Spectre
The Deported
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2007
- Messages
- 36,832
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Car(s)
- 00 4Runner | 02 919 | 87 XJ6 | 86 CB700SC
Spectre: uphill start on a snowy/icy road; heavy RWD vs light FWD (or just RWD vs. FWD) with no electronic aids on either.
I can't even count the number of times I saw a RWD car (mostly BMWs and Infiniti G35s) fishtail (and fail to go forward) on a snowy uphill start while I started just fine in my FWD econobox.
And I can't count the number of times I've had a Jag or even my old 300ZX calmly climbing said type icy hills from a standing start in winter (yes, winter comes to visit Dallas and brings lots of ice, plus I go visit winter in Utah occasionally) while little and not-so-little FWD econoboxes sit and spun their wheels fruitlessly.
Given the same tires, the car with more weight over the drive axles will perform better. But in a contest between, say, a Corolla (1633lbs over the drive axles) and a 996 (1920), I'm pretty sure the Corolla isn't going to win that icy uphill climb. Also, a G35 isn't exactly what I'd call 'heavy' at 3400lbs. Not when the lightest car I currently own started out life at 4133lbs and the other actual car weighed in at 4440. (Hello, British battlecruisers.) And, of course, my truck is about 7000.
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