How many people drive their Opel in winter?

[roundl]

I was wondering how many of you drove your Opel in the winter. How do they handle? I was planning on driving my Kadett this winter and was wondering what to expect in snow.

[okieopel]

No, I do not drive the Opel in the winter, which is why I bought an Audi Quattro. I do not believe these classics (old timers) have the rust proofing as more modern cars or can handle poor traction situations as some of the front wheel drive cars would.
Worst of all there is always some yahoo driving fast in a top heavy SUV with little to no traction on the road, much less reality.
Have a safe winter and fun winter.

[namba209 (R.I.P.)]

Actually, I drove my GT all year round for many years, before the enigne/tranny swap, and now that's it's 99% done, I plan on driving it every other week. I swap it with my monza. Now we're not supposed to get snow here on the southwest coast, but stranger things have happened. One good thing here is that the only salt we get on the roads is from the Pacific Ocean during the on-shore breezes. We have a major problem when it rains here, the acident rate jumps up as much as 200%-300% in the 24 hours of a rain storm. Mostly caused by people (tourists) that are used to driving in the rain back home. With the number of cars here in SoCal and the minimum amount of rain to clear the roads of the oil mist from all those cars, it becomes an ice skating rink everytime it rains. And the folks believe they can drive here just like they did back home, where they don't have the number of cars on the road and a lot more rain to wash the roads of the lesser oil mist on the roads. So when it rains, I don't drive unless absolutly necessary.

[neuropel]

Basically, Opels and most other RWD vehicles suck in snow compared to front wheel drive (much less 4x4 or AWD). Perhaps if it's flat where you live and you use studded snow tires you MIGHT get by, but there are at least two things to keep in mind:
1). Going forward doesn't help much if you can't steer.
2). Salty roads will make short work of your Opel.

Best advice if you live in cold, snowy climates is to buy yourself a beater front wheel drive or all wheel drive for winter use and park the Opel until Spring. Chances are your beater will have a better heater anyway!

Funny thing is that as I'm writing this I know there will be responses from people making huge claims about how great Opels are in the snow (I think they're the same guys that claim to have pegged the 150mph GT speedometer). I currently live in rural pennsylvania, with lots of hills. My driveway is literally uphill, both ways, and I have 6+ inches of fresh snow at my home. I've seen Dish Network vans, appliance repair trucks, and other victims hang their heads in shame as they watch their vehicle get winched out of my driveway. Rest assured there is NO way an Opel would get into or out of my home, short of using chains (and even then I'd lay odds against it). I guess much of it is your perception of how well your car performs in such conditions, but compared to other cars on the road with FWD, AWD, 4x4, traction control, etc., you'll be at a disadvantage.

Todd K.

[Dan-MI]

I've only driven my current GT in the winter a couple times. Those were when the roads were nice and dry and had no salt residue on them. The old steel just won't hold up under the salt assault that we get annually here in Michigan. Years ago in college I had a GT that was my daily driver. It was horrible in the snow. I even had studded snow tires (now illegal in Michigan) and it didn't handle very well. Light weight and rear wheel drive can be fun in the sun, but aren't a good combo for snow. The only good thing about the GT handling in the snow was it was better than a Fiat Spyder I once had. That would get stuck in 1/2 inch of snow.

[Opelkurt]

I was wondering how many of you drove your Opel in the winter. How do they handle? I was planning on driving my Kadett this winter and was wondering what to expect in snow.

I drove Kadetts and Asconas in Duluth, MN winters back in the early 1980's out of necessity. I actually got around pretty well for the most part, but road salt tears up old Opels in short order, with the GTs apparently the most susceptible from what I witnessed. My old winter Opels are all long gone from rust.

There are very few Opels left in the northern states due to rust. Driving one on snowy, salt-covered roads regularly will damage it in the short term and eventually destroy it. Trust me.

-Kurt

[oldopelguy]

No claims as to the 150mph in a GT, but I never had any trouble in an Opel Kadett in either upstate NY or SD driving it over the winter. I can't count how many times I drove past 4WD or AWD stuff stuck off in the ditch. BMW and Miata guys get around fine too, it's about how you drive as much as what you drive.

Truth be told, though, anywhere you get significant snowfalls the roads are passable by pretty much anything if you wait 12 hours. Only time you really need a dedicated snow vehicle is if you absolutely have to get somewhere and can't wait for the roads to get plowed, or if you get stuck somewhere and can't get home. Loading a lunch and spare change of clothes in the car and resigning yourself to wait a bit goes a long way.

