[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

I do not have studded snow tires. Just really, really good snow tires. I've had studs and don't recall any appreciable increase in steadiness on the road. I also remember a lifelong New Englander telling me that studs sometimes "skate" on ice.

Also depends on where you'll be driving. Mostly city/town? Serious dirt roads and long, hilly driveways? Regardless, I've never needed studs.

My experience: my former Durango (4WD) with all weather radials STUNK! on the long dirt road I live on when it got a little slick in the winter. One evening it was me and the kids, the weather was sleeting and I was driving slowly in 4WD. I had reached the crest of a slow rise and as the slope descended, the car slid off the road. It went to the right and into a runoff gully. The car was lousy in the rain, too.

I keep a Jeep at the house and it has studded snows on it for our road and steep driveway. They have been great. We have a second set of wheels with regular tires that we swop out ourselves when winter is over.

Years ago, before Subarus got the yuppy/lifestyle reputation, I owned a small Subaru hatchback AWD that was incredible in the snow, better than my ex husbands 4WD compact pick up.

[Aaron37]

Thanks for the info everyone. For the most part I think I'll be city driving, but who knows where life will bring me.

I never knew about this Subaru "yuppy" image. Subarus are not popular down here, so they have no lifestyle associations.

[MRVphotog]

I drive an Outback and it works well on snowy roads but not as good as my 4wd pickup. I drive a very steep road to and from work. I guess I never noticed until I owned one but there is definately alot of them around which tells you that they are good vehicles to have in Vermont.

I personally don't pay much attention to the stupid stereotypes you hear from some. If that bothers you maybe it wouldn't work for you. I chuckle everytime I go to the store and there are several cars that look just like mine in the parking lot. Another positive for me is that I really like the dealer up in Berlin.

To be honest, people who live in snow country get around just fine on pretty much any vehicle you want. A friend drives a mini-coup. As mentioned good tires are important and driving smart goes along way in getting to your destination. AWD vehicles do make it easier, IMHO, 4wd even better. Audi Quattros(sic) are popular too.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by Aaron37

I never knew about this Subaru "yuppy" image. Subarus are not popular down here, so they have no lifestyle associations.

I feel motivated to interject that if I had weighed the cost, benefits, and my own lifestyle factors and a Subaru emerged as the right vehicle for me, I wouldn't care what "image" it projected. My Honda suits me great, but a good friend just bought a new Subaru Outback wagon and it suits her perfectly. She lives way out in the country and hopes to adopt a baby soon. The research she and her husband did led them to the Outback. I continue to think very highly of them and don't see the Subaru purchase as a character flaw.

[flu189]

I have owned four Subarus, two early Loyale wagons and now two Foresters and they have all been very dependable and efficient, so we are talking almost twenty years of use in both Alaska and here in Vermont. I prefer the Forester over the Outback for a few reasons. The ground clearance is higher and the overall length is a bit shorter. The Forester actually has quite a bit of Cargo capacity and the vehicle itself is cheaper than the Outback. If I really need to haul oversize or heavy objects I fall back on my F150. As far as tires go up in Alaska I ran a few sets of Nokians which are really very good in extreme cold and ice conditions, the only drawback being that they wear out much faster. Currently, on both my truck and Subarus I run all season Michelins which meet and exceed all of their ratings and reviews. They not only have a very high mileage lifespan, but handle water, mud, snow, and ice while still giving a very good quality ride on normal roads and the highway. Some folks still prefer to rotate out to the heavy lug snows and or stud their tires, but to be honest a good quality all season MS Radial is all you need.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by flu189

I prefer the Forester over the Outback for a few reasons.

I just checked with my friend -- she actually got a Forester, not an Outback. Apparently, others agree with you. In her case, part of it was that her husband sold his pickup truck and their other car is a sedan, so they wanted at least one vehicle with generous cargo space.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Aaron37

Thanks for the info everyone. For the most part I think I'll be city driving, but who knows where life will bring me.

I never knew about this Subaru "yuppy" image. Subarus are not popular down here, so they have no lifestyle associations.

Hi Aaron,

When I wrote 'yuppy' image, it pertained to LI, NY not VT. I should have clarified that. Sorry!

[tkln]

I have to say, when I think of yuppies here in NY/LI, I certainly don't picture them driving Subies.

Your yuppies out further East must be a lot different than the yuppies I see in western Nassau!!!

[vter]

My friend and I always think of subie drivers as those who came from out of state and think that Subies are what they "need". A definate generalization LOL. No one in my circle of friends/family/co-workers drive a subaru.
As noted above, a good set of snow tires and good driving skills are really what you need.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by tkln

I have to say, when I think of yuppies here in NY/LI, I certainly don't picture them driving Subies.

Your yuppies out further East must be a lot different than the yuppies I see in western Nassau!!!

To further clarify, this was yuppiedum circa 1988. I was having an off night when I wrote my post!

The current crop of eastern LI yups are probably keeping up with their western Nassau contemporaries in the vehicle dept. Big, monsterous gas sucking SUVs with luxury nameplates or high end European and Japanese luxury sedans -- right?