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<blockquote data-quote="PaxtonShelby" data-source="post: 16039176" data-attributes="member: 112637"><p>I like the thoughtfulness of your post OP. Here is my story and some thoughts.</p><p></p><p> In high school I worked at my Dad’s beer distributor. Once I had my license and some experience, from age 17-21 when not in school / on break I drove Dad’s truck into town every week to pick up inventory. Truck held 8 pallets - loaded weight around 10 tons. That gave me a lot of experience that has helped me be a more attentive and safer driver than most people.</p><p></p><p>In 1991 I bought my first car - a 32k mile 1988 T-5 GT hatch. Best bang for the buck back then - 36 months for $252 a month! It was Horrible in the snow as you all know. I ran steelies in back with non-studded “winter” tires ( this is before Blizzaks were available - not that I could afford them anyway ). I Took 3 buddies ( they went to PSU and I was at ND ) on a drunken weekend road trip to PSU in October. On the day we dragged our hungover asses home, a late fall snow storm blew in. 5 inches fell in the mountains in less than an hour. Traction was non existent, even with the winter tires and 150 lbs of sandbags in the hatch. </p><p></p><p>We came to a huge hill on a 2-lane road...down for a long way then back up the other side. A car was in front of us so I sat back (nobody behind us) and waited for a big gap so I could go fast enough down the hill so we had momentum to get back up the other side.</p><p></p><p>So I start down the hill. We are moving pretty good...maybe 50-55 in a 40. Then as we start up the other side I see the car in front of us slow down...a LOT. SHIT!!! So I am forced to slow down....40...30...20...10...5 mph and I am almost pushing this slow bastard up the hill. We are a LONG way from the top. I try to give it gas in 2nd gear...tire spin...try 3rd...spin...try 4th...more spin. The car ahead keeps crawling up the hill at 5 mph and then...I...AM...STOPPED...AND SIDEWAYS...STRADDLING THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE. </p><p></p><p>Well this sucks...</p><p></p><p>I look ahead at the car that was in front of me...he crests the hill and is gone. Bastard...</p><p></p><p>Oh look...here comes an 18-wheeler down the hill in the opposite lane...the lane that half my car is sitting in.</p><p></p><p>Well this sucks...</p><p></p><p>I try to ease up the hill in 3rd gear from almost an idle. Tires spin and I’m more sideways. My buddies are silent and I cm tell they’re thinking of bailing out of the car. The semi won’t be able to stop coming down the snowy hill. This is pretty bad...</p><p></p><p>As the truck is maybe 500 feet from us, I yell...ALL YOU GUYS GET THE HATCH! NOW!!! They quickly crammed their hungover asses - all 3 of them - into the hatch, and I dropped it in 2nd and slipped the clutch...a lot. We inched forward slowly and somehow...I got my car into my lane just as the truck, who had slowed some, whizzed by at 30 mph or so, with his horn blaring. Had he hit us we would have been pushed for 500-1000 feet or just run over. </p><p></p><p>So here are my observations and some advice....</p><p></p><p>Although I LOVED that car, looking back it really wasn’t a wise purchase. With my experience behind the wheel I was a much better than average driver, but to DD a GT year-round in western PA just is not a good idea.</p><p></p><p>I was STUPID for putting myself and my buddies in that car at that time of year when bad weather can catch you off guard.</p><p></p><p>Having only a fun car like a GT or Cobra as a Year-round DD really beats the crap out of it in winter climates. Another reason to save for a winter beater.</p><p></p><p>Young drivers...choose a car you can drive year-round safely, or save up to have a toy and a DD. If you can’t afford both now, you have a lot of years ahead of you so save some $$ now and buy the toy later in life when it makes sense. Most of you young guys think you are Mario Andretti, but you are not. </p><p></p><p>Once you buy a toy, if you want to actually improve your performance driving skills, do a little autocrossing or a few road course track days / HPDE’s. Often instructors or seasoned drivers will be able to give you a world of advice.</p><p></p><p>Sorry for the longest post I’ve ever made. Young drivers - be smart and be safe out there this winter.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="PaxtonShelby, post: 16039176, member: 112637"] I like the thoughtfulness of your post OP. Here is my story and some thoughts. In high school I worked at my Dad’s beer distributor. Once I had my license and some experience, from age 17-21 when not in school / on break I drove Dad’s truck into town every week to pick up inventory. Truck held 8 pallets - loaded weight around 10 tons. That gave me a lot of experience that has helped me be a more attentive and safer driver than most people. In 1991 I bought my first car - a 32k mile 1988 T-5 GT hatch. Best bang for the buck back then - 36 months for $252 a month! It was Horrible in the snow as you all know. I ran steelies in back with non-studded “winter” tires ( this is before Blizzaks were available - not that I could afford them anyway ). I Took 3 buddies ( they went to PSU and I was at ND ) on a drunken weekend road trip to PSU in October. On the day we dragged our hungover asses home, a late fall snow storm blew in. 5 inches fell in the mountains in less than an hour. Traction was non existent, even with the winter tires and 150 lbs of sandbags in the hatch. We came to a huge hill on a 2-lane road...down for a long way then back up the other side. A car was in front of us so I sat back (nobody behind us) and waited for a big gap so I could go fast enough down the hill so we had momentum to get back up the other side. So I start down the hill. We are moving pretty good...maybe 50-55 in a 40. Then as we start up the other side I see the car in front of us slow down...a LOT. SHIT!!! So I am forced to slow down....40...30...20...10...5 mph and I am almost pushing this slow bastard up the hill. We are a LONG way from the top. I try to give it gas in 2nd gear...tire spin...try 3rd...spin...try 4th...more spin. The car ahead keeps crawling up the hill at 5 mph and then...I...AM...STOPPED...AND SIDEWAYS...STRADDLING THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE. Well this sucks... I look ahead at the car that was in front of me...he crests the hill and is gone. Bastard... Oh look...here comes an 18-wheeler down the hill in the opposite lane...the lane that half my car is sitting in. Well this sucks... I try to ease up the hill in 3rd gear from almost an idle. Tires spin and I’m more sideways. My buddies are silent and I cm tell they’re thinking of bailing out of the car. The semi won’t be able to stop coming down the snowy hill. This is pretty bad... As the truck is maybe 500 feet from us, I yell...ALL YOU GUYS GET THE HATCH! NOW!!! They quickly crammed their hungover asses - all 3 of them - into the hatch, and I dropped it in 2nd and slipped the clutch...a lot. We inched forward slowly and somehow...I got my car into my lane just as the truck, who had slowed some, whizzed by at 30 mph or so, with his horn blaring. Had he hit us we would have been pushed for 500-1000 feet or just run over. So here are my observations and some advice.... Although I LOVED that car, looking back it really wasn’t a wise purchase. With my experience behind the wheel I was a much better than average driver, but to DD a GT year-round in western PA just is not a good idea. I was STUPID for putting myself and my buddies in that car at that time of year when bad weather can catch you off guard. Having only a fun car like a GT or Cobra as a Year-round DD really beats the crap out of it in winter climates. Another reason to save for a winter beater. Young drivers...choose a car you can drive year-round safely, or save up to have a toy and a DD. If you can’t afford both now, you have a lot of years ahead of you so save some $$ now and buy the toy later in life when it makes sense. Most of you young guys think you are Mario Andretti, but you are not. Once you buy a toy, if you want to actually improve your performance driving skills, do a little autocrossing or a few road course track days / HPDE’s. Often instructors or seasoned drivers will be able to give you a world of advice. Sorry for the longest post I’ve ever made. Young drivers - be smart and be safe out there this winter. [/QUOTE]
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