viva_che1363 Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 hey this is my first post on this forum. i have always loved Cadillacs. true American luxury, but i have never drivin one in the snow. im looking for a new car and wondering how the 1985-1995 caddies do in the snow. im mostly looking at Seville or devilles.do they handle pretty well with icy conditions? any thoughts???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac Jim Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 I drive a 1997 Eldorado, which is representative of the 1992-1999 front-wheel-drive Cadillacs in snow driveability. Driveability in snow is in general very good. The most critical thing is the tires; be sure that you have four-season or winter tires on the car. The 1992-1999 Seville and Eldorado models don't have the fender clearance to allow chains, according to the owner's manual. You may be able to find some nylon strap type "chains" that you can use in an emergency but the best policy is not to drive a sedan or coupe in really bad snow that is appropriate only to four-wheel-drive vehicles or vehicles with tire chains. If you have an ice storm and there is black ice on the streets, just stay put instead of going out and sliding around into whatever is in your way; see YouTube videos of people in their cars doing impromptu ice ballets. But for normal driving on passable roads in the snow, these cars are great. I can't speak about the 1985-1991 models because I don't have driving experience in these cars. As a general thing, front-wheel-drive cars are better at steering and accelerating from a stop in poor traction conditions. They are *not* better than other cars at stopping, however. Another good pointer is to let the car warm up a bit before proceeding in snow; a high idle speed may require you to throw the transmission in neutral to stop safely because the drive wheels will "fight" the other wheels as you come to a stop if the cold idle speed is high. And, a warm engine will be more responsible to a the light throttle touch that you need in snow. -- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data -- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 My 96 Deville was very good in the snow with its front wheel drive traction control. The traction was so good that it was deceiving, because its not always so easy to stop. As always having good snow biting tires helps a lot. We had a member who lives in Syracuse who put snow tires on the front and he said, nothing stopped him Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93SixtySpecial Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 I have a 93 Sixty Special which should be the same platform as what you are looking at getting. I don't get around very well with it, but I have VERY cheap tires. My father-in-law has goodyears on the his 93 Deville (same platform) and his handles just as well as my 99 Deville. They plow through the snow and handle very well on the ND ice. As Jim said, tires are VERY important. Don't buy the cheapest tire you can find, you will regret it. -Dusty- 2006 Cadillac DTS Glacier Gold Tri-Coat with 175,000 miles 1993 Cadillac Sixty Special Gold Mist with 185,000 miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadeInAmerica Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 hey this is my first post on this forum. i have always loved Cadillacs. true American luxury, but i have never drivin one in the snow. im looking for a new car and wondering how the 1985-1995 caddies do in the snow. im mostly looking at Seville or devilles.do they handle pretty well with icy conditions? any thoughts???? How well a car does in the snow or not is dependent on the tires used. A good set of tires will do well, a set of lower grade tires will do poorly. All season tires tend to be a jack of all trades and a master of none. A set of four dedicated winter tires will do a far better job for you than all season tires will. Good winter tires will have an ice compound in the rubber that prevents the tread from freezing when it gets very cold, for optimum traction. All season tires don't have this ice compound design and when it gets very cold, the rubber freezes and traction goes out the window. If a good set of winter tires saves you from just one accident, they've paid for themselves many times over. -- B.F.Goodrich T/A Certified Tire Specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadeInAmerica Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 My 96 Deville was very good in the snow with its front wheel drive traction control. The traction was so good that it was deceiving, because its not always so easy to stop. As always having good snow biting tires helps a lot. We had a member who lives in Syracuse who put snow tires on the front and he said, nothing stopped him As a safety concern, installing winter tires only on the front wheels of a front wheel drive vehicle can be dangerous. If this is done, the front tires get much better traction in slippery conditions than the rear tires do and the result is when going down a slippery hill, or around a slippery turn, or when braking, the front tires grip much better than the rear tires and the rear of the vehicle can break loose causing the vehicle to spin out and crash. At the auto centers I've managed, we are not allowed to install winter tires only on the front of a front wheel drive vehicle due to the legal liability issues it would expose us to. Primarily, we don't want to see anyone get hurt, (or worse), of course too. For this reason, when using winter tires on a front wheel drive vehicle it is always recommended to be safe and install four matching winter tires. I hope this has been of help. -- B.F.Goodrich T/A Certified Tire Specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeb Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 we live on hill. neighbor has FWD van and spins her tires like crazy getting up the hill. shoots snow 50ft behind the van. someday i might go see what she has. either the tires are worn out or maybe a poor winter performer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac Jim Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 If someone is shooting a 50-foot rooster tail of snow, they are simply digging through the snow and burning rubber on the bare pavement to proceed. That's a very dangerous way to go up a hill. She would do better by stopping, rolling back a few feet, then gently moving forward on the tire tracks she has cleared with a light throttle touch so as not to spin the wheels and to go forward with all of her wheels "on the ground" and not spinning. This is also a much quicker way to get up the hill. If that doesn't work, I would consider tire chains. -- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data -- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeb Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 we are on hill and her driveway is also steep so she has trouble getting up driveway as well. they live across from us so i watch her travails a lot. her friend parked at bottom of driveway a few weeks ago. neighbor turned car too quick upon leaving and clipped her bumper. thats not a good way to make friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac Jim Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Unless you are on speaking terms with her, broaching the subject is a delicate matter. She may not feel that she has a problem, for example. Some people just thing s*** happens. But, if you can speak to her about how hard it is to get up icy hills and driveways, maybe you can discuss things to the point where you make suggestions, like let the air down to 30 psi, try a light throttle approach maybe, etc. In fact, the only way to really tell is to drive her van and figure out how to make it go by feel, experience, and instinct. This has the added advantage of showing her what works in her van. Good luck. -- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data -- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93SixtySpecial Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 ...try a light throttle approach maybe... HA! Trying telling that to my mother-in-law, she'll bite your head off. She's one of those "all or nothing" sort of people. Definitely a true testament for Buick. 