Has anyone had any problems with their cali handling poorly in the snow. We recently received a decent amount of snow. I found that I didnt really get stuck other than on the ramp coming out of my work. It has such high ground clearance that it made it over alot the tough snow patches. I found that the car also didnt slide around alot at all when driving in the snow or on the corners. The ABS did kick in a couple of times when I hit some slushy icy patches. Overall great handling.

 

Canadian Driver gave the Caliber high marks in snow driving.

 

What did it sound like when the antilock brakes kicked in, mine sound clunky rumbly? is this normal.?

 

yeah mine sounds the same. I purposely tried to fish tail my car on a small corner in my neighbourhood just to see how it would handle wiht some snow under the tires. The first time I did it it was perfect the second time I almost would have hit the curb if it wasnt for ABS.

 

I just got rid of my Caliber because of a huge list of problems I was having. I will tell you though, I hated the way it handled on the highway with slippery roads. I don't know if its the AWD or the independant suspension design, but with a full load of passengers, it felt very unsafe. The car seemed to have alot of sway in it. 1 or 2 people in the car was totally fine. Add 2 or 3 in the backseat, maybe some cargo, and ya better hang on. I didn't have the ESP (bought an early model) and I think that may have had something to do with it. If the car was driving on a road where half the lane was slippery and the other was dry, it would jerk left and right really bad. I think maybe it was because the sensors in the front detected slippage, and put power to the back wheels. When it did this, it would throw the car to the left or right, depending which lane was icy. I think that maybe why the ESP is available now maybe. It sure wasn't fun to drive thats for sure. So I picked up a 2004 Ram 4x4 Hemi Q/C Screw mileage, I want driveability and reliability...and maybe some more power.

 

The ram will probably slide around more than the Cali.

 

I'm looking forward to trying mine in the snow

 

Its almost xmas and hasnt snowed here yet.

And that pickup will be alot worse in the snow.I have had 5 different pickup trucks and every one of them needed a ton of sand in back to keep from sliding around.[:'(]

 

So true! I don't know why people think that 4x4 trucks/SUVs are safer in slippery conditions. Sometimes its worse to have something like that. Heavier vehicle which means its harder to stop, harder to maneuver, will definitely lean more in corners, etc. The only thing that may help you is if you do get put in the ditch or something like that. Then it may be beneficial to have 4x4.

 

your car's abilities in the snow rely every bit as much on the driver and the tires than on the car itself

there are lots of idiots out there who get into a lot of trouble driving in hazardous conditions becuase "I have 4 wheel drive, so i can do whatever I want" they are the ones passing you in the unplowed lane, whom you see 3 miles later in the ditch