Well I might be spending the next 2-3 years in Anchorage, Alaska. So... I was thinking about selling the car or just handing it in. I've never been to Alaska (i'm from Miami Fl)so I have no idea what the weather and so on, is like. I'm just guessing but would this place just be to extream for my Rx8? I dont want to keep it if I'm going to have to store it for 6+months a year. I was going to ask this in the region forum but wasn't really sure where to ask. I just dont want to take a nice new car into the snow and risk crashing it, or someone hitting me.

If anyone can offer any info that would be great.

 

I can't help you much as I haven't had my 8 long enough to drive it in a winter...but what is your experience with driving in snow?

 

Never been in snow. I do under stand it can be a bitch to drive on and all, thats why if it snows alot I plan to get a 4x4 or awd car.

 

Check out how much snowfall they get a year. Winter tires and some defensive driving gets me through winter here in Canada...

 

I do live in the city of the worst drivers (2 years and running) and road rage.
So how does the RX8 hold up in cold weather? I'll need to look at my service book later to see if they say anything about to cold to drive it in.

 

A set of winter tires on 17" cheap/disposable rims is all I need.

I daily drive, thru 4 winters so far.....

S

 

I leave my 8 in the Train station parking lot all day. And only one time did I have to crank it more than once to get it to start during the winter. The seat warmers and the cup warmers help in the cold weather :-P

 

Moving to Anchorage, also. From Tampa. Did you keep the 8?

 

what're you guys doing in alaska?

people do drive cars in anchorage. if you're a decent driver and put on winter tires, and know when to stay home, you should be ok. the biggest risk is probably exposure to the cold and salt

 

What people are saying about the snow tires is correct, it can behave and "hold up" just fine in snowy conditions. HOWEVER, this is freaking alaska we're talking about, and the car still has relatively low ground clearance. If you ever have to drive in unplowed roads in mroe than a few inches of snow, you probably want to think again about this....

 

Snow is not that bad to drive on as long asu realize that u need to tak eyour time on the stuff and not go flying around. However a rearwheel drive car is ALOT harder in the snow than fwd however it is possible especially with snow tires. I drove mine tghe first winter i got it with falken 452 tires (which are directional and made for rain/dry the worst snow traction tires ever however they are strictly high performance summer tires) I did make it through but snow tires would help the cause alot... I wouold keep it and get some snow tires and just take your time on the roads.

 

The basic rule is that you need to drive slower in the snow, because you stop slower also. Your 8 can handle it, but a Subaru could handle it better You could probably keep it though. There will be a lot of gravel on the road in the winter up there, probably not so much salt, so you will probably want a bra, the 8 flings gravel all over the place.

 

Try searching for Alaska in the NW forum and you will get a lot of info including which members to send private messages to for more info.

 

I just moved down from Anchorage last year after calling it home for the previous 9 years. I would not own an RX8 in Anchorage. The temperature is not the problem, or even the snow. It is all of the ice. Anchorage gets a crazy amount of snowfall because of its location and it does not (cannot) get plowed fast enough. It just gets packed into ice, layer over layer. Combine that with a city that does not have a single flat spot to drive on, and your 8 will spend more time in the ditch than anywhere else. Heck, you wouldn't be able to make it through the Wal-Mart parking lot on most days. A rear wheel drive of any kind is useless there. Some front-wheel-drive cars can have problems depending on where you live. An all-wheel-drive car with studded tires is the way to go……or a 4X pick-up.

There is always the 3 months a year when there is no ice on the ground that you could drive it.

 

WOW!!....im glad i live in southern cali...

 

^I'm glad I live in FL...

 

damn..from miami to anchorage? that's a big change..i would want to keep the car..but then again it's alaska.

 

depends on what part of alaska. Id recommend a used STi, why not have a little fun in the snow