I am considering the purchase of a 2005 RX8 once my present lease expires next July. Since I have to drive it all year I'm wondering how they handle the snow. I live in Niagara Ontario so we don't get alot of snow but enough for this to be a concern. Of course I would buy another set of rims with winter specific tires mounted on them for the winter.

Thanks for helping out the Newb, I'n sure more questions are on the way.

 

Considering there hasn't been a whole lota snow in TO... as far as I'm concern if you have the proper winter set-up along with the traction control you should be alright in the winter.

Or maybe by that time you'd buy the MazdaSpeed 6 instead... AWD baby!

 

It works quite well. If you use winter tires and keep the DSC on you should have now problems. When you turn the DSC off the car has great balance if you want to throw it around and have some fun. That being said, it is a rear wheel drive car so it isn't as idiot proof as your typical front whell drive car...but as far as a rear wheel drive car goes, it works great.

 

It works superbly with winter tires. You can get performance oriented ones like the blizzak lm22 or 25s and they run well on dry roads and still keep you on track in moderate snow (see my snow pics on another thread) yea with dsc on it's almost fool proof. And I can stop deliberately without abs activating.

 

No problem, then. The RX-8 with winter tires is great in snow/ice - just yesterday (see other thread about snow storm in Calgary this weekend, major ice and snow all over) my wife had to drive our daughter to her ski lesson, the road from our neighborhood goes up a significant hill. In the RX-8, she drove past at least 5 vehicles (SUVs, minivans, FWD sedans, all OEM all-season tires) that were stuck trying to get up the hill - their wheels were spinning on the ice, they weren't going anywhere. The RX-8 motored right past! It all comes down to the tires. All-seasons suck in winter! (but the factory RX-8 summer performance tires suck much worse )

Regards,
Gordon

 

yep. not enough people realize that the tires are the most important part. a world of difference. people think they can just take off in their worn all seasons and they'll be fine.

I always find it ironic that the majority of vehicles i see in the ditch during during snow falls, are SUV's. people think that AWD means you'll be fine in any conditions.

 

Had the first major snow fall in GTA. All I've seen on the road a high end Mez-Ben and BMW SUV stuck on the ditch.lol.. which this little rear wheel drive rx8 passes by....

I have a GS.. so doesn't even have DSC. It handles alright, just need to slow down. But it has no problem going uphill or turning...

 

Thanks for the helpful information guys!!

One less stumbling block on the road to a new 8. :D

 

Just had my first 'snow' ride in the 8 GT /AT. Actually, more like 'mush' on H'way 2 Whitby-Ajax and back although the side streets were not ploughed. It behaved admiraby.. Just have to remember my RWD Miata experience.. throttle control is everything..the Hankkooks are really grippy. Like it's on rails. Overall, delighted.