I currently have an '07 HHR 2lt that is my daily driver. I'm playing with the idea of trading her in on an SS. Can anyone tell me how the SS drives in the winter with the snow and all? My 2.4 auto does OK - I mean it's no 4x4, but I can usually get around.

Just wonder if anyone can tell me what to expect once the snowflakes start flying...

Tnx - geo

 

It's no 4x4 but you will still be able to get around Snow tires will help tremendously as well

 

Our SS is one of the worst FWD cars I've driven in the snow if there was more than a couple inches. The stock tires just had no traction to get it going. I even tried starting in 2nd or 3rd gear, and either the traction control would kill everything, or if you turned it of, they'd just spin. The 2nd year I bought a set of snows on steel wheels from tirerack, and it completely transformed the car. It went every where we wanted to go.

 

I live in the now Great Lakes Snow Belt in North East Ohio and have 2 winters in the SS.

No Drama here.

I would recomend a set of tires for the winter. Snow tires are ok but not required. I use a set of Goodyear Assurance Triple Treads on steel wheels for winter as I do on the wife GTP.

Not only do we get a lot of snow we live on a street that seldom get plowed and neither cars have failed to get where they are going.

To be honest the SS is not a lot of fun in the snow as I liked to drive my Old Sonoma with the limited slip rear and slide it around dirt track style. The SS is a point and gas and no spins, no slides and not a lot od anythin other than going on through the snow.

The factory tires were horrid in wet so I knew better than to use them in the snow.

Also the now is low so you will have to watch deep snow as it becomes a snow plow and I have packed the intercooler with snow before. It did not hurt anything but I don't like doing it.

If you get another set of tires the SS is fine. If you can't drive an SS in the Snow you may not really need to be driving in the snow to begin with.

Not some here will make it sound like you have to haver snow tires. THey will not hurt but you can use a good all season tire as well. Just use care in choosing as not all All Season tires are equal in winter use. THe Triples are a very good tire and will out last most winter tires X3 making them a better value.

 

First of all, get the SS... I traded a 2LT in for mine and I haven't regretted it since.

Second of all, get snow tires. You should have them for the 2LT anyways.

I found mine on Craigslist advertised as Cobalt rims/tires for $400. They are Blizzaks and with them on I feel like I could rule the world. I often have to tell myself to slow down with the rest of traffic because you forget it's actually slippery out.

 

>>If you can't drive an SS in the Snow you may not really need to be driving in the snow to begin with. <<

My 'other' car is C6 Corvette and that certainly isn't going to see any snow - so I need something with a little 'utility' to it...

Just didn't want a repeat of my 'good old days' with the mustang GTs - first sign of a snowflake and they were useless...

geo

 

When the traction kicks in and your trying to get going , Just floor it and the computer takes over and pulls you fine , It's not a 4x4 but it's not a vette ethier .

 

I disagree completely, I'm from Alabama and went up to visit my parents in PA for 4 days. The night we got there it was clear, the next day there was 4" of snow on the ground and roads. We drove through the snowy mountainous roads in PA on the factory Michelin's (with GMS1 tune) just fine to my parents house (and the main road leading to there house is a steep incline in and out of the town). On the way how we ran into snow storms & ice through 3 states and did just fine. The factory tires are just fine for snow if you know how to drive in inclement weather.

 

Buy the SS, as far as snow goes....... Its the driver, not the car! tires might give an advantage, but its still the driver. for what its worth, I don't fear the snow, its black ice I'm scared of! (put a 300ZTT into a uncontrolable spin years ago on an interstate) not fun!

 

Only difference to your 07...(note, same car)is the powertrain and some suspension......so as far as control it all depends where you put the right foot......otherwise how can there be much difference..tires? The non SS tires are worse.Just dont expect good results after turning OFF the traction devices, which is silly in bad weather anyways.....