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For driving in the mountains when there is snow is FWD with snow tires good enough or is AWD needed and if you have AWD do you need snow tires or would all seasons work well enough?
Depends how often you do it, how fast you want to get up to the hill, and how competent of a driver you are. I personally have snow tires on my Suby, so I can get up the access road as quickly and safely as possible. As far as all seasons and AWD, depends on the kind of snow and the kind of tires you have. FWD works, but getting out of a parking lot with deep snow, and getting up steep hills is a bitch.
had some issues with rwd snowtires and not being able to get up my fucking driveway during the winter. just get an awd and even better with snow tires so you dont regret it when instead of drifting like lesh in Next Friday your the reason the have those fences on the side of the roads with cliffs
Turd.Fergusonhad some issues with rwd snowtires and not being able to get up my fucking driveway during the winter. just get an awd and even better with snow tires so you dont regret it when instead of drifting like lesh in Next Friday your the reason the have those fences on the side of the roads with cliffs
lesh's car was awd, and every car has 2 wheel steering and 4 wheel braking
Peach.Yeah that's not true.
for example, certain gens of the skyline had 4 wheel steering. Certain gens of the 240 had 4 wheel steering too
okay fine if you want to get all technical the realant robin only had one wheel steering and 3 wheel braking and the g63 amg has 6 wheel braking. the main point is still the same
cool_nameokay fine if you want to get all technical the realant robin only had one wheel steering and 3 wheel braking and the g63 amg has 6 wheel braking. the main point is still the same
You don't NEED AWD to drive in the snow, but it sure as hell is nice to have.
I learned to drive in a Camry (FWD) with all season tires in Duluth, MN. If you're not familiar, Duluth is built on the side of a relatively steep hill. Speaking as someone who lived in Duluth all their life and then moved to the mountains, winter driving in Duluth was by far worse than in the mountains. Sure, the mountains get more snow, but there's less roads, so plowing is much more consistent. Plus in the mountains, the engineers who designed the roads actually knew what the hell they were doing and put switchbacks in when necessary rather than going straight up the goddamn hill no matter how steep it is (Duluth has streets with 27% grades). Plus Duluth had stop signs on the hill that you somehow had to stop for, and there was traffic because it's a city.
Even dealing with all that, I never got into an accident or got hopelessly stuck in my FWD Camry. Sure, there were times where I had trouble starting up going uphill, but it was never impossible, and AWD won't help you stop at all so there's no disadvantage going down.
My next vehicle was a Subaru Impreza (AWD obviously) all-season tires again. It was much, much easier to get around in that than my Camry. I didn't run stop signs going uphill any more to keep my momentum going, and overall I could travel at higher speeds safely in questionable driving conditions.
I wouldn't say you need AWD ever. If you're a decent winter driver you'll be able to get around in damn near anything in the snow, but if you're a skier, it sure makes your life a lot easier.
I had a Nissan sedan with FWD in Breckenridge for 5 years. Never once had issues. I put snow tires on the fronts to start but after they wore out, i replaced them with all season tires and they were just as good. If you know how to drive in snow and know how car control works, then your fine. Also, know the limits of the car.
I only had problems getting out with rwd but driving in snow was easy and fun because 90hp Volvo. Now I have 4wd that has all seasons and worked fine in winter. Fwd is sketchy my friends golf would just spin start drifting off the road
That's what I have and LOVE it. Never had to shovel my car out of the street last year. It's freaking amazing how great it is in snow. It came with a brand new set of snow tires when I bought it and I never put them on last year. This season I will just to get a feel for it. Besides a few small mechanical issues here and there, one of the best cars I've ever driven. Things a fucking tank.
FWD with great tires will do. All seasons are more than fine. Snow tires will kill your MPG's when the roads are not snow covered. I just wouldn't drive with a foot of snow on the roads. If the roads are being plowed periodically you're good. If driving serious backroads that rarely get plowed you may need a truck
AWD with snow tires > FWD with snow tires > AWD with all seasons > FWD with all seasons > RWD with snow tires > RWD with all seasons.
However, with reasonable driving skills (Mostly maintaining a proper speed for the conditions, hills etc) you can get away with driving any of the above configurations.
caucasian_chadYou don't NEED AWD to drive in the snow, but it sure as hell is nice to have.