Opels are light cars, and if you want to use your wide summer tires you're not going to go anywhere in the snow. If you're going to drive one in the snow you need to dig out the stock 5" wide rims and toss a set of 155/80 or 155R13 tires on them, real snow tires if you can afford them. I ran a set of 155/80/13 studded snow tires my last winter in SD and the car was almost unstopable. Tire rack has Michilin Ice-x 155/80's for $45 each, great bargain for a great winter tire.

[opelenvy]

I know this gets off track of what the rest of you are talking about, but as a car with heat but no A/C, here in Austin, TX This IS the time to drive. On a sunny 50 degree day, I don't even need the heater. It snows once every couple years and that melts as soon as the sun comes up. Only salt around here is what the Californians shake off their sandals when they move here.

[PROPEL]

No claims as to the 150mph in a GT, but I never had any trouble in an Opel Kadett in either upstate NY or SD driving it over the winter. I can't count how many times I drove past 4WD or AWD stuff stuck off in the ditch.

What Oldopelguy said! I never had a problem driving a Manta, even during whiteout blizzards in the northeast. I've owned 4WD vehicles, too, for comparison, and heavy 4WD doesn't help much when turning or stopping in slick conditions. The proper winter tires on a light vehicle will surprise you with its capabilities. That being said, there's not much you can do about the inevitable destruction of your car by salt and rust.

...the acident rate jumps up as much as 200%-300% in the 24 hours of a rain storm. Mostly caused by people (tourists) that are used to driving in the rain back home. With the number of cars here in SoCal and the minimum amount of rain to clear the roads of the oil mist from all those cars, it becomes an ice skating rink everytime it rains. And the folks believe they can drive here just like they did back home, where they don't have the number of cars on the road and a lot more rain to wash the roads of the lesser oil mist on the roads. So when it rains, I don't drive unless absolutly necessary.

I never understood this phenomena, at least in northern California. I've never found the roads to be any more slick during a rainstorm. Californians (and I'll include longterm transplants here, too) simply don't experience as much rainfall, and so they aren't used to driving in inclement conditions. They drive alot slower, yes, but they still don't maintain a suitable distance from the car in front of them. At least, this is my experience from daily, year-round commuting.

And I won't even go into the overblown "tire chain conditions" in California...

[neuropel]

I can't count how many times I drove past 4WD or AWD stuff stuck off in the ditch. BMW and Miata guys get awound fine too, it's about how you drive as much as what you drive.

It's CERTAINLY the case that many people think their AWD/4WD is unstoppable and invincible in snow and ice. Sensible driving will get you a long way in an Opel, but sensible driving in a 4x4 will get you a LOT further AND can get you OUT of trouble. I have a manta with 165/13 all season tires and it will NOT reach a main road currently. Studded tires might get me 10 feet closer. My inlaw's FWD will ALMOST make it out with good all season tires - a couple of "run and go's" and you're fine. With any of my 4wd vehicles, it's like the snow isn't there. I'm dealing with it right now, several times daily.

Here's my point...I have a 92 Eagle Summit AWD wagon that you can find for a thousand bucks or less. My son calls it "The Goat" (my preferred name is "The Knee Grinder") - it'll go pretty much anywhere you point it in bad weather. It's a disposable car built for those conditions. If you have a nice Opel you want to keep for many years to come, it can be one of the best investments you can make. Like any job, it's all about having the right tools.

Todd K.

[EJprovost]

Basically, Opels and most other RWD vehicles suck in snow compared to front wheel drive (much less 4x4 or AWD). Perhaps if it's flat where you live and you use studded snow tires you MIGHT get by, but there are at least two things to keep in mind:
1). Going forward doesn't help much if you can't steer.
2). Salty roads will make short work of your Opel.

Best advice if you live in cold, snowy climates is to buy yourself a beater front wheel drive or all wheel drive for winter use and park the Opel until Spring. Chances are your beater will have a better heater anyway!

Funny thing is that as I'm writing this I know there will be responses from people making huge claims about how great Opels are in the snow (I think they're the same guys that claim to have pegged the 150mph GT speedometer). I currently live in rural pennsylvania, with lots of hills. My driveway is literally uphill, both ways, and I have 6+ inches of fresh snow at my home. I've seen Dish Network vans, appliance repair trucks, and other victims hang their heads in shame as they watch their vehicle get winched out of my driveway. Rest assured there is NO way an Opel would get into or out of my home, short of using chains (and even then I'd lay odds against it). I guess much of it is your perception of how well your car performs in such conditions, but compared to other cars on the road with FWD, AWD, 4x4, traction control, etc., you'll be at a disadvantage.

Todd K.

