Moving to Upstate New York (Buffalo, Rochester: home, closing, living in)

[ronnie123]

If I can only have one car, what is the best one to get for Upstate New York? I heard about the winters so any suggestions?

[aka_mouse]

Depends on where you are living mainly, Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse or elsewhere in NYS? Are you going to be living in the city, the suburbs, or out in the sticks somewhere? You might want a 4x4 truck/SUV if you are SUPER scared about it or out in the hills somewhere.. Other than that it really doesnt matter... its less the car and more the person driving it. Ive driven rear wheel drive vehicles with bad tires down snowy roads just fine and seen people with 4 wheel drive vehicles off the road in snowbanks cause they didn't turn it on and/or don't know what they are doing.

Also the snow gets dealt with pretty quickly. The only time it can be considered is a situation like you are leaving after its been snowing heavily for a few hours and the plows haven't been around yet. OR the incidents we get once a year or every other year where a real heavy snowfall hits real fast and things get shutdown for a day w/driving bans possible thruway closings.

[BovinaCowHateWindTurbines]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york/85254-4wd.html -
Recent thread on 4wd. The above poster is on the money. I live way out there in the boonies so 4WD is a must. By and large though you can get away with 2WD if your road is well maintained and paved. AWD cars are nice because they will engage a Limited Slip type of differential to minimize slippage when its slippery. But its all the driver for the most part. Toyota anything is great but the Rav would be great all around mini-suv type with 4wd good on gas etc. I dont sell them lol I love Toyota trucks etc.

gl

[BovinaCowHateWindTurbines]

If you like overkill like me - Tacoma's are great...

[UpstaterInBklyn]

IMO - Anti-lock brakes are far more useful in snow than 4WD. I lived in Buffalo for the first 42 years of my life and never really needed 4WD. However, when you find yourself driving home during a snowstorm, and a few inches of snow are starting to make the road slick, anti-lock brakes will kick in and keep you from spinning out. I suppose 4WD would be necessary if you lived in the country on an road that wasn't plowed, but in any urban/suburban area the roads are plowed and salted very quickly after a snow event.

[honeychrome]

The first winter after I got my driver's license we got a really big, sloppy snow storm. My father took me to a giant empty parking lot with his RWD, Japanese-whatever-it-was-econobox and basically said "let'r rip." Basically we spent a few hours spinning and sliding all over the parking lot. It was a lot of fun, but the point was to learn how to handle a car in adverse, slippery conditions. The first couple passes when the car started sliding I'd go 'Woah!!' and lose control because I didn't know what was going on. Which is exactly what happens to most people when they start to lose control of their vehicle- they freeze and next thing they've slammed into something or gone off the road. But after a while I got a feel for what 'marginal' control felt like and what to do to get full control back. It was a tremendous lesson and that several hours in a parking lot having fun has helped me avoid a number of accidents and kept me out of a couple ditches. Personally I think before anyone is granted their license they ought to spend a couple hours cutting loose in an icy, slushy, slippery parking lot. It both gave me a healthy respect for slippery surfaces but also the confidence to deal with them when I have to.

Unless you live way up in the hills or otherwise have the need for 4wd (farm, plowing, etc.), you don't 'NEED' more than 2wd and some skill.

[Tinman313]

Try this link Safety One Inc. :: Snowcats

[BovinaCowHateWindTurbines]

Ha I would love one of those - that will Get R done... Oh and HC makes a good point about getting some off-highway practice. Should be part of everyone's drivers test. If you fail the donut portion no license for you!

[Tinman313]

Now about those winters back in the 70's,I drove 10 wheeler between Buffalo and Syracuse.....

[dialuvsjeeps]

Hi,
Most of today's 4x4 have anti lock brakes, look for a suv with good weight distribution, most of winter driving IS the driver and TIRES, practice in a empty parking lot or frozen lake, take your time when driving, watch out for the idiots who are running late, and you will be fine. NOTHING is good on ice, and the past few winters we have all had our share of that !!!!! Wait for the salt trucks, I am big on Jeeps and chevy's, they have been VERY faithful to me. There is nothing like a jeep in the snow!!! By the way.... I have towed MANY toyota's home,LOL, but, it was the driver.... not the vehicle, I would have to say everytime. Common sense goes a very long way!! Good luck with your choice and driving!!! By the way, I am in the Adirondacks, out in the middle of no where, 4x4 is a must!!!! I own.... 5, 6 if you count my 48 rolling chaise willy's, that is for part's for my pickup. 4 jeep, 2 chevy. Have a great day. Dianne