Snow tires are cheap comparied to the cost of an accident!
Drove in our recent 40 centimeters here in Ottawa this past week. I have 6 speed manual FWD with Gislave Nord frost ice tires. Totally awsome, however had to turn of the TCS to charge throug the snow bank as i preferer to tap the gas and play the clutch and drive in a slightly higher gear to get thru. ( this is my first car with TCS, so will have to get used to it). I always has manual transmission and have driven in winter since 1975. Snow tires are always a must have, if you encounter winter. The ABS is awesome and is fun to drive and hugs the road. A little rocky in the high winds. My Mazda 5 GT was a little more stable, but after 230,000kms, it lost the battle with a log that fell off a truck on the highway. Took the engine off the mounts, torn open the fuel tank and pulled the rear cross member back 6 inches. RIP in peace my old friend, but eh....out with the old and in with the new.... I love my CX5! BTW, forgot to ask if a blockheater was available, but with full synethic, it doesn't seem to be an issue as it doesn't seem to turn over slower in the cold.
Drove in our recent 40 centimeters here in Ottawa this past week. I have 6 speed manual FWD with Gislave Nord frost ice tires. Totally awsome, however had to turn of the TCS to charge throug the snow bank as i preferer to tap the gas and play the clutch and drive in a slightly higher gear to get thru. ( this is my first car with TCS, so will have to get used to it). I always has manual transmission and have driven in winter since 1975. Snow tires are always a must have, if you encounter winter. The ABS is awesome and is fun to drive and hugs the road. A little rocky in the high winds. My Mazda 5 GT was a little more stable, but after 230,000kms, it lost the battle with a log that fell off a truck on the highway. Took the engine off the mounts, torn open the fuel tank and pulled the rear cross member back 6 inches. RIP in peace my old friend, but eh....out with the old and in with the new.... I love my CX5! BTW, forgot to ask if a blockheater was available, but with full synethic, it doesn't seem to be an issue as it doesn't seem to turn over slower in the cold.