To Mustang or to Not Mustang...

[Power4]

That is the question.

Here's the deal: I'm finishing up my last year of college and I'm going to be purchasing a new car very soon (before the end of the winter) and getting rid of my Taurus. I've been set on a Mustang GT for some time now but the onset of winter has made me nervous about driving the car in the snow. It will be my only car so it's going to be my daily driver and I currently live in upstate NY (crappy weather, but straight and flat roads). However I recently found out that I could get a Mazdaspeed 6 for about the same price if not cheaper than the 'Stang. An AWD sedan would be much better in the snow than a RWD muscle car.

My real question is this: is it worth giving up a really hot car I've been wanting for a long time to get a still somewhat hot but more reasonable daily driver car? Also, for those of you who've driven the Mustang in the snow: is it really that bad in the snow?

 

[welchy]

I would definitely go with the Mustang. Then again I live in California and don't have to worry about snow. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[srothfuss]

Here's the Deal:

AWD or SUV vehicles provide great traction for standing starts but that is where the advantage really ends (other than ground clearance). This is great in rush hour traffic or from a standing stop. (I have a Liberty with AWD) but the downside is that you still have to stop in the same amount of distance as a regular vehicle and turning is still a problem.

If you travel on roads that usually get plowed on a regular basis there isn't too much reason to worry about buying the Mustang. The Mustang has traction control to help you out, but just like a FWD vehicle it'll handle the same....


If you are pretty worried about getting stuck: (see below for things to store in your trunk during the snowy season)

20lbs of Cat litter
Small blade shovel
Flattened cardboard box

All of these tools can be used to dig yourself out of some pretty nasty stuff.

With all of that being said, I am planning on trading in the Libby next spring for my very own Mustang GT

 

[CBus 06 GT]

IMHO, the type of tires is more important than where the power is transmited. In the snow, a Mustang GT with a dedicated set of winter tires will outperform any AWD car with summer/performance tires.

 

[BlackSpirit]

Mustang, More reason to be registered with this web site.

 

[RetroGT]

Keep the Taurus as your winter beater if you can. I used to own a 2002 F150 Harley Edition with a Supercharger and 20 inch wheels with performance tires. I could not affoard a second car or to put on different tires and rubber. I drove it in light snow and never had an issue by being very carfull. On really bad days I stayed home.

 

[351CJ]

Keep the Taurus as your winter beater if you can. I used to own a 2002 F150 Harley Edition with a Supercharger and 20 inch wheels with performance tires. I could not affoard a second car or to put on different tires and rubber. I drove it in light snow and never had an issue by being very carfull. On really bad days I stayed home.

Good advice. The Taurus is a great car in the snow, very easy to drive in the snow. I've never come close to getting stuck with a Taurus even with very worn standard issue all weather tires.

I do not see any need for an AWD vehicle. A FWD car like the Taurus will go anywhere an AWD vehicle will in the snow with the exception of driving up a ski slope.

As far as a RWD car in the snow, I don't care what anyone else says, even with the best snow tires in the world, a RWD car is much harder to drive in the snow than a FWD car like a Taurus. Besides the getting started issues, a powerful RWD car with limited slip will want to kick the rear end sideways when you step on the gas and loose traction. Yes the TC will help, but it's response is not instantaneous. You'll really need to drive like you have an egg between your foot and the gas pedal.

 

['13_ImpactBlue_GT]

Here's the Deal:

AWD or SUV vehicles provide great traction for standing starts but that is where the advantage really ends (other than ground clearance). This is great in rush hour traffic or from a standing stop. (I have a Liberty with AWD) but the downside is that you still have to stop in the same amount of distance as a regular vehicle and turning is still a problem.

If you travel on roads that usually get plowed on a regular basis there isn't too much reason to worry about buying the Mustang. The Mustang has traction control to help you out, but just like a FWD vehicle it'll handle the same....


If you are pretty worried about getting stuck: (see below for things to store in your trunk during the snowy season)

20lbs of Cat litter
Small blade shovel
Flattened cardboard box

All of these tools can be used to dig yourself out of some pretty nasty stuff.

With all of that being said, I am planning on trading in the Libby next spring for my very own Mustang GT

+2 on Kitty Litter FTW

 

[srothfuss]

Driving a FWD vehicle in the winter still means the front end can slide out on you, just like the back end on a RWD car. My point is that if you live in a area that has frequently plowed streets, there will not be huge disadvatange to the mustang.

If you live out in the middle of no-where than the chances of any car sliding off the road or getting stuck in a driveway increase a great deal.

I've driven many a mustangs through raging blizzards without a problem. I've driven on snowy / icy roads without incident. But I've also had to break out the shovel as well...? Get the car that you really want and be happy with it for 3/4 of the year.

 

[scupking]

I drove my mustang threw the winter last year with the stock all season tires on. We had some big storms. Traction control + snow = you don't move. So keep it off in the snow. I bought winter tires this year so I will see if there is a difference.

 

[Power4]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to go with the 'Stang since I know if I got anything else I'd just be thinking "If only I had gotten the Mustang" every day. Thanks for the info about what to do with it in the snow too. They plow and salt the roads up here pretty good so I'd really only be worried about driving it like 4 or 5 days a year which just isn't worth getting a car that I don't like as much just for a little extra security in foul weather.

 

[srothfuss]

 

[Kevindust]

Congrats on your choice! Judging by your comments, you'll be happiest with the Stang. Like you said, there is only 4-5 days a year that the roads are really that bad. Sacrificing the other 360 days a year isn't worth it!

As for my opinion on winter driving...not directed at any one in particular:
For extra security in foul weather, the answer is in the tires, period. Fact: using all season tires compromises your traction 100% of the time (summer and winter.) That's not acceptable to me. I live in Eastern Ontario (same climate as upstate NY) and have never had a problem in the snow with my '94 GT. Granted, I'm down on power from an '07 but I don't have TC to help me either. In the winter I run Dunlop Graspic DS-1's (that I bought at Walmart for $100 CDN each) mounted on stock 16" pony wheels (used $200.) This is not an ad for Dunlop or Walmart, just proof that you don't have to spend a fortune for a good second set of wheels and tires. Use dedicated snow tires for ONE winter and you will NEVER go back to all seasons on any car, period. Yes, the new gen of snow tires are THAT good, ask anyone who's used them in the last 3-4 years. Using snows also means that once you burn off the mediocre stock all seasons, you can get a set of real performance tires for the summer.

IMHO, there is simply no need to exclude the Mustang as a DD due to winter conditions. (Assuming you drive on maintained public roads, of course.) Don't believe the myths. RWD is as controllable in the snow as FWD, it just affects which end of the car is sliding, and takes a little more involvement to drive smoothly. Regarless of the driven wheels, winter driving is a matter of learning the cars traction limits and getting some experience to get comfortable. Spend some time in a snowy, icy (empty) parking lot to practice accelerating, braking and cornering. Overdrive the car, spin it out, lock it up, and do doughnuts. Get the car mildly stuck and practice rocking the car free from the drivers seat. You'll soon be four wheel drifting like a rally driver, grinning from ear to ear!