How is to cold to drive?

[TX82FIAT]

Live in Texas now. Only time the heater is on is when I'm burping the cooling system before each summer. However, when i lived In PA and NY it was always convertible time unless snow or salt was on the roads.

[dantye]

Ok so I am a newbie Fiat owner of 7 weeks. The hint of fall is hitting here in the Midwest. Was out motoring this morning at 59 degrees. I took the kids to school a couple of weeks ago at about 55 degrees. Yes a bit chilly. I love motoring in the Fiat so I see myself really pushing it as it gets colder.

I fear I will be the knuckle head driving in 30 degree weather (before I park it for the winter) with a parka and ski gloves...

Hello my name is Phil, I have a 1982 Fiat and I have a problem.

Not sure how you "... took the kids to school a couple of weeks ago ..." when it is only a 2 passenger car?

As far as driving in Winter - you will figure it out soon enough - or the car will figure it out for you!

GOOD LUCK!

[4uall]

for mine the very first thing I did was install rear seat belts


Rear seat belt mounts by itzebtze, on Flickr


Rear seat belt by itzebtze, on Flickr


Rear seat belt by itzebtze, on Flickr

[Philbilly]

Wow, nice snow pics!!!

Hey Dantye, One kid starts at 7:20 and the other 8:20. Next year they'll both be in middle school and starting at 7:20. Might have to put one in the trunk.

[maytag]

my winter drive a few years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahzp1jLcSKI

[Danno]

Spiders have awesome heaters. Drive it whenever you like. I know i've had mine out in the negatives (should be a thread about that somewhere around here).

[Redline]

Looks like a nice Canadian winter however, I am not that brave I put her away November 1st and take her out for April 1st

I lived my first 26 years in Mississauga and Kingston. The big difference to the Canadian winters is that in the mountains here they don't use any salt. They realized that if you don't try to plow right down to bare road, but instead require everyone to have proper winter tires and make chains mandatory on bad days, things go quite well. None of that greasy snow / brine slop. It also means old Fiats last longer (although I think my friend was too brave - mine stays in the garage if there is snow on the ground).

[dantye]

Wow, nice snow pics!!!

Hey Dantye, One kid starts at 7:20 and the other 8:20. Next year they'll both be in middle school and starting at 7:20. Might have to put one in the trunk.

LOL! (Same age as some of my younger 14 grandkids!)

[4uall]

Looks like a nice Canadian winter however, I am not that brave I put her away November 1st and take her out for April 1st

I lived my first 26 years in Mississauga and Kingston. The big difference to the Canadian winters is that in the mountains here they don't use any salt. They realized that if you don't try to plow right down to bare road, but instead require everyone to have proper winter tires and make chains mandatory on bad days, things go quite well. None of that greasy snow / brine slop. It also means old Fiats last longer (although I think my friend was too brave - mine stays in the garage if there is snow on the ground).

I have never understood why in Quebec (the province located across the river from where I live) makes it mandatory for all drivers in the winter season to have winter tires (police enforced) yet here in Ontario (center of government for the country) it is not Friggin idiots. Maybe I should just move to Europe

[Redline]

There isn't even a cost argument, except for perhaps the one-time cost of buying 4 cheap steel wheels. A small investment in safety and the car. People (e.g. my penny-pinching father ) always say "oh, but then I have to buy two sets of tires, and that costs twice as much". They miss the point that you are not wearing your summer tires ca. 5 months of the year and your winter tires ca. 7 months of the year. Unless you drive so little that age, and not treadwear, becomes a criteria for buying a new set, your actual cost per km is the same, whether you use shitty all-season tires year round, or proper seasonal tires. Even on performance rubber in both seasons I usually got 40'000 - 50'000km out of a set of tires, winter or summer.

[leeputmanjr]

I agree with others - as long as the roads are dry & salt-free, my Spider is OUT, top-down!

I have a Brady breeze beater, and I LOVE it! With the windows up, and heater on, it's absolutely fantastic. I drove to work several days last winter, in the 20's, with no need for hat & gloves!

[Danno]

low to mid 40s this am and the top was up. Heater was baking me before I finished my 6 mile trip to work. This sucker will keep you warm in the coldest of temps with the top up.

Top down is another story, but you can still keep at least some of you warm with it!

[giuliot60]

my winter drive a few years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahzp1jLcSKI

Car sounds great maytag. I'm assuming it's a carbed car by the sound and steering wheel. What is that LED gauge in the upper right?

I used to drive my '74 during the NYC winters in the 80's, had no choice, it was my only car.

[Fi8spider]

What is snow?