Looking at a getting a Mustang...

I am looking at trading in my car for a used 99-01 Mustang GT w/ Manual
Trans. I live in Iowa and would be having to drive this car year around
including in the snow. Does anyone here have experience with driving a
Mustang in the snow, is it difficult? Unfortunately the only cars I have
driven in the snow are FWD or a Jeep with 4WD. I am a very cautious driver
and haven't been in any wrecks but the over all thought of a RWD in the snow
is intimidating. If I do go this way, should I buy a set of Snow tires?
(Blizzaks or the likes) or will the standard All season tires work?

--
Thank you,

~~~
Branden Nelsen

Branden Nelsen wrote:
> I am looking at trading in my car for a used 99-01 Mustang GT w/ Manual
> Trans. I live in Iowa and would be having to drive this car year around
> including in the snow. Does anyone here have experience with driving a
> Mustang in the snow, is it difficult? Unfortunately the only cars I have
> driven in the snow are FWD or a Jeep with 4WD. I am a very cautious driver
> and haven't been in any wrecks but the over all thought of a RWD in the snow
> is intimidating. If I do go this way, should I buy a set of Snow tires?
> (Blizzaks or the likes) or will the standard All season tires work?
>
> --
> Thank you,
>
> ~~~
> Branden Nelsen

skip the all seasons and get a set of dedicated snow tires... I had a
set of Blizzaks on my 02 GT and the car went through some very hard
michigan winters! They were simply amazing!

Branden Nelsen wrote:

> I am looking at trading in my car for a used 99-01 Mustang GT w/ Manual
> Trans. I live in Iowa and would be having to drive this car year around
> including in the snow. Does anyone here have experience with driving a
> Mustang in the snow, is it difficult? Unfortunately the only cars I have
> driven in the snow are FWD or a Jeep with 4WD. I am a very cautious driver
> and haven't been in any wrecks but the over all thought of a RWD in the snow
> is intimidating. If I do go this way, should I buy a set of Snow tires?
> (Blizzaks or the likes) or will the standard All season tires work?
>

I live north of Boston MA, in a hilly town, and I use my '98 5-speed Mustang GT
summer and winter, without problems.

I have a set of four snows, mounted on cheapo steel wheels, and I change
over before and after winter. I strongly advise snows on rear *and* front,
for starting *and* steering'n'stopping.

You might also consider adding some weight to the rear, with sandbags
or the like in the trunk. I don't bother, but GTs are kinda front-heavy.
--
Cheers, Bob

ZombyWoof wrote...

> Driving a RWD car in the snow is definitely a different experience
> then FWD or 4WD. It takes patience, practice and the right tires.
> Having a manual transmission will help as well. I would skip the All
> Seasons and head straight to dedicated Snow Tires if your snow sticks
> around for more then a day at a time.


And if the snow didn't stay around more than a day at time, I get two extra rims and mount snow tires on them. So when it snows, simply swap the rear wheels.

My 2¢
Davïd
Greenville, NC

Ðavïd wrote:

> ZombyWoof wrote...
>
>>Driving a RWD car in the snow is definitely a different experience
>>then FWD or 4WD. It takes patience, practice and the right tires.
>>Having a manual transmission will help as well. I would skip the All
>>Seasons and head straight to dedicated Snow Tires if your snow sticks
>>around for more then a day at a time.
>
>
> And if the snow didn't stay around more than a day at time, I get two extra rims and mount snow tires on them. So when it snows, simply swap the rear wheels.
>
> My 2¢
> Davïd
> Greenville, NC

Snows on the rear only is a great solution for folks that want help getting
started but not stopped. Oh, and did I mention steering?
--
Cheers, Bob

Depending on the average amount of snow you get, the Mustang might be
driveable on a regular basis. In the Cincinnati, OH, area, we get a
limited amount, with some of the deeper snows being in the 6-8" range. I
have driven my Mustangs ('94 GT, '96 SVT Cobra, '00 GT, '03 Mach 1) when
the snow depth has been 5" or less on all-season tires with 140lbs of
sand in the trunk. I have been able to get around reasonably well,
although I do have some trouble on the hills. I personally would use
snow tires if the number of days of snow during the winter were greater
than 20 and the average depth was 6". Beyond that, 4WD vehicles with
snow tires might be more likely to work more consistently.

Good luck!

Branden Nelsen wrote:

>I am looking at trading in my car for a used 99-01 Mustang GT w/ Manual
>Trans. I live in Iowa and would be having to drive this car year around
>including in the snow. Does anyone here have experience with driving a
>Mustang in the snow, is it difficult? Unfortunately the only cars I have
>driven in the snow are FWD or a Jeep with 4WD. I am a very cautious driver
>and haven't been in any wrecks but the over all thought of a RWD in the snow
>is intimidating. If I do go this way, should I buy a set of Snow tires?
>(Blizzaks or the likes) or will the standard All season tires work?
>
>
>

i live in Montreal, and i have had a 93, 96 and a 01 mustang - all with
the V8. Montreal gets snow - but not as much as in the past. is your
area in a snow belt? regardless, i have driven my mustangs in the snow
on occasion at the beginning and the end of the summer seasons when i
was caught. my 01 Gt had trax control - but it was very average. from
my experience, it is a hard car to drive. its low, front heavy and
there isnt enough weight behind the rear wheels. my 98 camaro had more
weight back there and was much much more stable. if you do thise with
the mustang, get four clunky snow tires (15inchers) and slap them on
some steel wheels. you will have to master the second gear start, and
get used to cornering in neutral. i never use cruise control when it is
even close to freezing temp either, i have hit ice and lost the tail a
few times (when driving along an arrow straight road). it was a lot of
fun. my best advice to you... for the money yo uare spending, get a
cheaper, low mile 5.0 lx 90-93 convertible to use in the summer. with
the rest you plan to spend, buy a winter beater - like a subaru loyale,
or old toyota pickup truck with RWD. that will help you gtet used to
the RWD sensation. it is safer to get a winter/summer combo then run a
01 all year. lastly, if the car you are looking at is a winter driven
car, i would avoid it. check the rear quarters for fill around the
wheel well - that is where they all seem to get screwed up in winter
driving. harry in montreal