dunkonjack
New LVC Member
I have my eye on a 2004 LS and live in the midwest.
My question is are these cars o.k to drive in the winter weather ?
My question is are these cars o.k to drive in the winter weather ?
LS in the Snow
- Thread starter dunkonjack
- Start date
Missing Linc'
Dedicated LVC Member
I know your new, but this site is equipped with a search feature that will answer your questions.
stallone 81
Dedicated LVC Member
i hope thats a joke its rwd you will get no where
lsdarkshadow
Dedicated LVC Member
I'm in Wisconsin and have only one question in response....do you like sledding? Cause it's kinda like that.
FASTLLS
Dedicated LVC Member
The LS is not a snow machine or anything like that but in light to medium snow, I had no trouble. When it comes down in like 6-8 inches and you try to drive it, even the slightest hill will have you stuck in the middle of the road.
Overall, I found that not using the traction control helped. Remember, like said, it's RWD and you will get crappy gas mileage in the winter because you will be spinning your tires at every stop.
BTW, in the snow, this car is a drifting machine.
Overall, I found that not using the traction control helped. Remember, like said, it's RWD and you will get crappy gas mileage in the winter because you will be spinning your tires at every stop.
BTW, in the snow, this car is a drifting machine.
Missing Linc'
Dedicated LVC Member
The LS is not a snow machine or anything like that but in light to medium snow, I had no trouble. When it comes down in like 6-8 inches and you try to drive it, even the slightest hill will have you stuck in the middle of the road.
Overall, I found that not using the traction control helped. Remember, like said, it's Right Wheel Drive and you will get crappy gas mileage in the winter because you will be spinning your tires at every stop.
BTW, in the snow, this car is a drifting machine.
Fixed
Not true. Balance is the deciding factor and the LSes 50/50, with the proper snow tires, will win. I've driven both and in my experience, FWD is downright scary when the front loses grip.
Just one article. There are many more.
FASTLLS
Dedicated LVC Member
^^
Very true..
Very true..
Missing Linc'
Dedicated LVC Member
All wheel drive FTMFW, nothing beats being completely sideways at 60mph! :shifty:
FASTLLS
Dedicated LVC Member
full blown t!ts... lol
Gus_Mahn
Well-Known LVC Member
LS's suck in the snow, but with good all season or snow tires and a properly functioning stabil-trak, it's really not that bad.
cammerfe
Dedicated LVC Member
For those of us brought up on RWD, it's better than most. Particularly with a good set of winter tires at all corners. With performance tires, they are a real handful.
KS
KS
lsdarkshadow
Dedicated LVC Member
You'll make it as long as you know how to drive
What he said. I mean for chrisst sake, we grew up driving big blocks with bald junkyard tires all winter long in worse conditions than we ever get now.
I'll tell ya little story (cuz this is the internet after all.) I spent two winters in Seattle where it hardly ever snows. Driving a 1980 Bonneville with a '77 350 in it and 255/60 series BFG TA summer tires. First "big" snow and I was driving in to work passing 4x4 trucks with chains on! Ya just gotta know how to drive.
FASTLLS
Dedicated LVC Member
It will spin.. You just gotta know how to counter the actions. When I am doing laps through town, it car will be sideways most of the time. Maybe that's just me..
bearsfan39
Dedicated LVC Member
i live near chicago and the first year i had it i was sliding all over, but this year i got snow tires and it was considerably better
jolinc01
Dedicated LVC Member
I haven't had too many problems with my LS in the snow. I got stuck pulling into my driveway twice 2 years ago. The only reason I got stuck is because I live on a curve and the plows dump all the snow in front of my driveway when they go around the curve.
lincolnx2
Dedicated LVC Member
I am located in Colorado Springs, CO and my LS did wonderful in the snow, the freezing rain screwed me up though, just keep good tires on.
De-marko
Dedicated LVC Member
I haven't had any problems driving in the snow, no more than any other car I've driven that's RWD.
Run 4 snowtires all around taller 205-215s or something.
Put 3 or 4 sandbags or landscaping rocks in the trunk and it will improve things dramatically.
My sub box and amps wiegh about 130 lbs so I only put 2 bags in now
and I'm in buffalo where we get lots of snow.
I also added posi for better traction in the dry and it's also better in the snow.
Put 3 or 4 sandbags or landscaping rocks in the trunk and it will improve things dramatically.
My sub box and amps wiegh about 130 lbs so I only put 2 bags in now
and I'm in buffalo where we get lots of snow.
I also added posi for better traction in the dry and it's also better in the snow.
