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Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Driver8 on December 27, 2017, 08:05:26 AM

Title: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: Driver8 on December 27, 2017, 08:05:26 AM
Good morning all,

I am considering a CPO XTS ('15/'16), and trying to determine if AWD vs front drive should be a deal-breaker for me being in Chicago with snow/ice, etc. wondering if any of you have an XTS (2 wheel/front drive), and use it in snow/winter weather. I am wanting to know how it drives as opposed to having the AWD option? I am familiar from years of car ownership that, of course, any front drive is 'better' than rear drive (my Chrysler 300), in bad weather, but this is about front vs 4x.   Thoughts, opinions?

Second, do any of you happen to know anyone personally in Sales Dept at Heritage Cadillac in Lombard, IL. This is the dealership I'd like to use as I attend annual car shows there and my '79 was purchased there brand new. Please let me know if there is a person I can contact there in sales (would be for a CPO used model)

Thanks much!   Mark~
Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: gk519 on December 27, 2017, 01:41:11 PM
The benefit to AWD is a significant improvement in handling on slippery road conditions (ice/snow/rain), especially around corners!
Front wheel drive can and does tend to plow straight when going around a corner in slippery conditions, so as soon as you lose traction, you are no longer traveling in the direction that you intend, but rather travel in the direction of your momentum.
I do not have the vehicle you're considering, but I have had an Audi A6 with the Quatro AWD system, and it was very nimble yet sure footed.

Hth... Greg
Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: Driver8 on December 27, 2017, 03:05:14 PM
Quote from: gk519 on December 27, 2017, 01:41:11 PM
The benefit to AWD is a significant improvement in handling on slippery road conditions (ice/snow/rain), especially around corners!
Front wheel drive can and does tend to plow straight when going around a corner in slippery conditions, so as soon as you lose traction, you are no longer traveling in the direction that you intend, but rather travel in the direction of your momentum.
I do not have the vehicle you're considering, but I have had an Audi A6 with the Quatro AWD system, and it was very nimble yet sure footed.

Hth... Greg

Hi Greg, thanks for the reply.

I def agree that what you are saying is going to apply to any car I would buy, not just the XTS. I sure never had an issue with my Grand Cherokee QuadraDrive

I've owned several 4WD SUV/trucks, but never an AWD sedan. Had to remind myself of my previous 2 BMWs I had (1995 & 1999), they were AWFUL in any snow, even with advanced traction control in just small snowfall. I couldnt get out of a parking space, let alone slow down then start moving again w/o the back end moving sideways and overall sliding around aimlessly. 

I love my Chrysler 300 but now I have the same problem and realize that I should never have purchased it w/o AWD. I almost side-swiped the  drivers side couple days ago just slowing down to go around a double parked car on a side-street in an inch of snow. (the 20" tires certainly dont help these days)

So, $$ lesson learned... and I have decided that, this time, no matter which vehicle I chose, since I live in Midwest, it must have AWD (including the XTS)

Thanks again!   Mark~

Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: Dan LeBlanc on December 27, 2017, 03:41:43 PM
Whether AWD or FWD, a good set of winter tires is a must.  I used to run all season (more like 3 season) tires, and when I went to dedicated winter tires on all my vehicles, the difference was night and day.

My current lineup has a '14 Tiguan with 4Motion.  With all season tires fitted the day we test drove it, it was very easy to make spin and break away on snowy surfaces.  Now with 4 winter tires on it, I can barely get it to break loose.  I'm sure if I tried really hard I could, but under normal driving conditions, the 4Motion and winter tires are unbeatable.

Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: Driver8 on December 27, 2017, 04:40:35 PM
Quote from: Dan LeBlanc on December 27, 2017, 03:41:43 PM
Whether AWD or FWD, a good set of winter tires is a must.  I used to run all season (more like 3 season) tires, and when I went to dedicated winter tires on all my vehicles, the difference was night and day.

My current lineup has a '14 Tiguan with 4Motion.  With all season tires fitted the day we test drove it, it was very easy to make spin and break away on snowy surfaces.  Now with 4 winter tires on it, I can barely get it to break loose.  I'm sure if I tried really hard I could, but under normal driving conditions, the 4Motion and winter tires are unbeatable.

Yes Dan, funny you should mention it. That is exactly how it was resolved on the Bimmers... I bought 2nd set of wheels and the tire shop back then had a storage facility where he kept all his customers off-season sets FOR FREE (as long as your purchase/business was with him) those were the days :)

So yes, since I like my 300 alot, I could just get another set wheels/tires and with it's size/weight & traction control, Im sure it would drive nice & safely.

Thing is, these days, I would very much like to avoid purchase & storage of seasonal tire swaps. In younger years, I have done that on at least 5 vehicles (mainly was to not have salt damage on v. expensive summer wheels) but yeah, would be great if I dont have to go down that road any longer. I dont have the space for it myself here any more either. And... nobody would store them at all these days w/space at such a premium, let alone for free.

I'm pricing out a few CPOs right now, if nothing pans out $$-wise on something that really grabs me, I'll wait until Spring and re-visit the search.

