Problem: 2003 Lexus GS300 and Snow

[starry123]

I got this car recently and I learned that this car does not do well in the snow. My mechanic told me that even if I get snow tires, it would not be much help. Also, if this car is so bad, why is there even a snow option? Very confused... Is my mechanic just exaggerating?

Also, anyone have any suggestions on what used car is good for snow? I am thinking about moving soon and I will be living by myself so I am worried about whether I need a different car.

[acercode]

I used to own one also..... it was a deathtrap even in rain.

Had a friend who owned one too and he would put bricks in the trunk for snow and says it helps.

[starry123]

The rain too? Oh man...

Thanks for the info. I might really have to get another car or hibernate.

[bmwguydc]

A friend of ours has one and she can't drive it in even light snow because the car turns into a sled. Even with snows, it's only a marginal improvement to the handling of the GS. She keeps the car because it drives to and from the train station, preserving a new car from the worst of parking lots. She puts big bags of cat litter or sand in the trunk, like you would do with a pickup, and runs snows.

[starry123]

Thanks for tips about the putting heavy things in the trunk. I was thinking about getting a cat so maybe I will buy the cat litter in advance.

[sonarrat]

The issue is likely that the GS was mechanically similar to a Toyota Supra. Straight-six motor and rear wheel drive. Great for dry-weather handling but not a good combination for bad weather.

[bmwguydc]

Definitely. Stock up on cat litter, place it in a plastic bag so that you don't get rips or absorbed moisture and position it in the trunk. With snows, that should do the trick for light snow handling.

[himain]

It's on you buying a RWD car to drive around in snow. You can only blame yourself. FYI any RWD car in the snow is dangerous.

[GregW]

I have driven on snow and ice covered roads FWD, RWD and AWD cars in New England for more then 50 years. All of them can be driven in the snow. the first thing is to get a good set of snow tires for all four wheels. Studded tires are generally not needed unless your area is subject to frequent ice storms.

There is not much you can do to improve handling on FWD and AWD cars other then have good tires.

RWD cars can be improved by weighting the rear of the car, running lower tire pressures in the rear and having good snow tires.

The most important thing you can do no matter the kind of drive system is to find an instructor willing and able to show you how to drive in snow or find an instructional video. Then after the first snow but before they get around to plowing it is to find an empty parking lot, preferable without any light posts or barriers, and go out and drive into and out of heavy braking, quick turns, left and right spins and recovery from all of the odd attitudes the car can assume.

The best snow cars we have owned and still do are AWD Subaru Wagons. The next best was an RWD Volkswagen bug with a modified rear suspension. The next were the RWD Buick Station Wagons. They were great sliders but very easy to control. The worst was an old RWD Chevy pickup truck. That thing had very little rear traction but was still drivable.

So to summarize: Get good snow tires (I prefer Nokian brand). Then get some instruction and practice a lot before you venture out in traffic. The most important is controlled braking followed by avoidance maneuvers and then cornering. Don't forget to practice getting started in deep snow. Snow driving is tricky but not all that difficult. Which end of the car is being driven is far less important then learning how to drive what car you have.

[starry123]

Thanks for the advice. I think I am going to buy another car as I am not a good driver to start with so it is making me extra nervous.

himain: I don't recall any blaming. I was trying to confirm what I have heard and was trying to see how I can remedy the problem.