A Mustang and driving winters in Grand Rapids (Detroit: buy, live in)

[jaytothegee]

I'm moving to GR next month from Florida and wanted to opinions on if you all thought my '05 Mustang would be drivable in the snow/winters? I am originally from NE Ohio (lived there for 30 yrs) so I do know how to drive in the snow... but am concerned with the rear wheel drive - and not knowing how 'bad' GR is during the winters. From anyones personal experiences - will common sense (and snow tires) get me thru the winter?

[suydam]

I'm sure people do it... but I wouldn't recommend it. Most snow-drivers prefer front-wheel drive (or AWD).

[durazack09]

i live in GR and ive had friends with mustangs and camaros. there not that bad in the winter, get good tires, throw about 200lbs of rock salt in the back. as long as you dont have to go up any big hills or drive like a jackass you will be fine. is it a manual or auto? v8 or v6? if its rust free and a really nice car you might want to store it, and buy a winter beater. the salt will wreck it.

[michigan83]

Oh man... I wouldn't recommend driving a Mustang all winter in G.R. It can be done, yes... but it will be a pain in the butt.

It's not really a matter of whether you are a good winter driver or not. I'm sure you can keep it on the road, but the problem is getting traction, pulling out into traffic, starting on a hill, accelerating from a red light. It will be a bummer. You can be the best driver in the world, but it won't help you do those things. I know a lot of very good drivers that wouldn't think of driving a Mustang or Camaro all winter.

That being said... I always see a few every year, so you won't be completely alone!

[Wingnatic]

I'm sure how bad winters are in GR (it wouldn't make a difference anyways) but my Mustang does not handle very well in the winters here in Detroit . 1/4 of snow at a light or stop sign your likely to fishtail .

[suydam]

Originally Posted by Wingnatic

I'm sure how bad winters are in GR (it wouldn't make a difference anyways) but my Mustang does not handle very well in the winters here in Detroit . 1/4 of snow at a light or stop sign your likely to fishtail .

We average double the snow of detroit.
That can be a good thing... snow is better than ice for driving.
That is primarily a bad thing for rear-wheel-drive cars.

(In my opinion it's a good thing to get that snow... just not for RWD cars)

I drive FWD, my wife drives the kids around in an AWD station wagon.
Either of those options are managable. In fact, only once in the past 3 years has my FWD been stuck. My wife had to pick me up (with the kids!) at work because I couldn't get out of the parking lot. That was a great snowy day.