Jordan Dalton

I will be moving to Michigan in April of this year from Temple, Tx. I know that the weather is drastically different in Michigan than in Texas.

Will I need to do anything to my car?

BlueEyes

snow tires.

Jordan Dalton

do you know if I will possibly need to get an engine flash? (dont want to flood the car........lol)

How much are snow tires?

PaulieWalnuts

Yes, convert it to four wheel drive.

rotten42

You will also have to learn how to to a Michigan left.

MI_FamilyMan

Jordan, I guess you will have to decide for yourself whether or not you want to drive the car in the winter. Personally, I only take it out when the roads are entirely clear, otherwise I keep it garaged. So if you have an extra "beater" car, it helps for those foul weather days. I haven't bought winter tires since I don't take my car out in these conditions. What part of Michigan are you headed to? All parts of the state are definitely NOT created equal...

Johnnyma45

Yes absolutely right. Here in SE Michigan you'll get maybe 5-10 days of I would say undriveable snow (even with snow tires), where it becomes an issue of ground clearance. On those days I curse that I bought this car, because ultimately I end up in a snowdrift or bury myself up to the windows. And people laugh at you. If you have a second car, use that. But otherwise snow tires help a lot in the cold and the salt buildup and light snow. Good luck

whosyourbaba

well i live in chicago, our winter is sort of bad. Im sure mich is prob a bit worst. I have all seasons, they work decent in snow, but the car is horrible when it gets high and also getting stuck in snow might happen like backing out of the alley and trying to go straight. Either get snows or a beater. i got my 12 year old accord!

whosyourbaba

o yea, when u wanna wash your car in winter, its not going to happen! my car is very white and gray and the salt.

mtnpass

When I lived in Toronto and Chicago, I had a Fd3s ... I bought an Escort and thrashed it for the three months of bad weather. It was worthwhile to me to spend the couple thousand for a winter car than take a chance driving my 7.

PaulieWalnuts

There are quite a few people who rave about how good the 8 is in snow with the right tires. Look at this thread check out the wheels and tires section as well as the Tire Rack site.

nhguy

I live in New Hampshire. We have had alot of snow so far this winter. I put Dunlop M3 Wintersport tires on new rims for the winter ($1200) and I have used the car ALL winter with no problems.

MIGoat

Where in the state are you moving? The southeast part of the state (Greater Detroit) gets the least amount of snow. If you won't be getting a winter beater, a set of snow tires would be a good idea particularly if you will be in the western or northern parts of the state. As mentioned before, you'll want to wash the car regularly in the winter.

PaulieWalnuts

Come to think of it, maybe a beater would be a good way to learn to drive in heavy snow instead of bouncing the 8 off of curbs, poles and other cars.

rotten42

I don't get it, how come you can't wash your car in winter? We do it throughout the winter in Calgary...and it gets cold here!

Howard

I live on Indiana Michigan border. Bought Pirilli Snowsport snow tires. They work good. 800 and change.

Charles Cope

If you're headed for the west side, look forward to lake effect snow. The wind of the lake brings lots of extra snow to the shoreline cities. I'm just outside of Grand Rapids - also vote for a winter beater. Mine is a 3/4 ton van, lots of clearance! Can't wait 'til March 1st when I bring my 8 out of hibernation!

neit_jnf

all wheel drive

Jordan Dalton

Sorry for the delay in response, i just got through working 36hrs (24 on Fire Dept, 12 on EMS).

I'll be moving to Monroe (about 30 minutes south of Detroit).

neit_jnf

I work and used to live in Monroe!! I moved to Westland a few months ago...

MI_FamilyMan

Monroe, eh? I am down there all the time. My wife grew up there and we visit often. Winters aren't bad in that part of the state, although I would still want something on hand for the rougher days. Good luck on the move, perhaps I'll see you on the road sometime... look for the sweet velocity red...

Jordan Dalton

I'm trying to secure a job up there in EMS before I relocate. I have a Brilliant Balck Rx8.

Jordan Dalton

I've noticed here in Texas that if the temperature gets really cold that it takes my Rx8 a while to start. Is there some sort of engine flash I can get that could help with this problem since I'll be dealing with cold weather starts all the time?

MI_FamilyMan

I believe the MSP04 campaign (M-flash) should help you in cold conditions, even though it is not expressly designed for that. If there is anyway you can manage to park your 8 in a garage, it should be fine, even if it isn't heated. But it should help.

Also, I read elsewhere on the forum that the "stock" replacement battery was changed to a battery with higher cold-cranking amps. Not sure if there is a way to get one replaced under warranty due to difficult cold starts.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

In the Great Lakes states, we have something here called Lake Effect Snow. The wind blowing across these large bodies of water picks up humidity. Over the land, I comes down as snow. Sometimes LOTS of snow. 20 mi inland may get none. Because the winds are mostly from the west, western lower Michigan, northern Ohio, northern Pennsylvania and northern New York (in the US) get lots of snow. If the wind shifts to the north, add northern Indiana and upper Michigan to the list. If the lakes freeze over (it sometimes happens) then the snow falls decreases. If the temp of the lake water is warm and the air temp is cold, then a lot of snow will fall. It is a fact of life around here.
I didn't know if you, being from Texas, was aware of this.