Belzebutt

We got a snow storm today (just as Dubya was leaving), and on my way to work I saw at least 4 cars in the ditch and you had to drive real slow. I put on my winter tires this morning when I saw the weather outside, I thought the stuff would melt but all the roads were still covered with a layer of snow, even the 416 highway.

This gave me a chance to test out the VSA a bit, I guess it works, at least the little warning light does.
I can't really tell whether it's REALLY doing something, the main issue with snow is locking up your wheels when you're braking and taking a turn, and that still happens or course.

I originally wanted to drive to work on the summer tires, my wife kept insisting I change them. I kept saying "the snow will melt off the roads right away, don't worry so much..."

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Summer tires + snow =

That's just asking for trouble. Don't do anything to get yourself killed.

OTT-TSX

Yup I sure am glad I had my winters installed before this mornings storm. No problems what so ever. The VSA kicked in a couple of times but only when leaving from a stop, guess I need to cool off that heavy right foot !

cruzingsilver

same here. We had a snow storm in quebec city. The VSA + winter tires is great...

Panda_TSX

how are everyone's winter tires? are you guys likign them? any problems with ice? This is my first winter with a car that has decent torque and I can still spin my winters on ice! I don't remember doing that with my old arctic aplins on a integra.

Also i'm starting not to like ABS, i feel the stopping distances are really long on ice, but i'm sure ABS +VSA is keeping me going straight at least.

Dan Martin

ABS is great on 99% of all surface conditions. The 1% where it really sucks is smooth ice. The computer freaks out because it can't prevent lockup when actually you want lockup to slow down.

Bozz

Isn't the occasional yellow light that many of us saw this morning in Ottawa the TCS part of VSA -- it does go on only when there is slippage.

Belzebutt

It's also VERY easy to make the tail slide out in the snow. In my old Accord I NEVER remember doing this. In the TSX, the first corner I took I purposely went a little fast, let off the gas, and boom, I fishtail a bit. It's a lot of fun. Then I was gaining some speed on a gently curving street, and I could also feel the back slide out slightly to the outside. This was all on a very snowy surface. On the 416 I was going 90, sometimes 100, on the left lane with only a couple of fresh tracks on it... the kind of surface that makes you grasp the wheel REAL tight and be VERY sensitive to any kind of slight car movements.

So far no complaints, I hope to be able to take it on a parking lot in this weather or some deserted streets to do some "testing". Winter driving can be fun... as long as you don't go nuts, pay attention, keep distance and know the limits...

Belzebutt

PS. The one really really sad thing about winter is that I now feel like my car's been castrated, since I had to take off my 18" wheels.
It went from looking like the one at the top of this page to looking like stock. It's just not nearly as agressive. The steering is also more sensitive now, I'm not used to it, it feels kind of unnerving on snow.