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annababy
LIF Infant
Member since 3/08 67 total posts
Name:
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Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Does anyone have any recs for cars that drive well in the snow? Preferably sedans...I really don't want a wagon or SUV. My new house has a very steep driveway & I'm a little concerned about how a car without 4WD will do getting up the driveway when it snows.
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Posted 3/13/08 12:14 PM  |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Get a good set of snow tires for the winter and you will be riding better than anyone out there with four wheel drive.
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| Posted 3/13/08 12:18 PM |
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freckles
Love My Little Man!
Member since 5/07 1825 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
I've heard that Subaru's are good in bad weather and so are Volvo's.
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| Posted 3/13/08 12:26 PM |
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nickipa
love my boys!
Member since 4/06 5648 total posts
Name:
Nicki
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
my first car when i lived upstate was a subaru---they are AWD and excellent in the snow
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| Posted 3/13/08 12:29 PM |
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annababy
LIF Infant
Member since 3/08 67 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Really? I didn't know tires made that much of a difference!!
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| Posted 3/13/08 12:30 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Posted by annababy
Really? I didn't know tires made that much of a difference!!
Tires make ALL the difference. A good set of snow tires in the winter really helps with the traction.
I also personally think AWD is overrated anyways.
Most cars that have AWD have that form of "intelligent" AWD that only kicks in when the car senses losing traction. Many people think that if they buy an AWD car that all four wheels are constantly given power. That's not the case. Most AWD cars are really front wheel drive cars 99% of the time. AWD doesn't kick in until the car "thinks" it needs it. Very deceiving IMO.
Subaru is one of the few automakers that have TRUE full-time AWD. This is why their cars handle so well in the snow. If you have an SUV like a Jeep that you have to actually engage the 4x4 mode manually, then that's another good form of full-time AWD.
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| Posted 3/13/08 12:38 PM |
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bomb-blast
bye bye
Member since 11/06 1327 total posts
Name:
Leo
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Posted by ave1024
Posted by annababy
Really? I didn't know tires made that much of a difference!!
Tires make ALL the difference. A good set of snow tires in the winter really helps with the traction.
I also personally think AWD is overrated anyways.
Most cars that have AWD have that form of "intelligent" AWD that only kicks in when the car senses losing traction. Many people think that if they buy an AWD car that all four wheels are constantly given power. That's not the case. Most AWD cars are really front wheel drive cars 99% of the time. AWD doesn't kick in until the car "thinks" it needs it. Very deceiving IMO.
Subaru is one of the few automakers that have TRUE full-time AWD. This is why their cars handle so well in the snow. If you have an SUV like a Jeep that you have to actually engage the 4x4 mode manually, then that's another good form of full-time AWD.
As a side note tho, AWD and 4WD are not very good when it come to gas mileage. Like the poster said above, a good set of snow tires can make a world of difference. Most front-wheel drive cars with a good set of snow tires will do a very good job in the snow.
Regarding your driveway, since you say it's a steep incline, you obviously still want to clear the snow before trying to pass through. You don't want the snow to turn into ice b/c then even 4WD won't help you.
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| Posted 3/13/08 12:57 PM |
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annababy
LIF Infant
Member since 3/08 67 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Posted by ave1024
Posted by annababy
Really? I didn't know tires made that much of a difference!!
Tires make ALL the difference. A good set of snow tires in the winter really helps with the traction.
I also personally think AWD is overrated anyways.
Most cars that have AWD have that form of "intelligent" AWD that only kicks in when the car senses losing traction. Many people think that if they buy an AWD car that all four wheels are constantly given power. That's not the case. Most AWD cars are really front wheel drive cars 99% of the time. AWD doesn't kick in until the car "thinks" it needs it. Very deceiving IMO.
Subaru is one of the few automakers that have TRUE full-time AWD. This is why their cars handle so well in the snow. If you have an SUV like a Jeep that you have to actually engage the 4x4 mode manually, then that's another good form of full-time AWD.
I had NO IDEA!! Thanks so much for explaining that! Any idea if Audi Quattro has full time AWD like Subaru?
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| Posted 3/13/08 1:11 PM |
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MrsB-07
proud RELAXIVIST
Member since 11/07 2027 total posts
Name:
b
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Yea, tires are so important! I had a little car that slid all over the road and then we put snow tires on it and it helped a lot. I'd get heavy duty snow tires and front wheel drive.
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| Posted 3/13/08 1:13 PM |
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bomb-blast
bye bye
Member since 11/06 1327 total posts
Name:
Leo
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Posted by annababy
I had NO IDEA!! Thanks so much for explaining that! Any idea if Audi Quattro has full time AWD like Subaru?
The Quattro system works very similar to Subaru's, but Audis are really in the 'luxury' segment. So it all depends on your budget.
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| Posted 3/13/08 1:16 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
DH is a mechanical engineer, and knows the ins and outs of cars... and he swears by his subaru for bad weather. he has the WRX, which has a turbo so its not so great on gas... but their other "Regular" cars ( impreza, legacy) are nice as well... definitely worth checking out!
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| Posted 3/13/08 1:20 PM |
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LBBCHGRL
LIF Infant
Member since 1/08 199 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
I have a subaru forester that I love. My parents live in Vermont and we have gone up there quite a bit this winter and have had no problem with the snow. As for the tires, I can't justify the expense for here on Long Island. We just don't get that much snow. But I lived in Colorado for a while and I had them on my accord and I had no problem with the snow.
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| Posted 3/13/08 1:30 PM |
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Preguntas
it's pretty precious
Member since 1/07 3839 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
Any car you get, if you get a standard transmission- I have always found they are better in the snow.
And I used to live in Vermont.
So I know snow.
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| Posted 3/13/08 1:32 PM |
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Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
I had an Audi A4 and it handled beautifully in the snow and bad weather. Audi & Subaru's are known for their handing in all terrain.
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| Posted 3/13/08 2:01 PM |
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Bluepixie
Mamarazzi
Member since 6/07 2618 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: Cars that drive well in the snow...do I need 4WD?
I have a 2007 Ford Focus and it has been GREAT in the snow. And living in New England, we get SOOO much freakin' snow it's unbelieveable.
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| Posted 3/13/08 3:14 PM |
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