New to Delicas and new to the country... and some canada Q's

[Green1]

as well as having to carry chains if you are not a 4x4,

the law says nothing about being a 4x4...
the signs say "carry chains or use good winter tread beyond this point"
That said, I've always used all-seasons on a 2 wheel drive vehicle in the past with no issues, and I've been on the calgary-vancouver highway in some pretty nasty weather!
The most important part is knowing how the vehicle will behave, and not pushing it past it's limits... also realize that 4wd may give you more "go" but it actually gives you LESS "stop"! (all vehicles have had 4 wheel brakes since the 30s... and the heavier 4x4s take longer to stop!)

[jrman]

Very good point Green1 and agree fully. I wrapped my 1976 Rabbit around a telephone pole at the inexperienced age of 16 under what I now know to be the bizarre belief that if I can get up the hill with good traction, then I must be ok to come down the hill with good traction. Well....coming downhill ended up being 2 city blocks completely out of control before using the telephone pole to halt my increasing random trajectory and frightening velocity. Traction for stopping and steering is what it is all about - traction for going is not critical. If you can't go - you can't get into trouble.....I've been safe ever since. Expensive lesson.

[Grungle]

Thanks guys, some very good info on here, I appreciate it.

For the record - I've driven in snow a couple of times, but not at any great speed and certainly not in any great depth...you really have to go looking for it in Australia. The dirt road on the way up the mountain in New Zealand was a bit more interesting, but chains made light work of that too.

I've been sliding cars around all my life (I learnt to drive when I was 8 years old in an old rally car around a motocross track), so I've got some idea about how this thing will react in an emergency situation. Racing dirtbikes probably helps too. Having said that I'll be taking it VERY easy out there, I don't imagine these vans need much motivation to "invert" themselves...

Karim says the tires on my Deli ARE in fact snow tires, so assuming they're in good condition when I arrive I think that's one problem solved. The block heater might take a bit of searching around, but I'm confident I'll be able to get that worked out when I arrive. In-line coolant heater and an oil-pan heater sounds like the best option at the moment.


TardisDeli, I'll have a look around for a repair manual, I should be able to find something for you. And thanks for the offers, but I think I've got airport pick-ups and accommodation worked out already....I'll definitely drop in with the manual on my way through though! I'll message you if I find one, just to make sure it's the one you want.

Cheers guys!

[Green1]

best repair manual I've found is the one in the MDOCUK club store, they call it a "Russek guide" but it shows all the usual work as well as troubleshooting methods, well worth the money, proper service manuals are also downloadable from other places on this forum.

[fjef]

Western and northern Japan get a lot of snow and has severe ice conditions. I have the cold weather version of the Delica '92 Exceed in Japan and I have never had a problem starting in -22 temperatures - that's about as cold as I have been here. I make sure that the plugs have a chance to heat up and I usually wait about a minute before turning the engine over after switching on the ignition and she always fires up.

I use Japanese Bridgestone 'Studless' tires here in winter. I am sure they do increase breaking capability compared to regular snow tires but breaking is always the issue on snow and ice - the Delica will always go forward but stopping is critical!

The Hakuba ski areas in Nagano average 11 meters of snow every winter here and the Delica (the Toyota Hi-Ace 4X4 is a distant second) is the vehicle of choice for the locals.

The cold weather package sticker looks like this:

[Erebus]

True but I think there is actually a law requiring snow tires on those mountain passes in the winter as well as having to carry chains if you are not a 4x4, could be wrong on that. Probably wont be an issue if you dont get stuck/caught though. Also for someone new to driving in snow, they are definately something that should be put high on the list.

Don't think it is the law, but if you have "unsuitable" tires and you get into an accident, your insurance could be useless. If it isn't too late, ask the importer to put on good all-season or snow tires. In the Banff/Canmore area, it can and does snow any time of year.

Welcome to this hemisphere. Let us know when you get here. There are several forum members in Calgary, and any excuse to go for a drive is welcome. Or you can come visit Calgary (about 90 minutes away) and we can do a mass meet for coffee (or beer!)

