Driving around Littleton
Santa Fe Drive (US 85), Wadsworth, Bowles and C-470 carry most of the traffic. US 285 heads up toward Conifer and Bailey, which a lot of Littleton people use for the mountains instead of I-70.
US 285 has long climbs and long descents. If your car runs warm going up toward Conifer in the summer, don't wait on it. A weak water pump or a thermostat that's starting to stick usually shows up there first.
Front Range driving, in general
- Altitude. At a mile up, non-turbo engines make noticeably less power and turbos work harder. Coolant boils at a lower temperature too, so a weak radiator cap or a small leak shows up sooner here.
- Hail. Spring and summer storms can total a car in ten minutes. Comprehensive coverage and a garage are the real fix.
- Winter. Magnesium chloride on the roads is hard on brake lines, exhaust parts and undercarriages. Rinse the underside in spring.
- Mountain grades. I-70 and US 285 are hard on brakes and cooling systems. Fresh brake fluid and a healthy water pump matter more here than at sea level.