Got caught out in the snow in the 360 today | FerrariChat
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Got caught out in the snow in the 360 today

Discussion in '360/430' started by DMaury, Dec 11, 2008.

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  1. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #1 DMaury, Dec 11, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    And as I live in South Louisiana, and have only seen snow twice (and then, only enough to barely stick to the grass and cars for a few hours), I truly did get 'caught'.

    As some of you know, I use the 360 as a daily driver, but if I would have known that we would actually have snow here that would cover the ground AND the roads 6-10 inches deep, I would have taken the truck! As it is, I almost ended up putting the car down an embankment backwards.

    When I left the house to head to the hospital at 5 am, it was just a few flurries and the streets were just wet. No big deal, I drive the car in the rain all the time and it has NEVER snowed to any real appreciable degree here in Louisiana right north of New Orleans. I stopped by my office first to check my email, print a patient list, make a few phone calls, etc...and wasted about 45 minutes or so. When I went back out the car there was 3 inches of snow all around and the roads were a combination of snow and ice.

    The 360 is a BEAST on slippery roads! I had a hard enough time with the car acting as a snowplow, but when I went around a long curve in the road to the hospital (only going 5 mph or so) she decided to slow slide straight on and spin to the left. Can I tell you that was a nerve wracking moment as the car turned almost 180 degrees around and was slowing sliding to the edge of the turn before she stopped! I thought for sure I was going down an embankment backwards.

    Anyway, I managed to turn it around, get to the hospital behind a truck that was cutting some nice ruts in the snow, and then made it back to the office, than home.

    For those of you who have 360's that have never seen rain, don't look at the pics below! ;)


    Anyway, the car is fine, all cleaned off and back in the garage. I'm in the truck until this all melts off. Unbelievable amount of snow for us here in Louisiana. My kids have had a blast!
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  2. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
    11,294
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #2 hardtop, Dec 11, 2008
    With all the global warming, I'd suggest you get another set of wheels and mount studded snows on them. I'm sure Tire Rack can fix you up.

    Dave
     
  3. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,451
    Winston Salem, NC
    #3 Ricambi America, Dec 11, 2008
    That gives a whole new meaning to "skid plate" !
     
  4. SDChris

    SDChris Formula 3

    Mar 8, 2006
    1,840
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #4 SDChris, Dec 11, 2008
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2008

    :) Gosh that every day here...

    It's been said about Sioux Falls, "you know your in Sioux Falls when you see a blonde on a cell phone....in 360 spider doing 60 mhp sideway in 6 ft of snow.."
     
  5. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #5 DMaury, Dec 11, 2008
    Yeah, but you should see what happens when a bunch of coon-asses like me try to drive in it when you've hardly ever seen it! ;) I think the last time we had a bit of snow here was 8 years ago; and then only enough to wipe off the car hood. Wouldn't even stick to the ground. This was definitely a first for us here. :)

    Oh yes, global warming at its finest. ;)
     
  6. 2000YELLOW360

    2000YELLOW360 F1 World Champ

    Jun 5, 2001
    19,800
    Full Name:
    Art
    #6 2000YELLOW360, Dec 11, 2008
    The 430 has a setting for that, but I still don't think I'd want to try that.

    Art
     
  7. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,188
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #7 tazandjan, Dec 11, 2008
    Maury- It is not the car, it is the tires and their compounds. If you look at Pirelli literature, the compounds used in the tires are summer only (normally all you get in LA) and they just do not work at freezing temperatures. Next time it happens, call a taxi, leave it where it is, and wait to drive it until temperatures increase. The longest cold spell that bad you have down there is probably only 1-3 days. Not worth risking you and the car for $100 of taxi fares. Costs one or two orders of magnitude to just replace one damaged wheel rim.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  8. Derek Trotter

    Derek Trotter Formula 3
    BANNED

    Jul 28, 2007
    1,790
    Cambridge, UK
    #8 Derek Trotter, Dec 11, 2008
    A very brave man using his 360 in the snow :eek:. We had a little snow here a few weeks back and my car has now been put away until around March/April. We are now in the salt and gritted roads season here in the UK, my 360 is all tucked up and cosy in it's heated storage.
     
  9. SDChris

    SDChris Formula 3

    Mar 8, 2006
    1,840
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #9 SDChris, Dec 11, 2008
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2008
    I bet!! :) We just drove a 360 yesterday from a customers home to the dealership, and it was normal driving besides the snow pack on the streets..I would post a pic, but iam waaaaayyy past my pic quoted..in few weeks I will post pics :D When i go to St. Louis ware they do get SOME snow, its like the sky has fallen and everyone is sliding all over the roads! Here I do not even break out my 13 1/2 hp snow blower until we get 8 in or more...