Be careful about snow. Suggest when you get a snowfall, go out and practice in a parking lot or something. I've only had my Delica since this August, and I've only driven on snow once. It handled very differently from my previous car, and I've been driving in Canadian winters for more years than I can remember.

[BCDelica]

Would like to add that those 'extreme' condition snow tire that arrive on a few Delicas are great performers. First Deli had them originally, despite not looking too meaty, they had awesome braking on ice - did a side by side th first winter on a iced logging bridge; my four month old (pricey) michelins couldn't stop me from 30k over the length of the bridge but those Bridgestone blizzac's stopped me just over half way on the bridge. BUT they wear really fast in summer.

Do hope your OK with the Westcoast, wet cold. Friends of family visited from Queensland (Cairn's I think) us 10 years ago in May, 16-18c days, short and tees for us also, but had to keep a fire going in the cabin and bring out Canadian hats for them to wear (toques).

[Grungle]

Mmmmm, getting very close now. Just 2 more days of work, a bit of packing and I'm on my way to Vancouver...In less than 2 weeks I'll be a legitimate member of delica.ca!


A good point on driving different cars in snow. I've driven a large, rear-wheel drive station wagon in snow and a front-wheel drive van with chains, but not a 4wd desiel van. I think some practice is a very good idea before i hit the road...different cars all have their different handling quirks, and its best to know about them before you hit that patch of ice on the highway...!


We are still a little concerned about the massive temperature change (it's 37 here today) but I'm sure we'll survive. I live about 1600km INLAND from Cairns, so if anything I think I'm going to be worse. If we have a Calgary meet sometime you'll all be able to recognise me - I'll be the one staying in the car with the heater on!

Really looking forward to getting over there now, I'll start a new thread somewhere in here with some photos when I pick it up and we can start organising a meet somewhere.

[jrman]

Good luck on the trip to Canada!
There is good things about every season - but admit it sometimes takes some work to find the joy.
Check out the following as an example. This is a 1.5 hour drive from Vancouver. You'll have lots of similar terrain within driving distance of Cowtown (Calgary).

http://www.delica.ca/forum/beginning-of ... -1511.html

Don't worry about the driving - sounds like you have it under control. Just take it easy - Jamaican style driving Mon - mellow as jellow!

Hope you enjoy the great White North!

[Erebus]

We are still a little concerned about the massive temperature change (it's 37 here today) but I'm sure we'll survive. I live about 1600km INLAND from Cairns, so if anything I think I'm going to be worse. If we have a Calgary meet sometime you'll all be able to recognise me - I'll be the one staying in the car with the heater on!

Really looking forward to getting over there now, I'll start a new thread somewhere in here with some photos when I pick it up and we can start organising a meet somewhere.

This morning in Calgary it is -10. But you never know, it can be below zero in the morning and get to +20 by noon.

For the current weather and forecast in:
Banff: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pag ... ric_e.html
Canmore: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pag ... ric_e.html

If you are now 1600 km inland now, you'll feel really close to the coast here, since it is only about 1000 inland here. BTW, you probably are already aware that we are high up here. Banff's elevation is 4500 feet (1400m) and Canmore is 4300 feet (1300m) .

[Grungle]

Righto, we arrived in Vancouver last night and woke up to snow this morning!

So we're planning on picking up the Delica early next week...and I even saw 2 delica's between the airport and North Vancouver!

[Erebus]

Righto, we arrived in Vancouver last night and woke up to snow this morning!

Welcome to Canada. You never know what weather you will get. But you should get some typical Vanc weather, i.e., rain, in the next few days:

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pag ... ric_e.html

[jrman]

Between the frosty blast of 5-10cm over the weekend - then the pouring rain Sunday and today....you're getting pretty much the worst of our winter weather right now. Don't worry, its only really like this for 3-4 months on and off....we do get the occasional sunny break and nice temps this time of year - those are the days we get outside and feel all smug about living on the West Coast while the rest of Canada is in their icy blanket. Pretty much wears off as soon as we get another one of those 14-15 days of straight rain.