Driving with Confidence!

[Soon2bSubaru]

Gotta say, even with the torrential downpour and 2"-3" of water on the road in places during this morning's commute, I have never had more driving confidence than with my 2012 AWD Subaru Outback!

[scoobydoo2]

Originally Posted by Soon2bSubaru

Gotta say, even with the torrential downpour and 2"-3" of water on the road in places during this morning's commute, I have never had more driving confidence than with my 2012 AWD Subaru Outback!

...I felt the same way yesterday as I was driving around in our first good dump of snow of the winter...20cm...about 8 inches.

[MNOutback]

Don't get too confident. Physics will still win if you get too cocky.
Stay safe.

[jesseP]

I'm still waiting for my chance to drive with confidence. I live in Cleveland and we're looking at high 50's to low 60's for the start of December. We haven't seen more than a trace of snow so far.

[scoobydoo2]

Originally Posted by MNOutback

Don't get too confident. Physics will still win if you get too cocky.
Stay safe.

Yah...physics sucks when it comes to driving in snow. Reduced friction and lateral forces tend to put you off the road no matter how many wheels you have driving for you.

I guess what I mean by confidence is that with normal carful winter driving all wheel drive allows you to get through what some two wheel vehicles won't.

I think I summed it up best here
What's Your Longest AWD Snow Trip

[iainb]

I can't say I was all that confident when I put the Outback into a 4 wheel slide on a damp exit ramp the other day on the way to work.

It probably looked awesome to anyone outside of the car, but in the car I about crapped my pants.

[scoobydoo2]

Originally Posted by iainb

I can't say I was all that confident when I put the Outback into a 4 wheel slide on a damp exit ramp the other day on the way to work.

It probably looked awesome to anyone outside of the car, but in the car I about crapped my pants.

...hmmm sounds like fun...maybe driving a little too fast for the road conditions? Best way to get used to all wheel drive in winter is to go to an open area...mall parking lot... and doing some sideways driving to get used to the car. The other day in the snow we had I turned off the traction control for slower driving...but at higher speeds it automatically kicked in even though I had it off. I guess it is a fail safe just in case someone forgets to turn it back on. In deep deep snow, going slow, it is better to have it off so that you can get better traction from all wheels without the system trying to balance out the power to keep you in a staight line...I mean reall slow...under under 15mph.

[rico567]

Originally Posted by scoobydoo2

Yah...physics sucks when it comes to driving in snow. Reduced friction and lateral forces tend to put you off the road no matter how many wheels you have driving for you.

I guess what I mean by confidence is that with normal carful winter driving all wheel drive allows you to get through what some two wheel vehicles won't.

I think I summed it up best here
What's Your Longest AWD Snow Trip

Everyone who drives should be forced to memorize the quote I emphasized above. When we get our first big snow out here in our rural area, it's no coincidence that the first vehicles in the ditch are 4x4 / AWD.

[jp1203]

Originally Posted by MNOutback

Don't get too confident. Physics will still win if you get too cocky.
Stay safe.

Yup, becoming a little over-confident is definitely a danger. I usually have to continually remind myself to take corners a little bit slower when the road conditions aren't ideal.

We got about an inch of snow today...just enough to make the roads a little slick, but the Outback with the snow tires on it makes it feel like a dry road.

I'm positive I wouldn't make it up the driveway of the house I'm watching without AWD today, though...even with great snows I just don't see FWD making it up here. Too much more snow or ice and I think even my Outback would struggle. It's so steep that they have a 4WD Only sign on it and if I stop halfway up the hill with the FWD fuse in and my Geolandars on in the summer, I can't get going again on the gravel. Awesome view when you get up here, though!