What happened! I went to the gym, a breeze and a few flakes fluttering around...

I came out to an ice covered car, howling winds and a not so fun ride home... even with winters. 22X in Calgary was a sheet of ice and I was white knuckled for a few minutes.. didnt help with a huge jacked up Ford on my tail!

I even heard the Deerfoot is closed :eek:

Hope everyone gets home safely tonight, and to work tomorrow too..!

I got home safely, but I don't own a RX-8 yet... I work in the NE and live in the NW. The drive home was fine... slightly slippery on the side streets but the major roads are fine.

Actually a Civic in front of me spun out (180-degree spin) leaving a stop controlled intersection. Can't understand how she got in so much trouble driving a Civic at that speed...

Ehh ... it's funny isn't how everytime it snows ... people become retarded at driving and there are a million accidents! Come on people! It's not like we live in the tropics and haven't seen snow before. Before I left work, I heard on the news that there were something like 7 or 8 accidents already! Heck today's snow was more like a light dusting.

Anyhoo ... good to have you new guys on board. Maybe we'll set up a Calgary meet. Cloud7, hurry up and get the 8! :)

Ehh ... it's funny isn't how everytime it snows ... people become retarded at driving and there are a million accidents! Come on people! It's not like we live in the tropics and haven't seen snow before. Before I left work, I heard on the news that there were something like 7 or 8 accidents already! Heck today's snow was more like a light dusting.

Anyhoo ... good to have you new guys on board. Maybe we'll set up a Calgary meet. Cloud7, hurry up and get the 8! :)


People are idiots.....you would think that when you live in a climate like this you might want to invest in a set of winter tires. I think the marketing machines form tire companies have people brain washed into thinking that all season tires are an adequate replacement for snow tires.


IT took me one hour and 40 minutes do do my normal 40 minute drive to work today. :cussing:

I'm a towtruck driver for ama in Edmonton and let me tell you I can't believe how stupid people become in this weather. It's amazing the number of winching and accident calls we get. And it would all be a little calmer if people paid attention when they drive.

I'm out driving around in my 8 with the stock summer tires and no added weight in the back. Although starting is a little slow, the drivability is the same in any other car. I find that anything that stops faster than the towtruck is a good winter car. People just need to pay attention and we can all get home safely.

And I started the 8 at -26 with the windchill no problem.

Yes, for some reason some people just don't use their heads when driving in weather like this. I had a scary situation yesterday where I was stopped at a set of lights and was watching some guy in an SUV coming up fast in my rear view. I was barely able to move out of the way while this jackass slide right past me and through the intersection. If I had not been watching this guy would have plowed right in to me and he luckily just missed getting T-boned by other traffic going through the green light.

I think with so many people driving SUV's and trucks they get a false confidence that they can drive like they normally do when it you have ice and snow on the roads.

I left the UoC at like 11am for lunch, went back at 12:30pm when it began snowing lightly. I left school at 4:10pm, and the roads were already pretty bad. I'm glad I beat the work traffic though since it took my dad and brother an extra hour or two to get home in it.

Funny how I left for school at 12pm today, and the snowplows were only just beginning to plow my area -.-"
I was going down a hill at like 5km/h over the speed limit with a black Hummer tailgating me -.-, F'ing guy then cut out from behind me, and then cut me off just to brake in front of me and then proceed to the turn left lane -.-

idiot cube truck driver this morning blew through a stop sign right in front of me (he was on the side street while I was on the main). I braked but the slick conditions mean that I wasn't able to stop in time even with snow tires... I ended up barely clipping his rear bumper which scuffed up my bumper... some people.... now I gotta get it repainted :mad:

Time for a new car... maybe an RX-8 :)

Yes, for some reason some people just don't use their heads when driving in weather like this. I had a scary situation yesterday where I was stopped at a set of lights and was watching some guy in an SUV coming up fast in my rear view. I was barely able to move out of the way while this jackass slide right past me and through the intersection. If I had not been watching this guy would have plowed right in to me and he luckily just missed getting T-boned by other traffic going through the green light.

I think with so many people driving SUV's and trucks they get a false confidence that they can drive like they normally do when it you have ice and snow on the roads.

Holy crap! Good thing you got out of his way..!
I'm not sure where the false sense of security comes from.. perhaps because they are bigger and the 4WD thing makes them automatically assume they can brake as well as they can get moving.. :nono:
I find when I drive my husbands SUV I am as careful as I am in the 8.. and people notice this and seem to panic, they crowd behind me and let me lead as if I know something they dont and I will alert them to all treachery ahead..

Thats alot of pressure!!

