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| Smarter than the average bear |
My son just learned that he's moving to Fort Collins in two weeks, and being southern gentlemen and all, we have very little experience with snow and ice--OR mountains. So, he's currently driving a 2007 BMW 325, and it's a pretty nice car and he was planning on keeping it for some time. But someone pointed out that snow and ice and hills and mountains don't mix well with RWD sedans. For those with experience, can he make it through the winter in the BMW? I'm assuming snow tires would be a minimum necessity. He won't have far to drive for work. Will he be okay if he doesn't go on trips through the mountains? Or is it hilly enough that he will have a hard time in general just living there? | ||
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| Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated  |
He can probably get by ok. Their may be a few days where he shouldn't drive, especially if he has little or no experience in the snow. AWD/4x4 vehicles are much better for sure. Most of Fort Collins isn't hilly. If he lives west of there however, he would be much better off with a 4x4. I've lived in Colorado most of my life and have kept some sort of 4x4 in my stable once I was able to afford more than one vehicle. "Someday I hope to be half the man my bird-dog thinks I am." FBLM LGB! | |||
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| Too old to run, too mean to quit! |
I grew up in NORTH Idaho, driving RWD cars and light trucks. No reason he cannot get by in Colorado. If worse comes to worst he can get a set of tire chains. No need to get another car. Not to mention simply putting some extra weight in the trunk, gets the same effect as the engine over the front drive axle. And we spent a winter in Ft. Carson, with RWD and had no problems at all. Elk There has never been an occasion where a people gave up their weapons in the interest of peace that didn't end in their massacre. (Louis L'Amour) "To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. " -Thomas Jefferson "America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Alexis de Tocqueville FBHO!!! The Idaho Elk Hunter | |||
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| Edge seeking Sharp blade! |
Many sedans and most BMWs have fairly high performance tires that aren't real grippy in cold or slippery conditions. Most suck in snow. You might consider winter tires on all four corners. A major consideration is if he has flexibility during snow events to take alternate forms of transportation such as walking or public transport. If he has to on time during every snow event and has no snow driving experience, it could cause problems. | |||
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| Doing my best to shape America's youth  |
First snowstorm, he needs to find himself a biiiig parking lot and learns how to drive all over again. Trust me. No amount of advice will take the place of some serious hands-on time, including emergency braking and drifting. Snow treads on all four corners make sense. There are lots of BMWs stuck around here without them (Boston area). ETA: Blizzak or similar tires with studs would be a fine choice. Tire rack will sell you a whole set on spare rims mounted, balanced, and shipped for a fair price. Clarior Hinc Honos BSA Dad, Cheer Dad | |||
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| Jack of All Trades, Master of Nothing  |
I got through a winter in Denver with a Camaro SS, of course it had a set of Pirelli winter tires on it. Yes, you can get by, yes you can do rather well, proper tires and not driving asshole goes a long ways. My daughter can deflate your daughter's soccer ball. | |||
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| Member |
All we had was RWD until relatively recently, so yes, he can get by with a BMW. He just has to drive differently, and don't forget that FWD is only good for starting out, then it's a potential liability (yes, I've been flamed for saying that here before). Tell him to get some Bridgestone Blizzak or Michelin Pilot tires for all four corners, then he'll be OK, so long as he doesn't try to keep up with the 4WD crowd. Keep in mind that these tires don't work well or wear well when the temps go much over freezing. By the way, Tire Rack doesn't list the BMW 325 for 2007. Are you sure of the model? -------------------------- Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. -- H L Mencken I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is. -- JALLEN 10/18/18 | |||
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| Member |
You'd be surprised how many of us drove RWD Police cars back in day chained up in bad snow.. | |||
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Bone 4 Tuna |
Michelin X-Ice 3s for me. Dedicated set of wheels for winter. Very steady in (Mid and Northern) Michigan winters and the icy-slush of the larger cities. _________________________ An unarmed man can only flee from evil and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it. - Col Jeff Cooper NRA Life Member Long Live the Super Thirty-Eight | |||
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| Member |
Well.............i have lived in snow country the whole of my life. During the 1950's we only had rear wheel drive cars. What a pain that was. Most always in the winter i drive around in two wheel drive. However, i only own four wheel drive vehicles. Living in snow country, i only own a four wheel drive vehicle. The tires on my vehicle are not winter tires, not snow tires. Most all the time i drive around with the shift in two wheel drive. Both of my vehicles are four wheel drive, and whilst hunting most always, four wheel drive is engaged. Only seldom is four wheel drive engaged in town. Driving around town in a four wheel drive vehicle is a wonderful feeling, even when it is not engaged. | |||
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| Member |
Eventually, to blend in, he'll need to trade up to the official State Car....an AWD Subaru. | |||
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Member |
Can you get by with a rear wheel drive vehicle in Colorado? The answer is "No!" Front End drive is better, All wheel drive or 4WD is best. And you do have to learn to drive all over again. The mountains are unforgiving. You pay immediately for your bad judgements. Regards, arlen ====================== Some days, it's just not worth the effort of chewing through the leather straps. ====================== | |||
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Member |
Once upon a time I lived in Denver CO for about 5 years, all the while with my trusty 1994 BMW 530i. Each winter I would put on a set of snow tires, and I used to head up to the mountains every weekend to ski. The rear drive BMW with snow tires never let me down even in some extreme conditions on mountain passes. Rear drive with proper winter tires will out drive most all wheel drive platforms that are running "all seasons" in the snow/ice. | |||
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| Member |
^^^^^^^^^^^ I agree. Winter tires are worth every penny. If a guy can find them Nokian winter tires are the best, I've tried just about everything and I now spend the extra money on the Nokians. Good snow tires are better than AWD without them in my experience | |||
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Member |
My father did for many a year, and I did when i was young. Not impossible just watch out for the lemmings stuck on cellphones in the family big rig. | |||
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| Smarter than the average bear |
I figured winter or snow tires at a minumum, but what I don't know about is the hills. I have at least one person living in Denver that said he's seen lots of accidents where someone stops on a hill (incline) and when trying to accelerate from the stop the car starts sliding backwards and hitting other cars. Are winter/snow tires sufficient to stop this? Obviously AWD is the best solution, but if he can be careful and get through one winter it will buy some time. If the consensus is that he really should get an AWD, he's probably better off doing it down here before he gets to CO. Relative value of the BMW to the AWD here vs there. Another question, if he's living in an apartment, what does he do with the summer tires? Rent a storage unit? The BMW could be a 318- I just know it's a 3 series and don't think it's a 335. | |||
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| Raised Hands Surround Us Three Nails To Protect Us  |
Sounds like the perfect excuse to attend BMWs Winter Driving School. https://www.bmw-drivingexperie...-basic-training.html ———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you! | |||
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| Member |
My tire shop warehouses my "other" set of tires for free when they are not in season. I would ask around and see if someone in Colorado would do the same. | |||
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Not really from Vienna |
Yes, you can. People did it for years. I had studded snow tires for my 59 Chevy pickup, and I carried two truck tubes filled with sand in the bed for weight. I only needed chains to go into the mountains. | |||
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| Member |
Ft Collins is pretty flat and being front range it won't have lots of snow hanging around, it melts out pretty fast. There will be days he should leave the RWD car at home. He could also look at getting something with Xdrive, if he wants to stay with a BMW. The interesting thing about most front range storms is it is often times nice and warm before they hit, and the streets melt the snow until they are finally overcome and freeze up. This provides a nice sheet of ice and then snow piles up on top. It can be tricky stuff. | |||
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