firelizard

iTrader: (1)

...that's normal snow. I quite like snow, to be honest. It's when it gets packed into ice that even on winter tires the GS has a lot of trouble keeping its *** in line, and stopping.

MattyG

Well it's all individual experiences. But 3", 6 " of snow is nothing for a GS. Snow all on its own is not the problem. It's the hard pack, deep ruts, polished shiny inclines and blizzards. I guess you'll have to tell the 2GS forum how it works out for you and what decision you made.

Personally, I've driven a ton of cars and trucks - rwd, four wheel drive and fwd. So my driving experience is different than yours.

PandaGS300

I'm in Queens, last year when it snowed I was running Blizzaks and still got stuck the monring of that heavy snow storm.

Once the roads were pretty cleared up I was able to drive around no problem. Its just when its bad out no amount of snow tire is going to keep you from slipping around.

Drive smart and safe man!!

kamlung

iTrader: (8)

or when the snow plows bank you in for weeks...

AmanO

My .345657676 cents is: Spend the money on the rims and snow tires and see how you like it. The snow tires are only going to last you a couple/few winters, anyway.
200$ for the rims is not bad. You can recoup most of that by reselling them if you end up getting a beater.

That all depends on a couple factors. Is he looking at a 10 year plan? Is he going to buy winter tires for a FWD beater? (Which I do not think is necessary) How much is he planing on spending for the beater? Who is dealing with the tire swapping?

firelizard

iTrader: (1)

Winter tires and steel wheels is like... $500USD. If you can find a good winter beater for less than that, go nuts, but I doubt it'll be as pleasant as driving a GS with heated seats and snow tires.

Kris9884

iTrader: (7)

Bump, I daily my GS300 and am moving to Idaho this summer and their winters can get pretty nuts. I am on the fence whether to sell it and grab a more capable vehicle OR if the winter tire game has really stepped up and just grab a good set and drive it as is? Thoughts?

firelizard

iTrader: (1)

It's not like you're going to die. You could daily it on winter tires if you wanted to. It doesn't handle great though.

microsup

Good set of winter tires will help you a lot. I still have a set which I bought way ago. Nokian Hakkapelita RSI. I may say it is like a tank when they were new. Don’t go nuts, pay attention, and everything will be fine.

Luxurious

Get a different car first, don't get an is or gs first. Start off with something crappy, maybe even in Manual if that's what you want. It's going to suck and you're not going to like it but just keep it for awhile and start looking at clean GS' like the others have said. Having two cars would be ideal, that's what I'm going to go for too.

Take my 2c, I've had 11 cars so far in life.

n1ck

Heed the advice of your elders, son...



EDIT: wow this thread is old

Kris9884

iTrader: (7)

Nice, you jinxed me man. I figured it was a stretch, I drove an SC through the winter on Continental DWS and it sucked so I think I've made my decision.

MedicalDoc

This thread started in 2009. It was the OP's first and last contribution to CL. He got 37 replies, none of which he replied.

He was given excellent advise, with people taking time to post their experience, opinions, suggestions and even, pics. I guess this 16 year old did not like the responses.

I wonder if he bought the GS3. In any case it's a moot point. By now he is a 25-year-old man, married, with a couple of kids and driving a FWD minivan.

Ilemon33

iTrader: (1)

I daily drive my gs300 in the snow, I live in indiana, which isn't too bad. I love driving it in the winter, the grip is fine, even on my stock rim/ all season tires. If Anything its fun having rwd and wouldn't change it. My first car was and I survived, just had to do donuts in every parking lot i saw!

sbagdon

When I got my GS400, it had inner-bald oem 17" (worn/bad front suspension, and bad alignment), and got caught in the snow once... it was a disaster. Ended up buying a beater set of oem 16" and put some Continental Conticontact (great summer tires, crappy winter), and put some gifted Blizzaks on the 17" (at least it's not death-on-wheels, yet take another car when I can, great emergency backup though). With dedicated winter (not all-season!) tires, the car is manageable, just not the most fun car in the driveway.

The Camry and RAV4 (both manuals) with fresh Blizzaks are unstoppable.

And RWD isn't an all-bad non-negotiable situation. The Miata R with 14" XIce is our favorite car.. 50/50 balance, completely controllable for both under/over-steer. On most fresh-snow nights, it's us, and the plows and salt trucks.

The GS with summer tires is a disaster. With studless snow tires, livable. Just couldn't imagine it being my only car in the winter.