People are idiots.....you would think that when you live in a climate like this you might want to invest in a set of winter tires. I think the marketing machines form tire companies have people brain washed into thinking that all season tires are an adequate replacement for snow tires.

Heh ... it's funny but you would think that the marketing guys at the tire companies would want you to buy a separate set of snow tires! Heck if I were a greedy marketing tire guy ... I would say you need 4 separate sets of tires.

But yea, everytime there's a new snowfall, I'm scared of the morons. Today I saw a city truck plowing and spreading gravel on a particularly icy road. It has lights flashing and a GIANT sign saying "Stay back 10m and don't pass". Some moron SUV gets a little impatient, motors pass the gravel truck, goes in front and starts swerving like drunk --> lucky he didn't crash. Uhhhh .... there's a reason why the gravel truck is plowing and spreading gravel. :wallbash:

We have a call screen set up at work that allows us to watch the calls as they come in. It was amazing watching the screen change as the snow fell. It wasn't even that cold in the morning so we weren't pressed for calls. Then watching the snow fall, you can slowly see the calls start poping up on the screen. Most were winching calls followed by a close number of accident calls. It really is pathetic. I see more 4x4's in winching calls then I do cars that's for sure. And the 4x4's are always in the tricky places.

Don't worry guys, we can almost see the end of winter from here :wavey:

this morning I was following behind someone who was driving unusually slowly on the side street... I couldn't for the life of me figure out why he was so slow (doing 20 in a 50 km/h zone). It all became clear when he tried to slow down for a right turn. He couldn't stop and slid past the intersection. My bet is the car had bald all-season tires. At that speed, you should have no problem slowing down even with all-season tires with full tread. Some people just don't get it. People like him should be given a ticket for having improper equipment on their cars. Accidents waiting to happen.

this morning I was following behind someone who was driving unusually slowly on the side street... I couldn't for the life of me figure out why he was so slow (doing 20 in a 50 km/h zone). It all became clear when he tried to slow down for a right turn. He couldn't stop and slid past the intersection. My bet is the car had bald all-season tires. At that speed, you should have no problem slowing down even with all-season tires with full tread. Some people just don't get it. People like him should be given a ticket for having improper equipment on their cars. Accidents waiting to happen.

Its got to be law already, it just has to!! I cant believe someone would get a ticket for bulb out, but not for bald tires...!

Hope everyone was okay today as well, I hit the highway southbound and it was a complete gong show today.. black ice all over. I could feel the car swaying a bit and one time, the rear actually swung out to the left.. I think my hair stood on end! But I treated myself to an ice cold beer since I have arrived home and I feel a little bit better now. :)

Don't worry guys, we can almost see the end of winter from here :wavey:

I hope so, I'm turning into a wimp from road warrior... (other people.. they scare me with their half assed attempt at driving!!)

Okay...Today's roads are quite bad...and it just started snowing again -.-"

I was literally burning my clutch trying to climb an uphill right curved ramp in bad traffic. At one point I was going backwards. My rear kept slipping outwards trying to go up then stopping for traffic, then trying to get going up again and slipping, and yeah repeated this cycle for about 10 minutes. NOT FUN! -.-"

What's with the random weather lately??

I dont know... I havent had much fun out there lately either. I was trying to climb the hill on Deerfoot Northbound just after Hwy 2 forks at Okotoks.. there was a huge Ford on my rear, and a fully loaded fuel hauler behind him. The guy didnt get it that I was having trouble just moving forward without swaying side to side. Finally when I was sure I could control it (leap of faith there) I shifted down and let the rear end slide. He backed off and let me resume my terrifying attempt of climbing the hill.. just pass me already!!

Extremely grateful I have winter tires... and nerves of steel!
I hear its going to be on the + side next week.. then we'll all be b*tching about how dirty they are again... ;)

indeed, the weather is quite random...it's pretty "warm" today...

I must admit it is fun driving the 8 in haunted areas, can have some fun with it =]

but otherwise, a pain in heavy traffic...

holy shit I hate this god damn weather. Im sliding all over the place, ABS kicking in everytime I brake. car start going sideway every time Im on a bridge or under one (where black ice formed). Couldn't stop today from 20km/h and end up sliding right through a 4 way stop. Thank god I was the only car at the intersection. And half way home my engine light came on! By time time I got home mazda service department is already closed for the day. I hope its nothing serious and I hope I dont need to wait 2 weeks for an appointment... frick frick frick

I know what you mean by the ABS thing...Back in October I slid on ice/snow straight into a stopped car at a red light, I tried to accelerate out into the right side, and nearly dodged the car.

