How's the Thing in snow?

STLCAR · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 6:47 pm Post subject: How's the Thing in snow?

Live in the Midwest and see some snow, was curious how the thing handles in the snow.

Captain Spalding · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 6:57 pm Post subject:

I haven't driven the Thing on snow, but have experience with other rear engine rear-wheel-drive cars. Understeer. On steroids.

kenj06 · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 7:25 pm Post subject:

Haven't driven the Thing in the snow but back in the day, I loved driving the Bugs in the snow. Never really got stuck and loved grabbing the hand brake and sliding it around corners.
Don't try that at home kids! Very Happy

citroen · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:44 pm Post subject:

Mine does fine . I don't know how it does if it is on the road.

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IHC · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:19 pm Post subject:

With chains it's awesome in snow.But the road salt is murder on the rocker panels. That's why I quit driving it in the snow.

citroen · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:11 am Post subject:

I shot this driving thru the park this mouring

Link

Semper_Dad · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:18 am Post subject:

Link

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GI Joe · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:02 am Post subject:

Pbotsonis · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 12:58 pm Post subject:

citroen · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:13 pm Post subject:

Ok Semper Dad I don't have German music on mine, and the roads were a little better this mourning but 3 inches in November in Louisville is a lot and they did close the schools this mourning.

Jzsquared · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 5:01 pm Post subject:

kenj06 · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 7:10 pm Post subject:

oasis · Samba Member Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168

My Super Beetle was excellent in the snow when it was in its stock condition, but it suffered greatly -- much more than I had anticipated -- when it was equipped with 16x6½ BBS wheels and proper tires for those wheels.

I have kept Thing away from the snow so far because of the salt except for a couple of times last winter when once it was necessary (Eos was getting a power window repair) and once I got caught in snow in a return trip from a party. Thing was decent both times.

I'm not sure what to expect now that my 5½-inch wide wheels have replaced the 4½-inch wheels that came with it since the newer tires have a more aggressive tread. I will resist the temptation unless we get enough snow to deter the salt spreaders or if I get caught in it again.

Strangely, the worst VW I have owned in the snow was Vanagon. Even sticking my wife and mother-in-law in "the wayback" only helped marginally. Except for my lowly (but faithful) $75 '65 Falcon, all of my Fords sucked beyond belief in the snow.
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Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50351

I crossed the mountain passes in Oregon in my T181 thousands of times, no real issues with steering or traction. Did hydroplane it bad when I turned off the main road into an unplowed one with six inches of slush, these things slide quite frictionlessly on their belly pan for a long long way with no ability to stop or steer, kind of like riding an old car hood down a slope.

phulc · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 1:47 pm Post subject:

Depends on the tires.

With real wintertyres it drives brilliantly - there's a thing underneath Wink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enqdZ3zKhSQ
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MRJEL · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 7:51 am Post subject:

The definitive answer: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=615093

cecil · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:16 am Post subject:

Simper Dad, I didn't know you had winters like that in El Paso. We just got back from a 2 day trip to Tahoe. No problem in the snow. In Kennewick, Wash. I used studded winter tires with great success.
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