Best vehicle for bad weather conditions

[Pardus]

What's a good car/suv to get that handles good in bad weather.. snow and slick hill roads. my car is falling apart and won't make it though another new york winter.

Looking at 2013 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium AWD Auto @23k or Mazda CX-5 Sport AWD Auto @24k. 5-door/hatchback models.

Want the car to be reliable than flashy, don't want leather, gps or power seats and needs to be under $25k. Would be making purchase on labor day.

Thanks and suggestions.

 

[Zivic]

subaru

 

[Jumpem]

Subaru. I would look at the XV Crosstrek or Forester for more ground clearance.

 

[LTC8K6]

Whatever you get, put snow tires on it for the winter. They make a huge difference.

 

[IntoxicatedPuma]

Snow tires and a driver who knows what you're doing and you should be set. AWD doesnt mean a whole lot except when you initially get the car moving, after that it's just dead weight in the car.

 

[herm0016]

knowing how to drive and having anything all wheel drive with snows is good for snow/ice/etc. I love my 1/2 ton with snows on it. It is is all wheel drive or 4x4 or 4x4 low.

 

[Jumpem]

Snow tires and a driver who knows what you're doing and you should be set. AWD doesnt mean a whole lot except when you initially get the car moving, after that it's just dead weight in the car.

An AWD system is almost always helping you. It maintains traction while driving straight or turning in inclement weather. It is much more than just helping get the car moving from a stop.

 

[Pardus]

Thanks all. Subaru it is.

 

[mmntech]

I've never driven the Impreza but I hear it's a solid car. If you want to go the used market, you can pick up a relatively new Audi A4 Quattro for under $25,000

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I'd go for one of these - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p173MaFaxkg Either that or a Subaru.

 

[pauldun170]

Where in New York?
I'm in New York and here are my past snow vehicles over 23 years of New York winters and occasional Vermont\Killington snow seasons

82 Monte Carlo
85 Ford Tempo
90 Mazda MX6
95 Ford Probe GT
2002 Toyota Camry

I once tried to use an 83 Honda Nighthawk as an all season vehicle.
That was the one that sucked.
It really sucked

Go to one of the big name dealerships and say "I Want AWD and I'd like to see the ones that fit my budget"

If it's an American, Korean or Japanese brand, you'll be all set. Pick one with the longest warranty if you are indecisive.

All of the below meet your requirement. You need to visit each dealer and see which make you feel the most "tingly"

Subaru Impreza or Legacy
Honda CRV
Toyota Rav4 or Matrix (AWD)
Nissan Juke or Rogue
Ford Escape (or leftover Fusion)
Chevy Equinox
hyundai Tuscon or Santa Fe
Kia Sportage or Sorento

 

[SSSnail]

http://www.bowlermotorsport.com/range/exr-s/

 

[IntoxicatedPuma]

An AWD system is almost always helping you. It maintains traction while driving straight or turning in inclement weather. It is much more than just helping get the car moving from a stop.

It's almost never helping you. AWD aren't full time and put power to the front wheels UNTIL they start to slip. Then it starts to help you. If you are turning in inclement weather you probably shouldnt have your foot on the gas pedal. Snow and ice just exaggerate effects already taking place on the car. AWD won't save you from oversteer or understeer unless you are pushing the car at the limits, and you shouldn't be doing that in bad weather.

What will help you alot more than AWD, and is now standard on every new car, is stability control. That will actually help in cornering by applying the brakes to the wheels and preventing oversteering/fishtailing. AWD will ONLY help when you are accelerating, which if your car is losing control you probably shouldn't be doing.

 

[LTC8K6]

It's almost never helping you. AWD aren't full time and put power to the front wheels UNTIL they start to slip. Then it starts to help you. If you are turning in inclement weather you probably shouldnt have your foot on the gas pedal. Snow and ice just exaggerate effects already taking place on the car. AWD won't save you from oversteer or understeer unless you are pushing the car at the limits, and you shouldn't be doing that in bad weather.

What will help you alot more than AWD, and is now standard on every new car, is stability control. That will actually help in cornering by applying the brakes to the wheels and preventing oversteering/fishtailing. AWD will ONLY help when you are accelerating, which if your car is losing control you probably shouldn't be doing.

Well, you have to know what system your vehicle has. There are quite a few different ones and much confusion over the terms used. Even the vehicle mfgs use confusing terms sometimes.

 

[nerp]

Everyone thinks AWD = awesome, great to have always.

But it isn't.

 

[IntoxicatedPuma]

Well, you have to know what system your vehicle has. There are quite a few different ones and much confusion over the terms used. Even the vehicle mfgs use confusing terms sometimes.

