How my AWD is the best thing in the world!!

[Whelan]

Even though CT did not get a ton of snow, the slush, sleet, ice, and snow mix was probably even worse. Where do I start...Well when leaving my office to make a V-day run to get something for the gf, there is a nice 30 degree hill, very short but steep that leads to the main road. Well a guy in his Saab 9-3 sat at the bottom at the red light for fear of getting stuck, apparently it happens a lot there. My cousin was with me and says, "no way." I laugh and pull around the Saab and sit at the very edge of the top, lol. Light goes green I start to go, AWD kicks in and the car motors right up and over, not one problem!Taking corners is amazing, in places where my Civic would have been stuck sliding or spinnig the Matrix AWD just plowed, it was amazing. I pulled into an unplowed space on the side of the road, got out, did my shopping and when it was time to leave, pulled a perfect U turn out to head back to my office, not one problem!I stopped to have a smoke once I got out of work in a parking lot near my office before jumping on the parkway. The security guy for that place drives a base Matrix. I was pulling in watching him back and forth it twice before he got out of an unplowed section. I promptly pulled into where he was making my own tracks, had my cig and got back in the car. Easily pulled out with no issue whatsoever. Leaving the office I was about to get off my exit and a plow was two cars up, he went by my exit ramp leaving a nice pile of slushy crap. Well I went up to it, into it, and right through it, once again the AWD was amazing!What can I say I love this car and my AWD.

[drunkenmaxx]

pretty sweet huh? do a search for "donut" and see how much i enjoyed mine.

[Whelan]

It was a blast, I didnt want to stop driving, lol.

[Ol' Timer]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »Even though CT did not get a ton of snow, the slush, sleet, ice, and snow mix was probably even worse. What can I say I love this car and my AWD.Well, I guess I have the 2nd Best Thing. Snow Tires with ABS, Traction Control and Stabilitrak (aka Vehicle Stability Control).They all came into play yesterday. The Stabiltrak was the most interesting of the electronic safety controls. When I changed lanes at about 25mph, I went over some deep slush which caused the rear of the car to sway off course a bit. I hear this BEEP from the dash and the VSC light goes on. That's when the VSC kicked in to set me straight. It's a good feeling to know this stuff actually works when it's supposed to.

[Whelan]

VSC is a great thing when it comes into play. I almost wish there was a way to have a light come on the dash to tell me when its in AWD mode. I mean you can def. feel it, but when i changed lanes I was amazed at how quick the AWD kicks in, its a lot faster than I thought it would be.

[drunkenmaxx]

find a parking lot and do some donuts, you'll be glad you did.

[Whelan]

I am tonight before i hit the bar with my buddy. The beach parking lot near my house is unplowed and nice and slick hehehehe.

[BlueCrush]

Mmmmmm....donuts!

[nygiantzz1]

My Vibe is FWD and obviously didn't do as good as yours but I did really enjoy driving in the snow. I left work Tuesday night and the storm had dropped about 4-5 inches of snow. It was midnight, nobody on the road, cold as hell. I had fresh powder all the way home. The thing I enjoyed was the silence. No tire hum, no road noise. I tooled along at 40mph smooth as glass. It felt like I was floating. My last vehicle was a 99 Ford Explorer 4x4. I know exactly how much fun romping in the snow is. Enjoy your AWD!

[prathman]

I'm sure the AWD is lots of fun in the snow, but I have to wonder a bit about the 30 degree hill. I live in the San Francisco area and the steepest street in that city is only 17.5 degrees (31.5% grade). Fortunately it never snows here since the streets with that kind of slope would be pure chaos.BTW, Baldwin St. in Dunedin, NZ is said to be the steepest paved street in the world with a slope of 19 degrees. There's a picture of a car parked on that street at:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...r.jpg

[AKLGT]

well, i've drivin up some pretty steep hills myself. awd will definitely help you out, unless it's ice and then even studded tires aren't gonna get you up there!

[Whelan]

It may not have been 30, I know that is really steep now that I think about it, but its a decent quick up slope. And when I saw a Camry and an Eclipse both sturggling and spinning to get on top of it, I had lots of joy in just pushing right up and over with little hesitation.Quote, originally posted by nygiantzz1 »My Vibe is FWD and obviously didn't do as good as yoursTake note of this statement, one of the few times you will hear a 2WD Vibe/Matrix make this claim, lol. Since we are the slower ones (some of us that aren't S/C'ed that is. I'll take the credit when I can, lol.

[poserpriest]

Wait now, so are there AWD vibes or is it just the Matrix?

[Ol' Timer]

Quote, originally posted by poserpriest »Wait now, so are there AWD vibes or is it just the Matrix?There WERE AWD Vibes and Matrixes up until the 2006 Model Year. Now they are just History. So not even Toyota produces the AWD Matrix anymore.

[mkaresh]

Put some winter tires on the car, then you'll be surprised by how well it stops as well as how well it goes in the snow. Too often people focus only on the going part.

[Whelan]

This summer the car is getting a set of shoes, Goodyear Assurance tires, can't wait.