Snowstorm was a breeze for some SUVs

Columbus Dispatch ^ | 18 February 2003 | Joe Blundo

[Deadeye Division]

Snowstorm was a breeze for some SUVs
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Joe Blundo
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Finally, central Ohio presents a snowstorm worthy of a $40,000 sport-utility vehicle.

The SUVs plowed through the snow pretty well. Too well for some drivers, who say the occasional sport-utility cowboy left them shaken.

"They seem to have an attitude,'' said Brian Oman of southern Delaware County.

A black SUV blew past him Monday as he did 35 mph on his way to Highbanks Metro Park with his two children.

"We were sliding as it was, and he still made an effort to plow right ahead.''

Gary Cox of Columbus saw similar stunts.

"I've seen some Jeeps and SUVs just going down the street like there's no tomorrow.''

Still, when more than a foot falls and the kids want to go sledding, it's tough to beat an SUV, said Paula and Rick Clay of Columbus.

They loaded their kids, their neighbors' kids and a fleet of sleds into the back of a Suburban.

"It's perfect,'' Mrs. Clay said. "We feel a lot safer in it.''

Mr. Clay, though, knows that the power and traction lead some drivers to go faster than they should. They forget about the weight.

"You can go anywhere in them,'' he said. "You just can't stop.''

Nick and Kim Gulyassy of Clintonville decided they could live with less traction and more money.

"It was using too much gas,'' Mrs. Gulyassy said of their four-wheel-drive vehicle. "Now we have a Honda Odyssey -- with a snow shovel in the back.''

The SUV mystique probably survived the storm intact. After all, when a Level 3 snow emergency hit southern Ohio, people weren't turning to four-door sedans.

Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster used a Dodge Durango, Nissan Xterra and Kia Sportage to shuttle employees to and from work on Saturday and Sunday.

"I'm absolutely amazed at how easily I got around,'' said David Bickham, a hospital spokesman who owns the Sportage.

"I've been to Hideaway Hills, the back roads of Sugar Grove, to Lithopolis. I've seen a lot of central Ohio in the past few days.''

The snow helped sell at least one Hummer yesterday, said Tom Bentley, general sales manager of the Hummer of Columbus dealership, 4300 W. Dublin-Granville Rd.

"We were just dying for a day like this,'' Bentley said.

A customer who said he was tired of winter watched the Hummer navigate, then bought one for $53,200.

[AppyPappy]

The Bravada runs like a champ in the snow. No problems at all. Of course, the Lincoln Continental did just as well today.

[smith288]

It would have been funnier if the protests were scheduled to run Yesterday. They either wouldnt have happened or the would have had to use evil SUVs to get to their whine party.

[staytrue]

my suv was totally useless in Washington. I think they can handle 1 ft. of snow with no problem, but at 2 and half feet, they don't work either. Actually some snow plows were getting stuck and the state police were using natl guard hummers.

[1Old Pro]

It would have been funnier if the protests were scheduled to run Yesterday. They either wouldnt have happened or the would have had to use evil SUVs to get to their whine party.

I was hoping for the same....

[rintense]

The vehicle is only part of it. Knowing how to drive in snow is key. Most folks who don't see snow on a regular basis absolutely freak out when they have to drive in crappy conditions.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I hate little compact vehicles. They are uncomfortable and real death traps.....

[sparkomatic]

A customer who said he was tired of winter watched the Hummer navigate, then bought one for $53,200.

That makes sense. I'll go ahead and trade in my '91 2-wheel drive S-10 pick'em up truck with 130,000 miles on it for a $53,000 hummer. With the once a decade 15" snow storm, this should be a no brainer.

[CygnusXI]

I have an EVIL DURANGO with Goodyear MT/R tires. Being in Minnesota I love when it snows :)

[this_ol_patriot]

Two feet plus here, saw neighbor clean off his Explorer get in and drive 3 feet and get stuck. He got out and kicked it and went back in the house cursing. By the same token my work runs Chevy Suburbans and they had no problems. Some SUV's are so low to the ground they are just status toys, others are made to do work.

[Eala]

The vehicle is only part of it. Knowing how to drive in snow is key. Most folks who don't see snow on a regular basis absolutely freak out when they have to drive in crappy conditions.

As is the case here in Seattle. Whenever it snows, one sees lots of SUVs stuck in the ditches...

[Darnright]

Heh, heh. Those anti-SUV types just can't stand it, can they? While they sit stranded with the family Yugo in the driveway, those of us with 4-wheel drive go about life.

:P~~~~

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nothing beats a set of jumbo donuts.

[ClearCase_guy]

"It's perfect,'' Mrs. Clay said. "We feel a lot safer in it.''

A good quote. It burns me up that the anti-SUV crowd always says that SUVs are dangerous. In fact, they are safer. It's the people in itty-bitty cars who are at risk. The Leftists are just jealous of the people who are safe and they would like a more egalitarian world in which everyone was in danger.

[martin_fierro]

Kalifornians remain Unclear on the Concept.

[Protagoras]

Move through the snow, help a terrorist.

[Protagoras]

The Leftists are just jealous of the people who are safe and they would like a more egalitarian world in which everyone was in danger.

The most current attack is from the right.

[CygnusXI]

Yep. Agree. Some SUV's suck and so do alot of SUV drivers.
CLUE: 4WD means jack on ice!!

Mine has lot's of ground clearance. SUV's/4WD vehicles are great for forward momentum in snow/mud and in maintaining straight travel.
What people fail to realize is that even with a 4WD vehicle with kick a** tires if you try to turn as if there is no snow/mud you will still slide like a SOB. The tires and 4WD only gives increased stabilization at low speed, and or MINOR steering.

[wku man]

In '77 and '78, when I was growing up in small-town Kentucky, we had snowfalls heavy enough to cancel school for 30+ days each year. In '77, a few folks in my town bought snowmobiles. In '78 there were significantly more. In '79, when we got about 2" of snow all winter long, the classified ads were full of snowmobiles for sale.

Those dipstick yuppies should invest in a set of tire chains and a shovel before buying a $50,000 Humvee. Unless, of course, they plan to take their trucks off road, up and down trails, and get 'em muddy (like they were designed to do!) after the snow melts.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!