Moving to Durango - what to do about my car (Ignacio: buy, casino)

[dpritcht]

My wife and I are moving to Durango on July 3! I will be living in/around Durango and working in Ignacio. Everything is set except that I've started thinking about what to do about my car. I currently drive a '99 Acura 2.3 CL that for some reason doesn't do too good in snow (compared to other cars '95Toyota Camry). I purchased some all weather tires about 1.5 years ago and that didn't seem to help at all...if anything seemed to make it worse. Our other car is a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 which we'll use to go in the mountains in the winter.

With all that said, I can't decide what to do - sell my car and buy a 4x4/AWD or buy some snow tires and try the winter with my car. Do snow tires make that much difference? Thoughts?

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Most front wheel cars do ok in the snow as long as you have SNOW TIRES -- not all-weather tires. Maybe that's why your car didn't perform so well in the snow. You will find that a lot of people drive around just fine without a 4x4. In fact, some people who have SUV's tend to overestimate the ability for the vehicle to perform in the winter, especially if it is icy.

[andrew_ME]

Snow tires make a big difference IMO.

My personal preference are the Blizzaks. I have an AWD subaru with blizzaks on all 4 wheels, but it's 2WD 90% of the time and does just fine in about anything.

I'd try a good set of snows before you give up on it and buy another gas guzzler.

[I_LUVNM]

You wont have any trouble going to Ignacio from Durango. There really isnt any mountainy travel that way. The roads are all pretty level and snowplowing guys are excellent in keeping snow off the roads, should it snow, better than any place I have ever seen in Colorado. There are alot of 2 wheel drive cars coming from Florida Mesa and Ignacio to and fro from Durango, so no worries. Just take it slow and have good snow tires, or all seasons when it snows, which isnt much in Durango anyway. Did you hear about the huge new casino going up in Ignacio and is that why you chose Ignacio to work? I cant wait for the 24 lane bowling alley to go up there. I would recommend a 4 wheel drive if you live up at the Durango Resort, say up at Needles; otherwise, I see 2 wheel drives all the time in the area. I would not have a rear wheel drive, always go with a front wheel drive, if you have a 2 wheel drive car. Get rid of any rear wheel drive car in Colorado. Oh for the record, when I do see accidents from snow, it is usually always a 4 wheel drive. Why? They think because they have a 4WD they can go as fast as they want. Wrong.

[Phazed-Coug]

Originally Posted by andrew_ME

Snow tires make a big difference IMO.

My personal preference are the Blizzaks. I have an AWD subaru with blizzaks on all 4 wheels, but it's 2WD 90% of the time and does just fine in about anything.

I'd try a good set of snows before you give up on it and buy another gas guzzler.

*cough* your subaru is 2wd all the time... just it can be any of the 4 wheels

But anyway I agree, a good set of real snow tires(like Blizzaks) will amaze you.
I once had a 2wd Astro Van, stepped up and got snows... WOW..