Off-Road Vette

[indyfrisco]

I'm just glad you turned your lens to unsuspecting cars instead of creeping out 20-somethings.

[Ana Ng]

Whoa? I've never even one of those GT-Rs?

Weird that since this impending move to NH next month, I tend to focus mostly on SUVs now.

[mvscal]

I can't even pretend that I think I look young enough to make them feel comfortable any more.

Fuck 'em. Who cares if they're comfortable or not? If they're so "uncomfortable" then maybe they shouldn't be walking around with their tits and asses hanging out all over the place. It's all an act anyway.

[BSmack]

Whoa? I've never even one of those GT-Rs?

Weird that since this impending move to NH next month, I tend to focus mostly on SUVs now.

You would be better off learning how to drive in snow and ice. Four wheel drive really only helps when you get extreme snow. I live in a place that gets 2 times the show you'll get in NH and by no means is an SUV a necessity.

[Dinsdale]

I'm not sure I've seen a Vette (probably), but any of the midsize Chev bodies on 4X4 frames are fairly commonplace around these parts. Came across a guy who built them professionally. The El Caminos are the most popular, but I see Camaros and Chevelles and whatnot.

Dude finds a wrecked truck, chops out the part of the frame with the serial #, welds it into his prefab frame thingy (emission standards are pretty freaking different from 1974 to 2011, if you weld in the frame #, it becomes the model year of whatever truck you stole the chunk of frame from), then finds whatever Chev with a bad subframe/unibody, and mounts the body on the frame.

[Dinsdale]

You would be better off learning how to drive in snow and ice. Four wheel drive really only helps when you get extreme snow. I live in a place that gets 2 times the show you'll get in NH and by no means is an SUV a necessity.

:massiverolleyes:

I live close to the snowiest place on earth, and what you just posted is beyond inane.

Not only does it average more snow than anywhere else, there's often a 3000' elevation change while you're driving through it (unless you're hitting a ski resort, than you can drive 5000' feet through it).

And I'd be willing to bet everyone who frequently does the trip would fall over laughing at your post.

"4WD only helps in 'extreme snow.' "


Yeah, tripling your traction doesn't help at all... dumbass.


I'd be willing to bet not everyone in your area is as big a dumbass as you, since ChuckieD would have made the area uninhabited.

[smackaholic]

you wanna link me up with the part where Bilk says 4WD wouldn't be really fukking handy driving at hi elevations in the cascades?

oh, never mind. he didn't say that. he said that for normal winter driving in CNY you can get by just fine without it, so long as you aren't needing to go out in the middle of a fukking blizzard.

he is right.

4WD is the cat's ass, when you really, really need it, like when you just have to get to the ski lodge somewhere on the side of mt hood, right. fukking. now. but, if you live in most places, it is an unnecessary expense in a number of ways.

[Dinsdale]

oh, never mind. he didn't say that. he said that for normal winter driving in CNY you can get by just fine without it

You have just kicked your own ass.

His reference to CNY was after his statement that "Four wheel drive really only helps when you get extreme snow."

He also based it on the fact that "where I live gets twice as much snow blah blah blah," and I merely pointed out that near where I live (since you'd have to be a fucking retard to live where it snows that much), we get over twice as much snow as CNY... so who has the "expertise" on it? Remember, he based his "expertise" on total snowfall... whose got the edge there?


But you're going to call me out for this with...


"he said that for normal winter driving in CNY you can get by just fine without it, so long as you aren't needing to go out in the middle of a fukking blizzard.

he is right.

4WD is the cat's ass, when you really, really need it, like when you just have to get to the ski lodge somewhere on the side of mt hood, right. fukking. now."


Wait... you claim my Cascade comparison is invalid, because you claim he made statements about CNY (he didn't)... to someone moving to NH.


Don't look for the Logic Fucking Fairy to leave any quarters under your pillow tonight, since you just pissed her right the fuck off.


YHKYOA

[smackaholic]

She is moving to coastal NH, which, as B says, gets less snow than CNY. You jumped in about how the cascades get eleventy billion inches of snow a year and 4WD is real fukking handy.

