I think they type of snow has a lot to do with it. The first winter I spent
with my Vanagon was in Jackson Wy. I thought it was a total snow machine and
I was one hot snow driver (The only time I ran into trouble was when I did
stupid stuff like try to drive from Teton Village to Moose...). However,
when I moved back to Seattle, I was in for a surprise. The wet, slippery
snow here is much more of a challenge to the vanagon than the dry cold snow
in Jackson. Sure I can still get around in the van when it snows, but I'd
rather drive my Quattro.

Tim King
Seattle, WA
83.5 vanagon
89 Audi 200tqw
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Jones <sjones@TETONDATA.COM>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, March 23, 1998 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: Poor Traction

>I drive my Westy daily on snowy, slushy, icy roads here in Jackson, WY.
>I have never been stuck (knock on wood), and rarely spin the wheels.  I
>put new somewhat aggressive all-season tires on it at the beginning of
>the winter.  This is my first winter with the Westy and I thopught I
>might need chains, but I've been very pleased with the performance.  I
>always thought the weight of the vehicle and the engine in the rear
>helps things.  Maybe its just your tires?
>
>- Stephen Jones
>'87 Westy
>Jackson, WY
>
>
>sh@interlog.com wrote:
>>
>> We've only been out in the recently acquired bus (82 Westfalia) a couple
of
>> times on slippery, snowy roads.  While I knew that any van, and
especially
>> VW vans, handle more poorly than regular cars, I was surprised at how bad
>> it really is.  The slightest glaze on the road, and the van wheels start
>> spinning.  It regularily gets stuck simply parked on the snowy street in
>> front of the house.  Yesterday, at Albion Hills conservation area, the VW
>> was spinning its wheels on several grades that other vehicles had no
>> problems with.
>>
>> Tires (not snow tires) are in reasonable shape.  Is this typical of
>> Vanagons?