The most popular vehicle in or around Anchorage (appliances, loan)

[Swede in CA]

thanks. we are Ok with driving on the snow. We grew up in Sweden. In December 2008, we went to Ouray, and Telluride, Colorado for my husband's BD, and made over 11,000 mt pass from Telluride to Durango during night snow storm in our Honda. We had summer tires and chains.

I used to work for police and drove for practice RWD and FWD and got special training for skid control. We will be OK on the snow. My friend said that in Alaska the FWD is useless. I expressed disbelief.

[Where-to-live??]

I drove an Odyssey for 2 of the 5 years I was in Alaska and it was perfectly fine. I didn't even have snow tires on it.

Enjoy Alaska!!

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Swede in CA

thanks. we are Ok with driving on the snow. We grew up in Sweden. In December 2008, we went to Ouray, and Telluride, Colorado for my husband's BD, and made over 11,000 mt pass from Telluride to Durango during night snow storm in our Honda. We had summer tires and chains.

I used to work for police and drove for practice RWD and FWD and got special training for skid control. We will be OK on the snow. My friend said that in Alaska the FWD is useless. I expressed disbelief.

Your friend is misinformed. Four-wheel drive or AWD is the best for accelerating on snow and ice, rear-wheel drive is the worst for accelerating on snow and ice, and ALL vehicles are the same when it comes to stopping on snow and ice.

There are more 4x4s and AWD vehicles in the ditch every year than two-wheel drive vehicles because a lot of drivers are under the mistaken impression that they have more control on snow and ice in a 4x4 or AWD.

Personally, I prefer a manual transmission during the winter. Instead of hitting my brakes to slow down, I drop to a lower gear and let the transmission slow the vehicle down. I use my brakes as little as possible during the winter.

[mal_flisk]

I had more control with a manual transmission for accelerating and slowing, than with any automatic.

[Flapjac583]

I agree with the manual transmission part, I had a truck with manual and it was very easy to control in snow, but certainly takes some skill. I also have had an automatic RWD car, and it was terrible, even with 80lbs of salt and 50 lbs of tools in the trunk. I have had 2 FWD vehicles, a Pontiac Bonneville and Ford Taurus (the Taurus I currently own) and The FWD cars both did very well in the snow, way better than the Manual truck, but of course it was RWD too. A manual RWD is better than an automatic I would say. I have driven through fairly deep snow (up to bumper) on the roads with my Taurus, never had a problem getting stuck. A smaller FWD car might not be the case, but the mid size FWD cars are excellent for winter driving. Now, ice is a different story...I don't care what type of car you have, no vehicle is good on ice.

[akck]

Originally Posted by Glitch

There are more 4x4s and AWD vehicles in the ditch every year than two-wheel drive vehicles because a lot of drivers are under the mistaken impression that they have more control on snow and ice in a 4x4 or AWD.

My experience is that you do have slightly more control with AWD and ABS brakes, but you're likely to get stuck more often and in deeper because of the over-confidence it gives you. I used to work in the woods and I'd get my 4x4 truck stuck in some of the worst places. It was definitely a cure for over-confidence.

Oh, and ABS brakes don't stop you any faster. They just reduce the risk of skidding from locked wheels.

[hemidude]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Your friend is misinformed. Four-wheel drive or AWD is the best for accelerating on snow and ice, rear-wheel drive is the worst for accelerating on snow and ice, and ALL vehicles are the same when it comes to stopping on snow and ice.

There are more 4x4s and AWD vehicles in the ditch every year than two-wheel drive vehicles because a lot of drivers are under the mistaken impression that they have more control on snow and ice in a 4x4 or AWD.

Personally, I prefer a manual transmission during the winter. Instead of hitting my brakes to slow down, I drop to a lower gear and let the transmission slow the vehicle down. I use my brakes as little as possible during the winter.

I'm not sure what you're basing your opinion on but you do have more control in the snow/ice with a 4x4/AWD vehicle than a RWD or FWD vehicle. Additionally, your choice of tires also affects your control.

I've owned all them at one time or another and personally, I'd take an AWD over all of them but prefer the ground clearance 4x4 trucks offer. I've driven in some very dangerous conditions offroad in the mountains accessing cell towers and I've only gotten stuck once when ice gave way over a deep rut, high-centering my truck and leaving it with no traction (open diff's will get you everytime).

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by hemidude

I'm not sure what you're basing your opinion on but you do have more control in the snow/ice with a 4x4/AWD vehicle than a RWD or FWD vehicle. Additionally, your choice of tires also affects your control.

I've owned all them at one time or another and personally, I'd take an AWD over all of them but prefer the ground clearance 4x4 trucks offer.

I will wave at you in the ditch as I drive by in my FWD. That is the same mentality that put them in the ditch in the first place. The ol' "I drive an AWD so I'm safe under any condition" is a myth.

[hemidude]

Glitch, I don't have the mentality you're suggesting, just the opposite - I'm cautious in treacherous conditions like anyone else with a lick of common sense. I also didn't say "I drive an AWD so I'm safe under any condition" - go back and re-read what I wrote.

You don't work in telecom on the road almost everyday with that attitude and make it home safe at night.

Originally Posted by Glitch

I will wave at you in the ditch as I drive by in my FWD. That is the same mentality that put them in the ditch in the first place. The ol' "I drive an AWD so I'm safe under any condition" is a myth.

[mal_flisk]

Vrroooom! Aaaand they're off! Another good day to stay off of the roads today. It looks to be really nasty out there ronight folks so stay calm, stay cool and stay safe.