So fukking what.

He is still correct in saying that as long as you are cool with staying put during "extreme snow" aka, a fukking blizzard, you'll be aight with a decent set of all season tires on your fwd car. you can even get by with rwd, if you have the right tires and shutyomouth jammed into the trunk.

this past winter was the winter of extreme snow (for our area). there was 1 fukking day where i picked up the phone, called work and said, see you tomorrow.

1 fukking day.

if i has a 4X4, i could have made it that day and not burned a sick day.

big whoop.

not worth the added expense in gas, insurance, maintenance that come with having 4WD.

[BSmack]

You would be better off learning how to drive in snow and ice. Four wheel drive really only helps when you get extreme snow. I live in a place that gets 2 times the show you'll get in NH and by no means is an SUV a necessity.

:massiverolleyes:

I live close to the snowiest place on earth, and what you just posted is beyond inane. Not only does it average more snow than anywhere else, there's often a 3000' elevation change while you're driving through it (unless you're hitting a ski resort, than you can drive 5000' feet through it). And I'd be willing to bet everyone who frequently does the trip would fall over laughing at your post.

"4WD only helps in 'extreme snow.' "

Yeah, tripling your traction doesn't help at all... dumbass.

I'd be willing to bet not everyone in your area is as big a dumbass as you, since ChuckieD would have made the area uninhabited.

Dins, major metro areas back east have these things called "plows." They do a real good job of moving snow. And when things are so bad that plows can't keep up, (which might happen once a year where she is) she's still not doing to be looking at anything more than a foot of snow on the road during the WORST possible Nor'easter. Trust me, people wreck just as often around here with SUVs as they do with standard front wheel drive vehicles. She would be just as safe with a standard front wheel drive car as an SUV. The main thing she should be looking at is anti-lock braking. That should be mandatory for her next car. If she's really bent of getting more traction than she needs, she should get an all wheel drive car, not an SUV. A 4WD SUV is total overkill and is only useful for hauling things.

[BSmack]

you wanna link me up with the part where Bilk says 4WD wouldn't be really fukking handy driving at hi elevations in the cascades?

oh, never mind. he didn't say that. he said that for normal winter driving in CNY you can get by just fine without it, so long as you aren't needing to go out in the middle of a fukking blizzard.

he is right.

4WD is the cat's ass, when you really, really need it, like when you just have to get to the ski lodge somewhere on the side of mt hood, right. fukking. now. but, if you live in most places, it is an unnecessary expense in a number of ways.

I used to spend a lot of time in Syracuse and Oswego. Those towns make Rochester look like New York City for snowfall. And there were plenty of times I drove RWD cars through 6" or deep snow without so much as stuffing shutyomouth in the trunk. If you drive at the proper speed and understand how to countersteer in a skid, you can drive through any snow that isn't higher than your car's axle.

[OCmike]

Rack Bsmack.

Slow down, brake on straightaways not turns and don't drive if the snow is falling faster than they can plow it. Pretty simple.

[smackaholic]

you wanna link me up with the part where Bilk says 4WD wouldn't be really fukking handy driving at hi elevations in the cascades?

oh, never mind. he didn't say that. he said that for normal winter driving in CNY you can get by just fine without it, so long as you aren't needing to go out in the middle of a fukking blizzard.

he is right.

4WD is the cat's ass, when you really, really need it, like when you just have to get to the ski lodge somewhere on the side of mt hood, right. fukking. now. but, if you live in most places, it is an unnecessary expense in a number of ways.

I used to spend a lot of time in Syracuse and Oswego. Those towns make Rochester look like New York City for snowfall. And there were plenty of times I drove RWD cars through 6" or deep snow without so much as stuffing shutyomouth in the trunk. If you drive at the proper speed and understand how to countersteer in a skid, you can drive through any snow that isn't higher than your car's axle.

and there is the added entertainment value of throttle induced oversteer. yeehaw. as for getting through 6 inches without the shutyomouth traction option, i'd say, yeah maybe....until you throw in a few nice hills. then you'll wish you had a few more pounds over the driven wheels.

