Spun out in the snow today...

[Keanan]

If anyone has been second guessing taking the BMW CCA Car Control Clinic (or other car control class), you should put away the $150 bucks and sign up for a class ASAP. I took the class this year to get my driving skills sharper and to hopefully get my self some track time soon. I didn't think I would ever need what I learned to save my life or the life of my passengers and car off the track.
I was driving back home from Leavenworth WA today in my '84 325e along with my brother, brother in law, and nephew, when I hit a real nice patch of slippery stuff at about 35-40mph. Spun the car right into the oncoming lane. Luckily there was no traffic coming our way. Steered into the spin and got the car back into our lane and into the shoulder. There was no thinking involved. Just a reflex from my driving school.
My brother in law was yelling like a little girl "OH BOY HERE WE GO." lol
Slapped the chains on the back wheels and made it home in one piece.
Now I am seriously thinking of getting a Subaru for my DD. Everyone around here drives one.

COOL STORY BRO!

But seriously. Take the class. You'll need it some day.

That was a good story. I enjoyed it very much so. Please post pics of your bald tires.

[jlevie]

I'll second deutschman's advice. While his experience was on snow, it can happen because of ice, dirt, water, any anything else that reduces tire grip. In an emergency like that, you will do what you have practiced. There's no time to think about what to. So a Car Control Clinic will; a) allow you to learn and practice skills you might need later, and b) learn what the car is really capable of (probably more than you think).

Regardless of experience, getting on a skid pad as often as you can is a good thing and will keep those skills fresh. Okay, maybe a drifter doesn't need that, but the rest of us can benefit from refresher time on a skid pad.

[DrJosh]

My E30 with non studded snow tires handles, stops, and accelerates better in the snow then my A4 with All seasons did. But obviously when my A4 had winters it trumped the E30.

I'm pretty sure that has more to do with the retarded people driving and their mindset then the drive train layout.

And to solve your problem just left foot brake.

You lack all reading comprehension dont you?

He is saying that the tires make the difference, not the drivetrain.

[10Toes]

I'm pretty sure that has more to do with the retarded people driving and their mindset then the drive train layout.

And to solve your problem just left foot brake.

[nrubenstein]

LOL what does AWD have to do with how will a car will stop.

Very little*. Which is why you see lots of SUVs overturned in ditches when it snows.

* Obviously which wheels are driven does impact the off throttle characteristics of the car.

[10Toes]

Yes and no. On average, the AWD car will still have more go and be easier to drive (aka, mashing the pedal like a retard won't kick that tail out). On the other hand, the AWD car won't stop for shit on most a/s tires and it won't turn either.

LOL what does AWD have to do with how will a car will stop.

[10Toes]

Your location says San Francisco. You have no say in what driving in the snow is like.

I took my driving test IN the snow. I also quite often see people towing snowboarders behind their cars. The only people who chain up here are Californians and the postal service.

I believe he live in Port Townsend now for wooden boat building school.

[nrubenstein]

Forgot who it was, but I thought I read on here that a RWD car with snow tires will do better than an AWD car with all-seasons. Any truth behind that?

Yes and no. On average, the AWD car will still have more go and be easier to drive (aka, mashing the pedal like a retard won't kick that tail out). On the other hand, the AWD car won't stop for shit on most a/s tires and it won't turn either.

[AntiScope]

Forgot who it was, but I thought I read on here that a RWD car with snow tires will do better than an AWD car with all-seasons. Any truth behind that?

[Wschnitz]

At least you dont live in Seattle where they put studded tires on oct first....

[dannyyisntt]

If you spun the car into the incoming lane you weren't in as much control as you think. Congrats on bringing it back tho.

I always laugh when I hear guys from California talk about using chains haha

[canadiankid]

Come to Canada for a week in January. We actually just got our first snow last night. I always look forward to snow especially if I'm driving a FWD 5 speed with an e brake. Good times, bad for wheel bearings.

[AirplaneBuilder]

yea i just drive my toyota tacoma in the winter time and when i go snowboard, before that i had a subaru for the winter... yea you can practice and take courses to drive your rwd e30 in the snow but i just dont see the point, 4WD will still be better in the snow

[AndrewBird]

Your location says San Francisco. You have no say in what driving in the snow is like.

I took my driving test IN the snow. I also quite often see people towing snowboarders behind their cars. The only people who chain up here are Californians and the postal service.

[Wild Ride]

I'm a huge advocate of bmwcca Car Control Clinics and BMWCCA Auto-x here in San Diego. All the local e30 guys post up that no one shows up to meets they organize to sit around in a strip mall parking lot to look at all their cool go fast mods, but make every excuse under the sun about how their car isn't ready for Auto-x or a car control clinic where 100+ BMW's meet monthly and enjoy.........driving their cars. Honestly I would drive a minivanin one of these driving events and still have a blast.

Think your car isn't fast enough to Auto-x? The guy in the 528e auto with an open diff, broken sway bar mounts and bald rear tires will beat your time if he is a better driver. Period. Only thing you should be worried about is personal improvement, Fix the nut behind the wheel (you). If you have never auto-xed your car is capable of going around the track 10 seconds faster than you can drive it. Figure out how to shave those lap times.

We own one of the best drivers cars on the planet and yet most everyone who owns a BMW on these forums will avoid taking one of these courses, all the while trying to drive a lightweight RWD sports car with no traction control to the limits on the street thinking they are driving experts. Here is our newest member Adam in a Bone stock 325is AUTOMATIC at the recent car control clinic on the skidpad in his very first car. The clinic was $40. He was grinning ear to ear ALL Day.