New car--AWD needed?

[Beenhere4ever]

That's another bad situation. Pulling away from the curb on even a slight uphill slope. Frankly, since I know from years of experience how bad that is, I always try to get gravity on my side. Of course, a person might carry chains with them, but icy conditions are the bane of every driver in Minnesota. So many ways to get marooned.

[icicles]

I would go with FWD. It gives more feedback when the road is slippery. although AWD does come in hady for going fast quickly in back weather, the cars that have AWD are still subject to the laws of momentum and having 4 wheels to stop you. Besides, most areas you drive in you will be limited to how fast others are going anyway.

I made it around MSP no problems in a Chevrolet Aveo with 2/32nd's of tread on my tires for my last winter there.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by icicles

I would go with FWD. It gives more feedback when the road is slippery. although AWD does come in hady for going fast quickly in back weather, the cars that have AWD are still subject to the laws of momentum and having 4 wheels to stop you. Besides, most areas you drive in you will be limited to how fast others are going anyway.

I made it around MSP no problems in a Chevrolet Aveo with 2/32nd's of tread on my tires for my last winter there.

Nowadays, ABS helps all cars handle stopping better.

[Ghengis]

spose someone tells me, why is it that most of the vehicles you see in the ditches during winter fun tend to be 4WD? <chuckles>

[1stpontiac]

Originally Posted by Ghengis

spose someone tells me, why is it that most of the vehicles you see in the ditches during winter fun tend to be 4WD? <chuckles>

I knew a guy who drove a 2WD little pickup in central MN with a 45 mile commute each way. We'd offer to let him borrow our 4WD vehicles on storm days and he'd refused because "4WD just means you have 2 more wheels to dig out when you get stuck anyways".

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by 1stpontiac

I knew a guy who drove a 2WD little pickup in central MN with a 45 mile commute each way. We'd offer to let him borrow our 4WD vehicles on storm days and he'd refused because "4WD just means you have 2 more wheels to dig out when you get stuck anyways".

Not sure. But I do think they are mostly just harder to drive. Commercial truck drivers need some proof of skill, but these big overweight SUVs are just a common ordinary license. And nowadays it seems to me like more of the drivers are small in stature. I just think the beast gets the better of its master sometimes. Smaller lighter vehicles are easier to drive with a subtle, nuanced technique that doesn't get them out of control. When you get up to a couple of tons, you have to start applying the forward driving technique where you make adjustments for conditions hundreds of feet out. And I think the vehicle fools the driver into thinking it does this for them. Until it goes into the ditch.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Ghengis

spose someone tells me, why is it that most of the vehicles you see in the ditches during winter fun tend to be 4WD? <chuckles>

Because those SUV drivers actually think having an SUV make them impervious to slippery roads

[icicles]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

Nowadays, ABS helps all cars handle stopping better.

My aveo doesn't have ABS. 2/32nds tires and snow in March. had no problems except getting going.

I think AWD/4WD is worse because I cannot tell how bad the road is. a FWD, the second you step on it a little and feel it slip, you know where you are at grip wise.

I also think that abs does not help much in terms of stopping.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by icicles

My aveo doesn't have ABS. 2/32nds tires and snow in March. had no problems except getting going.

I think AWD/4WD is worse because I cannot tell how bad the road is. a FWD, the second you step on it a little and feel it slip, you know where you are at grip wise.

I also think that abs does not help much in terms of stopping.

Drive slow, do stop testing, and then adjust. Good for any driver in the winter in Minnesota.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

The biggest concern is snow CLEARANCE. The best snow tires in the world won't help without the clearance.

AWD is (nearly) a must in hilly areas like Duluth. But in the Twin Cities area, a 2 wheel drive with good clearance is good enough. If you have better tires, then you are really in fantastic shape. 2 wheel drive gets better gas mileage, costs less to buy and isn't as expensive to fix outside of the warranty period.

USUALLY in MN, we don't get all that much snow to warrant the need for AWD. That said, I use to have three AWD's. I will soon be down to one because it is cheaper to just keep it.