I Need Your Oppoinion 

"FromCanadaWithLove" (fromcanadawithlove) 10/27/2016 at 22:57 • Filed to: Road Trip

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Is this a stupid idea?

I’m thinking of driving from Halifax to Vancouver in January 2017 in an M235i (rwd). I’d get new winter tires before the drive and I wouldn’t be in a huge hurry. I’d probably spend a few days in Ottawa on the way, since my parents live there. I grew up in Ottawa, so I’m comfortable driving in snowy conditions. I’ve also got lots of experience on long distance drives, but nothing this long. My girlfriend might join me for a leg of it (Calgary to Vancouver), but I’d do most of it alone.

What do you think?

bob and john > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 22:58

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I’m thinking you make a stop in t-bay and we go do snow-nuts :)

FromCanadaWithLove > bob and john 10/27/2016 at 23:01

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T-bay would be a stop! I’d be up for that.

I’m thinking Halifax - Ottawa - Thunder Bay - Regina - Calgary - Vancouver

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:05

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Oh, sure, I get it....don’t come an hour outside of Halifax to where I am in Mahone Bay. FINE, WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU? *Cries*

shop-teacher > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:06

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Sounds good to me.

Snow tires = no problem

bob and john > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:07

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let me know. I’ll prepare my famous chikcen so you can have some home cooked food and not fastfood swill.

FromCanadaWithLove > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/27/2016 at 23:11

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I’m in Mahone Bay all the time! I was in Kingsburg last week, and my parents have a place in Blandford. If you ever want a coffee, let me know!

FromCanadaWithLove > bob and john 10/27/2016 at 23:11

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Sounds great. I’ll keep that in mind, thanks!

Bandit - destroyed his car > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:14

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Cross into the US. We have cheaper gas and no Saskatchewan 

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:15

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Why Regina? Blerk. Take 16 through Stoon and Edmonton, and take the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and Banff. Also visit me on the way through ‘Toba. Just check first to make sure I’m actually around, as there’s a not unreasonable chance I’ll be leaving the country.

FromCanadaWithLove > Bandit - destroyed his car 10/27/2016 at 23:16

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I’m considering it. I’d have to do the math closer to the date to see if our worthless Canuck dollars would still be cheaper with gas and hotels. The distance is pretty much the same. Last time I was in Saskatchewan there was a tornado, which was pretty cool to see. Manitoba, on the other hand.....

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Bandit - destroyed his car 10/27/2016 at 23:17

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Saskatchewan is pretty much the best part of the drive though... Beats the snot out of driving through the shield for sure. At least the scenery’s interesting in SK.

Svend > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:18

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I’d love to do it one day myself.

I say go for it.

FromCanadaWithLove > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 10/27/2016 at 23:19

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Regina would be 2 hours closer to Thunder Bay, according to Google. That’s my only reasoning. Nothing set in stone, though. It would be cool to meet Canadian Oppos on the way.

Bandit - destroyed his car > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 10/27/2016 at 23:24

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You mean flat with some grass and the occasional oil well lol?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:35

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The mountains in Alberta and BC are going to be interesting if it’s snowing, and guess what? It’s already started snowing. I’d be more confident in an AWD car with a bit more clearance. I’ve seen it dump 6" in one hour in the mountains.

gmctavish needs more space > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:37

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Do it! A roadtrip from Vancouver to Montreal was the best thing I’ve ever done. That said, it wasn’t winter. Watch out for black ice, wind, and the Rockies are nasty in the winter. Most people who regularly drive the mountains in BC in the winter use studded snow tires, but as long as you’re slow and careful you’ll be fine. People have been running all our roads in the winter in RWD cars for decades.

TL;DR, do it!

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Bandit - destroyed his car 10/27/2016 at 23:44

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Only if you take the wrong highway... Highway 1 is litterally the worst scenery since ever, but get off of it, take some of the smaller highways across the province, or even highway 16, and it’s so much better of a drive. Saskatchewan is an awesome place. Rolling hills, lots of sky, river valleys, sure the scenery may not change quickly, but at least it’s not that horrible stretch through the shield (basically Ottawa almost all the way to Winnipeg) where every section of road is indistinguishable from every other stretch of road.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:51

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Honestly if you don’t come visit me, or deviate north from highway 1, you’ll think Manitoba is just a boring flat nothing of a province. Just as a word of warning, though, I don’t know if I’ll have talked to too many people for a while by the time January rolls around so I might come off as a little weird.

