and Montreal/Mont Tremblant during the last week of Sept and early Oct? Going to the NEQC event up there, and it looks like it's already below freezing at Mt. Washington. What the heck?

...but that does not necessarily translate into the temps in the surrounding area.

That being said, you should probably have a contingency plan in case the temps drop way down, but you should be okay that time of year.

Mt. Washington is a different story. i wouldn't go that high in elevation at that time of year without snows. Below 3000-4000 ft, you shouldn't have much to worry about. I have seen snow as early as late September in the mountains even at low elevations, but it is a rare event.

...cause that's where you'll end up! 8-)

1/2 kidding.

1/2.

Answer is "depends".

Depends on how much driving you "need" to do while snow's acutally on the road, and how tight you can get your hole to pucker.

Tell ya a little story:

Took wifely up to VT for an Oct. anniversary weekend a Fri. last year just weeks after I got my car. Alumibitch runs SPSport9000 245/45/18Y, had pretty newish tread at the time. Got to Killington area and it'd started lightly snowing nice light fluffy powder that just blew across the streets. Head up access road to buddy's cabin, rather steep in sections. I got up pretty easily but had I stopped or not had good technique it'd have gotten stuck at the steeper parts.

Coming down to leave Sun. a.m., it had snowed that night maybe 2" - again, real light fluffy fresh pow. I put the car at the crest of the hill can came to a complete stop. Engaged 1st gear, let foot off brake, start down hill with engine braking @ 1mph, decide to test the brakes. First 'touch' of brakes, ABS. Back off. Car begins picking up speed, more than I like but this is a loooong constant hill. Nearly a single track, no less. Touch brakes? ABS. I bury my foot hoping to dig down through it - nope.

At this point I'm getting nervous, and the car is really picking up speed. It becomes clear nothing is going to stop us except a snowbank (pretty tall ones for Oct.) or a tree. Brakes give full ABS, engine braking in 1st is accelerating rapidly.

Mind you I've done bunches of ice racing in both me UrS6 and me 2.3-16, no newbie here (remember too aforementioned E28 ///M5 opposite lock sections of Mt. Washington Gravelyslimey Auto Road descent).

It's a long straight hill, 45 degree right coming up with LARGE tree exactly in the apex (of course). I cut the wheel, the back end comes around, clips bank with bumper but misses tree. We'd not seen a car on this road all weekend - but guess what's now coming up the hill? THE PLOW! I catch the drift and cut the wheel with the skid and aim the passenger headlight for the bank - *POOF* - stop. About 20' before the plow, me nearly sideways across the road.

I got it out - fortunately not a nick of damage except for a weeping washer bottle - and ran the right tire down the snowbank for the entire rest of the hill at about 0.0005 mph.

My hole is still cramped up from the experience - I think I sprained it?

My wife of 9 years who's (barely) ahem "tolerated" 17 years of my driving says to me, for the first (and likely last time EVER) - "WOW - you really saved us there - great driving!"

Moral? I'm running 245/45 Dunlop Wintersport M3's this year!!!

YMMV. Me, I'd not do it again - Alumibitch no want to be Bendybitch...

...going the last weekend of Sept. or first weekend of Oct.

I was there (VT, same difference) first weekend of Oct. It snowed. It had snowed enough previously to make 3' snowbanks on each side of the road.

Hey, go nuts don't let me stop ya... run your TT up there on Y's and have fun in the trees.

Genius.

Great that you contribute valuable data here, like being able to read a calendar and determine the seasons...

i've gone the past 3 or 4 years, and there may be frost at night, but there's never been snow. Heck, last year I drove up on nearly bald R-compounds! Ask me about my 2 spins on the main straight :-)

We're still playing golf at that time.

He's still got it too, all these years later, as seen <a href="http://www.s-cars.org/postnuke/modules.php?set_albumName=DanMacsfest07&id=IMG_2495_copy&op=modload&file=index&name=gallery&include=view_photo.php">here @ //SFest 2007</a>, the green one on the left. Always a prominent feature @ //SFest each year, I figure it appropriate to pay hommage to their greatness heh heh.

Why do you ask?