Thanks much for the input, mark~
Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: Jim Miller on December 27, 2017, 05:07:15 PM
Mark,
I had a 13 XTS with FWD. I replaced it with a 16 SRX with all wheel. The XTS was a very nice car but not that good in the snow/ice of northern Ohio. I had a 06 DTS that was great in snow/ice but made the mistake that the XTS would be also. Go with the all wheel drive.
Jim Miller
Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: TJ Hopland on December 27, 2017, 05:22:40 PM
The winter tires are the way to go if you want the best chance to stick on ice.  Only thing that would be better is metal studs which are not legal in many states.  Just go to a tire store and feel the tread on them, at room temp its so soft and sticky you wonder how it lasts at all.    Its also recommended you get the smallest rim possible that will fit your car.  More sidewall will mean less chance of damage in the potholes that will pop up by spring. 

I had a Magnum RT that was just RWD and was always amazed at how well it did in snow and ice.  I was originally worried when the original Continental tires wore out at less than 20k but the replacement Goodyears and later Tiger Paws did fine also.  My guess is the Mercedes people had some influence in the design of the traction control system and I know it was their suspension design.  Only thing that would stop that car was when the snow was deep enough it touched the bottom which didn't take more than a few inches.   
Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: Driver8 on December 27, 2017, 06:10:26 PM
Quote from: TJ Hopland on December 27, 2017, 05:22:40 PM
The winter tires are the way to go if you want the best chance to stick on ice.  Only thing that would be better is metal studs which are not legal in many states.  Just go to a tire store and feel the tread on them, at room temp its so soft and sticky you wonder how it lasts at all.    Its also recommended you get the smallest rim possible that will fit your car.  More sidewall will mean less chance of damage in the potholes that will pop up by spring. 

I had a Magnum RT that was just RWD and was always amazed at how well it did in snow and ice.  I was originally worried when the original Continental tires wore out at less than 20k but the replacement Goodyears and later Tiger Paws did fine also.  My guess is the Mercedes people had some influence in the design of the traction control system and I know it was their suspension design.  Only thing that would stop that car was when the snow was deep enough it touched the bottom which didn't take more than a few inches.   

a bit O/T>> Those Magnums were cool cars, maybe somewhat before their time, and quite the looker in the right color/config. And that LX platform Magnum was the same Mercedes design / S & E Class parts-bin under-pinning as my 300 is (which is one thing I really love about the car) What they did improve on big-time since your Magnum is the latest Pentastar V6 -ZF 8-speed Auto (German design) combo. Honestly, got to be the most reliable, smooth & efficient drivetrains available today, and a more & more rare bird today (requirement for me)> normally aspirated.  Very big (200"), heavy car (4400lb) + 307hp. Yet with luxury & handling, I get true 30-31mpg on the highway.

As far as what you said about snows being so soft... I found that out the hard way back in 2000. I remember leaving them on too long on the 2nd BMW into warm weather driving. Tread was damaged with strange fraying & wear... unusable again before I knew it.  Mark~
Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: GBrown #8092 on January 07, 2018, 06:22:45 PM
As for a sales person at Heritage, I have used Charles Hughes for the last three we have bought/leased there.

As for front drive versus rear. While most of my current dailies have front drivers here, I much prefer rear drive with snow tires. Even with all season tires, I have never gotten stuck with my 96 Road master., no so with a VW New Beetle and a scion xB. I do remember a major snow storm a number of years ago here in Chicago with a 79 eldo  on older than they should have been marginal tires.  Went through snow and a snow bank or two with minimal drama.  I have also had two nineties era FWD touring/Concours DeVilles here with the performance tires. Had no problems getting through Chicago snow, when I drove them in it.  The early traction control was a bit annoying but never got so stuck I couldn't back up and keep going.

If an XTS works for you, I don't see why you couldn't get through just about anything mother nature dishes out around here you have the need to drive in. Worst case scenario, you have to wait a few hours until the road get cleared.

Personally AWD is an extra cost and complexity item, I don't need

My$.02
Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: Cape Cod Fleetwood on January 07, 2018, 11:59:25 PM
Chick here, get out that grain of salt....

I've had RWD and FWD Caddies, current daily slave is an AWD Acadia. Its a *MONSTER* in snow.
Caveat - as stated previously good tires and sane driving tactics are a must, I prefer Michelins.
Caveat part deux - There is extra scheduled mntx with an AWD system, but it isn't fatal. Its just a fluid change
and magnet clean off every 75K. AWD do seem to eat up tires quicker, even good ones. I rotate every 6K front to back
then criss cross, then front to back, etc to wear the tires as evenly as possible. This assumes all of your tires are the same
size of course.

Laurie
Title: Re: 2 questions: XTS winter driveability & HeritageCadillac Lombard, IL
Post by: Tpicks55 on January 10, 2018, 10:10:14 AM
My 16 XTS awd is great in the snow.  My driveway for instance is steep and other cars just don't get up it unless it is salted. The XTS goes right up the hill without any slip.   As of late here in northeast ohio the snow did'nt phase the XTS one bit.  Ice is another matter on all cars.  My 94 Deville is fwd and it gets around great as well.