Driving in the snow?? Moving to MN? need snow advice!! (car, weather)

[fromupthere]

Get a block heater. Have AAA. If you have 4-wheel drive, it doesn't make a difference on ice.

[ozzie679]

AAA is the best purchase that I've made in a long time.

[icequeen2008]

I am moving to Saint Cloud the end of December and just discovered that I wont have a garage for my car right a way nor will I have a plug in. I also am going to invest in AAA. I would say just take it slow on the roads when they are icy and dont slam on your brakes. I just pump them slowly when entering a stop light and its slippery.

[NumberPlate]

I dont have garage. Every snow morning I have to clean tow of my cars. When the wind chill is too much those are the times I hate to be in MN . So just have that in your mind. You have to heat the car for 5 mins, then clean all the snow then only u can drive. I remember I cleaned my car 4,5 times everyday for my coffee breaks, lunch break during my work. For me cleaning is the worst part than driving. Anyways I am a slow driver.

[usafracer]

Originally Posted by icequeen2008

I am moving to Saint Cloud the end of December and just discovered that I wont have a garage for my car right a way nor will I have a plug in. I also am going to invest in AAA. I would say just take it slow on the roads when they are icy and dont slam on your brakes. I just pump them slowly when entering a stop light and its slippery.

DO NOT PUMP YOUR BRAKES IF YOU HAVE ABS!!!!!!!! If you do not know if you have ABS (anti-lock brakes) take it to a shop and ask.

ABS will sense the tires locking up and can pump your brakes for you more than 60 times a second to keep them from locking up. Just remember to press and hold them the first time they go off it will scare the crap out of you so be expecting it.

If you dont have ABS then yes when you start to skid you will have to let off the brakes and pump them to stop.

[slamont61]

Follow the rules posted above, take your time and stay put when the REAL weather is blowing, and you will likely never have an issue.

Take your time, allow extra space in front of you as stopping distance is not the same on slippery roads.

I have lived in many other places before Minnesota, and when the wintery weather hits you see car after car in the ditch, not so in Minnesota, it seems that more folks drive carefully here. I guess our lives depend on it.. In other areas, Detroit, Milwaukee and Chicago its just not as cold out and when they slide off the road, it's more of an inconveniece and not as life threatening. In Winter we get COLD and stay cold for long periods of time. It's not good to be sitting there waiting on a tow truck when it's 10 below zero. Perhaps people respect the dangers and act accordingly.

It's been my experience that it's common to see this in those other areas, a car off the road every where you look... in Minnesota, last winter, let's say I saw only 1 car that way and only one car having rolled over slip-sliding off the road. Quite a difference. A stark contrast.

[raevenbox]

Mankato to the Twin Cities (St. Paul/Mpls), is a few hours away. I think 4 or more. As for jobs here, the best bet is closer to the Twin Cities for better income. You will not find a nice, decent home in MN for $100,000 or less. Our housing costs are quite high. I have a townhome, built in 1983, nothing fancy, (3bed) and paid $169,000 for it last year. Make sure you check everything out first. Schools, jobs, housing, etc. We are looking to move out of MN b/c of the high cost of living and the cold. I have lived here all my life and hate struggling.
Best of luck to you and your family!

[fromupthere]

From downtown Mpls to Mankato is 81 miles - not 4 hours.

[Sloaf]

at your first snowstorm, when there is an inch on the ground, have someone who is familar with it drive you to an empty parking lot (school, mall, etc). Get in the car and take it up to 5 or 10 mph and hit the brakes. This way you can get a feel for what the car will do when it begins a slide. You can practice and get used to it with no cars around to hit.

Older cars: pump your brakes to slow down. No sudden moves.
New cars with ABS: "stomp and steer". Do NOT pump your brakes...the ABS does that for you.

[MidwestHiker]

My employer does not give snow days. I save a few PTO days for the really bad ones. Most of the time, the roads are nice and clear by the time you need to leave for work. I only remember taking one day last year, and that was when we got almost a foot of snow.

Just remember, take your time and you should be fine. I say should because there are idiots out there who only care about themselves. We stay home if the weather is bad at night because that is when most of the accidents are.