I was debating between the Mondial and the 400i. The 80s weren’t really kind to many companies, I guess. The Mondial, though, won me over a little bit more (a very little bit more), because I keep seeing glimpses of 348 and 355 language in there. Which makes me feel like they had a good idea with where they were going…

I mean it’s not the FF. That’s for sure.

I’ve only been on the 401 in Ontario once. It was a traumatic experience.

not more stressful - just unnecessarily stressful.  You need the engine and transmission to get going, you have other things available that are specifically designed to stop you.

Well, I’ve never had even the slightest problem driving this way on all sorts of steep, ice-covered, snow covered, roads and there are plenty of instructional courses that recommend it. A quick google search popped up a handful with no real research involved. 

This is just my experience.  I’ve driven through lots of snowy conditions, and the biggest benefit, I’ve found, of slightly greater clearance is when navigating small, but present, mounds of snow - typically where plows have left it along the roads, and when navigating curbs and driveways (as I mentioned).  It’s not a…

Oh never mind, that makes sense.

For around town driving?  What else would you do?

Oh hell yes.

If this shags a crunchin’, the crabs have been munchin’.

I’m definitely going full nautical with mine - we’re talking complete with a Kraken attacking a 17th century Galleon, lightning, maybe Poseidon rising from the waves. Give it that serious “Here be monsters” vibe. Something like this:

We pretty much all already knew that the list would look more or less like that.  little surprised by Virginia, but that’s about the only one that makes me raise my eyebrows.

That’s interesting.  My experience has also been on relatively small engines - my first car has a 1.6L, and then similarly with my various Hondas and VWs - were all 1.8, or 2.0 L engines, some turbo charged others not.  And it’s always been a fairly practical and efficient way of slowing down.  I don’t like the stress…

Ugh - you’re brining up some seriously good memories, but a whole ton of nostalgia too. That was almost exactly like mine. Slightly different wheels - had circles. But other than the driver being on the wrong side, it looks pretty close to identical.

I don’t entirely agree that higher is worse as a general rule. A slightly higher than average car is ideal in my opinion. Think Subaru Cross-Trek, or the like. It can help get through some piled up snow that might otherwise be tough for a regular sedan - like you might find near curbs, or in front of drive ways -…

Can you imagine how shamefully titillated the authors of that Bill must have been when typing out those horrible, horrible words? I’m guessing they all needed to go have a cold shower to calm down immediately afterwards.

I’ve always found it a huge advantage when slowing down in very slick conditions. Particularly on ice and where you have to contend with hills. If you’re reading the road ahead of you well, you can slow down to a crawl just by downshift - and never once risk losing traction the way would by even cautiously applying…

There’s no way to reasonably avoid it - but any readers from Alberta will sympathize with this one the QE 2 in central Alberta:

This is wrong.

Some seriously not-great suggestions here. I grew up driving in the winter - and the formula is simple: