catera in the snow?
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I (meaning my dad when he drove it in january before i got my licence!) didn't have problems with it at all. . . once we got it out of the parking spot! But yeah, my whole family (Caddy lovers all!) usually use sand bags. . . or a dead relative, which ever is handier...lol just kidding!
My mechanic's mother & M-in-L are both driving Cateras in the winter. "Mike" (my mechanic) mounts narrow snows on narrow rims from Saturns. More lbs per square inch contact force. Turn traction control off in town or you'll end up slowing down when ya want to speed up to clear oncoming traffic. But TC will save your ass on the highway before you know you're loosing traction. Had a Audi fly by me (doing about 60 mph) last winter on snow covered hi-ways. About a half mile down the road we saw the rotating headlights, tailight, headlights. She's done a 540 spin and was sitting on top of the left side snowbank. LOL. Wave bye-bye. Cars had already stopped. I'm not that cold hearted. Well I don't thinks so.
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TC ALMOST KILLED ME MANY TIMES! It is a terrible system, it just kills the engine. I turn it off everytime I get into my car, especially in the winter. Ive had so many near-misses after pulling out onto a fast road and giving it some foot, then the car will stop, and I will just look at the oncoming traffic:bulging:
I have Khumo ASX tires on my car, and theyre pretty darn good. Yeah it slides, but its predictable. I also have a pair of kicker l7 12's in the trunk, so add 100lbs maybe?
Ive never driven a front wheel drive car before, so I guess I'm used to the rear end sliding.
Winter snow advisory here, I definitely had some fun today
I live in a college town, so because of the holidays everyone went home. I have every parking lot to myself
I have Khumo ASX tires on my car, and theyre pretty darn good. Yeah it slides, but its predictable. I also have a pair of kicker l7 12's in the trunk, so add 100lbs maybe?
Ive never driven a front wheel drive car before, so I guess I'm used to the rear end sliding.
Winter snow advisory here, I definitely had some fun today
I live in a college town, so because of the holidays everyone went home. I have every parking lot to myself Yeah, I absolutely hate this thing for the snow. It can be a little frost and slippin and slidin everywhere! How many sand bags do you guys use? My driveway is a really slight incline, but there are days that I can't even pull up into the garage. Our 96 Sebring gets up like there wasn't even snow though. odd.
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Your sebring makes it up because front wheel drive is king in the snow.
The catera has wider profile tires, which makes it even slicker in the snow. People who have previously driven fwd also dont react the same to slides. Too many people think the car is going to react like fwd, and they dont understand the car is going to push them.
Put as many sandbags as you see fit in your truck, and start doing donuts in the parking lots. Not only are they fun, but when you get sucked by slush on the highway youll know how to pull out of it. Not to mention look cool in front of your passengers by acting like it never happend.
The catera has wider profile tires, which makes it even slicker in the snow. People who have previously driven fwd also dont react the same to slides. Too many people think the car is going to react like fwd, and they dont understand the car is going to push them.
Put as many sandbags as you see fit in your truck, and start doing donuts in the parking lots. Not only are they fun, but when you get sucked by slush on the highway youll know how to pull out of it. Not to mention look cool in front of your passengers by acting like it never happend.
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I had an Omega a few years ago, and I have had many RWD cars. By the time I had the Omega I was experienced enough to know how to winter drive with RWD.
When I had a Rover 3500 SD1 back in 78, we used to put six sandbags in the trunk, three in the back seat, and one in each rear footwell, it worked a treat.
Otherwise, turn off your traction control, weigh the back end down, and be careful (you can still have fun)
When I had a Rover 3500 SD1 back in 78, we used to put six sandbags in the trunk, three in the back seat, and one in each rear footwell, it worked a treat.
