Is the RWD Mitsubishi Montero as good in the snow as other SUVS?

Question

Is a 2002 RWD Montero as good in the snow/bad road conditions as say a 4X4 FWD Jeep Liberty? In the past i passed up a great deal on an RWD 03 Mustang because i was told the RWD would make it horrible in the winter. Now im seeing SUV'S in RWD and im a bit surprised.

Answer 1

RWD vehicles of any type are not as good in bad weather. RWD is for power. AWD or even FWD is for handling and control. The problem is, when you steer with your front tires and propel the car with the back tires, you can lose traction and skid with the back tires. For a bigger, heavier vehicle, this isn't as much of a problem.

I agree with the above - RWD vehicles are cheaper. That's why you see them. It seems awfully dangerous to have such a large vehicle with poor handling, though.

Answer 2

You know, I learned to drive in the age before FWD became popular. As a matter of fact, there was a time when ALL cars were RWD.

I never had a problem driving in snow because that's what I learned to drive in. I actually had more problems in snow with FWD.

Mustangs can have problems in snow, but only because they are relatively light vehicles. But my take on it is this: You have really bad snow days about 10 to 12 times a year in the worst winters in the worst areas of the country. Most of the roads are clear by the next day. That leaves 353 other days of the year to enjoy your vehicle. The trade-off is absolutely worth it!!!

No way I would have talked myself out of a vehicle if I really wanted it based on something that could happen about 3% of the time. As far as driving it in snow, if you don't absolutely have to, then don't. That's what sick days are for.

Now when SUV's first hit the scene, they were all RWD. FWD on SUVs is a relatively new thing, And so is traction control which many RWD now days have.

I say, if you like the Montero, BUY IT! Research the options that were available for that year on www.edmunds.com and try to find a vehicle that has what you need. If it snows on you, and you don't feel comfortable driving, call in sick, and find a vacant parking lot and drive around in it until you do get comfortable. Thats what I did.

But don't let what MIGHT happen 3% of the time in a year stop you from doing what makes you happy.

Answer 3

No.

RWD is awful in the snow, especially with an open differential which what most of them have.

RWD SUV's exist so poseurs who just want a truck but know they will never go off road or in snow can have a lower priced entry-level model.

A FWD Honda Civic will do better in the snow than a RWD SUV and a Subaru with AWD and limited slip differentials will do better in the snow than 50% of the 4x4 SUV's out there.

Skip the Montero. You don't want RWD for snow and Mitsubishi's reliability is horrible. Jeep reliability isn't much better.

If you want a car that will do very very well in the snow and be reliable and hold it's value, I would strongly recommend you look at a Subaru Forester or Outback.

Answer 4

No matter what vehicle you get a RWD will never be as good as a 4x4 in the snow, mud etc. Try to find a 4x4 Montero and you won't have a headache off-roading.

Answer 5

No. Mitsubishi remains making the Montero game SUV or nicely pronounced, Challenger. This form develop into discontinued in Japan and North usa in 2004, the place it develop into outmoded by the undertaking, yet remains obtainable in Europe, Australia, Mexico, South usa, and China. the recent 2008 form has 4 distinctive Montero game kinds: Montero game ES, game LS, game XLS and game limited.

Answer 6

it deppends how you use it if you going to push the RWD Mitsubishi Montero to its limit no but if you cruzing in the snow it good real good