Well stated Todd!

[tekenaar]

I know this gets off track of what the rest of you are talking about, but as a car with heat but no A/C, here in Austin, TX This IS the time to drive. On a sunny 50 degree day, I don't even need the heater. It snows once every couple years and that melts as soon as the sun comes up. Only salt around here is what the Californians shake off their sandals when they move here.

. . . matter of fact, "salt on roads" is against the law here!

[RallyBob]

Salt will kill that Kadett in short order, best to keep it off the New England roads.

That said, my Ascona with Hakka 10 snow tires never got stuck in the snow, and I drove it year-round every day for 7 years. It was infinitely more enjoyable (and less nerve racking) to drive in snow than even my WRX.

I did bury a Manta in a snow bank one year, but that was from overzealous driving on my part, and the exuberance of youth. I raced a friend's Blazer during a blizzard over a 15 mile 'course'. Even after stuffing it in the snowbank and digging it out, I won by 3 minutes. From a standing start or in deep snow the 4wd/AWD will obviously out accelerate an Opel, but the 4wd/AWD will also understeer far worse, and is generally not as nimble.

Ultimately it has to do with the tires, they are your only contact with the road. I'd rather have 4 studded Nokian snow tires on an Opel over 'all season' tires on almost anything else.

[Aardvaark]

Back in the day I used to drive both a Manta and Ascona in winter and with decent snow tires, and 3 or 4 sand tubes in the trunk for weight, they would go about anywhere.
But I wouldn't do it today because the road salt will destroy older Opels
like all getout.

[BQS4]

Don't know about that "white stuff" here in the South. I can count the times we've had it on the fingers of one hand, but, when we did have it, I have had no problems getting around in whatever Opel I had at the time. But, just to go by the literal sense in that who drives their Opel(s) year round? I have driven Opels practically every day for the last 30+ years.

[Gary Sullivan]

For me it comes down to the salt. If I am in a state where the roads are, I won't be driving Opels in the winter. When I have lived in states where there is not salt, I do what many of the other guys are doing, with some sandbags and the Opel does reasonably well in light snow.

[namba209 (R.I.P.)]

I guess this is a kind of retort, and yes, I actually did see my speedo go beyond the 150 mark, albeit very slowly on a 3.5 mile, full throttle, run. Studded tire, chains, and snow tires? In 5 1/2 years stationed at Grand Forks AFB, NoDak, I had standard street tires on my 53 Plymouth Belvedere and 62 Chevrolet Impala, and never got stuck but once, when I was blown off the road during a blizzard. I've seen folks bury their cars up to the axle using chains and snow tires by overzealous throttle application. IMHO it's a matter of driving technique. Granted, I don't drive in snow anymore, so I can't say whether FWD or AWD is better than the RWD I'm used to. As for the folks here driving in the rain and causing increase in accident numbers, I'll go along with what was said about driving way too close the the car in front lof them. I believe they think the ABS they have will make them stop, but it just isn't so. I still use the one car length per 10 miles, I was taught to do when I first started driving, and yes, I do get passed and cut in front of, even at above posted speed limits. I still see it every day, 75 MPH parking lots. It's scary!!!

[neuropel]

I guess this is a kind of retort, and yes, I actually did see my speedo go beyond the 150 mark, albeit very slowly on a 3.5 mile, full throttle, run.

Hey Ron, no doubt it'd bury the speedo now!

[namba209 (R.I.P.)]

Hey Ron, no doubt it'd bury the speedo now!

IDK Todd, it's got a 6200 RPM rev limiter in the computer and I haven't done the math to see what that would equate to in MPH with the 5th gear overdrive and the 3.44:1 posi in it. I do know that to accelerate quickly at 70-75 MPH I do have to shift down to 4th gear, until I get above 85, then I can go back in to 5th gear, to maintain the acceleration rate. But then you were in the car when I came up to speed getting on the freeway, once or twice, so you know what that's like.

[opelnut_1]

live in Colorado and have driven rwd, fwd, and awd (own at least one of each) with snow tires and weight all drive equally well in my opinion. the vehicals with a bit more ground clearence of course work better in the deep stuff. driving technique has more to do with how well they get along on slippery conditions all stop the same on the slippery stuff. parents used a 2wd pickup off road to feed cattle and did just fine when the snow was drifting as high as the hood.


As to salt or Mag cloride, unless you have a plastic car all vehicals are EQUALLY prone to attack. The Mag cloride also gets in minor cracks an will corode copper wires from the inside out. Best to wash it off as soon as possibable to minimize effects. an keep bare metal painted to seal it out.