What cars do y'all northerners drive in snowy environments?

[WingedOx]

Chicago drivers...or those driving through Chigago are crazy. I have never been more scared for my life than when I drove 90 mph bumper-to-bumper through that city.

you sound rural.

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[crixx]

Chicago drivers...or those driving through Chigago are crazy. I have never been more scared for my life than when I drove 90 mph bumper-to-bumper through that city.

Word. The entire state is just as bad.

 

[Signifier]

Toyota Camry. Only ever given me problems when ice is involved.

 

[Hoody]

ice ice, baby..

 

[BenUstudent]

Word. The entire state is just as bad.

+1👍

 

[MediCynical]

1996 BMW 328i (RWD manual transmission)

However I wouldn't suggest my car if you don't have experience driving in snow/ice

Regardless of what you buy, I've found one of the most important things to do is take your car/suv/truck to a parking lot and practice spinning out (plus it's fun as all hell!). I got side-swiped on a snowy 4-lane freeway and was sent into a spin, and the only reason I didn't smash into the divider and total my car was because I had practiced spinning around... after spinning a full 360 degrees at 60 MPH I would up going completely straight again 😎 (while the truck that hit me was backwards in the middle of the highway)

 

[TooMuchResearch]

is that an STI?
it seems like it would be really fun

I associate STIs with burning, discharge, painful urination, etc. I am surprised this seems fun to you 😛

But front-wheel drive vehicles are all you need, assuming you know how to drive. ABS is not necessary either.

 

[StudyShy]

you sound rural.

I live sandwiched between two major cities. You don't slow down in inner-Detroit or Toledo.

 

[slatermd]

I live sandwiched between two major cities. You don't slow down in inner-Detroit or Toledo.

No jokes. You end up in the wrong parts of D-town and it's a no-holds-barred race to get out of there, red lights be damned. If you think a cop is chasing you, he's not. He's trying to get out of there just as fast.

Also, to the OP, you should not try to drive the same type of cars driven by people who grew up in snowy climates.

It doesn't matter that I can drive a jet-powered golf cart with bald tires through a blizzard, drunk. You probably shouldn't try driving in icy conditions (outside of an empty parking lot, as mentioned) unless you are in something with 4-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, and decent ground clearance.

 

[GTS44]

RWD. No traction control or ABS. AWD and technology are no substitute for driver skill and patience.


Also, 4WD =/= AWD. Why is AWD not an option?

 

[slatermd]

RWD. No traction control or ABS. AWD and technology are no substitute for driver skill and patience.


Also, 4WD =/= AWD. Why is AWD not an option?

Most drivers lack skill and patience.

AWD is fine too, probably better for noobs so they don't have to turn it on or off.

 

[DonutShot]

A big problem with RWD is that I bet that you'd be more likely to get stuck especially on unplowed/icy roads than FWD or AWD cars especially if its a truck.

But having the right set of tires can definitely help alleviate that.

 

[StudyShy]

No jokes. You end up in the wrong parts of D-town and it's a no-holds-barred race to get out of there, red lights be damned. If you think a cop is chasing you, he's not. He's trying to get out of there just as fast.

Also, to the OP, you should not try to drive the same type of cars driven by people who grew up in snowy climates.

It doesn't matter that I can drive a jet-powered golf cart with bald tires through a blizzard, drunk. You probably shouldn't try driving in icy conditions (outside of an empty parking lot, as mentioned) unless you are in something with 4-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, and decent ground clearance.

Heck yeah. Red lights mean slow down not stop in Detroit or on Cherry Street by St. V's in Toledo.

No cop would blame you.

 

[GTS44]

^^ The problem with AWD is that it overcompensates for the driver. The amount of grip it generates can fool a driver into going faster than the conditions allow. AWD can't slow down any faster (unless you count the fact it's less likely to break the wheels loose on downshifts).

Regarding driver skill, one can take a RWD line or a FWD line through corners in an AWD. Because of this, most AWD drivers don't know when to take which one or even how to properly take either line. This combined with the fact that AWD drivers are less used to loosing traction makes for poor handling of emergency situations. Even among car guys, it's somewhat rare to find an AWD driver with good car control. Go to a local autocross and you'll often see a stock RWD, 90 hp car from 1970 beat modded AWD 300+ hp STIs and EVOs. It's all driver skill.

Regarding the car, weight distribution and tires are much more important than F/R/AWD.

^ And with getting stuck, throw your RWD in reverse to get out.