Morbid Intentions
Well-Known LVC Member
not sure if it's been said before...
but if you come to s stop in heavy snow/slush/ice.... the one tire fire will give you hell getting the thing going again... as it is with most RWD cars without an LSD
HOWEVER, I found that once you are going and you run into snow/ice/crazy lava pits w/ dragons.... the stabilitrak and the traction control in unison makes for the absolute safest ride I have ever experienced in bad weather out of ANY of my cars.... I remember during a complete white out snow storm over in muskegon everyone was going 40MPH on the highway and I was late for a meeting so even though I probably shouldn't have I started going the speed limit (70MPH)... the car went to slide a couple times, a quick flick of the wrist and a few flashes of the orange "stabilitrak" light and the car didn't even attempt to lurch sideways... and this was at the limit of extreme weather vs. speed IMO
back when I first got the car in 05 my ex GF had to drive me back from the bar and the entire road was covered in ice and she had only been driving for 2 weeks... we passed suburbans in the ditch even, granted the whole time she was driving I noticed the stabilitrak light screaming at her and she was whining that the car wouldn't go when she tried to make it lol.. but the car never faultered or even made an attempt to go off the road
I think the LS is an absolute masterpiece of a great winter driver under the circumstances that you don't have to stop lol... once you come to a hault it's bad... I once got stuck in a 1 1/2 inch snow drift (granted there was no weight in the trunk and I was running bald tires... but still).... if you want to be asured that your LS will be a safe haven in the snow I'd advise snow tires, sand bags and an LSD install... these three things SHOULD make your LS a bulletproof little snowplow monster of the RWD world
but if you come to s stop in heavy snow/slush/ice.... the one tire fire will give you hell getting the thing going again... as it is with most RWD cars without an LSD
HOWEVER, I found that once you are going and you run into snow/ice/crazy lava pits w/ dragons.... the stabilitrak and the traction control in unison makes for the absolute safest ride I have ever experienced in bad weather out of ANY of my cars.... I remember during a complete white out snow storm over in muskegon everyone was going 40MPH on the highway and I was late for a meeting so even though I probably shouldn't have I started going the speed limit (70MPH)... the car went to slide a couple times, a quick flick of the wrist and a few flashes of the orange "stabilitrak" light and the car didn't even attempt to lurch sideways... and this was at the limit of extreme weather vs. speed IMO
back when I first got the car in 05 my ex GF had to drive me back from the bar and the entire road was covered in ice and she had only been driving for 2 weeks... we passed suburbans in the ditch even, granted the whole time she was driving I noticed the stabilitrak light screaming at her and she was whining that the car wouldn't go when she tried to make it lol.. but the car never faultered or even made an attempt to go off the road
I think the LS is an absolute masterpiece of a great winter driver under the circumstances that you don't have to stop lol... once you come to a hault it's bad... I once got stuck in a 1 1/2 inch snow drift (granted there was no weight in the trunk and I was running bald tires... but still).... if you want to be asured that your LS will be a safe haven in the snow I'd advise snow tires, sand bags and an LSD install... these three things SHOULD make your LS a bulletproof little snowplow monster of the RWD world
Sozialkampf
Active LVC Member
Morbid, what year LS do you have?
LS Chazzy J
LVC Member
Well I guess I'll be the odd man out here...
I have Cooper CS4 tires (All Season Performance) and they handle fine. Most snow I've ever driven in w/ this car was 8 inches. On average about 3 - 4 inches. That was in Wichita, KS last year. I didn't get stuck.
On the other side of things, I lived in Boston, MA for a large chunk of my life. That place will force you to know how to drive in snow -- life doesn't stop up there just because 12 inches of snow is coming.
I am now located in Boston, MA again and I don't know if I'm looking forward to the upcoming winter. Regardless, I will recommend what Morbid did -- get yourself some snow tires (yes, all 4 is better than just the rear 2) and put some sandbags in the trunk. This should take care of most of your problems.
As with a lot of snow driving conditions, safe and cautious driving will get your where you need to go. How good your car is in the snow is a matter of opinion if you ask me...a lot depends on the driver and experience IMO
I have Cooper CS4 tires (All Season Performance) and they handle fine. Most snow I've ever driven in w/ this car was 8 inches. On average about 3 - 4 inches. That was in Wichita, KS last year. I didn't get stuck.
On the other side of things, I lived in Boston, MA for a large chunk of my life. That place will force you to know how to drive in snow -- life doesn't stop up there just because 12 inches of snow is coming.
I am now located in Boston, MA again and I don't know if I'm looking forward to the upcoming winter. Regardless, I will recommend what Morbid did -- get yourself some snow tires (yes, all 4 is better than just the rear 2) and put some sandbags in the trunk. This should take care of most of your problems.
As with a lot of snow driving conditions, safe and cautious driving will get your where you need to go. How good your car is in the snow is a matter of opinion if you ask me...a lot depends on the driver and experience IMO