[BSmack]

and there is the added entertainment value of throttle induced oversteer. yeehaw. as for getting through 6 inches without the shutyomouth traction option, i'd say, yeah maybe....until you throw in a few nice hills. then you'll wish you had a few more pounds over the driven wheels.

I've been driving the last 4 years with a RWD vehicle. Never have I felt the need to drop weight in the back. Then again, I usually don't go seeking out steep grades in blizzards.

[Dinsdale]

My buddy has a '02 (?) Toyota Highlander. Has the Electronic Traction System. Which even has a "snow" setting.

I resisted that technology for years and years. But frankly, it's the end-all, be-all.Isuppose if you got going fast enough (in which case Darwin is aready gunning for you), and jerked the wheel, it might spin out. Otherwise -- pretty much impossible. Pretty freaking cool.

And I'm with Todd -- 4WD is occasionally very important for getting the boat up and down the ramp. For driftboating and small-stream stuff, we're sometimes all-but dropping the trailer over the edge of a moderately steep bank, and sometimes 4 Low comes in really handy.

[Ana Ng]

I used to use my Jeep's 4-wheel "high" in very heavy rain. Of course, I was going less than 50 MPH. I used the 4-wheel "low" a couple times in WA state when it actually snowed and our street was covered in sheets of ice.


I did happen to get stuck in an unexpected snow storm driving through West Virginia in the middle of the night a couple years ago in my Dodge Neon SRT-4. My chains were in the trunk, and I almost got blasted off the highway by a few semi trucks. I was traveling at a mere 7 miles an hour, and at one point, couldn't see 3 ft. in front of me. I had a 9 year old in the back seat SCREAMING and a Pomeranian as my co-pilot. I wouldn't pull over, because A.) I wasn't the only vehicle sliding all over the road and B.) I was pretty sure we were traveling over an steep drop at the time. Luckily, about 10 minutes into it we came to an exit with a Motel 8, and I was able to just check in and go into cardiac arrest there.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Dins, major metro areas back east have these things called "plows." They do a real good job of moving snow. And when things are so bad that plows can't keep up, (which might happen once a year where she is) she's still not doing to be looking at anything more than a foot of snow on the road during the WORST possible Nor'easter. Trust me, people wreck just as often around here with SUVs as they do with standard front wheel drive vehicles. She would be just as safe with a standard front wheel drive car as an SUV. The main thing she should be looking at is anti-lock braking. That should be mandatory for her next car. If she's really bent of getting more traction than she needs, she should get an all wheel drive car, not an SUV. A 4WD SUV is total overkill and is only useful for hauling things.

I've dealt with more snowfall in a week than Dinsdale has in his entire life, and I approve this message.

[Dinsdale]

I've dealt with more snowfall in a week than Dinsdale has in his entire life, and I approve this message.

I'm not sure which part of "snowiest place on earth" you're struggling with.

I can see it from my freaking house. But sinceI'm not an idiot (OK, debatable), I choose not to live there. Every now and then, I have the misfortune of having to traverse it, and occasionally seek recreation in it (not a skier).

When you have to dig through doule digit snow to get out the front door, get back to me. Until then, don't assume there isn't fleets of plows. And don't assume we don't have 10'+ weeks of snow... because then you sound silly.

I spent 4 days working at Santiam Pass in nonstop snow, some of which was blizzard. Had feet in those 4 days, and my coworker and I... check this out... we had to drive through it. And here's where it gets crazy -- we used 4WD. Couldn't imagine doing it without.

Anyone who thinks it isn't a night/day difference is a fool.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

I have a 4WD SUV and I find it particularly handy trecking to/from work during snow storms. About half of my 20 mile commute is highway... the other half is back roads, which get plowed last. Granted, I usually WFH whenever there's a major storm, but sometimes I have to be in the office. It is... necessary? No. But I am definitely better off in it.

[Screw_Michigan]

I'm just glad you turned your lens to unsuspecting cars instead of creeping out 20-somethings.

I'm with MV and SFAF: Who give a fuck?