    Owning a detail shop, I would say let the snow melt off, then wash it and dry with a micro fiber towel... :D
     
  10. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #10 DMaury, Dec 11, 2008
    No, it's surely not. My point was, this has NEVER happened here before (well, at least in my 40 years) the roads were just wet when I left and had no reason to think they'd get any worse. Had I even THOUGHT it would, I would have taken my truck. :)

    And here I was think you were going to say it wasn't the car....it was the DRIVER! ;)
     
  11. Wolfgang5150

    Wolfgang5150 F1 Rookie

    Oct 31, 2003
    4,706
    #11 Wolfgang5150, Dec 11, 2008
    As a 'snow expert' (I live outside of Buffalo, NY), that snow is real heavy and wet. the worst kind in any vehicle. but perfect for snowballs, and snowmen.
    Nothing like a good 'sphincter tightening' drive in a sports car......lol.....
    I drove a Corvette in college - know the feeling!
    Take care.
    Kevin S.
    Orchard Park, NY
     
  12. Ferraribot

    Ferraribot F1 Veteran

    Jul 14, 2008
    7,992
    Atlantis, under the sea...
    #12 Ferraribot, Dec 11, 2008
    Wow, it was really thick by you! I was nervous just driving in what was melting.
     
  13. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,188
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #13 tazandjan, Dec 11, 2008
    Maury- No. I believe you can drive just fine. The laws of physics and rubber/synthetic properties are hard to overcome, however. Otherwise Ferrari would have a world champion driver as well as a constructor's title, one of which was lost in the final corner of the final grand prix of the 2008 season due to tire properties.

    I live in Albuquerque. We get snow several times a year, usually fairly light and gone by noon. Much more cost efficient to go in late or take a taxi home rather than risk an accident on those rare occasions when the snow sticks around for a while. Took me a couple of scares (spins) to figure that out. Got a couple of standing ovations by SUV drivers for spins in a Z06 Corvette, who thought it was funnier than all get out, sort of like a rhinoceros on ice. Not worth it even if I was providing entertainment value. Luckily I never hit anything or anybody.

    Plus I know very few MDs who cannot afford taxi fare. Or a helicopter ride, for that matter.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  14. johns930

    johns930 Formula 3

    May 9, 2005
    1,465
    #14 johns930, Dec 11, 2008
    OMG!!! U sir! are my hero! i never let mine go over drops of water let alone an avalanche like that!! hahaha!


     
  15. scycle2020

    scycle2020 F1 Rookie

    Jan 26, 2004
    3,477
    potomac
    #15 scycle2020, Dec 11, 2008
    you would make AL Gore proud!!!!!
     
  16. ferrariKP

    ferrariKP F1 Rookie

    Jul 29, 2004
    3,994
    BKK/ LOS
    Full Name:
    Kenny
    #16 ferrariKP, Dec 11, 2008
    Snow!?!...never seen that for years.

    Driving mid-engine/rwd vehicle in snow is such a challenging experience, so be careful guys!
     
  17. boraville

    boraville Formula Junior

    May 7, 2008
    322
    Livingston, NJ
    Full Name:
    Bora Sultan
    #17 boraville, Dec 12, 2008
    I LOVE IT. Man that is great. I own a home in Maine where I keep a 360 spider. Have never had the guts to actually pull it out in snow.

    Thank god it got home ok! But the photos brought a smile to my face.

    But I certainly applaud you for using her as a car and not a garage ornament!

    Cheers!

    Bora
     
  18. mr_bock

    mr_bock Formula 3

    Oct 27, 2006
    1,373
    FL full time
    #18 mr_bock, Dec 12, 2008
    All I can say is Wow!!!! That is very unusual to have that much snow. Glad all turned out well for you and the car.
     
  19. Oceanic815

    Oceanic815 Formula 3

    Apr 30, 2008
    2,071
    Central Oregon
    #19 Oceanic815, Dec 12, 2008
  20. Miner_31

    Miner_31 Formula Junior

    Jun 27, 2008
    376
    Summerfield, NC
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #20 Miner_31, Dec 12, 2008
  21. Fmax

    Fmax Formula Junior

    Aug 16, 2007
    799
    Prague, CZ
    Full Name:
    Max
    #21 Fmax, Dec 12, 2008
    Anyone here put some winter tyres on and driving the Fcar?
     
  22. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    #22 Fast_ian, Dec 12, 2008
    Firstly, to the OP: "You da man!"

    So does the 360 - It's the button that many have confused with disabling the T/C - They hit it and wonder why it pulls away in 2nd and changes up at about 2.5k (?). "Snow and ice" mode.

    But, I have no desire to ever use it.

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  23. SefacHotRodder

    SefacHotRodder F1 World Champ

    Dec 20, 2003
    11,158
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #23 SefacHotRodder, Dec 12, 2008
    Thats awesome. Good for you for risking it (although not intentionally) and taking it out.
     
  24. scifoso tifoso

    scifoso tifoso Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2008
    310
    Jupiter, Florida
    Full Name:
    John G
    #24 scifoso tifoso, Dec 12, 2008
    Maury:

    I love you man! Few people have the stones and the confidence to daily their 360. Good for you man. It sure is pretty to look at when its falling, but when you are behind the windshield driving in it...well, lets just say i dont miss it.

    At least you can say you had a white xmas this year.
     
  25. Rubino

    Rubino Formula Junior

    May 24, 2005
    646
    Charlotte Area
    Full Name:
    Bob Curtis
    #25 Rubino, Dec 13, 2008
    The old wives tale that they melt in the snow has now been vanquished. :)
     
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