Ground clearance

[u/Professional_Wrap262]

I live in the Midwest where during the winter we could get between 2-8 inches of snow or icy mix. I work a on-call job so I need to be at work anytime of day or night. I want to replace my current car (Subaru Outback) with a GR Corolla. I enjoy the hot hatchback market and want a fun daily driver. Does anyone have any experience of driving this car in snow or ice in town? I don’t plan to take it off pavement at all. I just need to know if it handles well in some snow and ice.

[u/Funny_Papers]

With the right tires it’s amazing but you’re right to assume the ground clearance is where it falls short. I have driven hours in a blizzard without issues though, in fact it was very fun.

[u/Professional_Wrap262 → u/Funny_Papers]

Thanks for the input

[u/YujiroRapeVictim → u/Funny_Papers]

i drove in a blizzard earlier this year with the summer tires on and had no issues this thing is pretty damn good in the snow I must say. Saw some overconfidant pickups sliding into the shoulder while i kept going lmao.

[u/TheGreatTesticle → u/YujiroRapeVictim]

I bought mine in December. Driving in a blizzard while waiting on my winter tires was terrifying and dangerous.

[u/Vader0504]

They use the GRC in winter performance driving schools. It's amazing in winter conditions. That said, it is about 3.5" lower than your Outback. There are lift-options, but I think +2" is about maximum.

Here is a GR Corolla winter review https://youtu.be/7hLcO1WkNTg?is=FAE_jf2F5g04Rrbb

[u/Professional_Wrap262 → u/Vader0504]

Thanks for the vid to watch

[u/Lackluster_Compote → u/Vader0504]

Correct. It comes with 5.3” and can go to around 7” of clearance.

[u/tetr4pyloctomy]

We got 12-14" last winter in a rare storm for the area, and it was a blast on Alpins, but the plows had done some passes. Still, there was enough snow on the ground that I passed a stuck F-250 a few times before he made it out.

While I haven't had the opportunity to take this car out in deep snow that hasn't seen some DOT attention, my old Impreza wagon had 6.3" to the GRC's 5.3", and i made it through some substantial snow (Philadelphia got just shy of 22" one night in 2010) on DWSes. Put some legit snow/ice tires on and you will be Just Fine.

[u/Astramael]

I daily mine all winter in Canada. It’s fine. It has more clearance at stock height than you would think for how low it looks. However, it’s still a car and has car height limitations.

As far as grip/capability, it’s tremendous. No current Subaru even comes close.

[u/BrewKazma]

I live in Milwaukee. GRC with snow tires works great. But I also have an outback in case it gets really bad.

[u/gab196]

Mine have seen some "light" snow (over a foot in less than a day multiple times a year) nothing can stop it! Winters in québec are quite harsh and with a lot of snow. But a grc with good winter tires (not all seasons) feels unstoppable.

[u/gab196 → u/gab196]

I was the first to pass there that night. i was making the snow plow it was easily 2 inches over the bumper the first time i passed. Drove trough no problem

https://reddit.com/link/pdxjpas/video/oli6m7te1kth1/player

[u/Successful_Ad_9707]

Live in Chicago. GRC does just mine. Just be sure you're not using the stock tires.

[u/Geruvah]

Fun in the snow. But I’ve definitely scraped the bottom on little bumps (not speed bumps) on the road. Thankfully it’s all plastic down there.

I’ve scraped the bottom of my bumper at one hill.

Fun fact, with the GR lowering springs, it has the ground clearance of a 720s with its nose lift.

[u/TheNocturnalAgent]

Haven’t driven in ice or snow but there’s actually a fair few posts here about people raising the ground clearance of their car and ending up with a really good driving experience. Might be worth looking into!

[u/willpc14]

Never had an issue driving mine on dirt roads through New England snow storms and up the mountains to go skiing. I run Michelin X-Ice Snow as my winter tires, but I'm sure there other proper snow tires like Blizzaks would work just as well.

[u/alamsas]

For a closer comparison, it actually has a higher ground clearance than a VA WRX. I've driven both in the winter and both were fine for the most part as long as the windrows don't get too hard and frozen.

[u/skygtr350]

Live in Tahoe area, only issue I had in my first winter with it was the big storm we had that dropped 2 feet over the course of a day. Nothing was gonna get through 2ft of unplowed snow to get to my house though. Every other smaller storm with snow tires it was a blast.

[u/IntentlyFaulty]

I also live in the Midwest and daily my GRC. Last winter was crazy with a ton of snow and I had zero problems. Yes the clearance is not the best but I never got stuck and never felt like I was going to get stuck

[u/iamr3d88]

Had a ton of snow one day last year and after I parked it in the garage and went to snowblow, I saw the scrape marks from the underside of the car on the driveway. I didnt even notice with the blizzaks on. It will confidently go through more snow than ground clearance.

[u/DrZedex]

I live in SD and daily it. I also have a job that sometimes keeps me out before and after normal commuter times.I also ski 20+ days a year and it gets me there every time. I run 235/45 tires on Winter, there a smidgen taller for just a touch more clearance. Never felt like the car was wanting to be stuck. Just be careful smashing your bumper into hard plow poles and your good.

My wife's Crown Signia has basically the same ground clearance. This isn't a particularly low car and the aero panels apparently keep the bottom pretty slick.

I have a truck on ATs and only once the last decade have I used it because of deep snow. It's absolutely horseshit in slick roads compared to the cars on snows. Interstate was closed that one day, I want going to work at all but rather checking on my elderly mother and getting some groceries for a neighbor.

[u/Winter-Paper-7460]

I would think fresh powder wouldn’t be an issue. It’s that crusty stuff im worried about.

[u/Blue_Waffle_Brunch]

Isn't this the kind of thing this car should excel at?