Otherwise, turn off your traction control, weigh the back end down, and be careful (you can still have fun)
Sand bags in the trunk is cool. But please don't put heavy stuff in the passanger compartment. If you should be unfortunate enough to go head first into ditch or flip, the stuff in the passanger compartment becomes a high energy projectile. Lost an old friend of mine in a sideswipe collision and her car went through the guardrail & down the embankment. The loose balast in the back seat,, well lets just say it broke her neck.
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Unfortunate...Cat-a-Tonic said:
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The Catera isn't too bad in winter. I don't have winter tires or weight in the back and have been through deep snow. I actually find it fun. My advice is to drive a Camaro for a couple of winters and then the Catera will feel like a 4x4.
I usually put sand bags in my trunk as well. With good tires and a little extra weight the Catera is manageable in snow. Also, don’t use salt bags for weight (I’ve heard of many people doing this). Salt is caustic; if any spills in your trunk things will rust. The sand can also be used to help aid traction if you do get stuck. Pour some on the ground in front of your tires to help aid with traction.
The catera is the first rwd vehicle i have owned and even driven for any period of time longer than a quick trip in someone elses car but it seems to do very well in snow, although stoping on inclines and then trying to accelerate up them in the snow will be a chalange for any vehicle fwd or rwd I have not added any weight yet mainly cause i want to retain the full use of the trunk and dont want to be vacuming sand out of my trunk for the next year. The catera also has good weight distribution. In any case oversteer is better than any ammount of understeer. Still wondering if this car has a limited slip or not im thinking not though.
my personal recomendations
-trac control off unless at speed (if you spin the wheels enough you will clear the snow new tires will be needed come spring though)
-snowflake button worthless (makes you rev higher into your power band wich equals more torque and hp = wheelspin or rolling backwards on an incline not fun with cars behind you)
-weight in the back if it makes you feel better but i think the balance is good right now (untill i am calling a tow truck to get up my driveway)
-be easy with the throttle i didnt need to go higher than 2500 rmp at any particular time in 4 inches of snow (not counting that empty parking lot lol)
-also good tires help i have bridgestone potenza g009's with about 9/32 inch of tread left and they are doing good not great like a goodyear assurance tire (wish they made 225/55 R16's it would be a great tire for real all season performance)
my personal recomendations
-trac control off unless at speed (if you spin the wheels enough you will clear the snow new tires will be needed come spring though)
-snowflake button worthless (makes you rev higher into your power band wich equals more torque and hp = wheelspin or rolling backwards on an incline not fun with cars behind you)
-weight in the back if it makes you feel better but i think the balance is good right now (untill i am calling a tow truck to get up my driveway)
-be easy with the throttle i didnt need to go higher than 2500 rmp at any particular time in 4 inches of snow (not counting that empty parking lot lol)
-also good tires help i have bridgestone potenza g009's with about 9/32 inch of tread left and they are doing good not great like a goodyear assurance tire (wish they made 225/55 R16's it would be a great tire for real all season performance)
The real thing is, take your time, accelerate gradually, slow down long in advance (when you know you'll have to at least). Ya get a good feel for what the car's doin' if you drive " by the seat of your pants ". meaning you're a part of the car and you feel and hear all the clues that are telling you what's going on.
THEN on the FUN side, you can make the Catera as stable as a air hockey puck and just have some real fun!! WHere no-one else is at risk, of course!! Just don't let the local constabulary catch ya! Enjoy!!
THEN on the FUN side, you can make the Catera as stable as a air hockey puck and just have some real fun!! WHere no-one else is at risk, of course!! Just don't let the local constabulary catch ya! Enjoy!!
I am in minnesota and constantly the roads are always icy then I am on call 24/7 so I get to drive at 3am before the plows are out and about. The snowflake button is great with the 3rd gear take offs just got to be easy on the throttle. I have to leave the traction control off till I get moving but then turn it on and drive down the highways as normal. I am surprised how stable the car is on ice and snow at speed but take offs suck never stop on an incline in the car because it will be a challenge to get it moving up the hill.
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