Traction in deep snow

I call it a huge station wagon with very sumptuous interior trim. Many a cow mowed its last moo to cover THOSE seats

You might laugh at me, but quite frankly that huge skylight made me nervous. I just don't like sunroofs

To be sure, although I haven't had to sit in the third row. My co-worker claims that he can cram his son, and four of his friends, into the car. His R has the second row bucket seat option

I can only imagine. But the old saying "if you have to ask ..." applies here

It's a very solid, heavy car. I briefly looked up the specs, the curb weight is MORE than my FJ Cruiser!

 

Question: What's a pirate's favorite vehicle on dry land?

Answer: The Mercedes Arrrrrrr-Class.

:madgrin:

My Phaeton had air suspension -- it was wonderful!

Heck, even my '88 Subaru GL-10 FTAWD Turbo had an "Electro-Pneumatic Suspension with Height Control". That was a fantastic setup as well. Except...if you'd been driving for a while in the snow with it set on "high" and you went to lower it, the tires would rub on the snow which had built up in the wheelwells.

 

Even cars without height control have that trouble around here. Sometimes the wheel wells will load up so badly that it interferes with steering.

Tom

 

Especially after a heavy wet snow, you're driving along and then it gets colder. It's handy to carry something like a short broom handle or a short 2x4 to clear out the wheel wells

 

Sorry to interrupt but I noticed that there hasn't been a single upload of a video of a 2010 Toyota Prius in the snow or how it does in the snow and on snowy/icy inclines. I sort of assumed "all of these people having these high tech cars and yet there is no youtube video showing a 2010 Prius in the snow. Are all of the Prius owners as old as my parents or is youtube keeping certain videos from me?" >:] Is someone going to prove me wrong?

I mean reading the positives and negatives here in this thread do help but it would help a lot if we can see it in action too.

With this big blizzard that swept through the US (and some parts of Canada I think), I would hope someone has some footage to give future Prius buyers some confidence. :cheer2:

 

A video of the 2010 Toyota Prius on an icy surface? Where?

 

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ask rangerdavid how a Pri does in snow. he posted facebook pics with his Pri...under a foot of snow with more to come. the only thing discernible in the pic was his shaded rear hatch glass section

 

But watch out for the brake lines in the forward part of the rear wheel wells (unless they redesigned that in the 2010). I managed NOT to damage them one day when I was vigorously punching at the packed snow with the handle of my snow brush and saw the brake line. Been REALLY careful since then!

 

I do not have a 2010 but from what I've read, the traction control is more forgiving than in the Gen IIs so my positive experience should still be relevant.

Based on the TireRack surveys, it looks like the stock tires on the 2010 are no better than the Integrity Toyota put on the Gen IIs. They suck in snow, get REALLY good All Seasons or real snow tires if you get anything more than an inch of snow.

2 years ago, Valentine's day 25 inches of snow in 12 hours. Tires were Goodyear TripleTreds with probably 35K miles on them. Writeup here http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/29053-prius-sucks-in-winter-6.html#post377916

I responded, I didn't start that thread, the Prius does NOT suck in snow. I have had the VSC chime only once and not a bit of sliding or skidding.

In short, it did much better than bigger, heavier cars with snow tires. If the car stops, put it in reverse to give yourself some 'running room'. I was not permanently stuck until I got into snow so deep the tires were no longer on the road.

I have lived here for 30 years and that is the ONLY time I have seen so much snow that the plows couldn't keep up. If I had half a brain, I would have left work at noon like everyone else instead of working until 5

 

But he has a second generation Toyota Prius. o.o I was wondering how the third generation Toyota Prius did in the snow because I've read that there have been some improvements made to the traction control and something else snow-related.

 

No problem with the slushy snow we had yesterday. Was a bit nervous driving in our area where we don't get much snow. Also still getting used to it in regular driving conditions (have had 3 weeks). Happy we didn't get the 12" expected! Wasn't sure how I could drive in deep snow with the car so low to the ground. Filled up and got my first mpg reading. 37mpg so kind of bummed but it is cold and lots of short trips. Had a Corolla and this did seem a lot heavier and more solid in the slushy mess.

 

Don't be bummed for sure. With the cold climates, Brand New not borken in yet, you'll be smiling when the weather warms. Plus your learning the new Car as well, CONGRATS! Winter Grey same as mine. Love the color...Really hides most dirt well...

I was in a 11 Inch snow last week, and did well. Was harder to see my hand in front of my face than to drive through it!

Anyway, enjoy the new ride...drive safe in the snow and better yet, keep the car in the driveway safe until is passes!

 

Washington DC: In the city/suburbs on unplowed streets, I've done well. Had to actually try to throw the car around a bit to get the traction control beep to kick in. Is there any antilock brake indication? It seems like there's no pulsing feel/sound, like previous cars I've

Stock tires 2010 Prius. I sense that they're not the best for snow/ice. Then again, my previous car was a Subaru.

Only problem I had was the one street that I made a left turn onto and that had a foot of slush at its entrance and an immediate uphill. Maybe could have made it, but after a bit of slipping, my wife got nervous, so we just backed out.

To be more specific: at some point, it felt like traction stopped, but when I pushed harder on the gas -- something I usually don't do by habit -- the tires started spinning a bit and I'm not sure if I could have slipped-n-spun up the hill or not. Someone was coming down the hill and my wife was nervous, so we just backed out.

 

You wouldn't hear & feel a characteristic ABS action of non-prius cars. The ABS is electronic and it is very gentle. But believe me it really works well - see my last weekend video at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/73730-trc-vsc-abs-video-test.html post. The traction control is much better then was in Gen II. Just floor a "gas" pedal and car will do the rest. I replaced the stock tires with winter ones - it is essential. I drove a car for two snowy days with 17" summer ones and all electronic system had to show what they could do. It was safe but no so pleasant and fast as M+S.

 

Assuming you can hear that over your wife screaming.

Tom

 

I've been using 4 Blizzaks on my '04 and am very satisfied with the traction and the handling.