155,000 miles of practically WOT. I believe it's been to heck and back about 4 times. -Dusty- 2006 Cadillac DTS Glacier Gold Tri-Coat with 175,000 miles 1993 Cadillac Sixty Special Gold Mist with 185,000 miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Thanks for the link BodyByFisher. Good hearing from you. It's been far too long since we talked. To keep things short and yet informative I'll start by saying that I completely agree with the 2 posts by MadeInAmerica. When I had the 94 STS I ran 4 very aggressive and cheap Cooper snow tires during the winters. The saying goes: The cheapest snow tires will outperform the best all season tires. And I can attest to that first hand. I've made the stretch from Syracuse through Pulaski enough times, during the winter, to know what matters. I should note that traction control, in my opinion, during the era of 1994 wasn't as terrific in the snow as some would like to believe. In fact, I think it was fairly poor in inclement conditions and could be instrumental in initiating an accident. Unless the roads were clear, I would always disable TC (traction control). With TC disabled and 4 snow tires, I could go just about anywhere. The newer versions of TC and or stabilitrac are light years better. For what it's worth.... "Burns" rubber " I've never considered myself to be all that conservative, but it seems the more liberal some people get the more conservative I become. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Thanks Regis for stopping by. I had forgotten that you used 4 snow tires, but I did know that you lived in the snow capital of the world and drove through everything! Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Today would be a good time to test mine... We got close to 6 inches of snow last night... and THAT is on top of the ICE we already had on all the streets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Isn't that unusual for Ft. Worth Jim? Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93SixtySpecial Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Today would be a good time to test mine... We got close to 6 inches of snow last night... and THAT is on top of the ICE we already had on all the streets. We have an Air Force base about 10 miles north of town. It's interesting to watch the people that have never driven on ice/snow before. Usually if we have any sort of bad weather, the road from the base to our town is riddled with vehicles in the ditch. -Dusty- 2006 Cadillac DTS Glacier Gold Tri-Coat with 175,000 miles 1993 Cadillac Sixty Special Gold Mist with 185,000 miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Isn't that unusual for Ft. Worth Jim? Yes...Very unusual... We sometimes get a little bit of snow...but it is usually light and is gone by the next day. It has been below FREEZING since Monday night...and mostly in the TEENS. That is just unheard of here. Here is a pic of my van sitting in my driveway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Another pic looking out my front door... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Well you know.....with all of that CO2 in the atmosphere from us environment ruining humans, we are causing the green house affect and trapping in HEAT.... come on Jim get with the agenda... Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Well you know.....with all of that CO2 in the atmosphere from us environment ruining humans, we are causing the green house affect and trapping in HEAT.... come on Jim get with the agenda... That's what I was telling Darling Wife yesterday morning when it was 9 degrees outside... :D\ She didn't buy it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93SixtySpecial Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Well you know.....with all of that CO2 in the atmosphere from us environment ruining humans, we are causing the green house affect and trapping in HEAT.... come on Jim get with the agenda... That's what I was telling Darling Wife yesterday morning when it was 9 degrees outside... :D\ She didn't buy it... Don't worry Jim, I'll start driving our 81 Caprice around more to get some more CO2 to warm you up down there. -Dusty- 2006 Cadillac DTS Glacier Gold Tri-Coat with 175,000 miles 1993 Cadillac Sixty Special Gold Mist with 185,000 miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Well Jim, that CO2 that we produce, that plants LOVE by the way, is so bad that we are responsible for melting the ICE CAPS on MARS http://news.national...rs-warming.html I am shocked that the the crooks in congress have not taken this bit down, from NASA "The polar cap is receding because the springtime sun is shining on it." NO KIDDING, that is happening at my house also!!!!!, the front yard that faces SOUTH is melting, the back, that gets NO sun is a skating rink.... WOW imagine that, this happens on MARS also, http://science.nasa....7aug_southpole/ Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeb Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 neighbors husband drives a 95 buick roadmaster wagon. seems to power up driveway ok. driveway is 100ft long and has 6 foot rise. in 10yrs, they only used garage for cars maybe 3-4 times. always park outside. odd for MN winter survival. now this winter they put van in garage maybe 10% of time. but hubby parks in middle of driveway and wifey has to wiggle around. comical to watch her gyrations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Today would be a good time to test mine... We got close to 6 inches of snow last night... and THAT is on top of the ICE we already had on all the streets. We have an Air Force base about 10 miles north of town. It's interesting to watch the people that have never driven on ice/snow before. Usually if we have any sort of bad weather, the road from the base to our town is riddled with vehicles in the ditch. Yep...that USED TO BE a SAC base... I don't know what it is now. I was in the Air Force... ... a long time ago...back in the 60's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 WOW, I think I was at that SAC base in 1964 with my parents. My parents worked at the officer's club, the first morning we were thrown out of bed when about 30 B52's took off and flew directly over the motel we were staying at. Who knew we were at the end of the runway! It was quite a sight to hear and see 30 in a row about 200 feet over head with their 8 jet engines roaring... what a wake up call.. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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