Now, if you like W124 500E's, have a freakin' gander at this <a href="http://www.s-cars.org/postnuke/modules.php?set_albumName=DanMacsfest07&id=IMG_2562_copy&op=modload&file=index&name=gallery&include=view_photo.php">Euro E500 Limited</a>. BOING! One of last 500 made, F50 brakes on all 4 corners, 19"s, Renntech bits - it's gnarly and will make your knees quiver. Fun to hammer on, too 8-).

I briefly considered a 500E when I sold my UrS6 but instead got Alumibitch as I just couldn't justify getting into another old car, and having to rely more on me 4kq (now with blown HG). Will always have a soft spot for them.

ps. your //S4 looks SICK! Very nice.

pps. just realized your sig says it's sold, then saw your house / garage - WTF am I doing wrong!!! NICE HOUSE!!! Not to mention, garage arsenal!!! Still got the '03 //S8?

weather - the kind that would make the appalachians seem closer to the midwest than mountains. Having said that, yes, I'm a bit concerned over the time of year. I was caught in Austria in late October on the summer tires that my rental and other cars on the road had. Everyone was sliding all over the place when it snowed unexpectedly. What a nightmare.

I would love to do the Mt. Washington drive, but as I will be going up to Mont Tremblant after, I will be running in the best summer street times ever made (see link). Is Mt. Washington a bad idea at this time of year?<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&url=%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%3FtireMake%3DBridgestone% 26amp%3BtireModel%3DPotenza%2BRE-01R">http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&amp;tireModel=Potenza+R E-01R</a></li></ul>

didn't mean to upset you , I guess I'm not well known yet to joke around.... Cheers...

...but email / forum humor sometimes is lost in electronic transmission.

And I did say "winter" in my reply, I sorta misread his post somewhat.

Didn't mean to be a doomsayer on the matter, just to be careful in early fall up there not to get caught mit pants / ankles - unless one likes that sorta thang?

8-)

See you @ 9/19 gtg here maybe? Your TT came out real nice!

...lodge or something prior to your intended arrival and get the shcooop as to Auto Road conditions at that moment and make a judgement call. That time of year it's just a crapshoot, is all.

Enjoy Tremblant!!! Watch out for that Mullane guy in the Miata S/C - he's a suspicious character, at the least - I think it's the beard or something 8-).

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/225/thunderhill2002-1.jpg"></center><p>of course, with the switch to snow tires.

Thanks for the compliments.

I thought you were someone else I had met from back in my Benz days. You've driven that E500? One of my favorite cars ever but I've never gotten a ride in one!

The 03 S8 is still kicking around. Its got almost 100k on it. It's in semi-retirement parked behind my office.

...Andy Warhol looking "airbrushed" seats in person they're crazy cool. Looks like light being refracted, but it's in the upholstery. And there's simply *nothing* like that Black Onyx color - my other bud had his Cosworth Escort RS finished in that, they were both there for //SFest muwhahahahaa.

I've driven a few 500E's, they're REALLY torquey and will roast the rears off with a slight brakestand (if you have ASR defeat). Fun stuff. About equal to Alumibitch off the line and on the highway. I've run my bud in that green one and I think I'd end up having him up top but we always have to lift 8-). Less refined / more raw than my //S8, in a good way. Primitive in comparison tho (gearing, etc.). Highly recommended, a real bargain now - you can get nice sorted ones for $10k's.

RE: your '03 //S8 - "semi-retirement"? Consider selling? Let me know...

Thanks for the reply. 500's seem to come up for sale once in a while. I'd love to pick up a lower mileage one and hang onto it forever.

As far as the S8, I just drove it to dunkin donuts a few minutes ago. It has 105,700 miles. Its a company car. We bought it new and my father drove it until he upgraded to a D3. The D2 got handed down to our controller who drove it until a few months ago, he got a 530xi. It's been sitting in the lot behind my office since, just being driven a few times a week to keep it healthy. Its been dealer serviced since new. The car does have a few issues i've been told. An electrical problem in the rear of the car, a few wheels may be bent, there are some knicks and scratches around the car, etc. I can look into what they want for it if you'd like. I wouldn't expect it to be that much considering that its well used and needs some work.

It could be snowing on the summit, and partly cloudy at the base, it's crazy! Plus, they don't open the Auto Road on bad weather days.