djw@lanl.ARPA (11/09/84)
Use at least two Studded / Radial / Mud-Snow tires on the front end. The rear end will slip around on you if you don't have something to grab with, so... If you can afford it, four is best. On ice you need chains or studs, no other combination will be safe. On a fresh wet snow you have ice underneath ( squashing the snow forms ice just under the wheels ) however, for snow > 2inches to too deep, you need the aggresive tread of the mud and snow tire. You choose, but front-wheel drive will make you able to go just a little faster than everyone else until you come to a corner. then you must remember to hit the gas!!!!!! not the brake- to get around the corner. The end that wants to go slowest, wants to be last around the corner; therefore, lift up lightly on the emergency brake to slow down the rear wheels and you will straighten out in the direction in which you are currently moving, whether that's the way you started the corner or not... ( Except on a Stupidroo, they for some reason attached the emergency brake to the front wheels and you're going to hit the snowbank no matter what you try. -------- I've been through 3 Citroens, 3 Honda Civics, and 2 72 Honda Sport Coupes. The Cits are far and away the best car going for snow/ice. The Saab may also have the emergency brake attached to the front? Probably not, the swedes seem to be able to do most things ok even if they do do three and five cylinder cars.:-) Experience? I've lived the last 15 years in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico where we have three seasons... June, July, and Winter. At 8000 feet, our weather is about the same as Denver, Co. It snowed 4-5 inches three days ago, 10/14/84 If I remember correctly. I've had snow on my place on July 4th. ( rare, but true).
billr@tekred.UUCP (Bill Randle) (11/15/84)
SAABs (at least my '74 99) have the emergency brake acting on the front wheels [is this an attempt to put the braking action on the the most effective wheels (i.e. the ones with the most weight) or for convenience? I don't know.] As for the 3 & 5 cylinder engines, they haven't made any 5 cyl ones (that is/was Audi) and the 3 cyl 2-strokes were very reliable engines (gauranteed for life for the original owner). -Bill Randle SAAB owner