chipkent

I'm in the process of doing some research for my next car purchase. I'm looking for something to drive in the winters. I live in Minnesota so the car will have to handle both snow and cold. It will replace my 1989 XJS which has weird intermittent problems below about 10F.

From the cars I've driven, snow tires seem to be the biggest factor about how well a car can drive in the snow. Having said that, I have never driven a rear or mid engine car in the snow so all of my existing insight may be wrong. I also don't have any insight into the behavior of an air cooled engine at very low temps.
- Does anyone have a 911 SC or similar 2WD 911 which they drive in the snow?
- How well does the car handle?
- Does it ever get away from you with the engine hanging so far back?
- Do you feel a Carrera 4 is required to drive a 911 in the snow? (Does a Carrera 4 even do a good job in the snow?)
- Have you had any problems with the car functioning at very low temps (e.g. -20F)?

theiceman

up to you but I wouldn't do it .... and I own an SC .. go for something with better creature comforts like a 993. Some great deals to be had.

loosecannon

I owned a 911SC in Canada for 10 years and would highly recommend you look elsewhere for a winter car. The 911SC has miserable heat and pathetic defroster.

theiceman

i thought i said that

oh no wait ... i just lived it ...

chipkent

Say that the heat is too bad in the 911SC. How is the handling of a 993 or something with better heating? Did you feel AWD is necessary?

theiceman

a few of our guys here drive there 993s all winter ... with a good set of tires .. your best bet now would be go and ask in the 993 forum or the Canadian forum.

chipkent

I just sent the question to the Canadians since they understand problems with real cold. Great suggestion since I never would have thought that there was a Canadian forum.

theiceman

well we are kind of a secret organization

911Dave

The XJS has weird intermittent problems at any temperature.

chipkent

+1

Hladun1

A stock SC is not a winter car, but my 78 SC I've used as a daily driver for 10 years and I live in Alberta and use the car in temperatures down to -40. Modifications I made;
Footwell blowers
Idle air pre-heat
5W40 synthetic oil & synthetic trans oil
Added floor insulation
Winter tires

In this form it's a great winter car. the SC has very good traction due to the rear weight bias. I also had a 82 XJS and my SC is a much better winter car. Compared to a stock SC the XJS is better. It will rust and wear but non-creampuff SC's aren't worth much these days.

Norske

I had a 72 E Targa in Colorado for 15 years. 4 studded snows for winter. Great car. Would go anywhere, however be careful. Do not brake and try to turn the wheel on ice or snow. You will go straight instead of turning. Do what this guy has done and it will work OK, but you will never be fully warm unless going up hill.

dshepp806

I'm with the Iceman on this one....

tyro

I drove my 1980 SC last winter. It was a lot of fun. Like hladun1, I added footwell blowers, ran Blizzaks and used 5W-30 during the coldest part of the winter.

I'd let you take it for a spin, but it's in storage as I'm driving a company truck for the winter - can't beat that.

Here is a pic of a friend and I at one of the Glacier Lakes Quattro Club ice driving events (frozen lake south of the metro):

rbuswell

I would also add that you need to think about what you'll do when you get high-centered on days when the plows haven't been through yet plus you can count on trashing the paint of any car you buy (rocks, sand, etc.). Ferry Porsche always said his cars were made to be driven and there is winter in Europe - milder than MN certainly - but winter just the same. My guess the car will do fine otherwise.

I like my plan better. A mid-1990s Camry with studded snows for winter and the Porsche for Spring through Fall.