Storms a brewin! (photo)

toobroke · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2007, 12:29 PM

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/storm004.jpg

We have a storm coming in and I have a chance to test the all-wheel drive. Wooo hooo!
Lets go play and see if we can get a Highlander stuck!

toobroke · #2 (**permalink**) 01-11-2007, 06:28 AM

Well I had a opportunity to play with the Highlander out in the snow. (only a few minutes, too busy shoveling snow!) Now, this is my first all wheel drive and it handles unlike any other vehicle I have owned. When the Highlander loses traction in a skid sideways under power, control is almost completely lost. This vehicle is a bit unnerving. Twice I put the Highlander into 30mph or less power turns and once the vehicle lost grip it was a hang on and see where it stops senario. Control was very difficult to regain. At one point I was stopped at a light then proceeded to turn right under power and the Highlander went squirrely around the corner. This was not the typical control loss that a 2 wheel drive vehicle has such as the back end wanting to pass the front but more like all the wheels pulling in different directions type of loss. The wife then proceeded with her backseat driving lesson to me for the next 5 minutes. I think I need to spend some time in the local parking lot playing around until I am use to what the Highlander does in loss of control situations. Just not use to a all wheel drive. I am pleasantly surprised though at how much traction you have in the snow. Braking seems to be no different though. So the lesson learned is just because you have all wheel drive you still have to drive within the conditions. On a side note on the local news they showed the highways with the typical 10 -20 vehicles in the ditch. Why are the vehicles that are flipped over and the furthest in the ditch from the highway always 4 wheel drives? lol

LifeTech · #3 (**permalink**) 01-12-2007, 08:46 AM

Where are yu located? I'm dying to drive in snow...give me an inch of snow, to be happy. Upstate snow resorts are even struggling!

I'm here in the Northeast...NYC. We hold the record now of NO SNOW since the 1800's. we always recieved at least 3 storms by now in the winter months.

My H/L Limited is 4wd but with the Star Safety SystemVSC (skid control) Also, with Snow Mode Button.

Do yu have this option? I have heard that the H/L can be unerving in snow.

Thanx

LT

toobroke · #4 (**permalink**) 01-12-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeTech

Where are yu located? I'm dying to drive in snow...give me an inch of snow, to be happy. Upstate snow resorts are even struggling!

I'm here in the Northeast...NYC. We hold the record now of NO SNOW since the 1800's. we always recieved at least 3 storms by now in the winter months.

My H/L Limited is 4wd but with the Star Safety SystemVSC (skid control) Also, with Snow Mode Button.

Do yu have this option? I have heard that the H/L can be unerving in snow.

Thanx

LT

Located in Edmonton Alberta Canada. Lots of snow here. Excellant skiing in Banff, Jasper, etc. World class resorts. Check it out! The Highlander is without a doubt a bit to handle when you lose control. This is my first all wheel drive and does not handle anything like a two wheel rear wheel drive or a front wheel drive vehicle. It is something you should practice (control) in a empty field or parking lot so you are prepared incase of an emergency. This happened to me a couple of times and I was completely caught off guard as to the reaction of the vehicle. ( fairly new owner ) So lately with the snow I have been purposely in empty fields and parking lots putting the Highlander in loss of control situations so that I can better understand how to regain control when this condition occurs. I do not have any traction aids other than all wheel drive and snow mode. So the beauty of this is that the conditions are perfect now for me to become better familiar with the Highlander!