Considering ditching the 2013 1.6L Fusion...

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Which cold weather vehicle would you choose?

  • 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 3.2L V6

  • 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R

  • Neither (post your alternative in the comments)


Results are only viewable after voting.

tracerbullet

Golden Member
Feb 22, 2001
1,661
19
81
I agree on all accounts that you don't "need" 4wd and that fwd with snow tires is good enough for a good driver, etc.

But I'll also say as a MN resident that AWD / 4WD is damned nice to have. It won't keep you out of a ditch, it won't help you slow down, no of course not. But it'll get you out of a slippery intersection, get you up that small hill, and do lots of things that are still entirely useful.

As for which to get, I'd simply drive them both and get the one that speaks to you the most.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
3
81
A FWD car with snow tires is usually good enough. But a Subaru with snow tires is even better. :)
 

rancherlee

Senior member
Jul 9, 2000
707
18
81
Northern MN, with a FWD fusion, no issues with up to a foot of snow here! I run General Arcticmax tires which are cheap and GOOD. Another thing when selecting tires is do you Need ICE tires or SNOW tires more. I've had spendy blizzacks in the past and they were great on Ice but sucked in measurable snow compared to cheaper Snow tires which aren't as good on ice. The General Arcticmax is a good mix of the two, decent spacing between tread blocks but still have a lot of siping for ice traction.
 

Topweasel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
5,437
1,659
136
What tires do you have now? The Continental DWS? Those aren't snows, those are spring summer and fall tires that may be passable in the winter depending on what kind of winter you have. Given that you live in Michigan I'd say no they are not going to cut it in the winter.

Both the Fusion and the Jetta are FWD. Sure there are some suspension differences and such that will affect traction, but not nearly by the amount you are thinking. What tires did you have on the Jetta?

As far as the "low end torque" problem goes... It isn't that torquey of an engine down low, seriously. The turbo at low engine speed isn't even going to be kicking in yet. It may have more power than the Jetta did but just means you need to learn a bit more pedal control :p

Having a spare set of wheels for the snows is a great idea. Less potential for damage to the wheels from the constant mounting/dismounting of the tires and you can swap them yourself. Your car probably has TPMS on it, but frankly for the snows I wouldn't spend the money on them. Put regular valve stems in and ignore the stupid dash light for the winter. Just check the pressure every so often, like the old days :D
Actually its the one thing about their implementation that Ford really worked on for the EB. To replicate a v6 or v8 feel they make a lot of torque at very low RPM's. The 3.5 EB gets has all of its torque available at 2400 rpms and the 2.0 at I believe 2200 rpms. I don't know about the 1.6.
 

Wuzup101

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2002
2,334
37
91
:thumbsup: Honestly, if conditions are so bad that you can't get by with a FWD with snow tires then just stay home.

Have to agree with this. If you aren't considered essential (to the community) based on your job function, there is very little reason to be out in snow storms that can't be driven through using a FWD car with snows. If you are considered essential (doc, nurse, police, fire, EMT, road crew, etc...), maybe consider something a bit more hardcore in the snow (i.e. jeep with studded winters or something along those lines).
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
Actually its the one thing about their implementation that Ford really worked on for the EB. To replicate a v6 or v8 feel they make a lot of torque at very low RPM's. The 3.5 EB gets has all of its torque available at 2400 rpms and the 2.0 at I believe 2200 rpms. I don't know about the 1.6.

The 1.6L peak torque is at about 2500 as well, and it has plenty below that as well.

I price out a set of snow tires and steel wheels from TireRack at $620... so I'm going to take that printout to a local tire shop and see if they'll be able to get me a similar setup, mounted, for under $700.