I would think a Jeep Grand Cherokee with Quadra-Drive 2 and snow tires
Best vehicle for snow and ice
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Originally Posted By: buster
Of course snow tires help significantly, but Subaru's AWD system outperforms most others, including many part-time systems.
Yep...it's a great system...but it doesn't mean anything if the tires can't grip. One wintry (16+ inches) Thanksgiving Day in Stowe, VT, I saw not one, not two, but THREE Subarus wreck on my road alone.
First one couldn't make a corner (in fairness, it was a very steep and winding road, even by Vermont standards) and sailed off the road into a tree. Totaled, but the driver was OK.
Next one clearly had empathy, and chose that same icy downhill corner to hit the same tree (poor tree).
3rd one wiped out right in front of me...making the left turn from Route 100 to go up the road, he kept a little too much speed and wiped out right into the road sign.
I tried to help him push his car out, but it was completely through the snow bank and was going to need a wrecker. So, I gave him a ride up this icy/snowy hill in my Volvo. It was a 240 wagon with 4 Hakkapelliitta snows on it. As we were climbing past the wreck of the other Subie in Blizzard conditions, the New Jersey Subie driver remarked on my car, saying, "I didn't know these old Volvos were all wheel drive."
"They're not." I replied...keeping my other thoughts on driver skill and snow tires to myself.
What did those wrecked 3 Subies have in common? All season tires and out of state plates.
Flatlander drivers who thought AWD was magic...when what they really needed was traction....
Of course snow tires help significantly, but Subaru's AWD system outperforms most others, including many part-time systems.
Yep...it's a great system...but it doesn't mean anything if the tires can't grip. One wintry (16+ inches) Thanksgiving Day in Stowe, VT, I saw not one, not two, but THREE Subarus wreck on my road alone.
First one couldn't make a corner (in fairness, it was a very steep and winding road, even by Vermont standards) and sailed off the road into a tree. Totaled, but the driver was OK.
Next one clearly had empathy, and chose that same icy downhill corner to hit the same tree (poor tree).
3rd one wiped out right in front of me...making the left turn from Route 100 to go up the road, he kept a little too much speed and wiped out right into the road sign.
I tried to help him push his car out, but it was completely through the snow bank and was going to need a wrecker. So, I gave him a ride up this icy/snowy hill in my Volvo. It was a 240 wagon with 4 Hakkapelliitta snows on it. As we were climbing past the wreck of the other Subie in Blizzard conditions, the New Jersey Subie driver remarked on my car, saying, "I didn't know these old Volvos were all wheel drive."
"They're not." I replied...keeping my other thoughts on driver skill and snow tires to myself.
What did those wrecked 3 Subies have in common? All season tires and out of state plates.
Flatlander drivers who thought AWD was magic...when what they really needed was traction....
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I've owned 2 Geo Prizms over the years, and for a small car, are amazing in the snow. Much better, as an example, than a 1997 Nissan Maxima I owned.
The Cruze is pretty good with its 4 Nokian Hakka R snow tires. A little too much wheelspin in 1st that the traction control does not arrest. 1st is a stump-puller, to be fair. It does fine once it's going since it's pretty heavy for its size and tires.
The Fit is a little tank in the snow on its Blizzak LM-25's. Without them it is a tail-happy little car since it has something like a 70/30 F/R weight distribution.
Tires and driver make the vehicle. Both ours, but especially the Fit, would be much less safe in the snow without good snow tires.
The Fit is a little tank in the snow on its Blizzak LM-25's. Without them it is a tail-happy little car since it has something like a 70/30 F/R weight distribution.
Tires and driver make the vehicle. Both ours, but especially the Fit, would be much less safe in the snow without good snow tires.
Best drive in the snow I ever had was my wife's old 2010 CR-V. Took it out 12 hours after the 31" of snow stopped falling. The simple vacuum/hydraulic Real-Time AWD (no longer offered on 2012+ CR-V) was gentle when shifting torque so it allowed me to get through snow big 4wd trucks were stuck in. I still can't believe I made it back without getting stuck.
Before that we took her old 2007 Accord to Mt. Snow VT. During the day we got about 6-8" of snow. As we were walking back to the car there was a new BMW X5 stuck in the parking lot and I was really worried. Wouldn't you know we pulled out and right around that X5!
I have a couple S2000 buddies who drive their cars year-round. In the winter they put Bridgestone Blizzaks on, a little weight in the trunk, and I've seen videos of them going uphill passing stuck SUVs! Proof that modern snow tires are more beneficial than any AWD system.
Before that we took her old 2007 Accord to Mt. Snow VT. During the day we got about 6-8" of snow. As we were walking back to the car there was a new BMW X5 stuck in the parking lot and I was really worried. Wouldn't you know we pulled out and right around that X5!
I have a couple S2000 buddies who drive their cars year-round. In the winter they put Bridgestone Blizzaks on, a little weight in the trunk, and I've seen videos of them going uphill passing stuck SUVs! Proof that modern snow tires are more beneficial than any AWD system.
I guess it depends on the situation, the Tracker when it had poor all season tires, would still out climb our fwd cars with snow tires on our steep driveway. Out on the highway though I'd rather drive a 2wd with snows than AWD/4WD and all seasons.
Now we put snows and the Tracker and its pretty good at low speed cottage road tricky stuff, or pulling someone out of a snowbank. At high speed in slush, I still prefer the narrower snow tire width that I had on the Neon.
Now we put snows and the Tracker and its pretty good at low speed cottage road tricky stuff, or pulling someone out of a snowbank. At high speed in slush, I still prefer the narrower snow tire width that I had on the Neon.
We live where it snows, some years a lot, some years barely at all.
We've had many different cars over the years, and no car is really bad in the snow if you drive it properly.
Now, for effortless transit through heavy snow, you can't beat an AWD Subie, although an Accord (or any other car) on dedicated winters is close.
We've had many different cars over the years, and no car is really bad in the snow if you drive it properly.
Now, for effortless transit through heavy snow, you can't beat an AWD Subie, although an Accord (or any other car) on dedicated winters is close.
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