Civic and chains work... It's more about the driver and this is a terrible drive to introduce winter driving even in an AWD car. If you're just out to visit a Bavarian style town, there's always Mount Angel, but if you're hell bent on Leavenworth and take the civic just keep a couple of things in mind:
When transitioning from slick surfaces onto dry pavement keep movements slow and fluid to avoid any torque steer.
Finish braking before turning in - and if you need to slow more just engine brake. Seriously though, go slow into turns... In slow out... well slow if you catch my drift.
Keep the revs low to keep torque down, and when downshifting to engine brake let off the clutch slow and controlled. Just as well, squish the throttle and be gentle when lifting on the throttle.
Most importantly... and what somehow has not been said yet GO SLOW! Kind of an exercise in narcissism but nothing matters more than your own safety. Most Californians I talk to complain about how Oregonians are slow drivers... You're about to find out why. All of a sudden understeering at 20 feels pretty quick.
As noted by others carry an emergency kit and keep gas in the tank always.
Busy_Wheel_862 t1_ix60o5q wrote
Reply to Question about Leavenworth by Bluejay_1234
Civic and chains work... It's more about the driver and this is a terrible drive to introduce winter driving even in an AWD car. If you're just out to visit a Bavarian style town, there's always Mount Angel, but if you're hell bent on Leavenworth and take the civic just keep a couple of things in mind:
When transitioning from slick surfaces onto dry pavement keep movements slow and fluid to avoid any torque steer.
Finish braking before turning in - and if you need to slow more just engine brake. Seriously though, go slow into turns... In slow out... well slow if you catch my drift.
Keep the revs low to keep torque down, and when downshifting to engine brake let off the clutch slow and controlled. Just as well, squish the throttle and be gentle when lifting on the throttle.
Most importantly... and what somehow has not been said yet GO SLOW! Kind of an exercise in narcissism but nothing matters more than your own safety. Most Californians I talk to complain about how Oregonians are slow drivers... You're about to find out why. All of a sudden understeering at 20 feels pretty quick.
As noted by others carry an emergency kit and keep gas in the tank always.