Car question- if you drive in the snow

JillAly · December 2012

During Hurricane Sandy, a tree fell on my Subaru Outback Crying and it is completely destroyed. So now I"m looking for a new (used) car. I need a car that does well in the snow. I didn't plan on buying a new car now and insurance isn't covering the cost of a new car (my car was old) so I can't get another Subaru. I prefer AWD but I'll take any suggestion if your car handles the snow well. I'm doing research through crash tests, etc, but I wanted real life experiences and how you like your car.

Thanks!

MrsGoodkat · December 2012

Since Subaru is out, I'll say everyone in my family has had good experience with Hondas in the snow.

ridesbuttons · December 2012

I drive a Grand Cherokee and I love it.

If you have not invested in winter (snow) tires: do. They make a huge difference in how a car handles in the winter.

MirandaHobbes · December 2012

Honda CRV. True story- early winter storm on Vets day here in MN this year, glare ice during rush hour. I was stuck behind a line of cars for a half hour because no one- not Cadillac Escalades, or Ford Expeditions, or ANYONE could make it up this steep hill downtown St. Paul. I finally got frustrated and literally zoomed right past all of them skidding their tires at full speed. I was amazed how well my car did. I got new tires last year (not snow tires) and have AWD.

hammerb44 · December 2012

I live in Buffalo, NY--we get lots of snow here!! I currently have a Honda CRV and previously had a Jeep Liberty. Both handled well in the snow.

missyishere · December 2012

Scout2005:
I live in the midwest, so we get a lot of snow.I drive an ancient Ford Freestyle crossover. It's honestly awesome at handling the snow, it has AWD. nbsp;BTW, crossover = station wagon, but I'm cool with that. We got it at Car Max for a decent deal. They now make this model as the Ford Taurus X, I believe.nbsp;

All of this, but I drive the Dodge Journey crossover.

lildevil968 · December 2012

I drive a Toyota Highlander, and I love it.

JPinkman · December 2012

I have a 2008 Nissan Rogue - and I love it - AWD. My husband has a 2011 Dodge Durango.

If you don't want a giant SUV - the Rogue really handles like a mid-sized car and the gas mileage has been about the same for my Rogue as it was for my Nissan Sentra.

JillAly · December 2012

Excellent- thanks! Looks like everyone drives crossovers or SUV's!

littlemermaid · December 2012

When looking for your next vehicle just make sure it is either front wheel drive or AWD; either one of these will do fine in the snow. Stay away from rear-wheel drive vehicles.

Wufroggy79 · December 2012

Jeep Cherokee or Liberty. We have had great success with both, even when we lived in Chicago with several feet of snow.

gimmietimmies · December 2012

Am I a smartassss if I say Mini Cooper? We've had it years and never been stuck, and I highway drive on not always plowed roads. It's fun waving at the pick ups in the ditch as you go past (kidding, but I couldn't stop anyway, I can't help a big truck). Dh wants the Countryman now.

Serious suggestion? Aside from the Cherokee, there are a lot of Volvo XC90s around here.

JillAly · December 2012

Spooko:
All the Subaru models going back to the mid-nineties have AWD. It comes standard. Could you just look for an older model in your price range and then get the warranty that goes with it? We just got a Subaru this year and although we haven't even had the chance to get it in the snow (knock on wood it keeps up) I will never go back. Our car is amazeballs.

My Subaru had 140,000 miles on it and it was doing great! I love them and would consider an older model. DH vetoed it because we just bought a 2nd car earlier ths year and we don't want to have to replace a car for a long, long time. But I'm looking at older models - they're just expensive. Thanks!

JillAly · December 2012

EllaHella:
I had an AWD Mazda CX7 and it did great. I have a full size 4wd now but haven't driven in snow yet.

We have the CX-9 as our other car and we drove in the snow already this winter. I love it so far - I would get the CX7 but I don't think we want 2 cars that big. Thanks!

JillAly · December 2012

JPinkman:

I have a 2008 Nissan Rogue - and I love it - AWD. My husband has a 2011 Dodge Durango.

If you don't want a giant SUV - the Rogue really handles like a mid-sized car and the gas mileage has been about the same for my Rogue as it was for my Nissan Sentra.

So far the Rogue is at the top of my list. It's good to hear you love it. It's in my price range and got good crash safety ratings. Glad to hear you think the gas milage is pretty good- that was one thing holding me back from getting it.

RayRay007 · December 2012

gimmietimmies:

Am I a smartassss if I say Mini Cooper? We've had it years and never been stuck, and I highway drive on not always plowed roads. It's fun waving at the pick ups in the ditch as you go past (kidding, but I couldn't stop anyway, I can't help a big truck). Dh wants the Countryman now.

Serious suggestion? Aside from the Cherokee, there are a lot of Volvo XC90s around here.

I was gonna say my 1990 Ford Festiva plowed through snow like nobody's business. I don't know where OP's gonna find one though.

Anything with high clearance and good tires should be good. I just put new tires on my Ford Edge and we got a foot of snow last night and it got me around today just fine.

RondackHiker · December 2012

I second going with front wheel or all wheel drive, and a decent weight, whether it's a sedan or SUV, and put decent tires on it.

I think ninety percent of being good in the snow is how you drive it. Good tires and such can be a big help, but if you are gunning the engine till it slips or breaking and accelerating quickly, you will be in trouble no matter what.

Lilywildcat · December 2012

I also had a Honda CR-V with snow tires and it was honestly the best vehicle in the snow, out of all the vehicles i have owned. I did all city driving to get back and forth to work and it was good in the snow. I now have a Honda Odyssey and it's not that great in the snow. Even with snow tires, it was very slippery in the 3 inches of snow we got last week. I regret selling that CR-V

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