Well, now that the first major snow/ice storm of the year is mostly gone, I was wondering what everyone thoughts are about how well the new Max handles in the snow? Its big and FWD which all make for good snow handling, but what did you all think?

 

I haven't had any problems over the last week or so driving around the hilly suburbs of Seattle. It doesn't even come close to matching my Subaru WRX with Blizzaks (which could drive up the side of an ice cliff with no problem)... but still does pretty well given that it's FWD and is running stock A/S tires. The anti-lock brakes are very impressive and stop the car much quicker than I expected.

Take it slow, stay out of the deep stuff and you should be ok.

-John

 

I live in Missouri and the weather up here sucks with ice then snow then ice and did I mention the snow.......and my Max handled GREAT!!! No issues stopped with no problems and took off very well!!!

I love my MAX!!!

 

I have the sports package 19's and it was slip and slide through this past snow storm...got stuck a few times. Online ordering a 17" snow package as i type

 

your max looks great man. What package did you get with it?

 

Huh, I'll never know........

Sorry....

Lovin' Florida, esp at this time of the year...

 

Hahaha very funny compusmurf!!! I am originally from Hawaii and I miss home even more so now when it is this time of year. I miss having 80 degrees year round!!!!

Man Missouri sucks!!!

I'll-maxima I got the sport/tech Maxima!! I love it!

 

^Kinda OT but thats one hell of a move. Hawaii to Missouri

 

I am here in Ohio, and we have had ice and freezing rain all day. The roads were a sheet of ice, but my MAX handled it very well. The brakes worked alot better than I was expecting them to. The FWD allowed me to get through traffic with little effort, I am very happy with my Maxima.

 

I grew up on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, but lived 3 years in Hawaii. Couldn't stay, but ended up in Florida where I don't have to ever deal with snow. (Unless global warming reverses itself and turns into an ice age....)

Glad to hear the car does nicely in the winter, but I'm NOT loaning it to my dad. Already told me that it was sleeting again last night! wow! Anyone have photos of a snow covered or ice cycle dangled max?

 

I've got a nice one but can't post images yet.

 

O.K., for starters, We live live in Canada. With the stock tires the car handles fine down to -10C. The VDC is actually quite good and really helps keep the car on course. We have since put Michelin Primacy Alpins on the car and it is somewhat better on ice and packed snow, and much better at -30C and deep snow. As with all snow/winter tires braking and quick turns are still a challenge, but the car is the best that we have ever owned at normal winter driving, but I still miss the hand brake and manual shifting for a complete sense of control.

 

Going all the way back to my Datsun days, I have used the hand brake in nursing the car through tricky situations, and there is no way a foot-operated parking brake can be used in that manner. But I understand Nissan's position in that a loaded Maxima is actually a luxury vehicle in everything but name, and they felt the hand brake was more oriented to an Altima 3.5 or gen 5 Maxima type vehicle. Nissan probably also thought going to a foot parking brake would 'clean up' the console area, I suppose.

 

I think Nissan's going to put back the hand brake if they release a manual version.

 

I have driven my Max on snow and ice. I am generally pleased with the handling however I must comment on two things.
During ice storms/freezing rain the side rear view mirrors seem to soak in a puddle thus freezing the mirror from moving. Not a big deal. Just remember to disable the tilt mirror option when you backup.
Today my windsheild wiper washer doesnt work. Its about 10 degress F today, so I surmise something is frozen. I doubt I am out of fluid, I only used the washers once. since I bought the car. Anyone notice the same?

 

Aaarrgghhh! -26C last Friday, have to take my wife to the airport so we hop in the Max. The front passenger door opened but wouldn't latch closed. Fiddle with it a bit and now it closes. Thank god!

Get to the airport go to get out of the car - the door won't open! Fiddled with the locks, inside, outside, on top, underneath, behind, in front, with the FOB, with the buttons almost kicked the dang thing. Nope, wife has to crawl out through the drivers side and is pissed that she is now late. Should have taken the G35...

Booked a service appt for next Monday, curious how they are going to fix it. It's hard to take the door panel off with it closed (hits the side of the glove box).

Not sure if Nissan did enough cold weather testing. It screeches like a 10 year old car when starting in the cold. The base level leather stretches if you push on it too hard when cold and the A/V display is sssssslow to update (RDS song titles fade in/out over themselves - almost kewl, but not really). Lastly you really don't want to let it freeze wet. Too many areas that trap water, but otherwise I love it.

 

I have an 09 SV Sport + tech. The ABS and VDC are fantastic, even with the 19" wheels. I'm very impressed with it in the snow/ice.

