(This type of snow isn't too hard to drive in. When the road is completely covered with a white layer and frozen and severely sloped. With regular tires and 2WD, you're in trouble...)
Is the song (by Pharcyde) that comes to mind when I think back on yesterday's driving experience. I was once again surprised to find 4 inches of new snow covering everything, and the roads were once again whitened. I tried driving up the hill next to my house, and despite a constant pressure applied to the accelerator, my car slowly came to a stop. No matter how hard I could have floored it with my front tires spinning (like a car in a cartoon, just before it zooms off into a chase) , or if I tried to rock my car out of this unstable position I could not have made it up any further. I put on the hazards, and shifted into reverse. Slowly I started down the ice covered hill, and when I began to slip, I engaged into 2nd gear and gently drifted to the side of the road so that my left tires bumped into the curb. Using the curb as a rail, I made my way back to my house in reverse. If the road had been banked towards the other side of the road, I would have been in trouble.
So yes, I will buy chains this weekend when I go to the city (broke the last pair). I have to admit, the folks in Ubuyama are skilled at driving in snow-covered narrow roads. Some people drive over 40km (20 is what I drive) on the slippery roads in little pickup trucks with no problems, although they have 4WD and snowtires to help them out. If I end up living in a snowy area, then I will be driving a car with AWD and at the very least I will have some chains.
Comments (4)
Glad you're safe and sound while driving those icy, hazardous roads in Ubuyama! Do you remember our ski trips and how dad would crawl over black ice after doing an "oops, oh shit!" type of skid?
After being in Montana's snow (and skidding slo--mo through a stop sign, courtesy of Mika) I've decided that recreational snow is the only way to go for this So. Cal mom!
Posted by: mom | February 7, 2004 9:27 AM
Posted on: February 7, 2004 09:27
RE: AWD/4WD
Infinti FX45, Jeep Wrangler, Subaru WRX STI/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo...and maybe...now this is a big maybe. Humvee H2. Of course, I don't know what Japan has cooking on the V8 AWD market, but I'm sure you have your pick of BAV's "Bad Ass Vehicles."
These would be my choice for AWD vehicles, although the Volvo XC90 is right up there too. I don't know about ground clearance, but you have my okay on any of these. BTW no old man mini vans! What is up with our Dad's anyways? The best is the Nissan commercial for the Nissan Quest: "Cause Mom's are Changing!" hahaha. I know that you are thinking it, so don't...I am not, nor will I ever be a ricer. Although your Civic would probably be more fun with a GSR swap. That was a joke...sort of.
Posted by: Scuba Steve | February 8, 2004 1:43 PM
Posted on: February 8, 2004 13:43
I predict that when you, Brian, Chris, and I turn 50, we will all develop a medical condition that slightly alters the chemical composition of the fluids in our nervous systems, activating an irresistable urge to buy a minivan. It will also cause us to use such buzzwords as "crumple zone", "sufficient ground clearance", "curtain airbag systems", "optimal cargo space", and "good fuel to weight economy". We should now immediately draft and leave directions to trusted family members to freeze our assets, and to buy a pre-selected type of car so that when this happens (and chances are strong that it will) this plan will prevent us from completely embarrassing ourselves. Think of it as a pre-nup (more accurately it would be an inter-nuptual agreement) between ourselves and our sanity.
Posted by: Adam | February 8, 2004 5:07 PM
Posted on: February 8, 2004 17:07
I predict that at least one of us owns a minivan before we all turn 40, if not two of us. I won't make any name predictions (Brian and Chris), but I will say that they have a birthday in Feburary! That leaves it a 50/50 guess...no pun intended.
Yeah, my Dad is like, "Da back seats are comfortable, and I have plenty of room to carry my fishing poles." The sadest thing is, my dad fishes like 6 times a year, if that. I think Ford and GM have it all wrong with their comeback "retro cars." GT, SS and Shelby Cobra are all wrong. They need to bring back the LTD and the Econoline. I think my inter-nuptual will be short and simple. If I mention the word minivan or jetta in the same sentence as "I want to buy/own," then that is immediate grounds for euthenasia!
Posted by: Scuba Steve | February 9, 2004 1:24 PM
Posted on: February 9, 2004 13:24