Got flamed by brilliant (*sarcasm*) ppl on this board saying I should have stayed on the brakes and let the ABS stop me, instead of trying to accelerate out and dodge it. Claiming it's better than trying to correct it myself. Like it's set in stone that in every situation ABS will be best option.

So yesterday same thing happened but with no cars around, so I decided to listen to the brilliant (*sarcasm*) ppl who flamed me by staying on the brakes instead of trying to correct it myself, slid like 9 meters with ABS. Really brilliant(*sarcasm*).

Since then I have searched wikis, and found ABS increases your braking distance in snow and ice. So really drive with what's best in your situation and what your instincts tell you.

I am constantly working the DSC button. If I am at an intersection I turn it off to accelerate from a light and turn it on once I get going. I also turn it off in heavy show because it is much easier to drive. The DSC has saved me on bridge decks with black ice.

I am constantly working the DSC button. If I am at an intersection I turn it off to accelerate from a light and turn it off once I get going. I also turn it off in heavy show because it is much easier to drive. The DSC has saved me on bridge decks with black ice.

hmm that's interesting...I should try that when I'm starting uphill, because that's really the only time I have trouble getting going in snow/ice -.-"

in most situations just starting in 2nd I can get moving without dsc/tcs going nuts

hmm I should try that too.. I dont have the balls the turn off DSC in heavy traffic set, it seems soo... wrong. Its like taking off your lifejacket because its "easier to swim". I only start my car in 2nd gear now, and so it works pretty well except for the occasion stall due to lack of skill/concentration. Amazing how much energy/concentration it takes to drive the RX8 in rush hour for 2.5 hours/day

^ I think it even talks about turning off the DSC on slippery starts somewhere in the manual. I turn the DSC off most of the time i"m on back roads. The cars balance is so nice you can hang the back end way out with confidence. One of my old cars was an 84 Capri RS. I had the engine done up to 305 hp....now that was an interesting car to drive in the winter. You didn't so much as turn the car with the steering wheel as much as you turned it with the dgas pedal. But with that car, once that back end got out there, it was going all the way around.


The other cool thing about having thast DSC switch is if you are going down Crowchild and some ass is tai gating you, you turn off the DSC, give a bit of gas to get the back end to wiggle around and that person stops tail gating. :)

This is what I'm talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOOI86TzP9A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcFVqFmqRhE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZW-gmt4S4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol1QuaIernQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSArgH8MfDc

The other cool thing about having thast DSC switch is if you are going down Crowchild and some ass is tai gating you, you turn off the DSC, give a bit of gas to get the back end to wiggle around and that person stops tail gating. :)

Haha I HATE CROWCHILD...I take it every morning to UoC. Usually the ramp I use to merge off is full of cars in the morning, so I get stuck trying to climb it since it is an uphill ramp and there are no tire trails to follow in the ramp since cars only seem to use it in the morning. After a few times, I decided to take skip that ramp, and just go the longer route around which is safer.

This is what I'm talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOOI86TzP9A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcFVqFmqRhE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZW-gmt4S4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol1QuaIernQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSArgH8MfDc

Man I feel sorry for those Gallardos

You go to UC? Do you park in Art Parkade? I'm aware of two RX8s @ UC ( beside mine), a Velocity Red and a Titanium Grey. If you have the Red one, nice car!! if you have the grey one, sorry I keep waving at you everytime I see you. I wave to everyone who is driving a RX8.. no one wave back yet though, so i guess that makes me a Loser.

If you see a Cooper Red RX8, thats me. I normally park @ lot 32, occasion Art Parkade on snowy days.


Haha I HATE CROWCHILD...I take it every morning to UoC. Usually the ramp I use to merge off is full of cars in the morning, so I get stuck trying to climb it since it is an uphill ramp and there are no tire trails to follow in the ramp since cars only seem to use it in the morning. After a few times, I decided to take skip that ramp, and just go the longer route around which is safer.

You go to UC? Do you park in Art Parkade? I'm aware of two RX8s @ UC ( beside mine), a Velocity Red and a Titanium Grey. If you have the Red one, nice car!! if you have the grey one, sorry I keep waving at you everytime I see you. I wave to everyone who is driving a RX8.. no one wave back yet though, so i guess that makes me a Loser.

If you see a Cooper Red RX8, thats me. I normally park @ lot 32, occasion Art Parkade on snowy days.

Heh, I park at Lot 11, I'm Winning Blue. I occasionally see the Titanium Grey in Lot 11 with me. I have also seen the Velocity Red roaming around the outside of Lot 11.

