Well, I know have a better idea why so many people get in wrecks during the winter in SUV’s. You tend to feel rather invincible. This even made worse by the cool new “safety” technology.

I went to Kroger last night in the middle of the snow coming down; the roads were still virgin, no evil salt or dreaded plows had yet come to despoil them.

What a blast! While it is a different type of fun than snow driving in a car without the entire tech bouquet, it’s still quite fun. At my first intersection I tried to do a snap 90 degree turn without the e-brake just to see what the MDX would do. The little VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) light flashed on I stopped sliding and drove straight down the road.

The next time was in a wider intersection and I was feeling a little more daring so I really gave it some gas going into the corner determined to break it loose. I started to slide and the VSA light came on, it did it’s magic and I heard some of the ABS kicking in even though I wasn’t pressing the break. The MDX made some odd little wiggles but I went right through the corner with hardly any slipping. You really have to push this thing to get it to fish tale.

Next I’m waiting to cross Powell Road and everyone is just crawling along at 15mph terrified of the snow when my chance to cross comes. I just stand on the accelerator to see what will happen. The VSA light comes on again and I turn about 2 degrees from center and then everything just snaps in line and I shoot through the intersection at 35mph. Damn!

It does create a certain sense of invulnerability which while fun can be very dangerous since it’s very easy to forget your even driving on snow at all. I was a tad concerned after my 35mph crossing that I wouldn’t be able to break before the s-bend coming up, but sure enough the ABS managed to get my speed down and VSA kicked in and I shot through the s-bend like it wasn’t there.