[WestPaulCts]

How good is the winter button on the CTS, - what kind of performance should I expect, this is the first year I will be driving the car in winter, but wondering.

 

[RobertCTS]

The snow mode allows you to take off in a higher gear. It reduces the chances of spinning your wheels. Once I get out on the clean street I use the normal mode.

 

[Chuck C]

Starts you from 2nd gear instead of 1st gear AFAIK

The owner's manual has a better explanation.

 

[Jon]

It actually starts you in 3rd gear.

 

[dkozloski]

If you get on it, it will downshift to second.

 

[1500cc]

I find it helps, but just a little bit. These engines are still a bit peaky and if you're trying to soft-shoe it in 1st, sometimes it gets into its powerband and can break the tires loose. Starting in 3rd gear dulls that effect.

 

[Chuck C]

It actually starts you in 3rd gear.

ah.

 

[King3244]

How are these cars on snow and ice? I was thinking about getting one and upgrading from my 94 sts but I have a long uphill driveway that gets slippery in the winter.

 

[Jon]

How are these cars on snow and ice? I was thinking about getting one and upgrading from my 94 sts but I have a long uphill driveway that gets slippery in the winter.

They're fine. Like I said, I drove mine through the winter last year with the stock RSAs, and I'm in Canada, our winters are nasty. There was this one day where the roads were solid ice from freezing rain. If you're careful, you'll be fine. I made it to school without a problem.