My trusty winter steed

We've had a decent bit of snow in the Denver/Boulder metro area this year.  One night a few weeks ago when the conditions driving home from work were particularly lousy, I had time (crawling along at 5mph, clutch leg developing shin splints) to wax poetic about how lucky I've been with cars when it comes to winter driving. 

My current car, the '06 S4, has yet to be tested by any really nasty weather conditions, though she did ferry me home safely when the roads were coated with ice that night.  Nary a misplaced tire the entire way, while others were slipping sideways, failing to stop, or failing to go.  Her predecessor, though, a '01 S4, was LEGEN..wait for it...DARY.  And so begins our trusty winter steed tale.

In March of '02 I drove out to visit my parents in Kansas City, pissed the entire way there and back because the new Blizzaks the car was wearing got all wobbly and weave-y over 85mph, speed limiting my prairie crossing blast.  On the drive home, around two-thirds the way across Kansas, I noticed that the cars coming towards me were covered in snow.  (I had time to notice this since I was driving so slow.)  Seemed odd, since the roads were completely dry and the fluffy gray clouds above were lazily floating along, minding their own business. Then it started to mist.  Then the temperature dropped below 32 degrees F and the mist started to build up a thick layer of ice on the backs of my mirrors.  Hmmmm...not good.  I'd driven in an ice storm before and promised myself then and there that were I ever to find myself driving in similar circumstances, I'd pull off.  Get a hotel room.  Be safe.  Unfortunately, my "we don't need to see the road to drive" (<-- a phrase actually uttered by my Dad long ago while driving during a wicked winter storm in Indiana) genetics kicked in, reinforced by a strangely strong desire to ...just...make...it...home, so like a big ole' idiot, I continued on.

Shortly thereafter I made a quick gas stop in Goodland, Kansas, and though I was pretty sure I'd heard I-70 was closed on the station's radio, I decided to press on.  And press on I did, cutting the trail at 10mph in a white-out blizzard using the roadside markers as guides in the late, gray afternoon for myself and the five cars behind me until we got forced off the road in Burlington, Colorado.  With the last hotel room taken by the occupants of one of the cars I'd intrepidly lead (BASTARDS!) I ended up sleeping on the floor of a church along with some 100 other weary, stranded travelers.

Hanging out around the altar area, I was lucky enough to befriend a family with a portable DVD player, which proved exceptionally handy for passing the time until I-70 reopened.  (Those poor folks, they'd flown down to Dallas to pick up the college junior-age daughter's new car -- a BMW 3-series convertible -- and got caught in this crap driving it home.  They'd already run the pretty little Bimmer into a light pole in Burlington.  Ouch.)  We watched a couple movies, then settled down for some unsettled sleep under a few donated blankets.  (Thanks to the folks of Burlington for those, by the way.)

The highway reopened around 3am, but our group decided to wait for sunrise to restart our trip West.  I offered to follow them out of town, which was a lucky deal, as one of the BMW's rear tires separated itself from its rim not 15 minutes outside of Burlington.  They left the car by the side of the road and called BMW roadside assistance to come rescue it as I ferried us all back home.  Them to Fort Collins, me to Denver.  The '01 S4 never missed a beat the entire way.  When I look back someday over all the cars I've owned, she'll surely win the award for trustiest winter steed ever.

So what does this mean for you?  What are your "take aways" from this blog post?  Here are a few:

1. A '01 S4 shod with Blizzaks can go anywhere, anytime.
2. Don't live in Burlington, CO.  They get some of the worst weather in Colorado, summer and winter.
3. If you didn't grow up driving in snow during Midwest winters, you don't know JACK about winter driving.
4. If the roads are bad, don't drive past your limits.  Be safe.
5. I love S4s.

Feel free to add others to this list as they come to you.

Comments

[pg]

The s4 is nice, but it comes so short of the rs4... the rs4 is what the s4 should be. the new 335xi is a nice alternative-a bit cheaper too. btw, the xf is a nice ride, if you can drive one do it! I liked it better than the 525i.

[Leslie Osborne]

The '06 S4 actually came with a set of Wintersport M3s -- I totally agree with your comments on them. I'll probably end up buying a new set of those, instead of Blizzaks (even though I think Blizzaks are amazing), when I replace the current set next season.

And yes, I now carry a blanket (which I hope to never have to use on the floor of a church in Burlington, CO) in my trunk at all times. Good advice!

[Aaron]

If you need to get rid of the weavyness on your winter tires, give the Dunlop Wintersport M3's a shot. Much better in the dry than the Blizzaks. Of course, they're not as good in the snow, but with your 4 wheel drive and the number of days when we actually have to drive in a decent amount of snow around here, it might be worth the trade off (and I survived with them and rear wheel drive this year, so they're not awful by any means)

Oh, and one more for your list - shove a blanket in the back of the car and leave it there forever. With luck, you'll never (ever) need to use it ;-)

[BWJones]

Ah, welcome back, S4 and all.