Winter performance car withdrawal

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
12/26/2013 at 17:20 • Filed to: None

Yup, I'm working today. This is what it looks like outside. I just realized it's already been a month since the last time I got to drive my 135is. The weather here in Madison has been crap ever since Thanksgiving so I've been rolling around in my Grand Cherokee (I know I know, woe is me, first world problems).

I want to take the 135is out for a drive at some point, but with all the snow we've already gotten, there's all this salt, slush & other assorted muck on the roads which will inevitably coat the 1er and I don't want to subject it to such horrors. I can't even remember the last time the roads were just dry. The Grand Cherokee is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but otherwise it's kinda like driving a couch. I want my fast car!

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DISCUSSION (16)

Ian Duer (320b) > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 17:39

The solution is e36 winter beater.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 17:44

The 135i doesn't take snow well? Or is that to avoid road salt?

Textured Soy Protein > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
12/26/2013 at 17:49

With summer tires, it doesn't handle snow well at all. Even the slightest amount of snow turns into crazy traction control light blinking and ABS kicking in.

On a day like this, there's not really any snow on the main roads, but I feel bad getting the car all dirty.

Textured Soy Protein > Ian Duer (320b)
12/26/2013 at 17:50

Well, I got the Grand Cherokee because I wanted something that'd properly handle the 70+ inches of snow we're likely to get here this winter. I know, E36 with snow tires could do the trick, but the GC has been amazing in the snow so far.

Ian Duer (320b) > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 17:53

Yeah that does sound like a bit much. I'm in a region that rarely gets more than 2-3 at a time, things went south quickly if deeper... The coilovers probably didn't help matters; learned a valueable lesson on what "adjustable" really means at least.

dogisbadob > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 17:58

Why not just get some snow tires? If you can afford two cars, and the gas for a big-ass Jeep, you can afford winter tires.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 18:05

Hmmm, I am kinda shocked

Textured Soy Protein > dogisbadob
12/26/2013 at 18:07

I bought the Jeep instead of snow tires for the BMW.

I can "afford" them because I'm relatively well paid, single, and live in a cheap apartment. But I'm not swimming in a vault of money like Scrooge McDuck.

Textured Soy Protein > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
12/26/2013 at 18:09

It's really the tires more than anything inherently wrong with the car. I've driven rwd cars on snow tires and they've been perfectly fine in the snow, at least until ground clearance becomes an issue. But the summer tires are worthless in the snow.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 18:12

Oh I can't wait till April. But absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Bad Idea Hat > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 18:13

Until the advent of active variable grip tires and corrosion repellent coating, many people are going to feel your pain.

Textured Soy Protein > Ian Duer (320b)
12/26/2013 at 18:20

So far the most we've gotten this winter is 6". The video clip I linked to in the original post is me messing around in an office park with the Jeep after said 6" of snow. It handled it great. Not that I intentionally go out when we get 6+ inches of snow but it's nice to be able to get around if, say, it snows like that overnight and I need to get to work.

Ian Duer (320b) > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 18:34

Looks amusing. Would be nice to have the option of getting around with 6+ on the ground.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 18:51

Ahh, you mean "Fun" tires?

Renescent > Textured Soy Protein
12/26/2013 at 18:57

I DD my AMG.

JEM > Textured Soy Protein
12/27/2013 at 11:33

I have no idea what you're talking about. My XJ Cherokee is both my performance car and winter car.