ok, 1-2" in Portland. Dozens of cars video, crash in Portland ice storm - Car Crash - YouTube
All the vehicles in this video with all season tires and AWD, in particular the 4Runner and Outback. Excluding the idiot in the Volvo XC (also AWD and all seasons), nobody here was driving with their afterburners on. The one car that apparently didn't have any problems was the E90 with snow tires. This was a couple of blocks from the dealership I worked at. I drove my E30 to work and couldn't make it up this hill with my all season tires, which was a big letdown since I drove the other 20 miles in snow without any problems. Ended up parking away from this mess. The next day I drove my wife's 325iX with snow tires and was able to drive up/down all these hills without issue. Which led me to start doing late night snow rally drives around the city when there aren't any pedestrians or vehicles on the road ;)
Here's an example of those with the afterburners causing problems for everyone else.
Massive Pileup On Wisconsin Highway 41/45 During Snow Storm - YouTube
If everyone had modern snow tires, wouldn't have been as big a deal and the number of spins/crashes would have been limited to just a few cars. (really guessing here)

BUT, this is northwest snow which is different than the snow everyone else gets. Ours is always a mix of slush and ice and snow and is ridiculously slippery. Going east where the temperature is below 28 when it snows and stays cold, ice never really forms on the pavement and the roads offer about the same amount of traction as clear roads up until there gets to be a few inches and it starts packing on the road.

Well when you stomp on the gas like that one guy was doing what do you expect? He's one guy that DON'T know how to drive. He did the most damage to his car as well as other people car.

Often said about inventions-- ones invention will be a repeat or if you don't hurry someone you are completely unaware of is working to prove the same idea.

My perspective of German engineering is somewhat similar to Apple. Apple engineering uses the concept of legos. Until they run out of legos they continue to build on what they have successfully done. Apple engineering is more intuitive and generally less complex than perceived. When complex it is best that it is.

When the bulk of the advertising budget is dedicated to brand awareness it is the early stages of a new product introduction, the company, or when entering a new market.

As quickly as reasonable the budget will shift to brand image priorities, a business plan market share goal will most often trigger that shift. While market share is the key measure meant of success, brand image is the critical issue to staying power, profit and the overall value of the brand. Coca-Cola is the most valuable worldwide brand. Continuing on the Business week list Toyoto is 7, Mercedes is 10 and BMW is 15th.

While brand positioning advertising contributes to brand awareness, product consistent with the brand positioning is the key component of ongoing expansion of brand awareness. We can all think of a reason why Cola-Cola, Microsoft, IBM and GE fall before any automaker.

While BMW is 15th, the key performance measurement is how the brand is trending. As for BMW the brand awareness has improved 15% since 2005. Doesn't sound like much but every point is priceless. During the same period Coca-Cola was down 1, Microsoft -5, IBM +5, GE +4. As far as automakers, Toyoto was +5, Mercedes +9.

For ongoing success the product must contribute to the brand image, the key to BMW is contribution to the driving machine positioning. Certainly durability and reliability are a key element to that mission. Whatever negatives we have about the BMW brand, the rest of the world believes BMW brand is more valuable than it was in 2005.

As soon as the fire truck arrived on site and moron driver blocked the iced intersection I KNEW the video would show multiple cars plow into it. What was that driver thinking?

With the light rain here in TX (50/60 deg temps), we have had 3 hwys closed in the past 24hrs (ALL multi-vehicle wrecks, at least 2 18 wheelers involved in each pile-up!). Hwy 30 at Bass Pro is currently TOTALLY closed (BOTH DIRECTIONS), 16 vehicles involved!

Would rather deal with iced roads (leave the X garaged and drive a beater/battlewagon with crash bar bumpers) then the jackass pickup/18 wheeler drivers doing 90 mph on wet TX roads.

Just checking, I can be easily fooled. The wink means all of this is just funny? The youtube examples and your narrative are just a put on?

So true. This is one thing I don't understand. This is not the first time I've seen someone loose control on the snow, start spinning out, and then decide to punch it. Is there a thought process to this or do people just freak and start stomping on pedals?

Some likely think it will help, others have pedal confusion. When the brake didn't work, they figure they will try the other pedals.

There is a related concept where it does help. With a front wheel drive vehicle, when it breaks loose and you start under steering (usually because of lifting the throttle at the wrong time in the corner) reapplying throttle can in a sense help the car pull you through it. Common on SAABs, Minis, and other rally cars on snow covered roads. This isn't a solution once you are rotating, just once you are plowing ahead. Sliding wheels don't help you turn, but if you get the wheels turning again you can steer, within limits.

:iagree: Drifting is an example of controlling a skid using the go pedal with rear wheel drive.

But with a rear wheel drive vehicle, applying throttle will increase oversteer. Drifters do it for show, but if you are sliding, there are few times you want to apply throttle to regain control. With a front wheel drive vehicle, applying throttle can help regain control and steering, since steering and drive are on the same axle.

You turn the front wheels in the direction of the skid to control a skid on a rear wheel drive car. The go-pedal only increase the drift if that is what you intent on doing.