I don't initiate waves haha, but if someone waves I'd wave back. Most of the 8 drivers I have seen just gives me a careface when they see me in my 8.

I blew a stop sign too, I was grateful no one was coming... I'm too afraid to click off the DSC as well :lol: at least I'm not the only one..
The weird thing was... totally blew the stop sign, but made the turn just beautifully?
Ahh, the joys of an 8 in winter..

How are you guys finding the deeper snow? I expected it to be a little rear wheel drive plow of sorts... not so much!

You go to UC? Do you park in Art Parkade? I'm aware of two RX8s @ UC ( beside mine), a Velocity Red and a Titanium Grey. If you have the Red one, nice car!! if you have the grey one, sorry I keep waving at you everytime I see you. I wave to everyone who is driving a RX8.. no one wave back yet though, so i guess that makes me a Loser.

If you see a Cooper Red RX8, thats me. I normally park @ lot 32, occasion Art Parkade on snowy days.


Hey, I saw another copper red on the Deerfoot before all this snow started, I guess it wasnt you.. :) I gave him a thumbs up out the sunroof..

I promise I'll start waving.. I rarely see any 8's since its been cold, there are 3 in my neighborhood that i know of but I think they are hibernating right now ;)

I'm out there.....usually in the NW on weekends and crusiing down Sarcee and then on Glenmore. I've seen a few VR's and TG's on the road lately.

whew turns out It just was my O2 senor acting up, nothing major. I'm glad the snow is melting too! i almost forgot how much fun this car is. But frustrating to see the car this dirty.

The dealer actually washed the car for me too! unfortunately this was 48 hours later

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/rx_evolv/febdirty.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/rx_evolv/febdirty2.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/rx_evolv/febdirty3.jpg


I figured the snow is almost done so I decided to wash my car this morning. But here it is 5 hours later:
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/rx_evolv/febdirty4.jpg


Yep Alberta weather sucks, cant wait 'til summer time.

Ok, we HAVE to start a thread, Canada's dirtiest 8... (better search on that 1st)
Pretty bad when someone walks by my computer saying "Hey, a pic of your filthy car..!" and its dying_here's.. not mine..

:lol:

heh i always wanted to start one of those threads...but im too lazy to upload my pics

god I really hate this Alberta weather.
Yesterday I was driving my newly washed car with all the windows down around town in my sunglasses, and now today I was an hour late to class because I have to spend 30 mins shoveling the snow on the driveway/sidewalk and then get stuck in traffic for another 70 mins.

I hear ya...washed 5 times in 3 weeks -.-"" looks like it will be 6 times in 4 weeks after this stuff melts...

I was pretty amazed when I wokeup to see so much snow...Thought it woulda stopped in the midst of night...

The big roads aren't bad...just lots of water...it's the small roads that are making me cringe, can hear/feel the snow scraping the underbody...

Well we're under a severe watch tonight guys, 10-15cm by morning...
Safe travels tomorrow! :)

We had a thunderstorm today. Lost power four times, lost liles from my computer....
We're getting the cold weather next week.

frick on a stick I knew it was a mistake putting the OEM summers on so early haha. Already the 2nd time this month I have to take the train to school instead of driving. .. ah well..

What? You must be a real n00b... everyone knows that we get dumped on big time at least once in May!! haha

Ha ha nOOb. Man what I hate is that I just washed my car and it's dirty a day later.

Geez, I figured I was being optimistic at 2wks from now..
Jumped the gun dying_here? ;)

Good thing you have alternate transportation if the need arises!

hah lesson learned lesson learned. its good all the snow has already melted today! I actually washed my car the day before the snowstorm and she's still clean! that alone was worth taking the public transportation :P

I think its time to dig up this thread.....

lol....AMAZING here is toronto...the 8 is CLEAN and driving it since last night...its liek 19 here with SUNNY clear skies@

VROOMVROOOM...beeeeeeeeeep...sorry was pretending to redline in my garage...VROOMVROOM

lol....AMAZING here is toronto...the 8 is CLEAN and driving it since last night...its liek 19 here with SUNNY clear skies@

yes, it is always amazing in Toronto when we have bad weather, and we always have good weather when Toronto is under 2 ft of snow. That's just the way weather is...


:)

lol....AMAZING here is toronto...the 8 is CLEAN and driving it since last night...its liek 19 here with SUNNY clear skies@


oohhhh thats just mean. Way to rub it in .

frick on a stick I knew it was a mistake putting the OEM summers on so early haha. Already the 2nd time this month I have to take the train to school instead of driving. .. ah well..

