Instead of creating to mundane threads I figured I would combine them here.

My first question is how does the xB handle in North Eastern winter weather?

Is there a lot of sliding since it is light? It's front wheel so it should manage well, right?



Next, for anyone from the Pittsburgh area how does the xB handle on our terrible streets? Are the hills a pain in the ___?

I test drove on Mcknight Rd. but that is a pretty level area.

Again...thanks in advance to anyone who answers!

 

good on both

FF platform is a good platform for all season driving

and no problem on the hills I have a 5sp and the only time i have to keep it in 1st is on the hill going up potomac

 

Nothing to it. It's the BEST winter driver I've had, bar none. That includes over hills and over dales here in southern MN, and we don't get no wimpy winters . . . . (Well, they're wimpy compared to where I come from -- NORTHERN MN -- but they'll stand up against anything Pittsburgh could throw at you!!)

 

I gotta take your word then, I hate that hill.

Any scraping going up it? Sometimes I bottom out as is in a Cavalier?

 

xB handles amazingly well in snow.

I dodge potholes. The xB is small enough to dodge and weave in your lane.

 

Mine has no problem handling the crappy streets (I'm lowered and on 18's too) Getting up the hills is another story, it'll make it up them but it'll struggle if you don't get some momentum lol

 

I only drove in Pittsburgh for about a week once, but it reminds me of the hills in San Francisco to some degree. I would go with the manual shift so as to not have to lug up the hills. As to crappy roads--you have no monopoly on those. If you get it lowered you will get a little more of a bumpy ride. Some people have advised getting new shocks in that case. Good luck!!

 

good thread, as i will be brining my car to pittsburgh for school in the fall.

not quite sure how the 35 series tires on my TRD's will hold out .... at least for the fall and spring. planning on using stockies for winter.

 

no i dont bottom out on the hill but when i go up it i always drive up on an angle so i dont have to worrie

 

My advice.... Get the hell out of Pittsburg. Go Browns

 

Haven't had the opportunity to drive mine in the winter yet. However, i have already purchased 4 snow tires for it, and had them mounted on the stock steel wheels. With the hills here, snow tires make a HUGE difference.
As to pulling hills, the xB is geared low enough that they are not a problem. I went up Rialto St (Pig Hill) with no problems whatever.
As to sstcrew......Typical Browns fan, can't even spell "Pittsburgh" properly!!

 

Blah Potomac!!! that Road is awful!!! I avoid as much as possible!!!

 

Ha! I'm torn - as a Pgh native I bought my car in Cleveland - long story I've written about in other threads.

I have the 5 speed because I didn't like the way the automatic always seemed to be revving too high on our hills during my test drive. No regrets on that decision.

Winter 05-06 wasn't much to talk about, but I had no real trouble. I didn't find the traction control to be much help, though, in one situation on Rodi Road in Penn Hills and North Hills Road in Murrysville (hmm - notice all the "hills" in those names?).

I don't think the OEM tires are that great in the winter, but the front drive works like it should and as well as other front drivers I've had in the snow, or better. [My best snow driver was a '71 Pinto rear drive - perfect weight balance, I figure, and skinny tires.]

The xB stops very well in the snow.

The 6.1" stock ride height is more than my 05 Odyssey, for instance, so don't let the out-of-proportion look fool you. I does fine on potholes, but I have the steelies in part for that reason. I test drove the 18" wheels and thought they were a bit harsh for this area, so combined with the road salt issues and extra cost I decided to pass on them.

My winter gas mileage dropped from the usual 30 to about 26 at the worst. Now it's about 32 mpg in the warmth of June. I'm thrilled with that mileage considering the hilly terrain.

Heater and defrost work great.

The starter labors a bit in cold temperatures, even with synthetic oil, but no problems.

You'll be fine in Pgh with the xB - I think there are tougher areas to own a car.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking!

Ever been up maytide street or the top of Becks Run when it meets Brownsville?

 

Living in Cleveland it's actually against the law to mention/write or even think about that awful cities name. I have to spell it wrong to avoid jail time. It has nothing to do with my public school edimication.

 

i just got back from Pittsburgh...car does just fine..I drove thru WV!!! 3k-4k above sea lvl LOL

 

Super Bowl XL

That is all.

 

my xB handles just fine on the hills around town, you should have no problem.

As for Cleveland, no hard feelings, but every time we play the browns we mess them up like big bens face when he falls off his bike, yeah I went there

OH SNAP!!!!

 

OH SNAP!! You are so evil!!!! Evil i tell you!!! HAHAHAHHAHHA