Live in the snow belt?? What car do you drive?

[Teresa Pitman]

I'm in Ontario and we get a good amount of snow every year. I think snow tires help a lot no matter what kind of car you have. I drive a Toyota Corolla and it's just fine - this is my second one. My son drives a VW Jetta. We live in Guelph, which is a medium-sized town, and drive on highways to Toronto and through country roads to the farm where my horse is boarded.

 

[Deb in IA]

Returning to add:

I agree with most people who say that a good front wheel drive and snow tires will handle MOST winter driving conditions, PROVIDED that the local streets department has an adequate response and the appropriate equipment for snow removal and street salting and sanding.

Here in Iowa, the plows hit the street at the first snowflake, and continue through until it stops.

I have lived in other areas, farther south, where that was not the case. Not fun, or pretty, and scary.

Now for me, I DID put my 4-wheel drive to good use last year, when my Highlander spun out on a patch of melted/refrozen ice during the spring thaws. I ended up in the ditch off the country blacktop, facing the other direction.

After a few moments of thinking, "Gee, NOW what?", I put the car into "snow" mode, rocked the car between D and R a few times, and drove out of the ditch.

I don't think I could have done that without 4-wheel drive.

(After that, I got the tires replaced, since they were almost bald . . . )

 

[RC Fan]

We usually get a fair amount of snow here. In my personal experience, AWD is superior to all other types of drivetrains. Subaru in particular makes a very good AWD drive system, and I am a huge Subaru fan (I have had three Imprezas and one Baja). I would recommend any of the Subies.

The only RWD vehicle I was ever in was absolutely horrid in slippery conditions, and it was equipped with studded snow tires.

 

[camlace]

Funny how many peeople love their Subarus and AWD...I had a Subaru Outback and I HATED it in the winter. The car was way too light to maintain any sense of traction on the road during snow and ice conditions. I bought it in Sept and wanted to trade it in by X-mas. Husband told me to stay with it for at least a season to see if I got used to it. Well I did that and the 1st snow storm the next winter, for what seemed like the 100000th time went sideways down a hill in a snowstorm, got home told my husband I was done...got myself a Chevy Trailblazer within a week. Now I have a Jeep, but just got it this summer, so can't say how it will perform in the winter, but I am sure it will perform better than my subaru did.

 

[sbell111]

We usually get a fair amount of snow here. In my personal experience, AWD is superior to all other types of drivetrains. Subaru in particular makes a very good AWD drive system, and I am a huge Subaru fan (I have had three Imprezas and one Baja). I would recommend any of the Subies.

The only RWD vehicle I was ever in was absolutely horrid in slippery conditions, and it was equipped with studded snow tires.

I disagree with the bolded bit. In my experience, 4WD is better than AWD. Next is FWD. RWD trails the pack from the ditch, of course.

 

[jsmith]

we have a 4 wheel drive Chevy Tahoe-a Ford Escape and a VW beetle-i actually prefer the way my beetle handles in bad weather to the Tahoe-it has electronic traction and is all wheel drive and i pretty much can go anywhere-like PP i hated my Subaru-it had issues and was expensive to keep running-and wasnt that great in bad weather. The Chevy is good for family trips in the winter-and self defense. Because of where I live there is a fairly large population of southern transplants who labor under the impression that 4 wheel drive and 4 wheel stop are the same thing-and thats the greatest winter driving hazard we have.

 

[RC Fan]

Funny how many peeople love their Subarus and AWD...I had a Subaru Outback and I HATED it in the winter. The car was way too light to maintain any sense of traction on the road during snow and ice conditions. I bought it in Sept and wanted to trade it in by X-mas. Husband told me to stay with it for at least a season to see if I got used to it. Well I did that and the 1st snow storm the next winter, for what seemed like the 100000th time went sideways down a hill in a snowstorm, got home told my husband I was done...got myself a Chevy Trailblazer within a week. Now I have a Jeep, but just got it this summer, so can't say how it will perform in the winter, but I am sure it will perform better than my subaru did.

What year was it? Was it an Outback Sport or an Outback? The Outback Sport is a raised Impreza wagon/5-door. The Outback itself is much larger, especially the current Outback.

 

[sbell111]

We have found that for 99% of the time a car with front wheel drive and good tires works as well as any 4 wheel drive/AWD car and gets WAY better gas mileage.

This is true. 99% of the time FWD will get the job done. That's the very reason that I stick with my Grand Cherokee. It get's the job done 100% of the time.

Traction control is a plus, especially since you don't have to have it on all the time. Usually when we see cars in the ditches during a storm they are SUV's that had just flown past everyone driving safely because they assume they are safe because they have an SUV .

It is certainly true that people who drive too fast for road conditions will often find themselves in trouble. However, that attests to a problem with the individual driver, not the vehicle being driven.

 

[Tinkerbell3014]

I drive a Chevy Impala. It handles well in the snow although, I do miss my SUV and 4WD. My next vehicle will be someting with 4WD. Good Luck with your choice.

 

[sbell111]

he key to remember that that boneheads around here forget is that 4WD will not stop you any faster and that just because you have 4WD does not mean you can go faster in bad weather.

Actually, a vehicle with a good 4WD system (and tires) can go faster (and stop shorter maintaining better control) than a similar 2WD vehicle driving in the same conditions. Obviously, this doesn't mean that it will stop as short or go as fast as it would on dry roads, but that's not the comparison that you were making.

