How's your Crossfire in the snow -- I mean REAL snow?

Here's my situation: I have to wait for the job situation to clear up before I take the plunge (make mine a graphite Limited coupe). BUT -- ain't there always a but? -- the best prospect is in upstate New York, snow capital of America. Rural area, too, so the roads don't get the clean-up the interstates get. Up there, a foot in a day is not uncommon.

My last rear drive car, an '87 Peugeot 505 turbo 5-speed, was diabolical here in Detroit (on fresh all-season radials).

So, much as I dream of an XF on those rolling mountain roads, does sanity mean I should be looking at a front drive or awd car?

NOTE: When responding, please note:
A) Where you live (Texans will be ignored!)
B) Your tire type (all-season, summer sport, snow)

Thanks in advance!

Rob Gold

 

the best prospect as in job or your looking to buy a car from New York? and they get snow in texas too.

 

The prospective new job is in upstate NY. Sure, they get "snow" in Texas like Rogaine grows "hair."

 

It can snow anywhere.

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=6873

 

I always thought that Buffalo was the snow capitol. Spent a few winters in Muskegon MI and they beat Buffalo a few winters running.

I have run PS2's through 2 1/2 Chicago winters. The cars are not good in slush or trailblazing through deep snow. I leave mine at home when I can't see the pavement. Get yourself a beater truck for the real snow days.

 

I live in MD and have the summer PS2s.

The summer tires are probably the safest for the Crossfire in the snow since it is unlikely that you will even be able to back out of your parking spot with them. All-season tires aren't going to ensure you get safely where you want to go either. Unless you go with snow tires on 18" wheels you aren't likely to be very successful or confident when the snow comes.

The Crossfire has little practicality in snow other than having heated seats, the "W" position on the autostick, and a pretty good crash test rating.

Consider buying a beater car for most of your winter miles. That's what I and a bunch of others here do. You'd save on things like fuel, maintenance (e.g. tires), not needing two sets of Crossfire tires and wheels, depreciation, etc. so that the cost of ownership of two vehicles won't be much more than having just an impractical sports car.

 

hell i have a beater and im in south florida...it has snowed once here in the last 18 years so yea, i have the contisport tires and i like them...it rains a lot and they perform better than the ps2's in the rain and puddles.

 

I'm in Maryland as well and quite honestly I walk when its bad out, I'm a mile from work. I did drive a bit in what was left last winter after they plowed and I had no problem but then again I've had practice in a Corvette, a couple of 280 and 300 zx's. I think its not so much what you drive in the snow, its how you drive. If you have no experience then you will have problems, get a beater as someone suggested. I would not recommend this car in any kind of deep snow. Around here they do a really good job of cleaning the roads, my issue is the amount of salt they use doing it. I'm a clean freak and the salt scares me on my car. I purposely stay off the roads until it clears up a bit. I had no problem with the snowy and icey patches I hit last winter.
Best of luck this winter,

Pat

 

I'm in Rochester 50 east of Buffalo, actually they get the press about snow but we get as much and sometimes more. We also have 725,000 in our county. That means in the last 5 years there may of been a couple of times that you are not on dry pavement every where except perhaps your street. The main drags are plowed and salted. I have seen years when we are shut down due to snow but that's once every 10 years. Remember we know how to handle show. Virginia or Texas is shut down more due to snow then we are. They can't handle it. Our town of 95,000 has 30 - 40 plows. Having said that a lite dusting of snow at rush hour and you can go slip sliding away. I drive 500 miles per week on the Thruway from Rochester to Albany from Jan - June and in the last 4 years there have been a dozen bad storms in that stretch. I don't drive the Crossfire in the snow but drive a rear wheel drive 300C. If it gets really bad I'll use my chief of staffs FWD Ford.

 

I'm in Cleveland and we get some heavy snow at times each winter. The car to put it bluntly is a real pig in snow. I don't have the option of using a beater. My advise is take it slow and allow extra travel time. I have also found that using the W setting helps along with the traction control (try turning it off it help me get out of a bad situation). I have to drive the freeway each morning before it is plowed in winter and it can be a real white knuckle ride.

 

There have been many discussions on this subject take a look in the history. I live in Cincinnati and have PS2's we do not get a lot of snow 1 or 2 bigger ones a year, but...On snow the best explanation I have seen on this sight is a pregnant pig on roller skates. I only drive when I too can see pavement. PS2's are no good on snow covered roads.

 

I am originally from Long Island, NY and have driven my Roadster Limited during the snowy months with the Conti ASP's and some weight in the trunk. I now live in Central Virginia right outside of the State Capital in a rural area. If it snows a 1/2 inch the plows are out, and if snows an inch the area is totally shut down. the only problem here is that the county uses a liquid ice melt solution that tears the under carriage and wheels up...I think its a mixture of sulfuric acid & battery acid...lol.

 

I live upstate NY (around Albany) And I have no problem...then again i put the car on "ice" for 5 months and drive something else. But you'll love the roads in the spring, summer, fall foliage. nice twisty secondary roads and a few interstates to let her rip.

Carl

 

I want to keep my Xfire for many years so I take my car off the road in winter. Here in Upstate New York they put a lot of salt on the road, not good autos, rust, rust and more rust.
And where I live on a hill real hard to get to in bad snow, so me and the wife have 4WD.

 

Thanks to all who replied. A beater is not an option, since the added insurance really adds up quick, no matter how crappy the car (don't you hate it when people call cars "vehicles"?).

So, if this job in the upstate NY boonies comes through, I'm afraid the Crossfire will have to come off my list, and a FWD or AWD car in its place. Damn, I'd really looked forward to an XF on those gorgeous country and mountain roads!