Small cars for Finnish winters

nkm · Post by **nkm** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:33 pm

Does anyone have experiences with these small cars, as to how they fare (safety wise) in Finnish winters on icy roads?

Hyundai Getz
Suzuki Swift
Honda Jazz / Civic
Mitsubishi Colt
Subaru Justy

Its probably assumed that Traction Control, may not be available.

Some other suggestions?

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raamv · Post by **raamv** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:41 pm

We have had a chevy ( Daewoo) Kalos for 3 years with no probs,,.

Rick1 · Post by **Rick1** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:03 pm

I would go for the newest, the newer the design, the safer they are

I like Jazz.

Must be difficult to get a justy but that one has 4wd.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:23 pm

Get the one that ESP as standard or as an option.
We have Ford Transit vans at work fitted with ESP and despite every effort to get them sliding on the snow/ice, they just don't do it!

It really takes the fun out of driving a rear wheel drive vehicle!!

We had a Nissan Micra ourselves a while back and that was excellent on the slippery stuff. However good tyres make more difference than anything else i guess...

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:57 pm

I had a Fiat 133 when I was young.... just had to learn how to drive.... but having the engine on the rear wheels was... *fun*

Cloudberry · Post by **Cloudberry** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:27 am

How about Opels? do they do okay in the wintertime?

My car has ESP. When I went to get it from the car dealer he went through all the buttons and controls of the car. As I was about to take off in my new sports car, he said: "Oh, and this ESP button is for stability control - if you want to chuck wheelies you'll have to turn that off"

I leave it on (most of the time

) and it's a fantastic feature - I think there is talk of making it a mandatory inclusion in all cars in Australia.

Mattlill2000 · Post by **Mattlill2000** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:48 am

However good tyres make more difference than anything else i guess...

I think all the vehicles mentioned are good, front wheel drive with the engine in the front for weight. Its a matter of taste on which one you want. The most important option is to get the best tires, and I strongly recomend studded winter tires instead of the all-season snow tire.

Tiwaz · Post by **Tiwaz** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:34 am

And remember about the tires... They are there to erode. Don't postpone switching them until AFTER it snows...

Also, if they are little close to the legal limit. Just pay the money to buy new ones... It is horrible how people are toying with their and others lives because they are so cheap.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:21 pm

one thing with dinky toy cars is the wheelbase - get one with a wide wheelbase as the problem is that they don't plough so often always and if there is ruts, you end up squiggling if you don't fit either into the ruts or out of them...

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:39 pm

Pursuivant wrote:one thing with dinky toy cars is the wheelbase - get one with a wide wheelbase as the problem is that they don't plough so often always and if there is ruts, you end up squiggling if you don't fit either into the ruts or out of them...

I thought that wheelbase was the other way... anyhow the "national wisdom" as far as I can tell is that small cars - those with a small wheelbase (axle->axle) are more likely to spin. Perhaps all this ESP/DSP skid control stuff fixes the problem.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:36 pm

sorry no I was meaning the distance between the tires... shouldn't write before having my morning coffee...

wheelbase then again effects a few other things, I'd prefer something with a short one for winter driving - like the FIAT...

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