Esprit in the Winter?

[jimmybondi]

Hey guys,

what is it like to drive the Esprit in the winter?

I still have the vivid memory of a copper TurboEsprit driving through the snow in the beautiful landscape of Cortina

Is it sensible/possible to drive the Esprit on snow and ice without endangering possible bystanders and your car? I have driven the Excel though many snowy winters whithout any real issue. Driving the Elise on snow is a pain in the *ss, though.

Maybe you guys from Canada and from the Scandic countries could enlighten us...

If it's feasible to use the Esprit in the winter:

Where can I get the ski racks????

Edited November 3, 2005 by jimmybondi

[Bibs]

I drove about 20 yards in the snow last year on the way to a Max Power meet we had arranged. I left the office car park, drove 10 yards, nearly cried as i was so scared at just going sideways and backwards then 10 yards back to my parking space!

Fat rear tyres and snow don't mix!!!

[CNH]

If you are not a regilous person you will be after you take a drive in either freezing rain or slushly mix. even 30 or 40 mph is a white knuckle exerience.

Avoid it if you can.

[hovgaard]

Had hilarious fun in my 1989 Turbo once on a snowy parking lot, but I would not recommend it in traffic. As I understand, the car is not type approved for studded tyres, but that doesn't matter, studless winter tyres are better in the real world, or at least in the not too icy conditions we tend to get here.

[Guest teigan]

if someone engineered specific snow tires or chains, it is entirely possible to drive a safe winter.

[fmxa]

What are you guys talking about!  driving in the snow is fun!  The CONTROL sideways part is the whole fun of it!  OK when snow hits Wisconsin in a few weeks I'll post pictures of me going sideways in my HONDA!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good grief - does the mothership know they left you behind .....

[DBredS4]

Hilarious!!!!!!!!

I drove home from work last year in the Esprit when we had that frozen snap and there was 4 inches of compact snow on the roads.

I was 2nd gear and 10 mph for 12 miles and I had to control the throtle using the -lightest- of foot. Otherwise the back end was out and I was oversteering all over the gaf. It was immense fun but scarey beyond belief all at the same time.

As said before, NOT recommended.

bit like Silverstone today really...

[slade]

if someone engineered specific snow tires or chains, it is entirely possible to drive a safe winter.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I got the impression that snow chains/studded tires only help you get started in the snow and don't offer a significant traction advantage once rolling.

Hence, they allow people who shouldn't be driving in the snow in the first place to at least get moving.

(I've never driven in the snow... and never ever plan to. If it starts snowing in my part of California I'm moving to Columbia. For unrelated reasons )

slade

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

You don't have relations in Columbia? I thought that was more of a Georgia thing?!?!

[WayneB]

Hey guys,

what is it like to drive the Esprit in the winter?

Maybe you guys from Canada and from the Scandic countries could enlighten us...

If it's feasible to use the Esprit in the winter:

Where can I get the ski racks????

Edited November 3, 2005 by WayneB

[slade]

You don't have relations in Columbia? I thought  that was more of a Georgia thing?!?!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just have a different kind of snow in mind

slade

[Paul C]

Whenever we get snow, i rush outside to jump in my car and play!!!!

...Can never find the car though, should have got a red one.

Honestly, it's snow joke..

[hovgaard]

The secret is get good snow tyres (Nokia Hakkapalitas are great)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Studded or not?

I use Gislaved Softfrost, but I'd be willing to try the studless Hakkas next time.

Blizzaks don't last.

[Jussi]

Last autumn I drove my Esprit in very snowy conditions, it was ehh. really an experience I don't recommend, unless you want some excitement. Esprit is a quite tricky to hold ice conditions and I have been driven a lot rear-driven cars.

Anyone thinking how fibreclass body handles in cold weather, aren't there any cracks when temperature is below -30celsius and you knock your fibreclass body

And yes, Nokia Hakkapeliitta is a good winter tyre, I have those in my Peugeot B)

So for start get those Nokia tyres and then try some winterfun http://www.nokiantyres.com/

[WayneB]

We have to use the tyres unstudded here(studs are illegal in Ontario)

Have used lots of different makes of winter tyre over time, but the Hakkas are the best IMO

Jussi, I presume the Esprit was on your summer Michelins?

You got a death wish or something

[WayneB]

I really hate winters

[Jussi]

We have to use the tyres unstudded here(studs are illegal in Ontario)

Have used lots of different makes of winter tyre over time, but the Hakkas are the best IMO

Jussi, I presume the Esprit was on your summer Michelins?

You got a death wish or something    

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, Esprit was with summer tyres on. I haven't found proper winter tyres yet

And yes, winter sucks...

Try to drive with your Esprit in those conditions

[Bibs]

Looks like a scene from Scarface!

[hovgaard]

Looks like South Park to me...

[Jussi]

Looks like our normal winter time...

[WayneB]

And I forgot to mention the grit spreaders

(AKA mobile paint removal units)

Edited November 4, 2005 by WayneB

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I remember being in BNs car on the M25 last year, stuck behind three of the buggers, trying to figure out how on earth to get past without destroying the paintwork!

[fmxa]

You guy have reminded me why I left the UK and moved to California - it's sunny and 76 here today!

[slade]

You guy have reminded me why I left the UK and moved to California - it's sunny and 76 here today!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

70 or so here in Riverside, a bit on the cloudy side...

I could never live somewhere where you have to shovel the weather, unless of course it was raining men in which case I'd want to use my bare hands anyways

slade

[WayneB]

Yea, but what about that sun fading your paint?