Acadia Owners in the snowy areas, could you please share your experience driving it in snow? Thanks.
agreed.kjf said:One thing to remember - AWD will help you start; it will not help you stop. I'm constantly amazed by the way I see people drive. I see 4WD/AWD vehicles off the road all the time when it snows.
Kelly
Agreed, but overall body design, weight, brakes play some part too. I will be buying an AWD version, but still interested to hear experiences of both AWD and FWD drivers.Pelle31 said:agreed.kjf said:One thing to remember - AWD will help you start; it will not help you stop. I'm constantly amazed by the way I see people drive. I see 4WD/AWD vehicles off the road all the time when it snows.
Kelly
and the other note: the only thing AWD does for you on ice is make 4 wheels spin instead of 2![]()
I definately agree with you that there are a lot of people that make the roads very dangerous just because they have AWD/4WD. But I disagree with you when you say that AWD/4WD will not help you stop, that all depends on the driver. Living south of lake erie in the snow belt, there have been many times that I have crawled down hills in 1st gear and 4LO, touch the brakes and you'd be going for a ride. Severe ice is a totally different story, tire chains or not driving at all are you only safe options.kjf said:One thing to remember - AWD will help you start; it will not help you stop. I'm constantly amazed by the way I see people drive. I see 4WD/AWD vehicles off the road all the time when it snows.Â
Kelly
Good point about using low gear to creep down a hill. Still, many people think the 4WD/AWD that can get them going too fast for the conditions will somehow help them stop. Doesn't happen.bablake said:I disagree with you when you say that AWD/4WD will not help you stop, that all depends on the driver. Living south of lake erie in the snow belt, there have been many times that I have crawled down hills in 1st gear and 4LO, touch the brakes and you'd be going for a ride. Severe ice is a totally different story, tire chains or not driving at all are you only safe options.
Couldn't agree more with all of you. I also live in the snowbelt south of Lake Erie, and the most important thing about getting around in the snow is caution and good sense. I'm driving a FWD Grand Prix right now, and have passed many a 4WD and AWD in ditches, but I hope to be in an Acadia AWD before next winter, and know it will make my driving chores much easier in the snow. Good luck to all, and keep the rubber side down!bablake said:I definately agree with you that there are a lot of people that make the roads very dangerous just because they have AWD/4WD. But I disagree with you when you say that AWD/4WD will not help you stop, that all depends on the driver. Living south of lake erie in the snow belt, there have been many times that I have crawled down hills in 1st gear and 4LO, touch the brakes and you'd be going for a ride. Severe ice is a totally different story, tire chains or not driving at all are you only safe options.kjf said:One thing to remember - AWD will help you start; it will not help you stop. I'm constantly amazed by the way I see people drive. I see 4WD/AWD vehicles off the road all the time when it snows.
Kelly
My advice is to do only one thing at a time in the snow as much as possible... accelerate, decelerate, or turn. Another thing I suggest is finding an empty AND SAFE snow covered parking lot and test your vehicle. I'm not saying to go out and do donuts, but just slap on the brakes like you're stopping in an emergency, just so you can learn how your vehicle is going to react and feel in different situations.
Regardless, take it easy and be safe out there.
My mom has had her Acadia in some light snow and said that it went well. Not really enough to get any impressions good or bad. They are going to be getting snow, then sleet and ice, then more snow in the next 24 hours, I'll have to get her a call and see how the Acadia did.
LOL!! Keep the rubber side down..never heard that.Jacko said:Good luck to all, and keep the rubber side down!
really? I dont believe that? I think TCS is for slippery conditions like this.njgeneral said:Particularly in lightly packed deep snow, you want this off, but I have found the same positive effect applies in mounds of slush. TCS applies brakes to wheels that are slipping. Try to imagine your wheels stopping mid-turn....you would slide right into the curb, or even worse, a parked car.![]()
I would try this for yourself if given the chance. Make a turn with and without the TCS engaged and see which mode allows your vehicle to recover quicker. In my experience, TCS ON causes spinout by over compensating with engine cutoff and/or brakes.coopermine said:really? I dont believe that? I think TCS is for slippery conditions like this.njgeneral said:Particularly in lightly packed deep snow, you want this off, but I have found the same positive effect applies in mounds of slush. TCS applies brakes to wheels that are slipping. Try to imagine your wheels stopping mid-turn....you would slide right into the curb, or even worse, a parked car.![]()
I disagree.njgeneral said:I would try this for yourself if given the chance. Make a turn with and without the TCS engaged and see which mode allows your vehicle to recover quicker. In my experience, TCS ON causes spinout by over compensating with engine cutoff and/or brakes.coopermine said:really? I dont believe that? I think TCS is for slippery conditions like this.njgeneral said:Particularly in lightly packed deep snow, you want this off, but I have found the same positive effect applies in mounds of slush. TCS applies brakes to wheels that are slipping. Try to imagine your wheels stopping mid-turn....you would slide right into the curb, or even worse, a parked car.![]()
is that because your G35 is RWD so it has more slippage on snowy roads?admin said:Conditions here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains were icy yesterday too. I counted no less than 8 "slip" lights (which indicates my TCS had to intervene) on the way home in my G35, while my wife said the Acadia was very sure footed. No slippage, no problems at all. I'm guessing the extra weight and big tires go a long way to keeping it planted firmly, even with only FWD. So far, I can think of almost nothing negative to say about this thing...
Yup, that and quite a bit of HP for its size...coopermine said:is that because your G35 is RWD so it has more slippage on snowy roads?
I have been driving my 98 Grand Prix GT coupe for the past nine years. I have only become stuck in the snow with it once...and that was because the snow on the road was higher than bottom of the car. My FWD Grand Prix has always performed well in the snow...but that is also due to the fact that I drive slower and make sure that I have plenty of tread on my tires before winter. However, we may be moving to Buffalo in a few years...so I might be in the market for the Acadia instead of the G8 that I was hoping to purchase. My wife is a physician...so she needs to do her rounds at the hospital in the morning...regardless of the weather.Jacko said:Couldn't agree more with all of you. I also live in the snowbelt south of Lake Erie, and the most important thing about getting around in the snow is caution and good sense. I'm driving a FWD Grand Prix right now, and have passed many a 4WD and AWD in ditches, but I hope to be in an Acadia AWD before next winter, and know it will make my driving chores much easier in the snow. Good luck to all, and keep the rubber side down!bablake said:I definately agree with you that there are a lot of people that make the roads very dangerous just because they have AWD/4WD. But I disagree with you when you say that AWD/4WD will not help you stop, that all depends on the driver. Living south of lake erie in the snow belt, there have been many times that I have crawled down hills in 1st gear and 4LO, touch the brakes and you'd be going for a ride. Severe ice is a totally different story, tire chains or not driving at all are you only safe options.kjf said:One thing to remember - AWD will help you start; it will not help you stop. I'm constantly amazed by the way I see people drive. I see 4WD/AWD vehicles off the road all the time when it snows.
Kelly
My advice is to do only one thing at a time in the snow as much as possible... accelerate, decelerate, or turn. Another thing I suggest is finding an empty AND SAFE snow covered parking lot and test your vehicle. I'm not saying to go out and do donuts, but just slap on the brakes like you're stopping in an emergency, just so you can learn how your vehicle is going to react and feel in different situations.
Regardless, take it easy and be safe out there.
My mom has had her Acadia in some light snow and said that it went well. Not really enough to get any impressions good or bad. They are going to be getting snow, then sleet and ice, then more snow in the next 24 hours, I'll have to get her a call and see how the Acadia did.