Ho Ho Ho, Let's Get Sideways In The Snow!

So, apparently London has been "buried" under a "blizzard" recently - all 8" of it. Regardless of my tactless American opinion on the relative pathetic-ness of 8" of snow crippling a city for a few days, and all the messages about "don't t

18 May 2015

If your vehicle is relatively snow-capable (leave that Corvette Z06 at HOME, kids) and you know what you're doing, snow driving is three and a half barrels of fun. I've assembled a collection of what I consider to be the greatest YouTube snow driving videos below. Hopefully you enjoy it!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V48LsEjiFJ4

Here's world-famous Porsche test driver (and former World Rally star) Walter Rohrl driving a 996-generation Porsche 911 Carrera 2 around the Nurburgring Nordschliefe... in the snow... on studded snow tires. This level of car control is simply insane.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42sTlMDZbGo

On the other end of the spectrum, here's a first-generation smart ForTwo trying to find grip in the snow. The answer is no. Fun though!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCWWdzEyA6w

Here's an old Mazda 323 (Familia) GT-R having fun in the snow. In case you forget (or never knew) these cars existed, here's a basic run-down: 323 hatchback. Permanent 4WD. 1.8L 16v Turbocharged I4. Massive hoonage potential. Sadly, most of these cars have rusted into oblivion, or have been hooned to death by now. Awesome little hot hatch, though.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNXgjX3sYFc

Here's a first-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R (BNR32) absolutely ripping up a frozen lake. Nissan's rear-biased ATTESSA-ETS four wheel drive system, as well as the HICAS four wheel steering allow this supercar killer to pirouette about it's own axis in the snow, which would make me sick in about three minutes, tops. I love these cars.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-bnBEpWu70

The first Subaru video here, but you can bet it won't be the last. This is a previous-generation WRX STi sedan fitted with an aftermarket anti-lag setup. Just listen to that noise! It sounds like small arms fire when he lets off the throttle!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7vr63Ue2rk

Here's a Dinan-modified BMW 540iA (E39) punishing some snow tires on a frozen lake. He's spinning the wheels so hard I'd begin to worry about melting a hole in the ice...

By the way, don't BMW V8's with exhaust systems sound absolutely wonderful?

Also, as an aside: notice they brought along an old Volvo, so they're sure they'll at least get home? </volvo snob>

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldrHGhqKVj8

Now, we can't go through any sort of snow-related hoonage post without a video of an Audi urQuattro. So, duty fulfilled.

By the way, 20+ years down the line, seeing one of these cars still makes my heart skip a beat. Such a fantastic automobile. I would wager he has the center and rear differentials locked in this video... only way to do it.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8OMH87mvcM

And we move forward a decade or two in Audi engineering... Here's another of my favorite Audi's, a B5-generation S4 Avant in that obnoxious Imola Yellow color. It uses the (in my opinion) inferior brake-lock differentials, doesn't have the locking center differential, but at least it's torsen. Oh, and it has a 30-valve 2.7L biturbo V6. These cars are simply epic.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlBDXwR5Jtg

I absolutely love this. This is an old Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG, the little C class stuffed fulled of tuned 4.3L V8. It doesn't look like it does real well in the snow, but this has the distinction of actually doing a burnout in the ice. Mmmm, torque.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyrI_tg9iSQ

Another epic video. This is a "snow day adventure" with three buddies - a "bugeye" WRX wagon, a B5 A4 1.8T Quattro, and a very loud Audi 90 20-valve Quattro. Where do they live? I'm moving there...!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI0eJkNTfMU

Here's something you don't see every day: someone driving a Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron in the snow. Seriously. $1.3M, 1001 horsepower supercar... in the snow. I don't even need to caption this one, but let me just say: HUGE roostertails.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUR1OsCMXPQ

Last but not least, this is a 32-valve Audi V8 Quattro showing the benefits of locking center and rear diffs in the snow. That's gotta be quite a handful! Nice sounds coming from the exhaust, too. The Audi Type 44's are such classy cars, no?

That's all for now. I'll post the rest of the collection later! In the mean time, just remember... Brake early. Turn slowly. And remember to initiate your drifts with a Scandinavian Flick!