Camry Hybrid in snow?

[tjq]

Will be trying out the TCH in the next week or two. Some posts on other tch forums are complaining about driving in the snow. Would like some clarification from users with expeirience driving in snow/ ice/ and up snow packed hills with the TCH?

Thank you

Tom Q.

[jamnpb]

I'm new on here and haven't seen other peoples thoughts on their Camry hybrid in the snow, but I thought my car did ok. I live in northern Idaho and we have snow off and on from October through April.

It seemed to have less traction on it's front wheel than some other cars I've had, but it got around ok. I didn't do a lot of hills, but I can see where that might be a problem. A couple months ago I tried to pull out onto a highway quickly on packed snow/ice and the car almost wouldn't go, it seemed like the gas pedal was pushing back on my foot. Apparently the traction control was fighting me and putting on the brakes so it wouldn't spin the tires. I'm afraid that is going to be a problem with all new cars as traction control gains popularity. I was thinking of looking on the forums to see if anyone knows how to temporarily disable it.

Jason

[tjq]

Thanks Jason.

Have not been able to get much on searches in all the TCH forums searched, on use in snow. My biggest quest is to find more users with snow handling expeirience to post. Figure if it is fair in the snow from the posts researched and will not be as good as my present front wheel drive V 6.

Will try one out as soon as possible.

Thanks

[tjq]

Jason, from your reply and a few others commented on different forums, they have had similar happenings in the snow. Also a person near my local has a Prius and had a very slow trip up a snow covered 1/2 mile long 7% grade. He claimed the prius did pull him up it but at around 3 mph (this could be and exaggeration as it was 3rd party info) and the following vehicles were very upset. Again, comparing the Prius to a TCH could be likened to using apples and oranges.

From your comment except for the one instance you are satisfied overall with the HYB for the rest of the snow season. Am I correct in this assumption?






A couple months ago I tried to pull out onto a highway quickly on packed snow/ice and the car almost wouldn't go, it seemed like the gas pedal was pushing back on my foot. Apparently the traction control was fighting me and putting on the brakes so it wouldn't spin the tires. I'm afraid that is going to be a problem with all new cars as traction control gains popularity. I was thinking of looking on the forums to see if anyone knows how to temporarily disable it.

Jason[/quote]

[jamnpb]

Hi Tom,

The quick answer, yes I'm satisfied with my TCH's performance this last winter. It got me everywhere I needed to go.

It's hard to say what kind of luck you will have with it though, I don't know what your weather or roads are like compared to mine (I'm in north Idaho, but you didn't say where you live). Here a big snow storm might drop six inches of snow, but most of the time we only get a couple inches at a time. Most of my driving doesn't include serious inclines, the 23 mile trip to work is relatively flat. I also purchased a set of studless snow tires, unlike some I don't believe all season radials are good enough. Studded tires might have been better, but I work over in Washington and they've been talking about banning them there (anyway it's a quiet car, why ruin it).

I didn't have any problem like that Prius you mentioned, but to be safe I wouldn't suggest starting out on a 7% grade. I did travel over a couple mountain passes on the interstate and if you have any momentum the TCH doesn't seem to have any problems. I tried to quickly look up weight distributions and it appears the Prius would be better off for start up traction in the snow with 59% of it's weight up front compared to around 54-57% on the Camry. It also wouldn't have as much torque to spin the wheels.

Along the same lines, an older front wheel drive with a V6 will probably have more weight over the front wheels and will get around better on hills. I know I've seen a front wheel drive V6 car with good tires that could do better on hills than some light four wheel drives. Everywhere else the more equally weighted Camry with traction/stability control should keep you on the road better so you'll be safer (at least that's what they say). I think I read all cars will have some sort of stability control by 2012. Right now only 30% of new cars come with stability control.

I guess my experience may just be apples to oranges compared to yours. I know the stability/traction control will probably be great for some, but just that once it didn't work for me and could have gotten me in an accident. I've also seen the same system get an AWD Lexus RS350 stuck in a sand dune in Oregon where my Jeep Grand Cherokee didn't have any problem and drove right through. Sorry, I'm getting off subject, but I'm sure your experience may vary a little from mine.

Anyway, good luck if you do decide to get the Camry hybrid. I'm very pleased with mine, it's a nice car and I've averaged 39 mpg over the 5000 miles I've had it.

Jason

[tjq]

Thanks again. My car now is a 2004 v6 front wheel drive and sorry did not include my location. Its RI, very close to SE Mass. border. Average winter snow is 36 inches. Past couple of years, luckily not that much. The past winter was maybe 24 inches all season with the heaviest snow, about 4 or 5 inches. Have had some very tough winters with blizzards and drifts over 4 feet in the past, fortunately that is not the norm. From what you say the traction in the snow will be good enough for me. Retired now and if snow over 6 inches, the car stays home till the following day. Was concerned that the wife would get caught on the road in a surprise couple of inches and call me to say she was stuck somewhere.

Anyway, snow will not be the reason to not buy the TCH and look foward to my test drive on Monday or Tuesday next week.

Thank you again.

Tom.

[valve]

So you want to know how the TCH is in the snow. I went through my first winter. I live in Buffalo N.Y., Enough said. I had no problem what so ever. The car went through whatever mother nature sent ,with ease. Snow,Ice,drifting snow piles --whatever-- You will have NO PROBLEMS.

[tjq]

Valve. Thanks. Bolsters up what others have been saying. Now hopefully the new tch will be mine early next week.

Old timer here but like new techie stuff challenges. Will never grow up.

TJQ