Rep Power: 267

I used to own a 98 dx auto and that thing just kicked *** in the snow. That was back when I was young. I remember getting drunk once and going to target where I did 8's around 2 obstacles totally in a drift on the slushy snow. Then I took it on I-80 when there was a foot of snow and no one on the high way --I never once thought I would get stuck. And the tires were bald in the insides.

But my 97 5-speed flat out sucks. It looses traction so easily it's pathetic, and my tires are in better condition than the 98. (bf goodrich all season) Maybe the tires flat out suck, I don't know. I try to baby it during every gear shift including takeoff, but I'll end up spinning the tires. It's so bad that I fear coming to a stop especially on a slight incline because I might not be able to go forward anymore.

All this talk about manual being better in the snow, well I think that's bs paper theory written by people who have never owned an auto. There's no advantages that I can see. You can downshift an auto just like a manual, and if you have overdrive then it's just a 1 button press to downshift. The auto doesn't have a tendency to spin the tires for obvious reasons.

 
Rep Power: 0

In snow, I find it's easier to get going in 2nd gear than 1st because of the lower torque.

 
Rep Power: 812

yeah im having problems too, but i know its my cheap and crappy tires. my old tires were so good even in deep snow. these new ones were only $50 and they will slide without even trying. i just put my auto in "2" to lock it in second, then keep the speed 25mph and below. cant really go much faster anyway without sliding. keeping speed down is key. that way its easier to correct when the tires break loose. but leaving it in 2 makes takeoffs much easier since there is less torque and also more engine braking. same goes for a manual, drive in low gear once you get going. but youll prolly have a better chance of spinning out if you gas it too much. use the ebrake too. much less chance of locking up compared to the brake pedal. mine doesnt really do much tho, it barely slows the car down when i yank it up. if yours is better, just dont pull up as hard. just a lil bit to slow down. i have abs too but it sucks. its way too sensitive and takes longer to stop the car with abs engaged.

 
Rep Power: 267

Thanks for the tips. Yeah, I really do think it's my crappy tires which were 50 per wheel like yours. And they are touring tires, isn't that the same thing as all-season?

 
Rep Power: 314

If they were all season they would be "Touring All Season". Touring tires are designed for comfort and such, not so much for winter. The tires I put on my 05 ex are good year triple treads. They are expensive but perform very well in the winter. I think I paid 600 Canadian for 4. Buying them saved me from having to buy winter tires which most people here in Canada need.

 
Rep Power: 812

mine are all season, doesnt mean they are good lol. and the roads here still suck. having lots of moments where the car loses traction going 25mph and i just have to wait for them to catch again lol. feels like the tires are totally bald. i guess with most tires tho, once the treads fill up with snow, they will all suck. its so cold that as soon as any slush touches the car, it freezes up instantly. i hope it starts melting soon.

 
Rep Power: 0

I've got 4 studded Cooper winter tires. They are the bomb. I have em on November to March.

I've got 4 Michelin all seasons for the rest of the year.

 
Rep Power: 267

Since we're on the subject of winter, I gotta emphasis that my energy suspension bushings are squeeking so bad because of the cold that it's embarassing. This is unacceptable. In fact, I'm going down to the junk yard today to see if I can find replacement upper wishbones, lower rubber bushings and maybe lower control arms.

 
Rep Power: 267

My parents buy michelin only. They are really good tires.

 
Rep Power: 314

Members of my family have the Michelin Hydroedge... and they complain all the time. I have heard great things about those tires, and very shitty things as well... Nothing you can do to quiet those bushings down???

 
Rep Power: 267

I sprayed penetrating oil on them today but I haven't taken it for a drive. Whether it works or not is beside the point though since it's ridiculous that I have to do anything. I would really like these bushings IF they didn't squeek. I might be able to get creative and come up with some solution because I'm good at those sort of things. I first need to identify which one is making the most noise...

 
Rep Power: 812

lol haha going over those bumps of snow mine are constantly squeaking. doesnt bother me tho, i like the looks i get. you can spray them with silicone lube, but its hard to get into every crevice. my hood also is rattling like crazy so thats my first priority.

have you noticed how terrible reno drivers are? they act like theres no snow at all and i see wiped out cars all the time. people think their big trucks and suvs are the best and would never lose traction. then i watch them spin out into a curb and slowly drive past em. just yesterday there was this guy in a cherokee trying to act hard and pass everyone by driving over the deep snow lane. a few seconds later, he was completely stuck lol.

 
Rep Power: 314

Gotta love that... People here in Canada get complacent to the weather and wipe out all the time. Especially like you say, SUVs with the invincible 4x4.

 
Rep Power: 0

People where I live try to be heroes in whatever they are driving, RWD, 4WD, AWD. But there are a lot of small compact cars that are always off the road due to jackass driving.

Anyone with a ounce of common sense should know that you keep the speed down when the snow hits.

 
Rep Power: 812

i love the ones that purposefully do dumb stuff like take a corner too fast, try to slide, or roll around, then end up in a snowbank with a broken bumper.

