So today I got to experience for the first time driving my G (rwd/6spd) on snow... it was an eye opener! lol.

I've been spoiled from driving an AWD Toyota Matrix... winter tires on that, and yeah.... there is no such thing as no traction when you give it gas, unless you are just flooring it, and then it will still get moving quicker than I can on the G. I'd usually take the snow covered lanes on that which everyone else is avoiding. That's when the POS Matrix seems like the best car in the world. Driving my G today... well... I was just happy to be moving behind everyone else and in no hurry. Saw a G coupe stuck as I was driving.

Anyways, my biggest issue is when I start moving from a stand still... it's a combination of crawling and wheel spin. I already got winter tires on. The only thing I'd like to know from others is... when you hear the VDC kick in, do you guys take your foot off the gas pedal or not? I'm obviously not flooring it, in engages sometimes even if I'm very light on the gas.

Anyone actually uses sand bags? I'd consider it if it makes a difference.

Once I’m moving, I can’t complain how it feels on the road. I do like having the 6spd because I barely touched the brakes as I drove.

And the other thing I encountered was my wiper blade arms making this annoying sound when they return back to the starting position. If I turn them on fast speed then there is no sound, otherwise it's like a clunk sound just before they are to stop. I think there was snow which got compressed and basically caused them to jump up and down over it. And believe me I cleaned the car before going! It was snow which I didn't get rid off until I got to work and opened up the hood and it had gotten compressed between the cowl and the blade arm (at least I hope that’s what it was).

 

From a stand still, if your VDC kicks in turn it off. Your car will keep on trying to "correct" the slippage by cutting power, however, that means it will actually make your task difficult to get out of a rut. So yeah, turn it off in those cases. VDC rarely kicks in for me thanks to an X + Winter tires .

Happy/safe winter driving!

 

But doesn't it kick in even if it's off?

 

^Yes it does which is annoying when you want to have some fun in a parking lot, alot of times it gets frozen on the dash and only goes away after turning the car off

As for the OP try to gradually press the gas I wouldnt turn VDC in normal traffic as its easy to foget its off and you'll pay for it you decide to push the gas a lil bit or make a quick turn

I don't think our cars are that bad where you need to put sand bags in the trunk, just keep the gas tank full

 

Have you tried starting from 2nd gear when you start moving from a stand still? That will lower the torque, naturally reducing wheel spin, and lessen the occurence of the VDC kicking in.

 

^ works like a charm

 

Definitely the best route if you didn't want to go with a full snow tire!

 

I thought about it but haven't tried it, I'll have to give that a try next time.

 

ya gotta go with snows....

 

Sand will definitely help with traction.
The downside is that it changes the balance of the car, making it much more tail happy.

 

I see.

Not going to go for the sand just yet. It wasn't terrible today (I wasn't holding up anyone most times lol), just my first time so I took it very easy, got a little bit of wheel spin when I'd start moving from a stand still, but after that it felt fine. I actually want to drive again through snow just to get a better feel for it.

Also, it’s the first car I’ve driven with traction control (other than a van which I rented once). Don’t know what to think of it. My initial reaction is when I’d hear it, I’d want to avoid doing whatever was causing it (so letting off a little on the gas).

 

I too am experiencing my first winter weather with my new G. This is the first car I have had that is: RWD, manual, and over 150hp (escalade non-withstanding). The combination is tricky on snow. To make matters worse, I bought my car from a dealer in Vegas so it has summer tires on it.

I live on a small hill, and I approached that SOB from like 5 different ways with no success. I would get like 2/3 the way up the hill and then just slide back down. I ended up having to park 6 blocks from my house and walk (which is no picknik with -10 degree wind chill).

Is there anything that I can do to make this easier on myself without changing around my wheel/tire setup? And if the answer to that is no, does anyone around the Kansas City area have some old 17s with tires that they are trying to unload?

 

It's funny I had the same experience today. I was scheduled to get my snow tires today (18" Blizaks on Avante Racing rims), but obviously still needed to get there on my performance all seasons (19" Pilot Sport Plus A/S). Boy was that ever an experience. It was hard to take off from stop and VDC kept kicking in. I had to try to get out of a parking lot I was stuck in, in reverse.. LOL.

Anycase, I did get my snows and was it ever Day and Night! Highly recommended!

Of course i don't plan on driving the G in snow all the time, but it's good to just be prepared when the wife and kids are having fun in the AWD Lexus!

 

2nd gear starts in an MT

 

chains may help but I wouldnt want to drive with that everyday. Best/safest bet is snow tires!