Goggles Pizzano > FromCanadaWithLove 10/27/2016 at 23:52

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I want to do this very badly. I wouldn’t do it in January though. Crossing the mountains in snow, even with 4WD, can be hell on earth.

CompactLuxuryFan > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 01:01

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Sounds awesome! No idea about anything Canada-related but an M235i (wouldn’t ‘17 be a 240?) is an awesome road trip vehicle and modern BMWs (really a lot of cars now) have such good traction control compared to even just a few years ago. I say do it!

thebigbossyboss > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 01:17

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I drove from Ottawa to Prince George through ice fields in late November. There was blizzards and stuff. So leave some slack in your plan for those. Just be cognizant also of the fact that Ontario is almost 1900 Kms along with a 90 km/h speed limit for more than 1700 of those Kms. It’s a full day from the Quebec border to sault ste Marie. The soo is probably then another 14 hours from the on-mb border. It is very very far. And skip Winnipeg that’s where car thieves have been known to hng out.

thebigbossyboss > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 01:18

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Regina is a long long ways from Thunder Bay.

thebigbossyboss > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 01:23

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Those are pretty long ass days.

Regina is a damn sight from Thunder Bay. I know that tb is about 512 Kms from the my border and mb is something like 500 Kms across. Plus whatever then of saskatchewan you have to go through. I might stop near the mb-sk border. That’s what I did and Calgary was just over 1000 and

Then you won’t kill yourself on the prior day.

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 05:38

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Sounds fun, I’d try and protect the front paint though. Like that new Armor All spray-on stuff that peels off after. All my multi-day roadtrips through winter weather tend to hurt the paint a bit.

IdleInCA > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 06:28

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I would encourage you to do the trip. Last winter, my Mini and I drove from Calgary to Fredericton and back. Out in December, back in January.

I’d recommend Hfx > Ottawa > Sault St Marie > Kenora > Calgary > Vancouver

Ontario is massive. Driving through Northern Ontario in the dark w snow etc you’ll understand why the speed limit is 90.

Most of the other vehicles by far are big trucks. The OPP will grab you if you speed too much. Saw lots of them whereas in other provinces the RCMP were not as visible.

I’ve also driven through the mountains between Calgary and Vancouver in January through blizzards. Treat the roads and mountains w respect and you’ll be fine.

Northern Ontario and the Rockies are the most beautiful legs. Ontario is bigger than you think. Fill up when you’re half empty. Wax your windshield and lights so snow and ice don’t stick.

This December I’m driving to the Yukon, and next year I’ll tackle the Arctic Circle.

IdleInCA > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 07:01

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Also, choose your winter tyres carefully. Run flat winters are performance winters, which, in my experience, are bloody awful in bad winter conditions. I’m so much happier w Nokians (Hakkapeliitta 8s)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 07:57

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Apart from Manitoba and the eastern end of Saskatchewan it’s a great idea.

But since there’s no real alternative (ND is just as bad) I say DO IT

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 09:15

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Have driven across Canada in winter in a RWD vehicle. Not as daring as you might think. In fact, it’s REALLY boring. That Saskatewan-Manitoba segment is the most mind-numbingly-dull drive you will ever experience. 2/10 would not drive again unless I had a damn good reason. Also I did it solo.

FromCanadaWithLove > IdleInCA 10/28/2016 at 10:03

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Great points, thanks.

Stephenson Valve Gear > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 20:50

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Sounds like fun. DO IT!

I’m down here in the states, so my road trips are 1) in a warmer climate, and 2) a bit shorter. It appears that it is a 6152 km trip one way, or 3821 miles for those of us to the south of you. I assume you would need to drive back, so 7642 miles round trip. Our big road 2016 trip was about 6300 miles in 9 days, 2372 of which were the coast-to-coast run (43:22 with one driver, in case anyone is curious). Anyway, it was enjoyable, just like the rest of our road trips.

Let us know how it goes...

The Compromiser > FromCanadaWithLove 10/28/2016 at 22:01

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Yes. do it.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > FromCanadaWithLove 10/29/2016 at 02:23

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assuming you pack winter survival gear why not? I’d load up on Music and podcasts to pass the time.