Re: Alfas in snow

[JHertzman@domain.elided]

In AD7-1303 Scott Johnson writes: "Our automatic Milano also had little 
trouble in the snow we recently got in the DC area. I personally credit it to 
a limited slip differential, a transmission sitting over the rear wheels, and 
careful, knowledgeable driving."

I question only the attribution of a limited slip differential to an 
automatic Milano. A 1988 ARI brochure (MD8810500) which I have listing 
features which are 'Standard', 'Optional', or 'Not Available' on the various 
Milano models then offered (Gold Auto., Gold 5-Speed, Platinum Auto., 3.0 
Litre 5-speed) lists the limited slip as "Standard" on the 3.0 litre 5-Speed 
(which is not called a "Verde" anyplace in that brochure) but lists it as 
"Not Available" on all of the other models. When we bought our Platinum 
earlier there were just the three models, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with no 
automatics on any and with the limited slip available only on the Platinum, 
where it was standard. (This of course increases the credit which must be 
given to Scott's careful, knowledgeable driving - - ). I believe that LSD has 
not been available on any automatic transaxle Alfa, front or rear, and the 
differentials of the automatic rear transaxles are quite different, making a 
retrofit with Alfa parts very unlikely. With an automatic Spider or Berlina 
an LSD would be entirely possible.

The thing which makes both the Milano and the 164 very respectable snow cars 
is, of course, having as much or more weight on the driving wheels as on the 
others.
Generally the nose-heavy 164 should be better than a non-LSD Milano on the 
flat, so long as the snow depth was less than the ground clearance of both 
cars. Where I live, with well-polished ice patches at stop signs on uphills, 
our LSD Milano is a lot better than our 164.

The other "owner's choice" factors affecting snow manners are tire-width and 
ground clearance. Alfas with 205 or 225 tires, 'improved' appearance and 
sub-sump skidgrates would probably not do very well in deep snow. My 
recollection is that our Giulia Super, with 155-15 tires, and our Berlina, 
with stock height, stock tires, and an LSD were as capable in snow as our 
Milano, and better than our 164. One other difference among the front-drive 
and rear-drive cars is turning radius: in a worst-case losing-it situation I 
would rather have the Milano's full-lock available at one end and driven 
wheels at the other than the 164's more limited full-lock on the driven 
wheels.

John H.
Raleigh, N.C. where the rare snow is 20" deep this week

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End of alfa-digest V7 #1306
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