Even if it has a full time system, which I believe most Subaru's do, it still isn't going to help tremendously. It'll keep you from getting stuck a little better, which having lived in Iowa for 10 years I will admit can be useful. I found myself having to get out about once during each winter to dig out my car. But I guess I still question if it's worth spending an extra $1500 to avoid doing that.

The other problem with AWD/4WD I've noticed is the false sense of security it seems to bring drivers. At least half of the cars I see in the ditch on the side of the highway are 4WD or AWD vehicles, when your car starts to fishtail and lose control AWD is not going to help you a whole lot. If I lived in the mountains or in a very hilly area, I'd definitely go AWD (having to stop at a stoplight/sign going uphill sucks) but in a flat urban environment it's a wasted expense.

 

[LTC8K6]

Even if it has a full time system, which I believe most Subaru's do, it still isn't going to help tremendously. It'll keep you from getting stuck a little better, which having lived in Iowa for 10 years I will admit can be useful. I found myself having to get out about once during each winter to dig out my car. But I guess I still question if it's worth spending an extra $1500 to avoid doing that.

The other problem with AWD/4WD I've noticed is the false sense of security it seems to bring drivers. At least half of the cars I see in the ditch on the side of the highway are 4WD or AWD vehicles, when your car starts to fishtail and lose control AWD is not going to help you a whole lot. If I lived in the mountains or in a very hilly area, I'd definitely go AWD (having to stop at a stoplight/sign going uphill sucks) but in a flat urban environment it's a wasted expense.

Most of the time those folks didn't bother to switch to snow tires. Snow tires and a good 4wd system are a big help.

Snow tires alone are a big help, even with front or rear wheel drive.

 

[JCH13]

OP, the two best vehicle features for driving in crappy weather are (in order): a conservative driver and snow tires.

An AWD system is almost always helping you. It maintains traction while driving straight or turning in inclement weather. It is much more than just helping get the car moving from a stop.

Please show me the physics that shows this is true.

 

[mmntech]

Everyone thinks AWD = awesome, great to have always.

But it isn't.

All Wheel Drive =/= All Wheel Stop. It certainly helps in inclement weather if and only if you already know what you're doing. A lot of folks don't, and/or they assume it's fool proof. That's why you see so many SUVs in ditches every time there's a snow or ice storm.

I've driven lots of vehicles in all weather conditions. For 2WD, RWD offer the handling for snow and ice while FWD offers the best. AWD is a little better traction wise. Generally speaking, if you live in an urban area, AWD isn't necessary. Roads are treated generally pretty quickly.

 

[Capt Caveman]

It's almost never helping you. AWD aren't full time and put power to the front wheels UNTIL they start to slip. Then it starts to help you. If you are turning in inclement weather you probably shouldnt have your foot on the gas pedal. Snow and ice just exaggerate effects already taking place on the car. AWD won't save you from oversteer or understeer unless you are pushing the car at the limits, and you shouldn't be doing that in bad weather.

What will help you alot more than AWD, and is now standard on every new car, is stability control. That will actually help in cornering by applying the brakes to the wheels and preventing oversteering/fishtailing. AWD will ONLY help when you are accelerating, which if your car is losing control you probably shouldn't be doing.

So wrong.

 

[lagokc]

All Wheel Drive =/= All Wheel Stop.QUOTE]

ALL modern cars = All Wheel Stop

"Looking at 2013 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium AWD "

Looks good, if there are wheel/tire options remember: wider tires are actually worse in snow

 

[exar333]

Not sure about this model's year, but any MT Subaru had the most advanced AWD system, while the AT models differed. The better Subaru AWD systems are full-time and support a wide variety of torque distribution front/back and side/side.

Get snow tires too!

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I live in Minnesota and drive two different RWD cars. My winter car, a 2006 330i, has modern traction and stability control, and wears Blizzaks in the winter (actually they are still on the car, and tonight it will supposedly snow 6-9"!).

AWD is not a cure-all, and I don't think it's absolutely necessary just because there is snow. My 330i is a great winter car - with snow tires it does better than any FWD or AWD car I have owned in the snow. That being said, AWD is definitely better when it comes to ultimate grip, and if I lived in a hilly area with weather like we get in MN, I would definitely want AWD. Snow tires are a higher priority, though.

 

[LTC8K6]

I have a 4WD because I occasionally go a bit off road, and if it does snow, I have to get to work. I like the feel of the 4WD system anyway, even on dry pavement.

4LOW can't be used on dry pavement, though. So to exercise that I have to go off road, or wait for some snow.

Otherwise, it's 4WD all the time, with 48/52 front to rear distribution unless there's slippage.

 

[Kadarin]

Has anyone mentioned Subaru yet?