Is this a sucker's bet?

Dr. Hess wrote: I will add that an LS400 without snow tires is pretty close to useless on ice. I bought mine at the end of a bad road conditions period, drove 100 miles home and promptly got stuck in my driveway. I could move it when the ice thawed a week later.

This was my experience as well. But with good snow tires it was great, no problem at all. I had two LS400's at that time, one with snows and one without. I could barely get up my own driveway in the one on all-seasons (good condition with plenty of tread, too) - it took several tries and some momentum to top the hill. I didn't get a hint of slip and went right up the driveway in the one with Blizzaks.

oldtin wrote: I keep seeing Lexus ls400s in the 750-1250 range. Throw on some snows and you're good for winter and a jumpstart on challenge fodder later

I've been very tempted to make an LS400 a winter beater. Because RWD + snow makes me happy.

Thanks to El Nino it doesn't look like we are going to have any real snow until January. That being said last year was my first year without four wheel drive in a long time. The Flex did well but I did miss the explorer/Dakota/jimmy/blazer. It isn't just the snow. The rain that doesn't drain off. The pot holes in the spring that your car bottoms out on or the train tracks that have frost heave. My wife's old trailblazer ate up sway bar links and struts and shocks. The 98 explorer was the best, cranked up the torsion bars and shackle extensions with 31". During the rain storms in 1986 the water from the des plains river was coming up the drain holes in the GT6+. I am trying to convince the wife we need a 94-98 Grand Cherokee limited with a straight 6. Cheep, reliable, run forever and parts grow on trees.

I was that guy. I drove my 96 mustang around the neighborhood today with the top down because I could.

gearheadmb wrote: Correct me if I'm wrong but Chicago+winter equals tons of snow. Wouldn't a rwd and very little ground clearance be a poor choice for a winter car? Oh crap, now I'm going to get the barrage of "My corvette with race slicks can blast through four foot snow drifts all day long, You just don't know how to drive!!!" posts, aren't I?

You'll be ok as long as you don't suggest that a cheap Subaru Impreza or Fozzie with Blizzaks would be a better winter car choice in the snow belt than a Miata with a broken heater and race tires. That's just crazy talk.

I drove a heavily lowered 70 duster, 400 rwhp, 3.91 gears, 4 speed, and 200 treadwear summer only tires in the snow. Snow was deep enough that you could see where the headers and bellhousing were in the tracks.

NOT FUN. NOT FUN AT ALL.

I tried moving my Miata around the driveway last year when clearing snow. I'd let the clutch out and it would just sit there in place with the rear tires spinning.

wnick wrote: I was that guy. I drove my 96 mustang around the neighborhood today with the top down because I could.

Paid the $15 upgrade fee at enterprise last january to rent the convertible v6 camaro. Did the same thing (in both chicago and madison).

Scandinavian flicks feel much more scandinavian if you are wearing thick winter gloves and ski goggles.