I learned to drive in a Camry (FWD) with all season tires in Duluth, MN. If you're not familiar, Duluth is built on the side of a relatively steep hill. Speaking as someone who lived in Duluth all their life and then moved to the mountains, winter driving in Duluth was by far worse than in the mountains. Sure, the mountains get more snow, but there's less roads, so plowing is much more consistent. Plus in the mountains, the engineers who designed the roads actually knew what the hell they were doing and put switchbacks in when necessary rather than going straight up the goddamn hill no matter how steep it is (Duluth has streets with 27% grades). Plus Duluth had stop signs on the hill that you somehow had to stop for, and there was traffic because it's a city.
Even dealing with all that, I never got into an accident or got hopelessly stuck in my FWD Camry. Sure, there were times where I had trouble starting up going uphill, but it was never impossible, and AWD won't help you stop at all so there's no disadvantage going down.
My next vehicle was a Subaru Impreza (AWD obviously) all-season tires again. It was much, much easier to get around in that than my Camry. I didn't run stop signs going uphill any more to keep my momentum going, and overall I could travel at higher speeds safely in questionable driving conditions.
I wouldn't say you need AWD ever. If you're a decent winter driver you'll be able to get around in damn near anything in the snow, but if you're a skier, it sure makes your life a lot easier.
This.
This is the first winter that my 97 dodge avenger is going to EVER see and im a little nervous living in superior, wi (basically duluth because i go there everyday for work and skiing) so im putting snow tires on it this week.
Last year i drove a ford taurus which tanked through anything. I only had problems of people sliding into me.
Obviously AWD with snow/regular tires is going to be better...that being said you really don't need it. I have a jetta FWD with a 5 speed manual I drive now. Have driven that thing in massive blizzards where the snow goes well above the bumper and as long as you can keep momentum and know how to control you car you will be fine. I dont know where you live but realistically for 95% of america FWD with some snow tires is all you really need.
KravtZObviously AWD with snow/regular tires is going to be better...that being said you really don't need it. I have a jetta FWD with a 5 speed manual I drive now. Have driven that thing in massive blizzards where the snow goes well above the bumper and as long as you can keep momentum and know how to control you car you will be fine. I dont know where you live but realistically for 95% of america FWD with some snow tires is all you really need.
I drive a Mk 5 Jetta too & its a beast in the snow with good tires. Even with my old bald winters I had no trouble getting around.
It's all tradeoffs.
AWD with snow tires is ideal for TRACTION, but AWD gets worse MPG and the AWD platform sucks away the power with it. Ever wonder how the hell a 205hp FWD Acura is in the same class as the turbocharged 250hp Legacy GT? Because the AWD sucks up that much power. AWD may be better for traction, but at the same time the engine will struggle to carry the car up the mountain. My old roommate and I live in Denver, his legacy would absolutely hate going up I70, my car I can drive it most of the way in 6th gear but his car is constantly downshifting trying to make it up the passes. This is why I'd prefer FWD with snow tires. Also, AWD doesn't stop you from sliding sideways. I'm sick of digging out fuckers' cars that are AWD but don't have snow tires. My friends in Breck live on a hill and cars are constantly sliding sideways down their driveway and then get stuck in the ditch.
And Chad you must be lucky, because there are definitely some days or some roads in Duluth that you just can not make it up on certain days, especially in Central Hillside.
onLINEI only own RWD cars. I've never had issues on public roads. I have good snow tires for my winter car.
FWD is boring imo and I would never purchase a fwd car no matter how safe it is.
If your this concerned about it you better go with awd and winters as you clearly need all the help you can get.
Hey, fuck you buddy! I've been thinking of switching it up for a BRZ or 335i but my Acura has been way too legit. Why throw something away if it isn't broken
Becoming a better driver is the key though and knowing the limitations. AWD is sweet if you're a rally racer or if it's a GTR, otherwise I think it's a bit of a crutch too
I drove front wheel drive vw's all over the mountains for years. I got stuck a lot, chained up a ton but usually had no problems. The worst parts about it are 1) the pass I usually drive up does 'chains required except 4wd' all the god damned time. And also when you park in the parking lot in the morning and it snows ten inches while you are skiing so you have to dig for an hour just to free your car so you can go home.
