I think he means in being able to stop and not skid. AWD won't help you a bit there. I guess if you mean you can quickly accelerate and maneuver, sure AWD will help you there in the snow, but if you're talking about sliding.. good luck. Tires will only help you out there.
I think he means in being able to stop and not skid. AWD won't help you a bit there. I guess if you mean you can quickly accelerate and maneuver, sure AWD will help you there in the snow, but if you're talking about sliding.. good luck. Tires will only help you out there.
dullard
Elite Member
- May 21, 2001
- 26,082
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Yes, that is what I meant. Sure, AWD will help you get out of ruts, over snow mounds, out of ditches, etc. But AWD won't do a thing to prevent you from getting in those bad places. You are still going to slide when trying to stop at a stop light at the bottom of a hill with AWD*.
* This happens to be the one thing that always scares me about driving on snow/ice. I really dislike stop lights/signs at the bottom of slick hills.
The minivan should be fine. So long as you take extra precautions when driving in the snow, you won't have any problems. Living in Buffalo, I've seen many 4wd trucks spin out cuz the idiots can't drive. I drive an impreza which is awd, but when I had an old 87 legacy I had no problems in the snow with it.
ABS sucks. it takes longer than it would've without ABS kicking it. there has been a few close calls when I couldn't stop in time just because ABS engaged. Seriously, I felt like I lost my brake whenever it kicks in.
Fern
Elite Member
- Sep 30, 2003
- 26,907
- 174
- 106
Driving in the snow/ice impacts serveral different things:
Starting off or going up hills etc. - I live in the mountains, going up steep hills can be a big problem. Front wheel drive, or 4WD is a big benefit. If the engine (thus weight) is up front, but it's a rear wheel drive car you're likely gonna have trouble.
Stopping, rear wheel, front wheel or 4Wd, - no matter really IMHO. Stopping on snow/ice is mostly tires. Brakes, no matter how crappy, can apply enough force to break the tires loose (unike long decents on mountain roads/highways with pavement & good traction. Some brakes overheat and loose friction etc.)
Going around corners - To many people from states like Florida move here and think their 4WD SUV is gonna help going around corners/bends in the snow. I see 'em in the ditch all the time.
Clearence - In deep snow or in banks, when your car is low & bottoms out, or your bumper is pushing snow, makes it much more difficult especially when it's the wet/heavy- type snow.
Fern
Starting off or going up hills etc. - I live in the mountains, going up steep hills can be a big problem. Front wheel drive, or 4WD is a big benefit. If the engine (thus weight) is up front, but it's a rear wheel drive car you're likely gonna have trouble.
Stopping, rear wheel, front wheel or 4Wd, - no matter really IMHO. Stopping on snow/ice is mostly tires. Brakes, no matter how crappy, can apply enough force to break the tires loose (unike long decents on mountain roads/highways with pavement & good traction. Some brakes overheat and loose friction etc.)
Going around corners - To many people from states like Florida move here and think their 4WD SUV is gonna help going around corners/bends in the snow. I see 'em in the ditch all the time.
Clearence - In deep snow or in banks, when your car is low & bottoms out, or your bumper is pushing snow, makes it much more difficult especially when it's the wet/heavy- type snow.
Fern
GuitarDaddy
Lifer
- Nov 9, 2004
- 11,465
- 1
- 0
Moving AWAY from the bay area.
But then everybody, their mum, and their girlfriend is going to ask for rides. I'm going to school to do research not to be a bus driver.
So those of you from upstate NY...how often are the roads going to be plowed? And for how long does it snow?
I'm reminded of that thread a few months ago with some videos of people driving in Portland Oregon when it had snowed.
...that would be because it kicks in when you lock your wheels, are skidding, and have no/very little traction to begin with. If you can't stop with ABS, you wouldn't be able to stop without it either.