 

[n3xa]

Even among car guys, it's somewhat rare to find an AWD driver with good car control. Go to a local autocross and you'll often see a stock RWD, 90 hp car from 1970 beat modded AWD 300+ hp STIs and EVOs. It's all driver skill.

*ahem* 😛

True enough. If they spent more time just driving the damn car instead of worrying about what swaybars to put on, looking hella flush, or sitting on the damn dyno...

 

[GTS44]

^ Haha. I'm all for women who are into cars/driving. 😀

 

[WingedOx]

I live sandwiched between two major cities. You don't slow down in inner-Detroit or Toledo.

I thought you went to Spring Arbor?

 

[WingedOx]

No jokes. You end up in the wrong parts of D-town and it's a no-holds-barred race to get out of there, red lights be damned. If you think a cop is chasing you, he's not. He's trying to get out of there just as fast.

lol wut? I guess if you want to ignore the best dive-bar scene in the country, then Detroit may not be for you. Sure Detroit has some bad parts like any city, but I've never been sure why people think that people in bad neighborhoods like to target-shoot white drivers passing through.

/I <3 Hamtramck. Barhopping before my interview almost made me want to go to Wayne State for residency.

 

[mauberley]

Chicago drivers...or those driving through Chigago are crazy. I have never been more scared for my life than when I drove 90 mph bumper-to-bumper through that city.

Really, not everyone drives that fast in Chicago. It is possible to drive sanely in the metropolitan area.

 

[slatermd]

lol wut? I guess if you want to ignore the best dive-bar scene in the country, then Detroit may not be for you. Sure Detroit has some bad parts like any city, but I've never been sure why people think that people in bad neighborhoods like to target-shoot white drivers passing through.

/I <3 Hamtramck. Barhopping before my interview almost made me want to go to Wayne State for residency.

I'm not talking about places where the dive bars are. And I'm also not saying white people are going to get shot driving through. Hamtramck is sweet...a mile away from two different golf courses.

Check out the Cass corridor or the down-river crackheads sometime; see how tolerant they are of outsiders of any color. There are places even the cops won't go, and if you do happen to get in trouble there you're SOL. But you are right, stay out of trouble and Detroit is actually a very cool city.

 

[wolverinepwns]

this is what I wish I drove in snow:

 

[Kaustikos]

04' Subaru STi. I will NEVER go back to fwd. And good lord is Subaru awd ridiculously easy to use in the snow. It's pretty much the point-and-click of driving in snow. Back end lets out? No problem. I've never driven a rwd before, so I can't speak to the difficulty in navigating that through snow. What I CAN say, is that it's not just the drivetrain, but also the tires. All-season to snow tires makes a HUGE difference for driving in snow.

 

[Suenya]

Also in Buffalo, also drive a Subaru.

I would recommend them in general though. Subaru's are a bit expensive for medical students, but they are a great value, especially if you drive in poor weather. I think they are worth the extra cost (and better than most cars are their price level)

 

[movax]

A4 here, Quattro is very helpful in the MI snow. Plenty of pep for being a Turbo 4.

 

[t0ny]

Volkswagen Golf 2010 runs smooth and no trouble in Canadian Winters

 

[jadealer]

Current, 2005 Honda Civic coupe.

Previously, I had Pontiac Sunfire and Grand Am at different points in time.

I just put some bricks/cinder blocks in the trunk to weigh it down in the winter because its a coupe but its been very good so far as long as you don't drive like an idiot. Also have studded snow tires.. but that's more because they were FREE...

My mom has a chevy impala.. which is HORRIBLE in snow and ice.. HORRIBLE.. I would avoid one of those definitely.

 

[mitchlucker]

Current, 2005 Honda Civic coupe.

Previously, I had Pontiac Sunfire and Grand Am at different points in time.

I just put some bricks/cinder blocks in the trunk to weigh it down in the winter because its a coupe but its been very good so far as long as you don't drive like an idiot. Also have studded snow tires.. but that's more because they were FREE...

My mom has a chevy impala.. which is HORRIBLE in snow and ice.. HORRIBLE.. I would avoid one of those definitely.

lolwut. Maybe the 1960s impalas but definitely not the newers ones. New ones are all FWD. I'd take any FWD opposed to a RWD. I own an impala and it works wonderful in the snow.

 

[raltima07]

2 wheel front drive

 

[bomgd3]

I drive a lowered Honda Fit (~2" of ground clearance) with snow tires and a manual transmission. I've never gotten stuck, even during the snowpocalypse this year. Manual transmission and snow tires are key! You can rock your way out of ditches/slippery patches.