 
Rep Power: 267

Yeah I noticed that a lot of them think trucks don't lose traction. I remember driving to susanville once, and this chevy doing about 65 passes me up on the left side of the free way where no one was driving so there was a lot of snow. He was towing a big boat and if he had to swerve to avoid some small object, he would have lost traction.

My moms element kicks *** in the snow. It's got awd and abs and very good traction on her michelins.

 
Rep Power: 227

Im with you on the bushings isue Cleft. I got mine in summer and didnt like the mild squeeks but now that its dropping into the teens and around freezing Ohhhh Hellll !!! Its so imbaresing pulling into the college parking lot and you can hear my car over peoples sounds systems. Sounds like an early 80s rusted chevy!! How can you like it Gear???! As for the snow mine has always done fine, its fun.

 
Rep Power: 267

I sprayed mine with that penetrating lube found at home depot/lowe's called PB lube or something. Any oil will work. Attach the red tube to it and spray on the friction points. It seems, but I can't be sure, that it's the top wishbones that are the main culprites.

Any way, I've decided not to swap them for now and instead try to figure out a permanent solution. I was thinking along the lines of a thin nylon washer on both sides of the bushing, but I would somehow have to make room for it.

 
Rep Power: 812

the ES prelube (formula5) is the best, but you have to get it all over the bushing and over time it will still wear out. but with the lube, they shouldnt squeak at all. how are you liking all this snow we keep getting wow. i had to drive to autozone for some trans cooler hose and the roads were terrible, i could barely go 20mph the snow was so deep.

 
Rep Power: 267

I don't know if I like it or not, I'm just kinda indifferent towards it. The days are magicless and grey for me, or I'm suffering, with brief moments of happiness thrown in randomly. I did a no-call no-show today at work and yesterday I called in sick. I ****ing hate my job and I'm probably going to get fired. I wish I could just go to work when I feel like it without facing repercusions for ditching. Why am I obligated to go if I don't quite need the money? And what's with people being all into and proud of their lame *** jobs? I can understand it if you're doing some trade or craft, but I work in a warehouse and it's nothing but slave work. I think these people are very unintelligent and the reason they can do it day after day for years is that unlike me, they don't feel the need to have thinking time. They are unquestioning doers and not thinkers, the drones of society. While I need a lot of "perspective time" where I reflect on how meaningless life is and how stupid people are, using thoughts of suicide as a crutch.

I just wanted to get that off my chest.

 
Rep Power: 314

Yikes! It's not that bad!!!

 
Rep Power: 812

lol it is in reno haha. i hate this place too. im gonna move early next year even if i cant find a job. oh and i spent the entire day fixing my car and shoveling snow.

 
Rep Power: 314

I don't know how you keep your car so clean in snow conditions... it's impossible for me to do it, but I do commute, and put tons of miles on mine. The salt they use here is absolutely insane. Last year we got hardly any snow so they just started throwing it on the roads to get rid of the years supply.... its awful.

 
Rep Power: 812

i have some bad rusty spots i need to get fixed sometime, but otherwise yeah its rough. the whole car needs a wash, including underneath. and a new paint job haha

 
Rep Power: 257

you should be so lucky to have a steady job i have been on unemployment for to long with no prospective jobs in my area you should be grateful.there are your so called mindless drones with families that need to eat and roofs over there heads but i guess intelligent people like you don't think about that.

 
Rep Power: 812

i have a degree and still cant find a real job for over a year, just some part time work here and there for few months at a time. i cant even get regular jobs because im not dumb enough, and i cant get better jobs cause im not smart enough. college education isnt what it used to be. and it doesnt help that thousands of people are applying for random jobs they have no chance of ever getting. makes the rest of us who are actually qualified look bad. you guys are lucky getting free money from the government. i dont even get that.

 
Rep Power: 314

Here in Canada I work in a steel plant. Although it's a good job that pays well, the work itself is hard. Often thinking is required so it kind of keeps me on my toes. If only the job was a little easier I'd be rockin.. What do you have a degree in?

 
Rep Power: 267

So in other words, working, eating, sleeping and procreating are your ambitions. Some of us want something more, but for you there are many open positions in China to fill --they share the same ambitions.

 
Rep Power: 257

well you can day dream all you want but sooner or later your going to get smacked in the face with reality.what you don't think people working in warehouse's didn't have aspirations to do something better with there lives but have to deal with the hand they've been dealt life doesn't always go the way you want it but people deal with it and make there means and don't cry about it on honda forums if you cant handle with a simple mindless job how do you expect to excel in anything.

 
Rep Power: 267

A simple mindless job is the hardest to have unless you're mentally numb as many people are, then it's fairly easy. I couldn't agree more that reality smacks people in the face. Seems the only choice in life is to resist it kicking and screaming, or embrace it letting it take you for a ride. I really don't want to surrender to life because there's no dimension to the present moment. Instead I want to think and decide, but every time I do that and make plans on it life kicks me in the nuts. There's really no choice at all if you don't want to suffer except to go with the flow. You're either happily life's bitch or you're sadly life's bitch.