I drive FWD with snow tires and I live in VT on a super icy hill. I'd say there are like 3-5 days a year where I'm not comfortable driving my 2wd car but most of the time it's totally fine. AWD with no snow tires makes no sense. From my experience snow tires are more important than the car being 2wd vs AWD, so you want them regardless of what your car is. If you can't get up a hill with RWD just go backwards
CoreyTrevorHey, fuck you buddy! I've been thinking of switching it up for a BRZ or 335i but my Acura has been way too legit. Why throw something away if it isn't broken
I understand your upset about my opinion on FWD cars, but why so butthurt to say fuck you!
In case you'd like more of my opinion on your personal situation, you don't have to throw away the boring grocery getter/mom car (was prob your moms car to begin with LOL!) you can trade it in!!!! BRZ's are cool I guess...not really though...at least wait for the sti version to come out if your going that route. 335i's are the tits, my summer car is swapped E30. If you get a 335i your first mod should be to swap out the two turbos (its a twin turbo'd car) for one larger turbo. If you don't own a house already don't sign your life away on a 335i.
And yes I called your acura a mommy grocery getter, I bet its automatic to right ;) hahaha you mad bro?
I drove a Jetta that was FWD for the past two winters. If you go with the FWD go for studded snow tires, don't waste your time with chains. So not worth it.
.Rybak.This.
This is the first winter that my 97 dodge avenger is going to EVER see and im a little nervous living in superior, wi (basically duluth because i go there everyday for work and skiing) so im putting snow tires on it this week.
Last year i drove a ford taurus which tanked through anything. I only had problems of people sliding into me.
CoreyTrevorAnd Chad you must be lucky, because there are definitely some days or some roads in Duluth that you just can not make it up on certain days, especially in Central Hillside.
When I had the Camry I would preemptively seek out the least steep or best plowed route. I wouldn't just try to send it up Lake Ave with a foot of snow on the ground. With the Suby I could drive on pretty much any road in town though. Got it stuck in back of the the Chester Bowl parking lot behind the chalet once with 1.5 feet of wet heavy stuff on the ground, but my friends pushed me out in no time and I was fine once I got up over that little hill.
caucasian_chadWhen I had the Camry I would preemptively seek out the least steep or best plowed route. I wouldn't just try to send it up Lake Ave with a foot of snow on the ground. With the Suby I could drive on pretty much any road in town though. Got it stuck in back of the the Chester Bowl parking lot behind the chalet once with 1.5 feet of wet heavy stuff on the ground, but my friends pushed me out in no time and I was fine once I got up over that little hill.
Driving over in lakeside is fucking terrible. I hate it. Especially up 23rd (?) I think it is in order to get up to umd.
.Rybak.Driving over in lakeside is fucking terrible. I hate it. Especially up 23rd (?) I think it is in order to get up to umd.
I think you're thinking of 21st (with McDs on the corner at the bottom). From Superior, I highly recommend not going that way in bad weather. You'd be better off getting off the freeway downtown and hopping on Superior Street there, taking it all the way out to 24th Ave E and the turning left and going up the hill. Might take a little longer because you're driving through town but you'll avoid all the steep hills.
Also FYI, that neighborhood is considered East Hillside. East Hillside goes from about 8th-24th Ave E, then Congdon Park is 24th-40th ave East, and Lakeside is 40th-60th Ave E
caucasian_chadI think you're thinking of 21st (with McDs on the corner at the bottom). From Superior, I highly recommend not going that way in bad weather. You'd be better off getting off the freeway downtown and hopping on Superior Street there, taking it all the way out to 24th Ave E and the turning left and going up the hill. Might take a little longer because you're driving through town but you'll avoid all the steep hills.
Also FYI, that neighborhood is considered East Hillside. East Hillside goes from about 8th-24th Ave E, then Congdon Park is 24th-40th ave East, and Lakeside is 40th-60th Ave E
Ahhh. Yeah i usually just refer to it as east because of the school.
i dont go there often unless im goimg to do something with friends or if it's lacrosse season.
there are also a couple areas by ski hut east that are terrible too. I just avoid going there during the winter.
Umm in my opinion fwd cars in the snow arnt the greatest even with snow tires. But driving in the mts with no snow fwd is find. Ive always loved awd cars like sti, wrx, legacy wagons, evos.
if you want a good car for the winter and is fast as fuck find yourself a evo or sti
413CrewUmm in my opinion fwd cars in the snow arnt the greatest even with snow tires. But driving in the mts with no snow fwd is find. Ive always loved awd cars like sti, wrx, legacy wagons, evos.
if you want a good car for the winter and is fast as fuck find yourself a evo or sti
onLINEI understand your upset about my opinion on FWD cars, but why so butthurt to say fuck you!
