winter driving

[wannabe]

Advice wanted. just had a ride in a Delica and think this is the ride for me but have some questions...... I live east of Calgary and commute on a secondary highway with lots of hills and curves. Its also open prairie so winter driving is interesting (hence why i want a 4 wheel drive that is not a 'monster' vehicle). How have you found winter driving in the wind with your Delicas?

[jessef]

Depends on which Delica you are asking about.

The L300 Delica (older style) has a very short wheelbase and unless you have extra weight in the rear, can have a tendency for the rear end to kick out around slippery corners. It also has 2WD and dedicated p/t 4WD which is only good in snow/mud,etc... like a typical 4X4.

The L400 Spacegear (newer style) has a longer/wider wheelbase and has similar 4WD to the L300 except is also has AWD all-wheel-drive mode that is excellent in light snow/ice, slick road conditions. Similar to a subaru/audi quattro/vw syncro.

They are very different vehicles. I would suggest to browse this site as there are many many threads about people asking the difference between the two and how they drive/feel.

[madmazda]

I live in Calgary and drove my l400 all last winter without any hesitation. the 4 wheel drive popped in and out with no problems when the going got sketchy. and as far as being able to drive in deep snow with a good set of tires these things are almost un stop-able in Calgary the weather change is drastic going from ice to slush and back to ice in a single day....mine drove like a champ

[tonydca]

Never having driven an L300, I can say that my L400 has been fantastic in snow/slush/mud/ice. A lot of my driving is urban, and with transitions from snowy to clear-pavement and back to icy again, I am glad for the afore-mentioned AWD that can be used on clear pavement with no transmission windup issues.

[seanders]

I was glad to see two posts from owners who'd driven through a Calgary winter. I expect I'd run winter tires, as I really prefer the grip on ice and don't mind changing over twice a year.

I'll re-post what I wrote in the "introductions" forum to see if there are further thoughts:

I'm looking to buy a used 4WD vehicle primarily for winter driving here in Calgary - ski trips, the Christmas trek to Vancouver, tooling around the city - and general utility use. I was thinking of a lease-return Nissan X-Trail (decent little SUV that can be had for around $15k) but then realized a Delica might be the ticket. Cheaper, more room, step right from the curb to the driver's seat so avoid the slush, and huge cool points from the manga-obsessed ten-year-old daughter.

So if anyone's driven an L400 through an Alberta winter, I'd love to hear from you. My concerns are handling on icy roads, cold-weather starts, and whether maintenance and finding parts becomes an unloved and time-consuming hobby. Also retrofitting with heated seats - once you've had them, there's no going back (though apparently this was an option, and could be found).

Thanks,

Scott

[Erebus]

I'm driving an L300, so I don't have the full-time 4WD. Short wheelbase and light rear end make for nasty ice driving. In winter, good tires are the key -- mine aren't good on ice and snow. But I don't use my Delica for daily commutes, so I can sit out the worst of the weather. The L400 with good ice tires (e.g., Blizzacks) is an awesome winter driver.

Heated seats are great. Some L400s have them. If you work with one of the importers, you can specify that you want them. I have aftermarket seatcushions that have heat. Retrofitting to be integrated into the seat itself is expensive. The problem with many aftermarket seatcushions is that they don't have a sensor to turn them off if you aren't sitting on them, so there is a risk of dead batteries.

In the Calgary area we are currently trying to arrange a meet. If you join us whenever it happens, you can see several (or maybe lots) of Delicas. Keep an eye on this thread: http://www.delica.ca/forum/september-20 ... 56-15.html

[FalcoColumbarius]

I have not driven an L400 but lets look at displacement. The engine in the L400 is up front, over the front axle. The L300 (special lunch box on wheels) the mid engine is located just behind the front axle, which is found beneath your posterior quarter. Behind both engines will be a transmission and a transfer case, which both have a considerable weight.

Delica L400 Space Gear:


Delica L300 Starwagon:


Without Chains:


With Chains:



Falco.

[RichD]

Having grown up in the Laurentians, I know snow and ice pretty well. Winter driving is about two things: tires and technique. Nothing about those is unique to this vehicle.

One of the first things I did with my L300 was drive it up above the snow line and check it out. First impression? It should come with a plow stock, cause this truck is sure-footed in snow.

If you drive up on to a closed truck scale you will note that a 5000-Lb L300 is front-heavy. 2750 in the front, rest in the rear. So, sure, you want to put some weight over the rear axle to add traction. Conveniently, there is room under the bench for bags of sand. This, of course, will not replace appropriate and skilled use of 4WD but it might come in handy and make you feel better.

IMO people who talk about fishtailing as the big concern in winter conditions are not experienced. Fishtailing is commonplace and easily managed. If you aren't habile with this technique yet, empty parking lots are the place to practice.

Fishtailing doesn't put you in the snowbank, loss of traction on the steering wheels does. The fact is that if you focus on traction and putting the heavy front end where it is supposed to be, the rear end will promptly follow.

[marsgal42]

Every winter I take Gumdrop (L300) up to one of the local ski hill parking lots to reacquaint myself with her behaviour in snow.

In two wheel drive she is a bit tail-happy, but you can do huge powerslides as a result, and spin donuts to your heart's content.

In four wheel drive she just goes. She's unstoppable.

...laura

[Paule]

I have a related question...

How has L300 drivers experience been in deep-ish snow? 8-10" or more...? I am wondering if you find that the rad gets choked up with snow and / or deeper stuff causes problems/concerns?

Cheers,

p

[RichD]

How has L300 drivers experience been in deep-ish snow? 8-10" or more...? I am wondering if you find that the rad gets choked up with snow and / or deeper stuff causes problems/concerns?

I believe that the vehicle you are looking for is called a snowmobile. Actually your question is the best case I've heard yet for a skidplate.

I would still REALLY like to mount a plow to my Delica... which says a lot about what kind of hick I am.

[Jsq]

I have a related question...

How has L300 drivers experience been in deep-ish snow? 8-10" or more...? I am wondering if you find that the rad gets choked up with snow and / or deeper stuff causes problems/concerns?

Cheers,

p

We bought our first ever L300 last December (2009). First thing I did when we got it home was put snow and ice tires on and head out into the hills. Never had any trouble breaking trail even in 12"+ of snow on a good 5% grade in open pasture. Having said that I did put a big cardboard skidplate underneath to block the rad from some of the cold airflow. Awww...such fond memories!

[FalcoColumbarius]

With a decent set of chains all round I drove up a twenty degree hill in two feet of snow ~ I was ploughing. Drive accordingly.



Falco.

[RichD]

With a decent set of chains all round I drove up a twenty degree hill in two feet of snow ~ I was ploughing. Drive accordingly.

I love that pic Falco. I bought winter tires today.

[Chewy]

L300's have a great feel to them. Like Falco said the weight is more central and as Rich noted there is a front bias to the weight. From my experience in 4WD, it feels like the axis is dead center and even when the rear steps out, the front is biting so it never feels like the back end is itching to come around on you.