I'm not sure what I want for a next car, but something rwd that gets decent mileage seems good. A good deal on a Miata would be easier to come across than 88-89 MR2 or a 95+ 240SX.
Has anyone driven a Miata(or any small rwd car) in the snow?
- Thread starter Jumpem
- Start date
A Miata will be a bitch to drive. Given that an RX-7 felt floaty and it's got a fair bit of weight on the Miata, I'd wager that you'll have some pretty serious traction issues.
- M4H
- M4H
they're fun, if you're a good driver. A lot of people prefer FWD in the snow, but I think a good driver can fare even better with RWD. Because they're small and light, it's easy to get stuck though and you slide around a lot 
Hmm, so I guess it's a no go then since I have a 35 mile commute and we get lots of snow in the winter.
FWD is more likely to get you there...RWD is more FUN getting there (or not sometimes). Fishtailing is fun!
Deep snow= You're not going anywhere!
(not Miata experience, just many other cars)
Deep snow= You're not going anywhere!
(not Miata experience, just many other cars)
I've never owned anything BUT RWD cars.
Get a air cooled VW! RWD but the engine weight is over the drive wheels.
Get a air cooled VW!
RWD but the engine weight is over the drive wheels.I had a lightweight, RWD 85 Celica that was a pain to drive in the rain. I didn't keep it long enough to play in the snow, but I can't imagine snow + hills in my area would be a good time.
I miss my 85 Celica. That's why I want another lightweight rwd car. And yeah I had terrible traction issues in the snow. I t would get stuck on level ground with just a little snow or ice, even with four new snow tires on it.
Zenmervolt
Elite member
- Oct 22, 2000
- 24,514
- 44
- 91
I drove my 924S in the winter for a good while. It's 2,700 pounds with exactly half of that over the rear wheels. I had 3-season Bridgestone Potenzas on it and it went right through the snow with no problems. I would not recommend a RWD car in the snow unless it had a manual transmission though. That control is important. The 924S was pretty much just as good in the snow as my old Accord had been. I just had to concentrate more.
Bottom line, unless you don't mind having to pay attention every instant, get a FWD car.
ZV
Bottom line, unless you don't mind having to pay attention every instant, get a FWD car.
ZV
35 mile commute==Get FWD. I assume a good portion of that is freeway/highway, and I tend to get nervous at higher speeds in RWD and snow, especially when the road curves.
My commute is usually a mix of 45-55mph back roads, but it's be 75+ if I take the thruway.
A fwd car would likely be a more practical choice, but I just don't find myself enjoying or looking forward to driving them.
40 mile commute (each way) for 3 years through the winter in a Miata here:
Not a problem. If you are a good driver it will not be an issue.
With decent tires it has okay grip. I never cried about it.
Just do the same things you would do in any car in the snow: don't tailgate, don't think you can stop on a dime or take a 90 degree turn at 80 miles per hour.
The biggest hassle for me was taking off from a standstill. If you gave it too much gas the tires would spin and you would have to take it easy until the tires gripped. Once it got moving it was fine. And actually it was a lot of fun driving in the snow.
Not a problem. If you are a good driver it will not be an issue.
With decent tires it has okay grip. I never cried about it.
Just do the same things you would do in any car in the snow: don't tailgate, don't think you can stop on a dime or take a 90 degree turn at 80 miles per hour.
The biggest hassle for me was taking off from a standstill. If you gave it too much gas the tires would spin and you would have to take it easy until the tires gripped. Once it got moving it was fine. And actually it was a lot of fun driving in the snow.
Live in downstate NY. My travel through the snow consisted of three hour treks through traffic. It really wasn't a problem for me. Would I jump at driving in snow with the Miata? No. If I had a choice I wouldn't do it because I was always more afraid of some fool hitting me than me actually losing control and hitting them. (As an aside, this car is awesome in the rain)
As a daily driver you learn to put up with the problems (not much storage space, loud inside, choppy ride) associated with being a sports car. And, of course, you get all the positives: FUN to drive, handles well, was economical to drive (I averaged 27-29 mpg and the Miata is atomic, nothing broke on it and I put 110k miles on it in 3 years), is a convertible. Probably the biggest issue to me was the ride, it doesn't do well at soaking up the bumps. Of course, it's not supposed to either. BUT actually I thought the ride was rather good at first because I was coming from a Jeep Wrangler and the ride on that was really harsh. After awhile the ride on the Miata became annoying but not really intrusive. If I had to name a negative that would be it. I loved the Miata and it was the best thing that I have ever owned. I could never ever say enough about it. I drive an RSX now and I always miss the nature of the Miata. Everything fit me just right, I loved the stick, you could think it and make it happen. I'm planning on getting a Miata with low miles and getting rid of my daily driver (Civic).
Terrible. I tried to back my Porsche 944 out of our driveway - about 50' long, about 2" of snow. Got stuck three times - eventually had to sprinkle kitty litter over entire driveway just to get it out. In my WRX you wouldn't even notice you were on snow.
I had a 2001 Miata in Illinois, and I absolutely loved the car but I only kept it for 3 months because it was just way too frigging small for me. I'm 5'9" and 200 lbs btw.
DivideBYZero
Lifer
- May 18, 2001
- 24,117
- 2
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