 

[sbell111]

I have driven front wheel drive cars since 1976, probably 15 or so different vehicles. We live in Chicago, not exactly a slouch city when it comes to tough winters, lots of snow. Until recent past few years I usually drove about 25,000 miles a year, more than average. Currently somewhat less. I have never, ever been stuck or unable to go in those 34 years, not once. And here, about half the time is winter and snow. The prior 16 years of driving, I always had rear wheel drive. Usually stuck at least once every year. 4 wheel drive is not needed, unless maybe you are traversing the Rockies through the Donner Pass or the like, way over-hyped.

4WD is not needed for all road conditions, but it comes in mighty handy for some. I have absolutely no doubt that my Grand Cherokee can be safely driven in many circumstances that would leave your Taurus in teh parking lot.

As to current, a 2010 Taurus. And SUV's, many/most built on truck chassis, probably do need 4 wheel, what with their way out of balance front to rear weight ratios ...

The 2010 (and 2011) Grand Cherokee's weight distribution is 53/47. Your 2010 Taurus' weight distribution is 60/40. The Grand Cherokee's weight is more evenly distributed.I suspect that most other SUVs would follow suite.

... and high center of gravity, which also does lend to their higher incident of rollover.

For most SUVs, that's largely a myth.

Several years ago, I was involved in a head on collision with a drunk driver going the wrong way on a local interstate. I put my (former) Grand Cherokee through some VERY aggressive high speed lane changes trying in desperation to avoid the drunk. If my SUV was prone to rollovers, it would have gone wheels up that day (either before or after impact).

Reagrding your truck chassis comment. This was generally true 25 years ago, but is no longer accurate. Most SUVs are actually not built on a truck chassis. Nearly all incorporate unibody construction, rather than a solid frame like a truck would use. In fact, most SUVs being offered today have far more in common to your Taurus than they do to a Silverado. They mostly just have drive systems that are more appropriate for extreme conditions.

 

[Disney Doll]

Live in CT.
Drive a 1998 Ford Explorer. I bought it new. I keep cars a long time...I don't like car payments.
It's great in the snow.
I've never rolled it.
I've actually never even remotely felt like I was going to roll it...and I have been in some pretty hairy traffic situations.

 

[onelilspark]

Thank you everyone! This is such a big help. My big concern is whether or not I was overreacting by deciding that I needed AWD or 4WD. I think what I've gathered is that I don't necessarily need it, but it would make my life easier in the winter time. I know that safe driving at safe speeds & distances will win out in any circumstance, but at least here in Rochester if it's snowing, life doesn't stop unless it's 12" in a half day!

Thanks again!!

 

[tlens]

I live in Canada and have a Hyundai Tuscon.

Mine is a 2WD. I've never needed a AWD.

 

[Disnydad]

We have 4 vehicles in Upstate New York.

2 - Subaru Impreza's
1 - Cadillac SRX
1 - Hummer H3.

All are All Wheel Drive (or 4WD/AWD in the Hummers case)

As the OP is in our "Snow Belt" along the southern edge of Lake Ontario I'd stick with AWD (or 4WD).

 

[tvguy]

I live in Canada and have a Hyundai Tuscon.

Mine is a 2WD. I've never needed a AWD.

I have 3 uncles in Canada. They swear by anything big, american, and with rear wheel drive. One is a Chrysler man, one a GM man, one a Ford man. 2 have Ford Crown Victorias now, one a Mercury Grand Marquis since GM doesn't make anything large and rear wheel drive cars, and Chrysler stopped for a number of years.
All 3 uncles refuse to buy front wheel drive, and all 3 feel 4 wheel drive is unnecessary, including the uncle who lives in a community with no paved roads.

 

[RC Fan]

I have 3 uncles in Canada. They swear by anything big, american, and with rear wheel drive. One is a Chrysler man, one a GM man, one a Ford man. 2 have Ford Crown Victorias now, one a Mercury Grand Marquis since GM doesn't make anything large and rear wheel drive cars, and Chrysler stopped for a number of years.
All 3 uncles refuse to buy front wheel drive, and all 3 feel 4 wheel drive is unnecessary, including the uncle who lives in a community with no paved roads.

Weird! Where in Canada do your uncles live? I am Canadian and can't recall any other Canadians professing a love for RWD vehicles in snowy conditions.

 

[heartsy77]

I live about an hour and half from you, near Binghamton. last winter I bought HONDA PILOT AWD. I would never live in Rochester with out AWD or 4 wd. You guys measure snow in feet not inches!

As for me, I wanted to make sure when I was coming home, from nursing school at 10:00, in the snow I would be safe.

 

[onelilspark]

I live about an hour and half from you, near Binghamton. last winter I bought HONDA PILOT AWD. I would never live in Rochester with out AWD or 4 wd. You guys measure snow in feet not inches!

As for me, I wanted to make sure when I was coming home, from nursing school at 10:00, in the snow I would be safe.

Thanks for the laugh. Only funny 'cause it's true!!!

Have you seen the Golden Snowball? http://goldensnowball.blogspot.com/ Binghamton beat Buffalo last year

 

[georgina]

When I lived in the snowbelt, it was flat, and a front wheel drive car was sufficient. Here in Pittsburgh suburbs, it is very hilly, and the roads are poorly maintained. I won't buy anything that isn't AWD or 4WD. I've seen many cars stuck on slushy hills. Just replaced my old Subaru Outback with a new one.