Hi all--laugh if you must, but I thought I'd put this out there. It's looking like snow here in NC--something we're not too familiar with. I don't have any plans to go zipping up and down the roads anytime soon, but I did think I'd find out whether it makes more sense to park my car on my steep driveway (up to the street) facing the house (so I'd be backing up) or facing the street (so I'd be going forward), in case I get cabin fever. The only thing I've ever driven in the snow before is a pickup truck, years, and years, and years ago, and my little Forester is a LOT different! 

 

Wow! It's a veritable blizzard out there now! Whoot!

 

Thanks,

Wendy

 

 

With the AWD, it should make little difference either way. Park facing out and just go really easy on the accelerator. You should be just fine.

I have always backed in myself. When the street gets plowed in it helps to have a little more weight in the nose to push through. it also helps to keep momentum going to get out of the driveway. 

Personally, I  prefer to back into my parking spots all the time no matter what the weather. I find it makes it easier and safer to get out.

Driving tips: avoid braking while turning. Brake before entering turn, gently accelarate thru the apex. The car will have a tendency to oversteer if you let off the gas. If the tail wags, give it some throttle to straighten out, then brake.

Either way, a Subaru will go thru any amount of consistent snow (At least up to the headlights) when in deep snow, once moving stand on the throttle to power thru it.

 

As for parking, if it becomes real deep, you may have an advantage of backing up as you are then pushing down the front of the car pushing more weight downward onto the wheels which would give you more traction, like a typical FWD car. I've never got a Subaru stuck in all the crazyness I've taken them thru.

 

Fox is right with the driving aspec, I usually drift while cornering regardless cause it makes me giggle.

Either way, a Subaru will go thru any amount of consistent snow (At least up to the headlights) when in deep snow, once moving stand on the throttle to power thru it.

 

As for parking, if it becomes real deep, you may have an advantage of backing up as you are then pushing down the front of the car pushing more weight downward onto the wheels which would give you more traction, like a typical FWD car. I've never got a Subaru stuck in all the crazyness I've taken them thru.

 

Fox is right with the driving aspec, I usually drift while cornering regardless cause it makes me giggle.

 

Why would you go hard on the throttle? Just give it enough gas to keep it moving without breaking the tires loose.

Why would you go hard on the throttle? Just give it enough gas to keep it moving without breaking the tires loose.

Like thats any fun! I usually approach corners and intersections at a sane speed, so it doesnt understeer through it, then punch it! Leave the corner sideways, straighten it out as my momentum catches up to the tire speed. Or you can induce a slide before you even get to the corner, go through the whole thing sideways, and then be pointed right where ya wanna go as the slide stops. Wheee! God, i love winter driving!

Be careful, becuase if you don't set up with a lift-of oversteer, you will just powerslide a fat understeer off the road

Drive fast...take chances.

At the end you will see which way i park my car. AT the beginning, you will see where wheelspin can be your friend in snow. at about 1:45 you will see how deceleration will bring the rear around, and throttle straightens it out. At 3:45, you will see what snap oversteer does (almost a 180 spinout) throwing the car into a fat throttle-on understeer (almost bit the curb on the way out). For the rest of it, enjoy the ride. Mind you, the car is equipped with rock hard A/T tires with uneven wear and 40 psi.

 

Edited February 14, 201412 yr by MilesFox