[BSmack]

I've dealt with more snowfall in a week than Dinsdale has in his entire life, and I approve this message.

I'm not sure which part of "snowiest place on earth" you're struggling with.

I can see it from my freaking house. But sinceI'm not an idiot (OK, debatable), I choose not to live there. Every now and then, I have the misfortune of having to traverse it, and occasionally seek recreation in it (not a skier).

When you have to dig through doule digit snow to get out the front door, get back to me. Until then, don't assume there isn't fleets of plows. And don't assume we don't have 10'+ weeks of snow... because then you sound silly.

I spent 4 days working at Santiam Pass in nonstop snow, some of which was blizzard. Had feet in those 4 days, and my coworker and I... check this out... we had to drive through it. And here's where it gets crazy -- we used 4WD. Couldn't imagine doing it without.

Anyone who thinks it isn't a night/day difference is a fool.

Dins,

If Anna moves to the Cascades, you have a point. She's moving to a city that averages less than 50" of snow in a YEAR. 4WD simply isn't necessary where she will be. Now if she were moving up into the sparsely populated areas of northern NH or Maine? Even then a Subaru would likely be more than adequate. It seems to work just fine for my brother in Vermont.

[smackaholic]

Even then a Subaru would likely be more than adequate. It seems to work just fine for my brother in Vermont.

your bro's a lesbian?

pre or post op?

[BSmack]

Even then a Subaru would likely be more than adequate. It seems to work just fine for my brother in Vermont.

your bro's a lesbian?

pre or post op?

Of course he's a lesbian. He also grows his own granola using nothing but organic alpaca dung as fertilizer.

[Ana Ng]

And if the ground clearance wasn't there, you could always lift it up and over the snow bank.

Sure, WE could.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I can see it from my freaking house. But sinceI'm not an idiot (OK, debatable), I choose not to live there. Every now and then, I have the misfortune of having to traverse it, and occasionally seek recreation in it (not a skier).

I wasn't aware you needed 4WD to look at snow from a distance. In any event, that's why I said "dealt with," jackass. I can see a lot of snow by flipping on the nature channel, but actually dealing with lake effect snow in West Michigan on a daily basis results in a better education.

When you have to dig through doule digit snow to get out the front door, get back to me.

Where I grew up we called that "winter."

nonstop snow

Where I grew up we called that "winter."

blizzard

You guessed it, "winter."

[Dinsdale]

Where I grew up we called that "winter."

When you get over 50 feet, let me know.


So, in conclusion, the people who have driven different vehicles in different amounts of snow seem to universally agree that 4WD/AWD is a HUGE freaking improveent, if not a necessity.


Which I guess means the rest are... talking out their ass.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

How many times have you dealt with 50 feet of snow? I am 100% confident that answer is zero. If there's 50' of snow on the ground, it really doesn't matter what's parked in your driveway, doofus.

So, in conclusion, the people who have driven different vehicles in different amounts of snow seem to universally agree that 4WD/AWD is a HUGE freaking improveent, if not a necessity.

Improvement? Yes. Necessity? That depends where you live. If it wasn't a necessity where I grew up, it sure won't be where Ana's moving to. And any bullshit non sequiturs about 50' of snow, the Cascades, and that one time you drove in a blizzard doesn't change anything.

[BSmack]

So, in conclusion, the people who have driven different vehicles in different amounts of snow seem to universally agree that 4WD/AWD is a HUGE freaking improveent, if not a necessity.

It is a SLIGHT improvement under anything but the most adverse conditions. PERIOD. Certainly not worth the extra money unless you are consistently driving in remote areas that are not plowed often or if you are hauling in adverse conditions on a FREQUENT basis. Also, if you are plowing with a pickup truck, 4x4 is a necessity. Otherwise you are just pissing money away. But hey, don't listen to people who deal with copious amounts of lake effect snow. You're Dinsdale, you know everything.

You're welcome for the sig.

[Trampis]

So, in conclusion, the people who have driven different vehicles in different amounts of snow seem to universally agree that 4WD/AWD is a HUGE freaking improveent, if not a necessity.

