Did She do good in the Snow? I bet I already know the answer to that question. Share some info of how she did.

 

Roads are not clear by far, and she cut through the snow with minimal hesitation. ESP worked well, no skids and no loss of control. Dead stops on hills she pulled herself up with ease. Had to pass other 4x2s and even 4x4 who were just obnoxiously slow. Feeling like a proud momma right now!

 

Glad to hear how well your Patriot does in the snow and how happy you are with her performance.

 

Nice to know that. What tires are you running on your Pat? Just curious here.

 

Stock. Firestone Affinity. Are not rated the best, but I have no complaints yet. 25k miles on them so far.

 

mine did well too, although my only compaint is that when you use the e brake to slide around corners the front traction control kicks on and kills the slide. even with the traction control off. does anyone have a fix

 

OK, I'm curious. Just what is this e-brake technique supposed to do??? You've probably got your ESP totally confused -- you've certainly got me confused . . . gosh, SCARED! I can't imagine a situation (other than a complete brake failure) when I'd ever use the emergency brake while moving; and once I'd used it, I'd hopefully (please, God) come to a complete stop and I wouldn't drive it another inch until it was fixed!

When I drive in snow, I drive like I have no brakes: I anticipate curves well in advance, get off the gas and let it slow down so my brake use is minimal when I get there -- same thing with stops. When the ESP or ABS comes on, its making up for a mistake. Kinda like seat belts or air bags -- try not to need them! In a crisis they may save you, but do your best to avoid the crisis in the first place.

 

Buy a Dune Buggy, why the H do you want to slide around corners in the snow and ice? Your just asking for a wreck!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Using the e-brake on corners makes the vehicle over steer, then you gas the throttle and put the vehicle into a 4-wheel drift. This technique is usually reserved for front wheel drive vehicles, but with the right amount of practice can be executed in a 4wd. What it is good for is if you are going to fast in a corner and start to under steer using the e-brake will kick out the back end and allow you to turn. The esp might try to fight you so you might have to have it off to do this. An empty parking lot is a good idea to try this, instead of streets.

 

. . . What it is good for is if you are going to fast in a corner and start to under steer . . .

My point. Don't get in that situation in the first place.

And your solution is bizzare. I suppose locking up the rear wheels will drag the rear end and to some extent straighten you out -- if you really want to be going straight in a curve. This sounds like a complicated way to do what the ABS would do anyway, and I've got to think overcorrection is very likely. I don't have too much experience with ABS because I take my own advice and drive easy in snow, but I'd think the ABS would know which wheels to brake so that you can steer. I did miss rear-ending someone because I was able to steer around them on ice, and yes it was a panic situation [they'd stopped as soon as they slid off the ice onto wet pavement -- however, I was still on the ice].

I have plenty of experience driving easy because I have a p/t job in the summer delivering wedding cakes -- easy on the gas, easy on the brakes, easy on the curves -- if not, I've had the accident already. You ever see the cake shows on TV? They have a crisis trying to move the cake from one table to another. Ha! Try loading a dozen wedding cakes in the back of a refer van and delivering to as many different locations along a 200 mile route including turnpikes, city streets, and dirt roads. If you can do that, you can probably drive in snow; the techniques are rather similar.

 

"My point. Don't get in that situation in the first place. "
You mean to tell me that you have never under steered before, or mistaked a corner for how fast you should go in the snow??

It is a comfort thing if you cannot handle your car in a drift that is ok it is a skill that took me many years of stupid driving, before I could handle the whole vehicle sliding sideways through turns. I usually only use this technique as I said with front wheel drive vehicles where under steering is common. In my jeep I haven't been able to do too much with it since I just got it. I usually did this in my vw fox or acura integra in the snow. With those cars my tires were not good for the snow and I didn't have abs. So kicking the back end out with the e-brake was sometimes the only way I could steer. As I said before, stupid driving in my youth. The correct way to drive in the snow is how you said, slow in and you should have no problems, but it is also good to know how your vehicle will handle in a drift, just in case you have to make an emergency maneuver.

 

You mean to tell me that you have never under steered before, or mistaked a corner for how fast you should go in the snow??

We've all had a few close ones but the operative word here is 'few.' I put corners too fast in the same league with running stop signs and blowing red lights: best not done. No, I'm not a slow driver, but if the car is sliding around on any surface (snowy or dry) its going too fast. I just love being in control, even in snow!

