Ultimate winter driving vehicle??

[A34Maxima6MT]

When I drive in huge blizzards in my x3 (which i LOVE to do) and I see all of these big-tyred ford pickups and Cummins diesel Dodges and the Silverado's ..I think to myself darn...if they only knew how it was to drive a vehicle that was actually designed for part-time snow use rather than a frame design adopted from 1970 thrown onto 4 wheels with a transfer case and a body bolted on. Well anyway this year I purchased a set of snow tires and also a set of rims from a 328 coupe and bolted them to the x3. Not the 'snow tires with high performance edge' but some serious snow tires, the ones I found that TireRack gave some of the highest ratings to. Well anyway, between good tires, Dynamic Stability Control, Xdrive, a very maneuverable car, and the great amenities (heated: seats, wheel, mirrors, washer nozzles etc, xenon lights, and enough room for a midsize snow thrower in the back) the x3 has shown what it is really capable of and all of the great engineering that has gone into it has made it a fantastic winter vehicle. 4+ foot snowdrifts (snow going onto the roof) , unplowed roads with several feet of snow and steep driveways, I couldn't find a situation the x3 couldn't handle. I was following an expedition on an unplowed road as the light turned red, he was in front of me and became stuck. Tried backing up to no avail. I reversed went around him and went on my merry way with a dirty look from the good ol' ford driver. So the key to a winter vehicle isnt a lift kit, huge tires and a true 4X4 system, its engineering, great tires, and an awd system that can OUT THINK a typical 4X4. just the right amount of wheelspin will get you through where too much wheelspin will dig you down further and create ice under your tires. I also felt confident giving the x3 to my parents to run errands as I was sure they'd arrive back home safe. Boy, do i LOVE my x3 to death

[JCL]

Our 2007 X3 is similarly equipped, but without the Comfort package. We have the cold weather package as standard here. You didn't say which transmission you have, but the manual six speed provides more control IMO.

Our X3 goes just about anywhere, I agree with your comments. It is actually very similar in capability to what 325xi was. The 325 didn't have quite the same ground clearance, but the lower weight helped it, and it pushed unplowed snow very well with the bumper. It couldn't have brought the Honda tracked snowblower home that I fit in the back of the X3, though, similar to yours.

The X3 actually does better than our X5 did. It has the advantage of x-Drive, but I think the lower weight is even more of an advantage.

Make sure you try the HDC on a steep icy hill, it is very good as well, and worth learning about before you actually need it.

[RickM5X3]

Originally Posted by JCL

Our 2007 X3 is similarly equipped, but without the Comfort package. We have the cold weather package as standard here. You didn't say which transmission you have, but the manual six speed provides more control IMO.

Our X3 goes just about anywhere, I agree with your comments. It is actually very similar in capability to what 325xi was. The 325 didn't have quite the same ground clearance, but the lower weight helped it, and it pushed unplowed snow very well with the bumper. It couldn't have brought the Honda tracked snowblower home that I fit in the back of the X3, though, similar to yours.

The X3 actually does better than our X5 did. It has the advantage of x-Drive, but I think the lower weight is even more of an advantage.

Make sure you try the HDC on a steep icy hill, it is very good as well, and worth learning about before you actually need it.

Agree with everything here except the Honda track drive. Just sold our hs928 track drive b/c it's such a pain to maneuver. No driving pleasure there and replacing it with the wheeled version, traction be damned.

[wallyx5]

It's good to hear that you love your X3 so much. I enjoyed the post. Over here we could only dream of that much snow. Here we are lucky to get a few inches.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by RickM5X3

Agree with everything here except the Honda track drive. Just sold our hs928 track drive b/c it's such a pain to maneuver. No driving pleasure there and replacing it with the wheeled version, traction be damned.

Off topic here, but sorry to hear it didn't work out. At least you went for the Honda wheeled version, so you got the Honda engine whatever the track/wheel configuration. I am a big fan of Honda engineering in mobile power equipment.

I have used a number of wheeled snowblowers, and always felt that the large ones were like horsing around a rototiller, I felt it later in my shoulders. Maybe I need to do more training.

I had a Honda tracked snowblower in northern Alberta years ago, and it was fantastic. A few years back just outside Vancouver (above the snow line) I got a Honda HS724, hydrostatic, tracked drive. I loved it. The tracks provided front/rear balance, and far better traction (unless one puts chains on, and I didn't want chains on my driveway due to the surface finish).

It wasn't the same to turn as a wheeled machine, and I did find there was a knack to it. Pushing down on the handles allowed spot turns as well. I was able to clear in long runs (150' lot frontage, circular driveway spanning all of that), so maybe that helped.

[RickM5X3]

Originally Posted by JCL

I am a big fan of Honda engineering in mobile power equipment.

Every 3-wheeler (ATC), dirt bike, generator, and mower I've owned has been Honda. My Harmony mower got its first oil change after 9 years of duty. Owning no maintenance Hondas balances out needful BMWs. I bought way too much snowblower with the 928. My first Honda mistake.

[NIGHTMAREuki]

IMO its not fair to compare XDrive equipped vehicle to your average SUV or Truck. most of them rely on traction control to transfer power, anything that has mechanical diffs will be better. old school audi would be awesome in snow with manual locking center and rear diffs.
i had a chance to drive my frien'ds G35x in snow and i like that it has snow mode(makes 50-50 TQ split), feels more confident.
i see you also have 04 maxima, i used to have two 03 maximas, auto and manual, miss them both everyday.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by NIGHTMAREuki

IMO its not fair to compare XDrive equipped vehicle to your average SUV or Truck. most of them rely on traction control to transfer power....

But x-Drive also relies on traction control intervention (brake application) to transfer power left to right, both front and rear. It is only the centre (front/rear) diff that is different with x-Drive.

I've had both x-drive, and an X5 without x-drive, and both tires and weight made more difference than x-drive or not, in my experience.

[A34Maxima6MT]

JCL, no I have a 6sp auto it was so hard to find a manual here and especially with the comfort pkg that I really wanted. But yes I agree, the manual would have way more control in any situation. I have tried the HDC on some steep off road adventures but never on ice. I can't find a big enough hill lol and I'm afraid if it's too icy I'll slide down and crash (even though I believe my x3 is invincible sometimes lol! ) And about the locking diffs and such subject they are good for traction but for the precise control aspect I don't believe the can offer what open diffs and dsc can provide because the system works to give you the most control in any situation rather than the extra straight forward traction. Every vehicle has it's advantages though. But what I've seen is the engineering put into these cars makes them capable in ways they were not even intended just because the technology is so smart. And yes I LOVE my x3, and to NIGHTMARE, yes I love my maxima, I've had an 00, 02, an this 04. Loved every single one of them to death.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by A34Maxima6MT

JCL, no I have a 6sp auto it was so hard to find a manual here and especially with the comfort pkg that I really wanted. But yes I agree, the manual would have way more control in any situation.

Yes, they are hard to find. My sales rep tried for a few minutes to talk us out of special-ordering it, said we would have one of the very few around and it would be hard to sell it. I agree there aren't many around, but I don't think it will be hard to sell. Our 325 with a manual sold to the first person that called off Craigslist within hours of listing it, he was searching for a manual xi. I am going to sell my 535 with a manual, and my same sales rep advised that I won't have any problem selling it, there is demand. My wife is the one who insisted on the manual in the X3, it is primarily her car. She has never owned an automatic and doesn't want to start now (but she is going to have to, soon, I fear).

Great to see your enthusiasm for your X3. I agree that they are very capable vehicles.