larry


Same here. The only thing that has slowed me down over the years is the depth of the snow. Even in pre Traction Control/Stabilitrak cars, I never really had any problems, unless it was really icy. But that's another story.

I have owned several Tahoes and presently a Lade (no snow ...yet..can't wait though). I agree, you can't compete with them - particularly for ground clearance in deeper snow.

However, the DTS has front drive, good weight, traction control, stability control, ABS etc. I have driven several DTSs for extended periods of time in bad weather. It is great in the snow. In fact, it is clearly better in the snow and ice than my 06 AWD SRX was (with stock tires). My wife has a SLS that handles very similar to the new DTSs in poor weather. I wouldn't let her drive a vehicle here in Michigan that was not very good in the snow. Don't let worries about snow handling stop you from getting a DTS. You will be very happy with its winter performance.

Whats snow? We can't even get rain here in Georgia. Please send some of each. Doug J

LOL. Actually, I do pray for rain for you. In the meantime, how about trading water for gasoline? Deal?

... It is great in the snow. In fact, it is clearly better in the snow and ice than my 06 AWD SRX was (with stock tires)...

Was the issue with the SRX just lack of tire grip or the intrusive traction control nanny? On both my former CTS and RWD SRX, I turn TC off whenever I get to an intersection with loose gravel or in slippery conditions. Otherwise, TC would leave me hanging in the middle of a turn with no power and traffic bearing down.

Greg,

First, the low profile 18 inch tires were an issue . Second, the back end would slide out - so not a true 50/50 split . It was very unpredictable . My 07 Lade may have the same problem this winter . The Tahoes with true 4WD were the best.But, they obviously required manual shifting in and out of 4WD. IMO, AWD is better for most people b/c there is nothing to think about. You know I have never bashed my SRX. HOWEVER , its mediocre handling (for an AWD) was part of the reason for getting the Lade. I would be concerned about an AWD STS for the same reasons. Back on topic, I would take my SLS or DTS in a heartbeat for winter traveling . Very secure, and very predictable .

Very interesting experience of FWD v. AWD winter driving. The normal assumption is that as you move from RWD to FWD to AWD, winter driving capability improves.

I'll be interested to see how my AWD Lincoln MKZ does during it's first full winter. I think the transverse design has a FWD bias rather than the RWD bias the Cadillac AWD systems have.

I think one of the biggest factors is tire choice. Many winters ago, I had a new Mazda 626 with stock tires and my wife had a Miata RWD with 4 Pirelli winter tires (mounted on some really ugly azz steel rims). (My wife was a Mazda fan.) We found ourselves driving home separately during a bad snowstorm. I was sliding all over the freeway and I motioned for her to exit where we found a place to park the 626. The Miata with winter tires had no problem getting home and up our steep driveway.

Very interesting experience of FWD v. AWD winter driving. The normal assumption is that as you move from RWD to FWD to AWD, winter driving capability improves.

I'll be interested to see how my AWD Lincoln MKZ does during it's first full winter. I think the transverse design has a FWD bias rather than the RWD bias the Cadillac AWD systems have.

I think one of the biggest factors is tire choice.

1. Agree, assumption would be that AWD is better than FWD and FWD better than RWD. Ergo, my dissapointment with the AWD SRX. It (SRX) was not BAD or dangerous, just not as good as I expected an AWD vehicle should be. I even brought it in to make sure the AWD was working properly. At first, I suspected only RWD was working due to the back end slide out under acceleration taking off in the snow.

2. I believe a FWD bias would be better with theses particular types of vehicles (SRX/MKZ).

3. Agree, the tires were a definite culprit with my SRX. Those who replaced with winter tires seemed very happy on the forum. However, my positon was that I never needed to put "winter" tires on my Tahoes or my wife's FWD SLS...and I knew the DTSs I was driving at the time were better with stock tires than my SRX was with stock tires, which disappointed me. I am not into switching tires out for the winter - particulatly since I leased the SRX.

"My 1992 Toronado w/o Traction Control was a total tank in the snow "

I must set the record straight. Tanks as we know them today have rubber-coated steel treads on the tracks and slide like eggs in a teflon-coated pan in the snow. No traction - all slide. Quite good fun for 60 tons. :yup:

I live in Alaska and I have a V8 AWD STS. This year we've had snow and ice on the roads continuously since the middle of October. The big difference driving AWD over FWD or RWD is that when you get on the power in a turn it doesn't wash out like FWD or spin out like RWD. The power is very balanced. If you get in trouble you have to be driving way over your head like an idiot . You can easily change lanes across the low snow berm that accumulates between the lanes. Uphill turns are a breeze where with FWD you'd be pushing into the guard rail or the oncoming lane. A V8 AWD STS is the answer for winter driving in real arctic conditions that are around for months at a time and not for just a few weeks of slop like the midwest.

"My 1992 Toronado w/o Traction Control was a total tank in the snow "

I must set the record straight. Tanks as we know them today have rubber-coated steel treads on the tracks and slide like eggs in a teflon-coated pan in the snow. No traction - all slide. Quite good fun for 60 tons. :yup:

Mountain goat?

Mountain goat?

No, Combat Tanks - M48 (all series), M60 (all series), and M1 (all series - the best your tax dollars can buy).

No, call the Toro a mountain goat, instead of a tank...?