944/968 in wet weather/snow

944/968 in wet weather/snow

Author
Discussion

OlberJ

Original Poster:

14,101 posts

240 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
I have a 928 S4 and it's absolutely awful in the snow due to the rather wide rear tyres and the weight distribution. Seems ok in the wet but haven't really pushed it.

Does anyone run a 944/968 all year round? Are they much better in bad weather?

Trying to look at alternatives to going down the 4wd Audi/Scooby route. Although an Audi S2 is very appealing to me.

I do have a strong hankering for a 944 S2 or a tweaked turbo. Am i peeing into the wind if i think it will be good in the less than brilliant weather we seem to get most of the time?

supersport

4,267 posts

234 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
My 944 was our family car for two years regardless of the weather, was absolutely fine. In fact if it is bad snow, I still take it rather than the Golf.

The last time it was bad I remember watching Volvos and stuff getting stuck as we just motored on. Was a blast on an empty bit of tarmac. No problems in the wet either.

I didn't run winter tyres, just made sure there was plenty of tread come winter time.

RiccardoG

1,664 posts

279 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all

Have you tried the 928 with winter tyres on? Must be cheaper than buying a new car... unless you're into the man maths tongue out

OlberJ

Original Poster:

14,101 posts

240 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
That's positive. Thanks.

Did you find it was quite snappy in the wet or just playful?

I spotted the roof rack thread further down the page and am thinking i could probably get a snowboard roof box for it. That's the only thing i'd really need the space for.

OlberJ

Original Poster:

14,101 posts

240 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
RiccardoG said:
Have you tried the 928 with winter tyres on? Must be cheaper than buying a new car... unless you're into the man maths tongue out
Weirdly, i bought the 928 from a man named Riccardo!

The 928 is tucked up and will be coming out in good weather. The old man looks after that and i see it as a long term investment with the most to gain so i'm not selling it.

Selling my 964 on instead and i want something i don't have to worry about so much and can use in all weathers (The 911 is capable, it's just too nice to ruin).

944 ticks the boxes of being more useable, more space and still delivering on a hoon.

benjj

6,787 posts

170 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
Absolutely fine in snow assuming you're on the right tyres. I used mine come rain or snow for 12 months, absolutely loved it smile

I'd suggest one without the LSD though, a tight diff makes snow driving a bit hairy to live with day after day.







And a link here to a very boring video when I was trying out some new Yokohama winter tyres on the car. Top Gear it isn't but just shows how stable the 944 is on the white stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSIj1edEsWY

RiccardoG

1,664 posts

279 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
OlberJ said:
Weirdly, i bought the 928 from a man named Riccardo!

The 928 is tucked up and will be coming out in good weather. The old man looks after that and i see it as a long term investment with the most to gain so i'm not selling it.

Selling my 964 on instead and i want something i don't have to worry about so much and can use in all weathers (The 911 is capable, it's just too nice to ruin).

944 ticks the boxes of being more useable, more space and still delivering on a hoon.
Odd indeed, wasn't me though, haven't owned a 928 (though I did own a 964).


jcelee

1,058 posts

251 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
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My 968 Sport on a cheap secondhand set of 16" Design 90 wheels with mixed winter tyres (Pirelli Sottozero up front and Hankook Icebear rears) went beautifully in snow, covering hills as if it were a dry road. The whole set cost less than £300 fitted.

Boo152

979 posts

206 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
OlberJ said:
Selling my 964 on instead and i want something i don't have to worry about so much and can use in all weathers (The 911 is capable, it's just too nice to ruin).
You'll regret it if you sell!
wink

Haves1979

489 posts

231 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
I'd advise driving an audi s2 first, was always a bit disappointed with mine. Performance never felt that great and in the wet had the most horrendous understeer I've ever known.. People get on about the 964 c4 having understeer, this thing was on another level...

DKL

4,624 posts

229 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
On summer tyres my 944t is useless in the snow. It stays in. My wife's impreza is just fine.
944 is for sale and very usable (except in snow!)

Edited by DKL on Wednesday 26th February 13:37

supersport

4,267 posts

234 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
I found the 944 very easy to control in the snow, found a snowy roundabout (a car park) to play around and really struggled to keep it sliding all the way around, it just wanted to behave.

Never had a problem in the wet either.

2.5 Lux

Lowtimer

4,293 posts

175 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
My tweaked Turbo does have a working limited slip diff and is absolutely peachy in the pouring rain. I've had it out in the snow a few times and found it very tractable. I'm on Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres in the S2 sizes (205/55 16 front, 225/50 16 rear) rather than the official late-turbo size (225/50 front and 245/45 rear), and it would be reasonable to assume that the slightly narrower tyres help in both standing water and snow. Plus they make it feel nicer, especially the steering.

blade7

11,311 posts

223 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
DKL said:
On summer tyres my 944t is useless in the snow. It stays in. My wife's impreza is just fine.
944 is for sale and very usable (except in snow!)
Jeez is this still for sale confused.

andy97

4,742 posts

229 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
quotequote all
Another massive vote for winter tyres. I don't have experience on a 944 but my BMW 1 series feels pretty secure.

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

Thursday 27th February 2014
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Weight-up the back with plenty of bags of sand (more practical than cement if youre stuck) and ideally winter tyres too and they wont be too bad.

A few years ago I struggled with 245s all round on a super-light car, particularly at the rear as it had no rear seat or hatch carpet, tools or spare and a polycarbonate hatch, but I still managed to drive past hopelessly stuck BMWs in a hopelessly compromised car.


DRH986

293 posts

151 months

Friday 28th February 2014
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I owned a 944S2 and two 968's during the time I lived in Sweden. I got caught out by a late snowfall just after I'd put the summer tyres (virtually brand new) back on in the last year I was there. This was the first time I'd driven on summer tyres in the snow and the car was virtually undriveable in places. Night and day difference compared to winter tyres. Never had a problem before this over three winters with my car as a daily driver.

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

Friday 28th February 2014
quotequote all
I curently have 255s on the rear wheels which are ridiculous, even though theyre an approved size. I now keep show chains to hand through the winter.

DKL

4,624 posts

229 months

Friday 28th February 2014
quotequote all
blade7 said:
Jeez is this still for sale confused.
And your point is?

benjj

6,787 posts

170 months

Friday 28th February 2014
quotequote all
DKL said:
blade7 said:
Jeez is this still for sale confused.
And your point is?
I may be way off here but I think he's indicating that he's surprised that your car is still for sale.