Bad winters/ All wheel drive??? (Pittsburgh, Rochester: neighborhood, to buy, school)

[candycorps]

Hi all, just wondering about how bad the winters get in Pittsburgh. I've lived in Pittsburgh for two years now and have gone though two winters. The first was very mild with not much snowfall, this past winter was in my opinion very bad with horrible weather conditions mostly every day. I work in a hospital and just started nursing school and am freaking out about the prospect of driving in the snow as calling off for snow just isn't acceptable when you work in healthcare. My car has just died and needs to be replaced so naturally I'm thinking an all wheel drive. However, before I pay upcharge for an AWD system and not to mention the increase gas bill, I'm trying to determine if its actually necessary. I would be kicking myself if I buy an AWD system and most winters are like the first one making it a waste of money. However, at the same time I don't want to be white knuckle driving next winter if this one is anything like the last. So what do you think? Do you have a AWD and find it an absolute must or do you think a normal car and extra caution on the occasional snow day is sufficient for the typical Pittsburgh winter? Thanks in advance!!!

[I_Like_Spam]

Unless you live somewhere out in the woods around here, I wouldn't bother.

The main terror about slippy city streets is the possibility that someone else will come barreling into you- and nothing is going to help with that.

Get a heavy enough car that will maintain its path on the street, and you'll be as safe as you are going to be- take public transport if its feasible and the weather is a bit iffy.

[Noodlenoggin]

I haven't driven Pittsburgh winters, but I've driven through more than 20 Michigan winters and only had 4wd or AWD for two of them. I spent several years commuting 20 miles before the snowplows came out in the morning in a Lumina sedan. With skill and patience any car you're familiar with, with good all-season tires, will get you through several inches of snow and ice.

[BarqCider]

A fwd drive car with decent clearance from the ground + snow tires would be cheaper. Awd will only help you take off but not handle and stop.

[tabinekotaro]

Originally Posted by Noodlenoggin

I haven't driven Pittsburgh winters, but I've driven through more than 20 Michigan winters and only had 4wd or AWD for two of them. I spent several years commuting 20 miles before the snowplows came out in the morning in a Lumina sedan. With skill and patience any car you're familiar with, with good all-season tires, will get you through several inches of snow and ice.

What part of Michigan? (I grew up in flat, flat, SE Mich.)

While I generally agree with you, terrain makes a big difference. When I moved to Appalachia after 6 years in Rochester, NY, I laughed when my new neighbor called as I was driving back from an out of town trip to warn me that it was "snowing heavily" (which turned out to be like 1.5 inches of snow). Because, hey, I was used to 6+ inches of snow a night in the winter! After sliding down a hill and almost plowing into an electrical substation, I wasn't laughing so much. Snow tires helped tremendously, but I had to relearn to drive on snowy hills, something I'd never had to do.

[gortonator]

if you have hills to negotiate on non-bsy streets, and strict work start deadlines, I'd go AWD, coz winter might not be too bad, but on the other hand, it just might.

I need AWD on my mountain bike, methinks ...

[Mugatu]

The WORRYING about the snow is worse than driving in it. Just buy a car you really want and can afford, don't buy one because you fear a few snowy days. I moved up here from Florida. I drive an old Mustang. That stupid RWD car has now been through 7 Pittsburgh winters, including the "Snowmageddon" year. I use snow tires in the winter months and have never had any problems driving in the snow. If a guy from Florida can manage up here in THAT car, ANYTHING you buy will do just fine. Especially if you throw some snow tires on it. I strongly recommend snow tires for a huge traction and confidence boost!

[Q-tip motha]

Originally Posted by candycorps

Hi all, just wondering about how bad the winters get in Pittsburgh. I've lived in Pittsburgh for two years now and have gone though two winters. The first was very mild with not much snowfall, this past winter was in my opinion very bad with horrible weather conditions mostly every day. I work in a hospital and just started nursing school and am freaking out about the prospect of driving in the snow as calling off for snow just isn't acceptable when you work in healthcare. My car has just died and needs to be replaced so naturally I'm thinking an all wheel drive. However, before I pay upcharge for an AWD system and not to mention the increase gas bill, I'm trying to determine if its actually necessary. I would be kicking myself if I buy an AWD system and most winters are like the first one making it a waste of money. However, at the same time I don't want to be white knuckle driving next winter if this one is anything like the last. So what do you think? Do you have a AWD and find it an absolute must or do you think a normal car and extra caution on the occasional snow day is sufficient for the typical Pittsburgh winter? Thanks in advance!!!

You may not be emotionally equipped to live here. Last winter was fairly mild, but we really don't get that much snow to necessitate splurging for AWD.

Where did you move from? My wife came here from Florida in the early 2000s and struggled with that season for the first few years before finally adjusting.

I'll go with what other's have said: If you live in the city you don't need an all wheel drive, or even a heavier car. We just don't get that much snow, and the city does a good job of keeping the roads clear. Give yourself plenty of time, drive slowly, and you'll slowly acclimate/learn how to drive on snow to where it won't be that big of a deal.

[Q-tip motha]

Originally Posted by Mugatu

The WORRYING about the snow is worse than driving in it. Just buy a car you really want and can afford, don't buy one because you fear a few snowy days. I moved up here from Florida. I drive an old Mustang. That stupid RWD car has now been through 7 Pittsburgh winters, including the "Snowmageddon" year. I use snow tires in the winter months and have never had any problems driving in the snow. If a guy from Florida can manage up here in THAT car, ANYTHING you buy will do just fine. Especially if you throw some snow tires on it. I strongly recommend snow tires for a huge traction and confidence boost!

My wife has this 4 cylinder manual transmission pickup truck that she brought up when she moved. It isn't good for anything other than hauling a little drywall or furniture, and its crap for snow which made her inexperience worse. We used to buy sandbags from Lowe's just to toss in the bed to weigh the thing down during the winter months.

She still talks about one time when we were in her vehicle in Squirrel Hill and lost control coming down a hill. Very slow slide, but she is freaking out. She was stunned when I nonchalantly looked at her and said "Its ok, we're going to come to a stop before we hit anything", and sure enough we did. Most of the difficulty that people have driving on snow is the fear of it.

[SlurmsMcKenzie]

I've found that I've never really needed my awd too much on the roads around here but I have needed it greatly on my alleys. They tend to be pitched steeply and in bad repair in good weather. In bad weather, they tend to get ignored by road crews. There were times when I was the only car able to get up into our alley in Sheraden, including a number of larger vehicles. It was important since parking was at a premium in our neighborhood.