Dammit, I blew it... put mine on last weekend... WHOOPS! :cwm27:

Yes, for some reason some people just don't use their heads when driving in weather like this. I had a scary situation yesterday where I was stopped at a set of lights and was watching some guy in an SUV coming up fast in my rear view. I was barely able to move out of the way while this jackass slide right past me and through the intersection. If I had not been watching this guy would have plowed right in to me and he luckily just missed getting T-boned by other traffic going through the green light.

I think with so many people driving SUV's and trucks they get a false confidence that they can drive like they normally do when it you have ice and snow on the roads.

The guy obviously hasn't quite figured out that four wheel drive doesn't mean four wheel stop. That's why mine's been in the garage pretty much all winter, except for last weekend.. ;)

Dammit, I blew it... put mine on last weekend... WHOOPS! :cwm27:


hah even worst I actually put the winters back on ~ 2 weeks ago after being stranded for 3 days... then last week I put my summers back on again :spank: :spank: :spank:

hah even worst I actually put the winters back on ~ 2 weeks ago after being stranded for 3 days... then last week I put my summers back on again :spank: :spank: :spank:

Nothing wrong with that if you don't mind changing tires... you should be able to change all 4 tires by yourself in 15-20 minutes with the right equipments. :)

Partly cloudy and 79 in Phoenix today. ooooops sorry, wrong thread.

^^ Jerk j/k :)

I'm glad I'm lazy and kept my winters on. The funniest thing is that with that freak snowfall, you would think that people are use to driving in wet snowy conditions by now but turns out everybody turns into a newbie. The roads weren't even that bad but I saw a few SUVs on the side of the road. WTF!

well, I'm glad the weather has improvement significantly for the weekend... dry roads mean I can put some mileage on my car on the summer tires...

Some people can't drive on nice roads nevermind wet conditions (saw 5 cars in the ditch Friday morning at the same intersection)... Today, some moron in the an old 80s Accord was trying to run into the side of me on the northbound onramp from McKnight onto Deerfoot. He had the Yield sign and I was on the main free flow lane. He was obviously trying to beat me, but apparently he was not fast enough when he was at the Yield... we were side by side and he had to slow down to slot behind me... Normally, I don't react to such things but he had the nerve to honk at me, so I just gave him a 'wtf' wave. Yields means you have to slow down and proceed when it is safe to do so... some people.

Yes talk about idiots.....I got hit by a flying hubcap today...

Some idiot in an Accord (oncoming traffic) ran over a hubcap and sent it flying straight for me...the hubcap hit my bumper then bounced onto the roof...not sure if there's any damage yet, as my car is quite dirty...

I have no idea WTF the Accord guy was doing, he could have easily avoided it...argh...piss me off

hah even worst I actually put the winters back on ~ 2 weeks ago after being stranded for 3 days... then last week I put my summers back on again :spank: :spank: :spank:


Okay I dont feel so bad now :) Poor guy.. ha ha!

Yes talk about idiots.....I got hit by a flying hubcap today...

Some idiot in an Accord (oncoming traffic) ran over a hubcap and sent it flying straight for me...the hubcap hit my bumper then bounced onto the roof...not sure if there's any damage yet, as my car is quite dirty...

I have no idea WTF the Accord guy was doing, he could have easily avoided it...argh...piss me off


It must be Accord vs RX-8 week... I had some SOB in one flip up a Dodge wheel center cap at me.. surprised it didnt break the windshield, it hit with such a bang.. I thought those things were plastic...?? :scratchhe Noticed the Ram as it skidded past my view spinning.. pretty cool actually if it wasnt on MY CAR!! The worst part is, I was at least 200ft back from the guy! Sheesh!

It was my brother driving today...and I noticed the hubcap on the ground in the oncoming traffic...didn't think the idiot in the Accord wouldn't try to dodge it or even slow down...and the guy happened to run over it just before the two cars were parallel...So the cap flew outwards and hit our 8 pretty hard.

There were quite a few cars around us that just basically stopped and watched the whole incident...needless to say though the Accord guy didn't even brake or slow down and just left...I'm starting to wonder if the guy was out to get me -.-"

It was my brother driving today...and I noticed the hubcap on the ground in the oncoming traffic...didn't think the idiot in the Accord wouldn't try to dodge it or even slow down...and the guy happened to run over it just before the two cars were parallel...So the cap flew outwards and hit our 8 pretty hard.

There were quite a few cars around us that just basically stopped and watched the whole incident...needless to say though the Accord guy didn't even brake or slow down and just left...I'm starting to wonder if the guy was out to get me -.-"
It's people like that that could use an "accidental" tire iron upside the head from time to time. No respect for anything or anyone other than themselves.

^^ LOL bruce!