 

Did I mention the weather here sucks in MISSERY MO.......This has been such a cold winter with a few weeks in the -2 to -21 range....then we got a day that was 63 and Sunny then two days later right back down to highs in teens and tonight we are expecting 3-5 inches of snow and ice!!!! I will be putting the stock rims and tires on tomorrow before I go anywhere..........I can't wait I should be getting orders soon to move back down to Sunny San Antonio TX!!!! before the year ends!!!! I HATE WINTER!!

But I love the MAX because she handles great in the snow and not to bad on the ice roads we have up here!

 

As a Missouri born and bred native, I don't miss it. LOL

Ok, I miss the hunting and fall and the Lake of the Ozarks, but the rest, like that darn cold weather, snow and stuff, nah.

 

As a Colorado native who often travels through Missouri (usually towing a racecar in the summer), I can only imagine how bad it gets out your way. After a big snowstorm here, 8" of light, dry Colorado powder is pretty easy to navigate, compared to just a few inches of the icy stuff on the roadway.

Glad to hear the A36 is a competent snow car!

 

Anyone notice if their washers work below 10 degress Farenheight. My don't seem to work in below that temperature. Perhaps the factory / dealer topped off with water? Please let me know. It sucks since I rely on the washers to help melt ice off the windsheild.

 

Being from Quebec snows are mandatory,I didn't have a chance with the all seasons,with that being said the car handles like it's on rails.The car inspires confidence,but like anything else you have to understand the capabilities what the car and you as a driver can do.

Precision grey with sport and tech package.

 

Mine do, but I am running winter grade washer fluid.

 

Interesting. I remember reading the fine print on a jug of (cheap) windshield washer fluid about five years ago, and it said it was effective down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. That was evidently the 'deep south' formulation.

 

Up here in mid-northern Canada all the washer fluids protect to at least -45C (-50f ?). They don't have quite the same cleaning ability as the high performance summer grades (sounds like I'm talking tires), but since it snows several times a month/week/or day, you don't get the really oily road grime building up. Worst time is after snow melt and roads are dry for 10+ days. Next rain results in road spray that really sticks.

 

My 08 max is having trouble in the snow. Can't get traction on these Chicago roads may need new tires but still..

 

Tires in the snow are everything. If your tires are low on tread you are screwed. This is my 3rd maxima and ive found them all to be pretty good in the snow.

 

I probably already posted this but I drove a Maxima without snow tyres during a snow storm. It was a lethal combination and I had ZERO traction. I was scared.

 

Just had about 3 inches of snow in the Chicagoland area. My 2014 SV Sport with 19" wheels did surprisingly better than I thought. The traction control really does make a difference-- my last car didn't have it and just didn't feel as stable in the snow as the Maxima.
Just had to watch it making turns. It was the only time that the Maxima seemed to want to break away and go off track. It is my first winter with the snow-- I may have to consider winter rims/tires down the line...

 

It's FWD and has a tons of nannies.

You will be fine

 

It's all about the tires. My Maxima is horrible in the snow because I have tires that turn hard as a rock in cold temps. Can't even get up my driveway.

 

They are predicting 30 below zero wind chills tonight in Chicago. Probably gonna be hard to find any tires that aren't hard as a rock tonight...
LOL

 

Winter tyres would conquer that!

 

A Subaru dropped in low 1 would desemate that hill.

 

If you have a garage and can't park your car in it due to it being too full of crap. You might want to rethink that, I used to hate having ice and snow build up in my wheel wells during the winter. My friends thought I was crazy because I washed my cars in the winter.


Now I live in California (temporarily) and the sun out here will lay the smackdown on dark colored cars and dark leather interiors. I have to wash and wax my car every week until I can escape from this money hungry, broke a## state.

 

From Ontario Canada
We are in our first deep freeze of this winter season.-19 today.
My Max has a new set of XIce 3's on it.
Braking is excellent on snow and ice.
Acceleration and handling are atrocious.

I find the Max to be a crappy winter driving car except for braking.

I'm coming from a 2006 Mazdaspeed 6 which had AWD, manual transmission and X Ice tires. The Mazda was the best winter car I have ever owned.

I bought the XIce thinking they would do the trick, but FWD on a car with the Maxima's power makes for a bad mix in winter.

 

I have XIce 3s on my Camry and the handling is terrible. I don't know if it's the tyres or the type of snow/slush that I drive on. Straight line is fine but cornering at slow speeds induces sliding. But these tyres get great reviews so I don't know.

 

I agree.
I'm not pleased with my X ICE tires at all.

 

I also have these, we just got snow to run on around me within the last week. The X ice tires are not much better, if at all, than the all season 17inch Michelins I ran on my old Camry (with similar miles on the tires).

They are okay,but I prefer the Blizzaks I had on my Focus ZX3 ten years ago. I'll probably give those another try when these wear out.

 

I run snows, and it handles pretty good.

(I live in NH)