OP -- as many people have said, FWD cars/minivans tend to handle decently in the snow. Get a good set of all-weather tires and you should be set; snow tires are better if you frequently have to drive in heavy snow, but in most places in the Northeast the roads will be plowed out within a few hours of a storm ending and so you won't usually be driving on the worst of it. Just leave plenty of stopping room while you're driving -- at least 50% more than you think you would need in good conditions. Also, be aware that stopping distances will get a lot longer if you have the thing loaded up with people and/or luggage.
I'm not from NY, but I've driven in western MA during winter. You can get a lot of snow up there; the lake effect from the Great Lakes can be brutal. Buffalo got nailed bad three or four times this winter -- it varies considerably from year to year, though. How good the plowing is depends on where you are exactly. Denser population generally means quicker/better response, as does having more money in the town government.
Sphexi
Diamond Member
- Feb 22, 2005
- 7,280
- 0
- 0
The car won't make a difference so much as your lack of experience in snow will. Get some good winter tires, and go SLOW. Do not slam on your breaks, even if you have ABS, don't gun the engine or hit the gas really hard, and you should be fine. Try not to go out at all when it's snowing heavily, that's the biggest thing.
oops...guess i read wrong. btw, you could do research AND be a paid bus driver (free training and license!) at UC Davis
i like nakedfrog's bumper sticker idea
funboy6942
Lifer
- Nov 13, 2001
- 15,368
- 418
- 126
Did your parents give you this van and your bitching up a storm about it? Your problem is no matter what you drive, if your going to be paranoid about driving in the snow, your gonna suck at it. Other problem is if the parents gave you their van without making you pay for it, your being kinda ungrateful about it, imo, for they saved your ass $$$$, or them and monthly note, leaving money for other stuff, just my opinon.
My father gave me a rusty, held together with sheet metal and rivets, $300 1976 Plymouth Duster with bad valves, bald tires, and ran on 5 of the 6 cylinders, because thats all he could afford to buy me. I was happy to get it even though it was a rolling death trap, for it was the thought that counted and it was a car to get me from point a to point b. Your parents gave you a really nice van, and your looking for anyone to chime in and give you any excuse to call it a death trap in the snow so you dont have to drive it.
Take it with a huge smile, thank the folks, learn how to drive in the snow, in a year trade it in for something you really want, making your parents feel happy that they saved you some money and thought they did something nice for you.
All my opinion of course.
My father gave me a rusty, held together with sheet metal and rivets, $300 1976 Plymouth Duster with bad valves, bald tires, and ran on 5 of the 6 cylinders, because thats all he could afford to buy me. I was happy to get it even though it was a rolling death trap, for it was the thought that counted and it was a car to get me from point a to point b. Your parents gave you a really nice van, and your looking for anyone to chime in and give you any excuse to call it a death trap in the snow so you dont have to drive it.
Take it with a huge smile, thank the folks, learn how to drive in the snow, in a year trade it in for something you really want, making your parents feel happy that they saved you some money and thought they did something nice for you.
All my opinion of course.
Vans are great in the snow. My parents' Dodge Caravan is much better on snow than my sporty hatchback. The main reason in my opinion is the weight. Minivans are heavy as hell so they get a lot more traction on the slippery stuff. Often when it snows, I keep my car in the garage and just drive the van if possible.
If you ever take the bus, you may notice that they're just about the only thing on the road that still drives normally when it snows. It's kinda scary seeing how fast bus drivers go, I'm always thinking they won't be able to stop.
If you ever take the bus, you may notice that they're just about the only thing on the road that still drives normally when it snows. It's kinda scary seeing how fast bus drivers go, I'm always thinking they won't be able to stop.
Yes I understand but they won't let me use my own money to buy a car, plus in addition I have to pay for the van (like $2000), along with all transport charges, titles, plates and registrations to get the van to the east coast which will end up costing as much as the van.
DainBramaged
Lifer
- Jun 19, 2003
- 23,454
- 41
- 91
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