In case you'd like more of my opinion on your personal situation, you don't have to throw away the boring grocery getter/mom car (was prob your moms car to begin with LOL!) you can trade it in!!!! BRZ's are cool I guess...not really though...at least wait for the sti version to come out if your going that route. 335i's are the tits, my summer car is swapped E30. If you get a 335i your first mod should be to swap out the two turbos (its a twin turbo'd car) for one larger turbo. If you don't own a house already don't sign your life away on a 335i.
And yes I called your acura a mommy grocery getter, I bet its automatic to right ;) hahaha you mad bro?
My car has 275k miles on it, it's worth way more to me than it would be to others :-) I should have got a bigger house with a 3 car garage. There's turbo kits readily available for the BRZ though--the STi version isn't going to happen. 335i is an attractive car, but it's a BMW and I use cars for lots of x-country driving and I know my old Acura even with mods and me trying to kill it is still far more reliable than a newer 335i would be.
And no, the Acura is actually my first car that wasn't inherited from my mom! I had my heart set on one for a year or two.
I'll probably just stick to renting fast cars in the summer and keep a more practical car. I rented a GTR earlier this month and it made me decide fuck Evos and STI's anyways even though a stick shift would be nice. Living in Colorado killed any love I had for Subarus. Yeah they're pretty solid, but two people on my block already have STIs, and my neighbor has the new one in blue which is exactly what I'd want. Plus you get a lot of hate from police for driving them--they're young kid cars so police are looking to set an example for you. I got pulled over in the GTR and he didn't even ask for license or registration, just told me to ease up. I bet it would have gone differently in an STI
CoreyTrevorMy car has 275k miles on it, it's worth way more to me than it would be to others :-) I should have got a bigger house with a 3 car garage. There's turbo kits readily available for the BRZ though--the STi version isn't going to happen. 335i is an attractive car, but it's a BMW and I use cars for lots of x-country driving and I know my old Acura even with mods and me trying to kill it is still far more reliable than a newer 335i would be.
And no, the Acura is actually my first car that wasn't inherited from my mom! I had my heart set on one for a year or two.
I'll probably just stick to renting fast cars in the summer and keep a more practical car. I rented a GTR earlier this month and it made me decide fuck Evos and STI's anyways even though a stick shift would be nice. Living in Colorado killed any love I had for Subarus. Yeah they're pretty solid, but two people on my block already have STIs, and my neighbor has the new one in blue which is exactly what I'd want. Plus you get a lot of hate from police for driving them--they're young kid cars so police are looking to set an example for you. I got pulled over in the GTR and he didn't even ask for license or registration, just told me to ease up. I bet it would have gone differently in an STI
So your mad at your neighbors because they own subaru's also? Really makes no sense. Its a great car, fast, relatively reliable, and at a good price point. Whats not to love?
CoreyTrevorMy co-worker also has a STI, he even de-badged it and took off the spoiler to make it look not like a STI and still got a reckless driving citation
Keep the acura for your xcountry needs, buy 335i, profit? Its great having two cars. My hippie neighbors hate me lol.
KravtZSo your mad at your neighbors because they own subaru's also? Really makes no sense. Its a great car, fast, relatively reliable, and at a good price point. Whats not to love?
Who said I'm mad at them? If anything, they'd be mad at me if I just up and bought the same exact car that they have. They have their bases covered, STI, Spec B Legacy (love it but don't dig the Spec B silver), and a modded Forester. I'm just saying, talk about unoriginal...we don't need more of the same in the neighborhood. That's why I'm in favor of a RWD car if anything, plus they are much better freeway sprinters (I'm more a fan of top speed runs on the freeway than traction around corners in a snow storm)
onLINEKeep the acura for your xcountry needs, buy 335i, profit? Its great having two cars. My hippie neighbors hate me lol.
Already have a car, truck and 2 motorcycles. At some point it becomes hoarding I feel like ha, and I have so many speeding tickets paying insurance on another car would be ridiculous which is why I justify renting. My roommate(s) will hate me even more when I take away the other garage space because I bought another car that would hardly get used.
