Today I learned that...

[Bob Ross]

...I'm an excellent driver, because driving a RWD BMW with performance tires 20 miles to work after an 8'' snowfall (still coming down) on semi-plowed roads is not something that should be attempted by the lesser-skilled or insanity-challenged.

Notable incidents include:

1) Fishtailing 60 degrees one way, then the same amount the other (repeat 3 times) while going up a single lane highway interchange ramp. How I ended up missing the guard rails I have no idea.

2) Driving straight down the highway at a 45 degree angle to the road for a few hundred yards. Could not correct.

3) Driving over a bridge at 1 mph because the anti-spin / slip thingy wouldn't let me go any faster, while knowing that if I came to a dead stop, I'd be stuck FOREVER.

All the while I had to deal with semis blazing by within the breath of an inch, and stupid tailgaters who thought that the safest place on the road was right on a barely-in-control vehicle's bumper.

Of course, this all happens on like, one of three days per year that I absoultely HAVE to be at work. Pfft...work. Always making you do stuff. They should give me a medal or something. If the road conditions don't drastically improve by evening, it looks like I'll be hotelling it. Snow sucks.

[Chocolate Lover]

Glad you made it there in one piece Bob, it's ok if I'm laughing right?

[efco]

If we raced, I'd mop the floor with you.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

You forgot the people who don't clean off their cars and spray snow 30 feet behind them.

[Deleted]

Pffft! I drove from Buffalo to Rochester in similar weather in a Chevette!

[efco]

Ah...the good ol Chevette.

30 mpg

0-60.....sometimes.

[DebMD (banned)]

My Christmas 'present' from the police department


The tow truck pulled me out of a snow embankment at my driveway...I backed up and hit the tow truck and got a 120$ driving ticket[for going too fast].!!!!

Funny.

[Bob Ross]

Jan 20, 2011 11:56:39 GMT -5 @efco said:

If we raced, I'd mop the floor with you.

I don't race. Racing is dangerous.

[efco]

Jan 20, 2011 11:59:55 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

Jan 20, 2011 11:56:39 GMT -5 @efco said:

If we raced, I'd mop the floor with you.

I don't race. Racing is dangerous.

LOL!

[Befferz]

Jan 20, 2011 12:17:24 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

Glad you made it to work Bob. Yet another reason I don't live where it snows.

Come on, Miss M...we know you love a challenge! ;D

[Opti]

Hey Bob I think we learned you are a lucky driver. Did you try turning off
traction control?

[Bob Ross]

Jan 20, 2011 12:38:40 GMT -5 Opti said:

Hey Bob I think we learned you are a lucky driver. Did you try turning off
traction control?

Yeah I tried it both on and off. Didn't seem to make much difference either way.

Jan 20, 2011 12:17:24 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

Glad you made it to work Bob. Yet another reason I don't live where it snows.

It usually snows here once, maybe twice a year, and typically under 4'' each time. Some winters it doesn't snow at all.
This is why I haven't got snow or all season tires for my car. Also, it goes back to the dealer in 6 months. Not paying $1200 for a set of tires for the next owner.

[Bob Ross]

Jan 20, 2011 13:04:14 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I hate to tell you this, but you're gonna end up paying for new tires anyway. I turned mine in this past July and had to pay $800 for new tires.

Maybe. Maybe not. I've got 60% tread life left on this set. There's actually guidelines online for tire replacement come turn in time but they involve measuring the groove depth which I don't feel like doing right now. Anyways, if I do, I do but I don't want to go ahead and do it now regardless.

[Opti]

Yikes, what kind of tires go for $1200? Unless that's BMW dealer prices.

[Bob Ross]

Jan 20, 2011 13:15:57 GMT -5 Opti said:

Yikes, what kind of tires go for $1200? Unless that's BMW dealer prices.

They are Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat tires. It's what the car came with. I just priced them online for a bit under $250 each. I only checked TireRack.com and didn't do an extensive search so they may be cheaper elsewhere or there may be cheaper options with other brands. Anyways, I may have overestimated a bit with the $1200 figure but with installation, I probably didn't overestimate by much.

Oh yeah, these tires SUCK in snow. I guess there's better options for summer as well.

[Opti]

At a Tire Rack installer installation should be under $50 a tire unless they are really low profile. I hear the ride and wear of the run flats are horrid.
I had some nice Bridgestone Potenza summer tires a couple years ago, but last I checked the Direzza's scored better in the Tire Rack tests and were cheaper. I needed to go a bit lower on the food chain, but luckily I've done better in the snow than you.

[Bob Ross]

Update: so this morning, when the roads are perfectly clear, a person was killed in the exact same spot I fishtailed yesterday. Turns out that two people crashed, got out to exchange info, a third car plowed into them, and one of them fell over the guard rail about 30 feet to the pavement below. Jeez.

I'm upgrading my level of driving skill to "outstanding".

[Deleted]

YIKES! Glad to hear that you're OK.

[Peace Of Mind]

Jan 21, 2011 10:33:55 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

Update: so this morning, when the roads are perfectly clear, a person was killed in the exact same spot I fishtailed yesterday. Turns out that two people crashed, got out to exchange info, a third car plowed into them, and one of them fell over the guard rail about 30 feet to the pavement below. Jeez.

I'm upgrading my level of driving skill to "outstanding".

What a horrific story. I wish I didn't read this. That poor person that fell 30 ft.