Rear-Wheel Drive??

6057 Views 77 Replies 22 Participants Last post by Jim's 06, May 31, 2007

brian33309

Discussion Starter · May 24, 2007

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

1 - 20 of 78 Posts

G

· #2 · May 24, 2007

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:tsucks:

wned:

:rockon:

Acqua7

· #3 · May 24, 2007

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

· #4 · May 24, 2007

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

· #5 · May 24, 2007

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

dkozloski

· #6 · May 24, 2007

xocomaox said:
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

· #7 · May 24, 2007

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.

Reactions: 1

RScar627

· #8 · May 24, 2007

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

· #9 · May 24, 2007

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.

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Jon

· #10 · May 24, 2007

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

· #11 · May 24, 2007

The traction control works wonders.

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

the cadillac kid

· #12 · May 24, 2007

Jon said:
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

· #13 · May 24, 2007

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

· #14 · May 24, 2007

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

· #15 · May 25, 2007

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

GT!

· #16 · May 25, 2007

Tell her you'll drive it backwards when it snows (=FWD) :thumbsup:

The CTS handles great in the snow for turning and stopping, but traction on the rear wheels is not as good as most FWD drive cars. I get nervous when approaching steep icey hills, but it really doesn't happen that often during the course of a winter (this past winter I left my CTS at home only once). Definitely get winter tires.

-GT

brian33309

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 25, 2007

Thanks all for the comments! I'll definitly go with the CTS over the girlfriend! I just wanted some testimonials to reassure myself that rear wheel would be fine! Now.....anyone have a CTS for sale????

G

· #18 · May 25, 2007

Ill sell you my 2003, has 58k miles on it... silver with black leather int.

$15,500

dkozloski

· #19 · May 25, 2007

If you can't manage a CTS on snow and ice you need to turn in your driver's license and walk. The 50/50 weight distribution gives the best compromise between traction and handling when equipped with suitable tires. I use WS-50 Blizzaks.

brian33309

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 25, 2007

DABEARS....got any pictures of your ride?

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