[3POINT0]

Hello All,



Back in 2001 I had a minor accident in my 924. I live in Toronto, Canada and set out for a drive on a perfectly dry winter day when suddenly a tonne of snow came down. I was amazed at how the car became instantly uncontrollable. The highway was crawling at 30 km / h and I was keeping with the flow of traffic. With the most minor throttle inputs, the car would fishtail. Finally, I was coasting along straight in neutral when the 924 just spun on its own. It was unreal! I hit an SUV which was going 30 km / h.



Now I am thinking of getting the ultimate expression of the 924 because in all other conditions the car drove great. I need a 968. Does anyone have any experience with these cars in the winter or on snow and would care to share? Is it true that it is better to have a limited slip differential for such a scenario? What is the option for the limited-slip differential? Any snow stories would be greatly appreciated.



Best regards,



Arek

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[smj]

Can't comment on the 968 in the snow, but I've driven an early '85 944 and an '87 944S in the snow. The tires make a world of difference.



The 944S was a handful on summer tires when I got caught by a November snowstorm in New England. More than an inch or two on the ground and it was very dicey changing lanes on the highway, or turning off of a steep hill onto a side street - I got stuck twice. But we're talking Bridgestone RE750's, not all-weather tires, so you'd expect that in a storm that dumped a foot of snow.



Before that when I first got the '85 944 back from the shop it was late in the year, and soon I was on a trip and it snowed - I couldn't get up the very mild slope in front of a friend's garage that day. But when I put a set of Blizzaks on the car I drove through anything so long as I was smooth.



So in my opinion, they're no worse than any other car so long as you drive appropriately and put the proper tires on them. And to me, that means a set of real snow tires if you expect to drive the car in snow. Buying a set of cheap winter wheels and changing them out with the seasons is a lot cheaper than most bodywork from an accident.



In my other opinion I would probably stick with my Audi for snow and keep my 968 in the garage, but I realize I'm very fortunate to have the option.



Hope something in all that helped,

--Steve.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Torbjorn968]

[quote name='smj' post='53310' date='May 26 2008, 06:55 AM']Can't comment on the 968 in the snow, but I've driven an early '85 944 and an '87 944S in the snow. The tires make a world of difference.



..... Buying a set of cheap winter wheels and changing them out with the seasons is a lot cheaper than most bodywork from an accident.



In my other opinion I would probably stick with my Audi for snow and keep my 968 in the garage, but I realize I'm very fortunate to have the option.[/quote]



The 968 works great all around. But do not get US Mud and Snow tires (these are reported to be vastly inferior to our tires), buy the real thing. Winter tires might be worth some research. Northern Europe Tires are different from Southern Europe tires. Perhaps get them from Canada? Have many friends who use their 944s and 968s as their everyday car, I did with my previous 968.



LSD: pros and cons I would think, will make the car more tail happy but also easier to control the more frequent slides. This would be a matter of taste. Otherwise I cannot see why the 968 should be any worse in the snow than any other car without electronic aids (these have actually proven to save quite a few lives on Swedish roads).



Best regards



Torbjörn

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[xrad]

hit a touch of ice on a curve this winter...went right off the road....of course, this would have happened to most rear drives

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

I drove my 968 for four northeast US winters - always with Bridgestone Blizzak tires on all four wheels. No accidents, no "stucks", no problems, and never didn't drive it because the snow was too bad. However, it does require normal caution and care. It is not, after all, an AWD vehicle.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[3POINT0]

Thank you all for your input.



As I understand it, when you don't have a limited-slip differential, it is very easy to pass all the torque to one of the rear wheels thereby inducing a wildly spinning wheel and possibly causing a spin-out. If my understanding of a limited-slip differential is correct, then this device should cause a reduction in the free-spinning of one of the driven wheels (if it hits ice for example). Would this aid in winter driving? Would it make a difference at all? Is it a common feature on 968s?



Thanks,



Arek

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[rxter]

The 968 is not a snow car. Maybe a Cayenne??

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[perbal]

We had a cahin on this topic a few years ago. Here is a link:



[topic="0"]968 in the Snow.[/topic]



Since that time I switched to my 16" wheels with all weather tires. It made a word of difference (see my post on the above topic). It made the car driveable, but its no Subaru! If I had the choice I take my other car, or stay home.



Perbal

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Scott Collins]

Hey Arek,



Been driving these cars in the snow for years. If I am repeating what has been said, or stating the

obvious, then just consider it "reinforcement". Due to the weak US dollar, here are my "3 cents":



1. Use snow tires. The thinner the better. Summer tires, or tires that need warmer temps, such as

the Bridgestone SO-3 will be downright dangerous. Don't ask me how I know....Just make it your business

to know what the manufacturer intended your tires to do and when.



2. Modify driving technique. Conditions and driver skill and experience make the difference. My own driving is

very different in the snow in the 968. No sudden moves and I give myself much more time to do everything. With ice, the best thing to do is to do nothing until you are over it. I have a special set of chains that I run on the rear tires when the

roads are not plowed. I have used them 3 times in about 10 years, but when they are on, I can almost go anywhere, but no faster than about 25mph. Sorry, don't mean to preach to the choir. Living in Canada, you probably know all of this better than most... (BTW - I can't thank you enough for RUSH. Best band ever! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> )



3. RS Barn installed a Guards Torque Biasing differential before this winter, and it helped me a great deal. My open

diff used to just have one wheel spin, and spin, and spin, while I went nowhere... Or, I suddenly went sideways when I gave her too much gas. Now I get traction on both tires when one starts to spin, which will happen, and if I give too much gas and the rear tires break free, the car will not go sideways, dramatically. I am very happy with this mod, which also pays off big on dry pavement. When a car is equipped from the factory with LSD, it's Option #220, and it would be listed on the sticker under the carpet below the rear wiper motor.



For my money, FWD cars are best in snow up to a few inches. All that weight over the drive wheels gives up front gives

you traction you need and very PREDICTABLE handling. Pulling is predictable. More snow and you want AWD.



Having said this, warmer weather is here, the tires are getting stickier, and the fun is about to begin.





-Cheers!



-Scott

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Lord_Galva]

[quote name='Scott Collins' post='53355' date='May 26 2008, 05:08 PM']For my money, FWD cars are best in snow up to a few inches. All that weight over the drive wheels gives up front gives

you traction you need and very PREDICTABLE handling. Pulling is predictable. More snow and you want AWD.[/quote]



The 911 then should be good too because of the weight on the back wheels then.

Lets all run out and buy C4's. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Scott Collins]

AWD mod for the 968! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Lord_Galva]

[quote name='Scott Collins' post='53372' date='May 26 2008, 09:29 PM']AWD mod for the 968! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]



I was kinda thinking about that but I'm not sure how to do it.

Could be fun. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[3POINT0]

Didn't Porsche used to race their 924s in snow rallies? I wonder what that setup was like and if it would be applicable to the 968...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.