Cougars bad in snow?

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Cougars bad in snow?

December 15, 2005, 12:51:28 PM

Ever since I bought my '87 Cougar, people have been telling me about how bad these cars handle in snow (I live in Bismarck, ND). I'm running brand new all-seasons and I'm getting around town just fine with all the snow and slick streets. I just know how to drive in these conditions. So, I would have to argue the point that the car does just fine in the snow, if the person behind the wheel knows what their doing.

Anyone else been told about "how bad these cars are in snow"?

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #1 – December 15, 2005, 01:22:17 PM

Cougars are fine in snow, just as good or better than other RWD cars. With a little weight in the trunk and decent tires they are very reliable. With snow tires they are better than a FWD car.

I see you are in ND. Are you getting the same three day blizzard we are right now. If so, you can put the car to the test yourself.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #2 – December 15, 2005, 01:38:15 PM

hmm my cougar sucks balls in the snow. Of course 235 tires and a lsd make it spin around like a merry go round.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #3 – December 15, 2005, 01:44:10 PM

Our weather isn't too bad here. A lot of wind and blowing snow, but we haven't gotten anything real bad, yet. Then again, I've been through some bad winters, so most seem pretty mild to me.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #4 – December 15, 2005, 02:14:30 PM

it depends on how you drive. and rember, no matter what you drive if you are unfortunate enough to have stopped with your drive wheels on a ice patch no matter what you have your not getting off it unless somebody helps you. and alot of it is people dont know how to drive a RWD car, expecialy in the snow.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #5 – December 15, 2005, 02:29:04 PM

Quote from: Manson

it depends on how you drive. and rember, no matter what you drive if you are unfortunate enough to have stopped with your drive wheels on a ice patch no matter what you have your not getting off it unless somebody helps you. and alot of it is people dont know how to drive a RWD car, expecialy in the snow.

agreed, except for the ppl not knowing how to drive RWD. they just can't drive period. the majority of the cars i see in the ditch are FWD.

my TC sucked in the snow because i had 255 rear tires an very little tread. my snow tires aren't even broken in and they perform a million times better in 3-4 inches than my previous tires did in a dusting.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #6 – December 15, 2005, 02:56:46 PM

My cougar loved the snow.
It would go out and run around do donuts and just have fun.
Pilots on my T bird right now 255/50/16s on there.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #7 – December 15, 2005, 04:33:02 PM

my TC sucks in the snow but im sure its more my Nitto 555 255-40-17's are what suck in the snow LOL

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #8 – December 15, 2005, 05:28:19 PM

I don't know if they changed the tread compound on my Cooper Cobras or if my last batch was just a bad batch, but the Cougar is doing a lot better this winter then it ever has on teh old set. It still is a bit helpless taking off from stop signs, but other than that, its ok. I just wish I had a beater, so her mostly rust free body didn't have to see the awful snow/salt/icemelt-stuff.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #9 – December 15, 2005, 09:32:08 PM

My car will get by in the snow if I need it to. My biggest hurdle is my driveway which is about 200ft long and all uphill. It's also stone witch is a royal pain to shovel. When I put weight in the trunk I'm fine but since it's all uphill, I'm usually sliding back and forth the entire way up. It was even worse than when I had bad tires on it. I also have a lot of hills around here which never made it fun in the cougar. That and the fact that they do a really lousy job of plowing the roads makes it worse.

I actually like driving the cougar in the snow more than my new FWD car. In the cougar, I could feel the rear sliding when I hit an icy or slick spot. The seat of the pants feel was great. I felt like I always knew what it was doing. In the FWD though, I hit a slick spot and the front skates wherever it wants. I don't feel like I have the control over it that I do with the cougar. However, whenever I would hit ice or any heavy snow coverage, the rear of the cougar would feel like it would immediately want to come around. I haven't experienced that in the FWD car. So the FWD car feels more stable.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #10 – December 15, 2005, 10:04:03 PM

To tell you the truth the only time i have lost control is when i intended to do so, aka F**kery in the snow. And my tires are near bald.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #11 – December 15, 2005, 10:17:10 PM

I've had 1 winter mishap in my bird, but that was caused by a misjudgement in my speed vs. the actually distance I needed to travel. Even then the end result was pretty much inconsequential. In all honesty I don't know that I could ever go back to a FWD vehicle, mainly for reasons that have already been stated (skating outta control). I've come to the realization that having the power come off of the same wheels that steer you down the road with is possibly one of the worst ideas ever.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #12 – December 15, 2005, 10:24:55 PM

Its not that bad to drive in the snow. I was passing suburbans and explorers up the side of a moutian with a bald tire in back. I slid less then the trucks.

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #13 – December 15, 2005, 10:25:52 PM

I used to drive the 4x4 ranger in the winter but for some reason lately I havn't had to. Hmm I wonder why............

Oh its 73* out right now........:p

Cougars bad in snow?

Reply #14 – December 16, 2005, 06:14:37 AM

Only time I ever lost it was when I was a rookie driver screwing around in the snow. Threw it down into first gear going 30, causing the rear to slide. Had I gained more experience at the time, I would have gassed it and swung around the other way, instead, I just corrected until I ran out of roadside and into the ditch. I got my old neon stuck more times than I ever have in a fox car.