Maybe I misunderstood your posting -- it sounded to me like this was a regularly used technique for winter driving. Threshold braking and trail braking have always gotten me out of my mistakes, and the one time I nearly lost it by overcorrecting, I got out of it by steering into my skid (thank you, Driver's Ed). Still, there is no substitute for prudence and forethought.

And yes, I agree, you want to know how a vehicle will handle before you're in a crisis situation. With every new vehicle, and even new sets of tires, I'll find a safe place to test the limits so I'm not learning the hard way.

 

Someone shared this link on another thread. It shows several comparisons of identical situations with ESP on or off. The series is only a minute or so, and one of them shows a Pat. Says it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiZjeeMExY4&feature=player_embedded

 

09 4X2

I've had my 09 4X2 for 2 Winnipeg winters now. No issues, no complaints. Great on the ice, great through the snow!

I. Love. My. Jeep.

Just brought home a 10' long 2X4 inside her this morning, too!
(That's what she said.)

 

Had Ignatz out to play in the snow this morning. Well, not exactly playing but I had to go out for some work. Coming back home around 9 the road hadn't been plowed and maybe 4" had accumulated. Ignatz ambled up the hills with nary a spin, and both the significant hills are conveniently located just after sharp curves, so you don't have any momentum.

Best part is coming up the driveway. There was a tad over 7" by my yardstick; besides the turn off the road, my driveway has a hill and a curve of its own. The 'ol boy didn't even spin his tires. The other set of tracks were mine leaving earlier.

Oh, the tires are General Altimax Arctics, 215-65-16, now in their third winter -- combined with the Patriot, 4WD is only necessary for conditions much worse than this.

Ya know, a generation ago we all got around in snow with only RWD.

 

Look like your 4x2 Patriot handles well in the snow. what exact year is it and its a sport and cvt right?

is your Pat raised?

 

Do 4x2s have BLD on the front?

 

Yes, they have traction control

 

Nice to know that the 4x2 pretty capable. I really wanted 4x4 but just figured when would I really need it? I mostly use it to commute and maybe would like to take it on some unpaved roads and some light duty off road that anything with good ground clearance can manage I even hear that some guys that go on moderate trails don't even have to use their 4x4 sometimes

 

TraumaMatrix88, you have about the same needs as me. My Patriot isn't 4wd, and for my purposes doesn't need it. There is a 4x2 thread where I made a post about my offroading (muddy/icy trail) experience about a year ago. That was really more than I needed to take on, my Garmin just got me onto a seasonally unmaintained 'road', but Ignatz (my FWD Patriot) handled it OK. Here's a couple links:

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77976

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67422

For whatever reason this thread is missing its pictures, but others have made their 4X2 work successfully in off-road situations. http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4553

Poke around, you may find more.

As for handling snowy roads, the Patriot with good snow tires is better than any other FWDs I owned. Olds Cutlass Cruiser, Olds Cutlass Supreme, Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Grand Sport. The Buick was really a dry road vehicle. Wifey got interested into Jeeps after sliding off the road with it.

 

o yes Ive ran into those threads before and it makes me think i did well by getting the 4x2 since from what I hear the 4x4 patriot really cant do much more than the 4x2, since the patriot isn't a off road performer like any of the others. I have yet to go through snowy roads since I have to drive to the mountains to experience it. my last vehicle was a audi a4 quattro so I doubt it will out perform that but looks like it will surpass others.

those links inspire some confidence as I wanted to take my patriot out to anza borrego epper:

 

TraumaMatrix88, I don't know what or where anza borrego is, but I wish you well. The most important thing you can bring is a good dose of experience coupled with an extra measure of prudence. Have fun!

 

Thank you, I sure will

 

The last time I used an emergency brake in this fashion was with my 1989 Plymouth Horizon and I as trying to do "donuts" with a front wheel drive car. (Not easy). Of course I was 21 at the time and reckless when driving.

 

Using the e-brake in the snow is called drifting, it's something that should only be done in empty parking lots away from anything. Obviously on purpose, it's something that many people like to do up here in new england in snow storms. Can be very fun when done right and in a safe area. epper:

 

These jeeps really are amazingly capable even as a 4x2. A couple of years ago I drove from Missouri to Michigan through a huge snow storm without missing a beat. Hope you enjoyed your first snow


Sent from my iPhone using AG Free

 

Y
Gu

Rxgr hypznl. Zoia

Edit
Sorry bout the last post, my 10 month old got ahold of my iPhone.


Sent from my iPhone using Autoguide

 

I like it!!!! epper:

 

Older post, I know. But the more I read about the 4x2's capabilities, the better I feel about making the 4x an option in the Pat I want, rather than a deal breaker.