Just to clarify, I live in south-central Kansas (read: no hills to speak of), and I'm just going to be driving to and from school and around town. I'm in high school, so I don't have $1000 laying around to spend on extra wheels/tires for winter. I was wondering how the car in stock configuration held up, but the responses do give me insight as to whether or not it'll work. For what I'm doing, it seems that I should be fine. Thanks for the help anyway though!

 

I drive mine in the snow when I get caught out in it. I only have my reg. tires on it.I have never got stuck but the traction control and other 3 letter electronic help you aids has kept it going around the turns a few times. My reg. driver in the snow is a 97 Dodge 6 cylinder pickup truck.

 

Depends on what tires you're running. I've run my X-Fire in the snow for the last two winters on all-season tires and some sandbags in the back and it did OK, but I wouldn't dare try driving in the snow with summer tires.

 

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but there seems to be a Sport/Summer and "Winter" toggle switch on the console next to the gear shifter.

I have used this myself and it seems to feel similar to many other car's OD systems in which it feels 'heavier' and in more control with the W switch activated. I have not used the car in snow but in icey conditions and torrential rains it works like Mercedes magic.

Does this car perform well in the snow...YES!

Before I bought my Crossfire a kid similar to my age or younger, 24 at the time, drove his Crossfire in the winter in town. He always left before I got to his street on my ride to the train, even in deep snow.





The plan was similar to his, I would get good use out of my new purchase and drive it year round. But then I considered that it was too nice of a car for me to use in the winter when I have a Buick readily avaiable. Also I've heard that salt or salt-equivallent is used on the roads wrecks havok with o2 sensors in all vehicles. I figured a Buick sensor would be cheaper to replace than a Daimler Chrysler. Yet, the Crossfire has an impressive full underbody 'shield' that protects all the dangly parts.

Very recently of last week I was cruising the craigslist for a high miles Crossfire for cheap as a daily driver. I really do enjoy driving my car but feel like I need to preserve it. If I could get one that I wouldn't feel guilty using I would totally rock one in the winter. I feel very safe in my Crossfire.

 

My mom's Cadillac deVille had a hard time getting up a small steep hill in the snow many years ago. A week later we had a Blazer. A week after that we had a JEEP. Nobody liked the passenger side floorwell bump in the Blazer.

My first car was a 1986 JEEP Wagoneer Limited (Cherokee 4-door). My second car was and still is a Buick Riviera. The Riv is 10 times better in the snow than my 4x4 JEEP.

I'm guessing the best vehicle for the snow is a 3-series BMW since I see them blasting past everyone on the highway in a blizzard. I may just be that we don't see the 3 later down the road in a ditch.

 

i just bought my car in June so I have never had it in the snow. I'd love to get a pickup or other beater car but I just don't have the room. I picked up a set of Mercedes wheels with ContiWinterContacts mounted up from a member here. I'm pretty confident that the car will drive fine in the snow.

 

Looks like you might just get a chance to try it out tonight Nick.
Good Luck, and keep us posted.

 

It snowed a little bit here today but nothing stuck. I'll let you know how it goes after we have a few inches on the ground.

 

Reminds me of a time in the Summer when I asked about the Pontiac Solstice cause I wanted one real bad; still do. I told the guy I couldn't forsee this being usable in the snow. The guy said, "says who".

I came back in February to test drive one. They had to jump start it since the car didn't have enough insulation or something and the cold just ate the power. I really didn't like that because I don't have a garage.

Sadly there wasn't a lot of snow on the ground only dry and cold. Seeing as I live in New England I feel it is important to test drive a vehicle you intend to be your daily driver in the dead of winter and preferably in the snow.

 

Don't let this happen to you:

DSCN1159.jpg

I live in Northeast Ohio 3 miles from the south shore of Lake Erie. My driveway is a gravel/asphalt mix that S turns uphill. I have an Isuzu Rodeo that I drive in winter.

Bought the Crossfire in March of 2004 and found out very quickly that it doesn't work well in snow. The traction control applies the brake on the spinning rear wheel which causes the other rear wheel to spin so the traction control applies the brake on that wheel. Eventually the traction control locks both rear wheels and stalls the engine. If you have to drive in snow turn the traction control OFF.

You're driving a vehicle that weighs 3,000 pounds and has a tire contact patch the size of a semi tractor which means it floats on snow.

My guess is that the folks who get their Crossfires to go through snow have automatic transmissions. The automatic transmissioned Crossfires have limited slip differentials while the manual versions don't.

 

I didn't know the automatics have an LSD??......the stick with Blizzacks was unstoppable last year...the automatic with the OEM Conti-all seasons was terrible. I put DSWs on the automatic recently.....can't wait to experience the expected improvement in the snow.

PS; I think that pic is calendar material!!!

 

Mine is a manual. It did great in the snow last year (and we had a lot).

 

Mine is a manual with blizzaks and it is awesome as long as the snow is not equal or greater than the height of the front bumper (mine is lowered too).

I do not think the statement about the LSD is accurate as all SRTs have autos and no XF I am aware of has a LSD, hence many of them going to the wavetrack...

 

I see you mentioned the REST button, is that a recirculating mode?

 

I only drove my Crossfire one winter while I had the Conti's AS tires, and it handled very well.

 

The REST button runs the heater on low fan for up to 30 minutes after you have stopped the car. When you come out of the mall on a snowy day the inside of the car is warm and the windows are clear.