It is a SLIGHT improvement under anything but the most adverse conditions. PERIOD. Certainly not worth the extra money unless you are consistently driving in remote areas that are not plowed often or if you are hauling in adverse conditions on a FREQUENT basis. Also, if you are plowing with a pickup truck, 4x4 is a necessity. Otherwise you are just pissing money away. But hey, don't listen to people who deal with copious amounts of lake effect snow. You're Dinsdale, you know everything.

You're welcome for the sig.

A slight improvement?

Bro, 4wd is way better, waaaaayyyyyy better.

Personally, I think its worth the extra dough to own a 4wd for the 5-10 days per year where it comes in handy.

[smackaholic]

So, in conclusion, the people who have driven different vehicles in different amounts of snow seem to universally agree that 4WD/AWD is a HUGE freaking improveent, if not a necessity.

It is a SLIGHT improvement under anything but the most adverse conditions. PERIOD. Certainly not worth the extra money unless you are consistently driving in remote areas that are not plowed often or if you are hauling in adverse conditions on a FREQUENT basis. Also, if you are plowing with a pickup truck, 4x4 is a necessity. Otherwise you are just pissing money away. But hey, don't listen to people who deal with copious amounts of lake effect snow. You're Dinsdale, you know everything.

You're welcome for the sig.

A slight improvement?

Bro, 4wd is way better, waaaaayyyyyy better.

Personally, I think its worth the extra dough to own a 4wd for the 5-10 days per year where it comes in handy.

then, go get you one. you too, dins. those of us that rather waste money on whatever will do so.

ain't america great?

[Screw_Michigan]

Mgo - I can only imagine you were either in the city or a flat suburb where you had excellent city plow services to survive chicago winters without it

He didn't grow up in Chicago winters, but yes, Plainfield Twp (MI) has pretty good plow services courtesy of Kent County. Plus people know how to drive in snow there and aren't weather pussies, so that helps.

[Diego in Seattle]

I gotta agree with Trampis, the the 5 - 10 days a year I engage it (like the Blizzard Feb 1) it's worth the 7K more I paid and the 4 mpg I lose driving it

Along with all the extra money one usually pays for having it serviced (I'm sure you do your own, but most don't)?

[Dr_Phibes]

Definitely a rural thing, in the city that's about $700 per day. Cities get plowed but there's nowhere to put the snow.
Parking is an adventure, aim for a snowbank, hit the gas and hope you're out of the driving lane when you come to a halt.
If you can't get out of it in the morning with a shovel and 2WD you're a nob.

[socal]

BBC Top Gear review of Nissan GT-R
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXFSVoVqhYw

[Goober McTuber]

Granted, I usually WFH whenever there's a major storm

How can you wipe off the stationary bike seats from home?

[indyfrisco]

I've got a bunch of friends in Minneapolis and ALL of them have 4x4 - same for their wives. Maybe it's more rural thing.

Same here. It is rural as well as lots of hills. When I moved here, I had a RWD Ford F150, stick shift. After the first winter I had here (28" in 30 hours at one point), I traded that motherfucker in for a 4WD truck. Have not had any problems since. Traded my wife's Grand Prix GTP in for a 4WD SUV because we could not get up our driveway with it in the snow. Just bought a new 4WD SUV and keep my truck in the detached garage as a backup vehicle which we have needed a couple times. I would not have it any other way.

[Dinsdale]

So, in conclusion, the people who have driven different vehicles in different amounts of snow seem to universally agree that 4WD/AWD is a HUGE freaking improveent, if not a necessity.


Which I guess means the rest are... talking out their ass.

[BSmack]

I've got a bunch of friends in Minneapolis and ALL of them have 4x4 - same for their wives. Maybe it's more rural thing.
I gotta agree with Trampis, the the 5 - 10 days a year I engage it (like the Blizzard Feb 1) it's worth the 7K more I paid and the 4 mpg I lose driving it

You paid 7k more foe a feature that you only use, at most, 10 times a year? Seems to me it would be cheaper to learn how to drive. But hey, its your money.