It's no Audi or SUV, but does the job pretty well.
However, a lowered car can serve as a snowplow in deep snow.
And finally, the gobs of TQ can get out of hand...

The most entertaining sight I saw this past week was an E55 holding up traffic. ~350hp/~350TQ to the rear wheels doesn't go anywhere in the snow.

 

I can rate my car cover in snow
It seems to hold up pretty well, but has a tendency to freeze to the car. That sucks because I have to wait for the ice to thaw before the cover will come off.

So far, I haven't had an emergency requiring the use of my Maxima during winter but one of these days ....

So since my Maxima has not seen snow yet, but it's nice to have the car cover.

 

I would say its under average. Being that it has an understeer problem already, it make for scary rides on snow covered curvy roads.

 

I find the max to be horrible in the snow, way too much sliding and traction is almost not there. I've driven cars that are worse in the snow but the Maxima rates right up there with them.

Adm

 

I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN MY MAX IN THE SNOW but I have driven another 92 se 5 speed in it and it seemed worse than my old chevy wagon.All you need is studded snows aond nothing will stop you

 

I think the Maxima is fine in the snow. You have to have the mentality that you are going to drive as careful as an old lady and that you don't have a 190 HP engine under the hood. You should never make it that you have to get somewhere in a hurry or see how fast you can get there if is snowing.

 

My max is great in the snow. I have winter tires on of course. It's night and day vs. my old michelin all-season tires. These tires don't squeal on dry pavement though, they just spin quietly, so taking off fast in good weather can be a little confusing.

 

I feel max handles well enough in the snow.. but when do a take off under heavy snow is very hard.. too much TQ... last time I had to do like 800rpm take off instead of 1,300 rpm... cuz I just keep spinning under normal take off

 

i feel perfectly safe in it knock on wood, but the understeer thing is true, but that will only happen when i feel you are turning harder then you normally wood in safe mode(blizzard driving) if you take each bend gradually i never had understeer, use your 5 speed to ur advantage, and let off the gas to let them catch and pull you back into the turn and ebrake it if you want, it throws the rear out rilly nice when combined with downshifting

 

This Max is not fine enough fo my taste. Drive a FWD Caddy in the snow and you'll know what I mean. I rented one back in 92 and drove from NYC to Boston in a blizzard and actually hit 70 mph on RT 95 (I mean you could not see the pavement at all). That car handled the snow like a champ, way better than any car I've driven in the last 10 years.

 

Let me just say that I don't even think the Max handles well when its pouring out let alone during snow.
Best handling car on dry and wet/snow pavement that I've owned has got to be the 3000GTVR4 now that baby handled like a champ even with z rated tires.

 

I'd say it all depends on the tires.. I have Kuhmo's, and they suck in the snow, but we don't get much in Seattle, just rain, in which case they rock...

 

it isn't hard to drive with gobs of tq in the snow... my truck (which i am selling due to mpg) has a 302 making 350/350 with 35" tires and granted they are BF Goodrich TA/KO's all terrains but shw just sits down nad takes off nicely.... nad my bros truck is a sister to mine with a 351m/400 bored .30 over making oh say 475-500ish of hp/tq and he has 33's he lived in VT last year when they had all that sick snow it is all about how to drive... just gotta learn to drive....yes bigger tires and more weight help some but it isn't that much of an advantage with 500/500

 

I think the Maxima performs well in the snow. Our Max has Michelin MXV4+ all seasons that came stock with the car.

It car goes straight, its fine on the curves as long as you don't push to hard..also traction control helps quite a bit.

 

True.

 

It all depends on what size and type of tires your riding on. The OEM RSA's were excellent in the snow for the first 20K. From then on forgetaboutit. This winter (or lack of winter) I'm on Dunlop Sport A2's. Only had them in snow once up in VT. Traction was great.

Now as far as 17" wheels go, any tire on a 17" rim on the Max. is just to wide. You wind up riding on top of the snow, BAD.....

Overall I think the max is great in the snow. FWD, good brakes and ABS make an excellent combination. You just have to go easy on the gas.

 

Silly question, but does leaving the tranny in a lower gear really help?

In the little blizzard that hit Cleveland this week I fianlly got to "play" in the snow. I drove in low gears, using the engine to brake. However, that seemed to be even worse than leaving the tranny in DRIVE with the O/D on.

 

actually i prefer to be in a higher gear as it leaves you at a lower and less torquey rpm range so you are less apt to breka them loose.... at least that is how i like to drive..

 

Low gears are good when you want to brake because they provide engine braking and you don't have to slam on the brakes other wise it might skid.

i realize that made no sense. sue me.

 

when you want to slow down it is good to be in low gears cause you can use the torque of the engine to slow you down by downshifting if you need to but to move foward without spinning out a higher gear is good.... less torque... kinda like why hondas do well in the snow!! NO TORQUE TO BREAK THE TIRES! lol

 

Stock Eagle's (on the SE's) suck in the snow.
I have a set of 15" steelie Blizzaks that are awesome in the snow.
Drove it to Vermont every weekend last year and was going through frame deep snow, no sweat.

 

My Miata (with a full race suspension) with snow tires drives better in the snow than my Maxima with all-season tires

hehehehe

 

When braking on ice and snow the best thing to do is drop it into neutral.

 

i thought i heard in a thread somewhere here that the car downshifts by itself under heavy braking?