Sorry if this thread has been started before... I did a search but couldn't find one.

Anyway, I go snowboarding a lot during the winter. So my question is, for those of you that already have your tC, how do you think it'll handle on snow and mountain roads? Also, do you think a 6' board will fit in the trunk, or should I get a roofrack? When the snow does start falling for you guys up north and east, would you might keeping me/us updated on the handling?????

I know that this question is a LOT early, but one I'm trying to keep myself busy while waiting for my tC, and two I'm trying to keep myself COOL in this 90+ weather by thinking of snow!

 

Shouldn't be too much of a problem in winter being that it's front wheel drive and is pretty solid. Also, Scion states that if you fold down the seats you can fit a 9 foot surfboard in the car, so I'm sure a 6 foot snowboard is no problem.

 

9' foot surfboard????? I didn't know that there was THAT much room in there!!!

I know the whole thing about FWD being safer and all... I was just wondering about the tC, because I've only yet taken one FWD on snow and the was my Maxima.... quite a bit of weight difference.

 

I got this as my bike/snowboard car since I can sleep in it w/ board inside with me or the bike on my rear rack. I had a saab before this, and I got caught in snow sleeping on the blue ridge parkway several times. It's FWD drove like the bees knees in the snow - faster on the unplowed highway than those bimbo boxes in the scraped part. Its not a subaru, but I expect the tc to be quite capable.

You could carry snow chains and a battery powered air compressor in the trunk to mount them with.

 

speakin of snow n ice .. what can i do to help protect my roof and allow wheels from snow but esp ice? .. this is my first time with a car with actual alloy wheels instead of steel covers n for most of us a car with a glass roof so its all new to me

 

Good topic here...maybe someone can shed some light on my Qs:
1) i'm getting the TRD 19" wheel/tire package and plan to buy snow tires for the stock rims for winter driving...what snow tires would you recommend?

2) since it's all glass roof...is it easier to defrost the roof snow with heater?

 

Both Nokian and whoever makes Blizzak tires have 17 inch snows...Nokian is introducing a snow that is a bit more high performance but w/ the same if not better snow tire qualities/traction - same thing w/ Blizzak - they're around $135 each though. I have always used Nokian and they are an excellent tire.

 

I came from the dealer yesterday and she said something about needing snow tires. I just moved to RI/MA and I hear that we can get several inches of snow. Will the stock tC tires not be able to handle this? I live in an apartment and can't really store 4 tires during the winter. Can someone recommend a good al season tire?

 

Thanks 3 IGs...here is a link of Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 snow tires ($143 each), up 130 MPH...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

 

Several inches of snow in Mass may mean 6"-36". All season tires are OK and should certainly be able to handle most snow situations...but they provide no where near the safety and traction of a dedicated snow tire. Many times a FWD car w/ 4 good snows will have better tratcion than an AWD car w/ all seasons. I live in a small apartment and have my snows stacked in the corner of my bedroom. You could always stack them 2 high cover them w/ a piece of plywood and a small tablecloth and call them end tables.


NJ_05tC: You're welcome...man that's expensive...especialy compared to what I paid for 14" Nokians. Oh well.

Life's short...get a tC.

 

I drove a CAMARO in Michigan...and it snows and sleets and rains, etc etc, here often. I never had THAT much trouble with just my normal tires on the car. Never used snow tires. I'm sure you will be ok, just drive defensive, don't drive like an a**hole. It's snow, you will slide if not taken the correct precautions while driving.

 

9 foot surfboard? Is this just with folding down the rear seats?

My real question is, can I drive up with 2 other guys and fit skis/snowboards with only part of the rear seat folded down?

It's sad that I have to ask this since there are no tCs available to test drive or look at right now!

 

I believe the 9 foot surfboard is with the Passenger seat folded down as well; simple physics would dictate this to be true. You could probably fold part of the rear seat, angle the board accross the body of the car, pad it against the trunk with towels or whatnot, and bungee or strap down the hatch.

Moral of the story, if you need to haul three people with surfboards, quit shopping for sports coupes. The Station Wagons are on your left.

 

question is.. should you get snow tires? my answer? yes.. the difference you'll notice between all season tires and snow tires is a lot! Bridgestone has the blizzak lm-22.. finally came up with a tire that can get on the highway without sounding like huge mud bogging jeep tires.. they gave up a little snow traction for highway use.. but good trade in my opinion.. plus, regular snow tires (multicell formulation) will wear rapidly when on dry.. lm-22's are higher in silica content.. so that's how they can be on the highway and not wear quickly..

as far as mt. clemens? detroit area.. yeah i know that area well.. and detroit hasn't really gotten hit with lots of snow like the east coast has.. or for a more local idea.. how west michigan (where I am now) get's hit with snow.. you definitely need snow tires.. we get an inch of snow an hour.. oh what fun.. that's when the state police shut down the highways.. can't wait to move!!

someone have an entry level IT system admin job somewhere warm? I will gladly move!!

 

i drove a 92 camaro in the snow for 3 winters its not fun. i would have to go about 10-15 in a 55mph zone. Very scary

 

oh yea and the scaries part is when ure stoped at a red light then all of a sudden the back end of the car starts moving sideways and u have to let off the brake and keep rolling foward to stop ureself from goign completely sideways

 

A thread started a few months back said something about a roof rack not being possible since it has a glass roof.

As far as snow goes (I live in Michigan too), your best bet would be to purchase an all wheel drive car...Oh wait, I'm selling an all wheel drive A4. Wow, what a coincidence. I'm sure we can work something out.

 

I grew up and learned how to drive in Alaska, so believe me, I know how to snow drive... I was simply asking how well do people expect the car to handle. I couldn't remember or not if the car had some kind of traction control system. Just because I live in California now, doesn't mean that I'm going to drive like a quote/unquote a**hole going up to the slopes.

 

No, the tC doesn't have traction control, but it does have ABS. I would recommend snow tires if you plan to drive much in the snow. The standard Bridgestone RE92's are "all-season" tires, but I had a set on my '99 Solara, and they sucked in the snow!

 

since it'll probably be only an occasional mountain trek, I'll probably just get some chains while still in the off-season.... :D