RWD car + Snow (Cleveland, Akron, Florida: live, bus, moving to)

[homoochan]

I hear.. it snows quite a bit in Cleveland..

So.. if I'm moving to Cleveland but have a RWD car (and ONLY car) like 370Z..

Would this be literally like suicide during winter time?

[Cleveland_Collector]

No, not at all. Put a little weight in the back, keep your tires up, and don't drive like you're in Florida.

[citydudeallover]

Also make sure you have new or alot of tread on the tires , bald or balding tires
will give you the most trouble ,
Have you never driven in snow ? Never ever ? That said , all major streets here
are plowed and cleared , Just take your time ,

[Peregrine]

You will have some issues with a car like that in the winter here. Apparently some folks here have short memories. Yea, our streets are plowed but sometimes, at least twice a year, the plows just cannot keep up with the snow machine churning off Lake Erie. You WILL have a hard time a few days a year, I guarantee it. There have been times with my brand new tires on my FWD car that I cannot get into my driveway without snow blowing it first....

On the real bad days I just take the bus and leave the car at home.

[Cleveland_Collector]

He asked if driving a RWD car would literally be like suicide during the winter time. The answer to this is an emphatic no. I drive one to work and I'm still here. In snow, yes, driving becomes more hazardous. But, it is far from suicidal.

[JR_C]

I don't drive at all. But I know someone (in Akron, not Cleveland) who actually prefers RWD in snowy conditions. He feels he has more control, I guess.

[malachai23]

I used to have a rear-wheel drive car that I used to drive up to the mountains and back all the time. And by mountains I mean *out west* mountains. 12,000 foot mountains with 300" base snow. So, yah, you will be just fine.

[Peregrine]

Have you guys seen a 370Z?



Yea, that thing is not doing well in the snow.
Ok Suicide? No. Of course not. But there will be some white knuckle driving.
My car rides that low and I have been stuck just by the sheer amount of snow on my driveway or street. (Full disclosure - I do live on a never plowed sidestreet). Driving my wife's car in her FWD car with snow tires is like driving a snow mobile.
I have hadmany rear wheel drive cars and have had plenty of winter 'issues'. Eh... what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[homoochan]

Gosh.. I don't want to trade my summer fun for AWD...

Oh well.. Thank you guys anyways!

[Orwelleaut]

Depends on what kinds of cars you have driven in the past, and what you feel comfortable with. If you've never driven a rear wheel drive car in the snow and have driven for a few years, yes, maybe it would be a poor idea to take this on. If, however, you used to own a rear wheel drive which was your daily driver, and you drove that in the rain, you shouldn't have a problem. Just bear in mind that your car will be a little more "squirrelly", so to speak, on those slick roads. Take the experience of driving your old car in the rain, and know that you will have a magnified version of that in the snow.

In short, if you've driven owned a rear drive car before and driven it the rain, you can handle driving it in the snow. Before 1990 or so, many of us did it all winter long, and have lived to tell about it. If you drive a front wheel drive car in the winter, though, by all means, DO IT!!! Far more traction, and you can't fishtail unless you really try to. With so few rear drive cars left out there, why put yourself through this?? Enjoy life on the 21'st Century American highway, LOL!!!