got my pm but no reply=(?

 

I think when people make that comment they're saying it with snow tires on. I started on a steeper incline than that yesterday and I was fine. This is even my first winter driving manual and a RWD car.

I think most people get high performance winter tires. And it's just as fun as the stock tires IMO.

 

I kept hearing how bad the rx-8 is in the winter (before I bought the car) from personal experience I wouldn't say it is as bad as people make out to be. This my second winter now and the car has yet to let me down. While keeping the traction systems off allows some fun drifting and cornering.

All that said if owned the car I would probaby keep it in the garage (during bad weather), overall Toronto has no idea of what driving is about be it summer or winter.

 

This car is so much easier to drive in the snow than your average FWD econobox. It doesn't understeer, the rear-end is easily adjustable using the throttle, it has heavy steering effort so you don't get the white knuckles, and the limited-slip differential allows you to put the power down when one wheel is riding on snow and the other on asphalt (most FWD cars fail miserably at this scenario). All the good characteristics of summer handling translate directly into winter driving.

 

I finally got a chance to play around in the snow with the RX-8 last night here in Toronto. It's my first time driving a LSD-equipped RWD car. I must say it is surprising good, exceeded all my expectations.

It is actually quite difficult to make the car spin out with the LSD (all electronic aids off of course). The car naturally "understeer" while hanging the tail out. It takes very aggressive throttle inputs to keep the car in a controlled, continous drift in a circle countersteering, even on snow. Otherwise the car would tend to straighten out.

I can gain confidence very quickly with this car. (Not so much so that it would turn back and bite me) Very happy with it indeed. Cheers.

 

glad to hear that=0

 

Just got back from Toronto this pm. On the way home, around 8:00 pm, we got freezing rain at Woodstock and into London (naturally!). The car was great, tires were awesome but the upper portion of the windshield continually froze over. It was like the defroster couldn't get the heat to the top part of the windshield. Had it at max heat, fan at 3 and the rain still froze. Went through a lot of fluid tonight!!

 

Driving to work today, i got so many people staring at me. Driving my 8 in 3 inches of snow in the hilly parts of cincinnati. LOL Not a single problem with the Dunlop m3 wintter sports on. the only times i slide was when i punched i on purpose.

 

Do you mind if I ask where? I'd love to find someplace where I could "learn" how the 8 handles in winter properly, plus have some fun too

 

For practicing, any large parking lot will do. Just find one that doesn't have many lamp posts.
One with a surface that's smooth and flat (without bumps and/or sewers would be a bonus.

If you're good and brave, then just go out late at night when there are no cars around. Go to any commercial/industrial area where the roads are wider and no one will complain about noise.