What are good cars to drive in the snow, if I am not a fan of SUV's?

Question

I just moved to Denver and on the way totalled my car by rolling 3 times in a ditch. I am now scared to drive where there is snow, slush, and ice. I am not fond of SUV' s or the Subaru Outback, but I want a safe car to drive that can handle the snow and ice. Please help!

Answer 1

A front wheel drive. ( I lived in CO for a few yrs...Co Springs)
Front wheel drives if you let go in the snow, will right themselves if you DON'T hit the brakes. ( drove an Acura Integra there and my husband had a Honda CRX...both were GREAT in the snow and we had NO problems...and it was the first time we'd both driven in snow...we grew up in CA...he was military when we were there...) We also lived in MT for a few yrs...still had the CRX and bought a new Honda Accord....same result...let the front wheel drive right itself and DON'T hit the brakes...hitting the brakes is what causes the skidding in the snow and ice in the first place...(yes I know it's a reaction thing, but try and get over it..)
So small and front wheel drive is best...(big back ends tend to swing around in the snow too...thats why 4X4's aren't really that good in the snow...they're also too top heavy)

Answer 2

first off, the number one way to be better in the snow is to be a better driver. it makes 100x more difference than the car. a good driver can be safer in an 800 hp RWD no abs or traction control car than a bad driver could be in an 80 hp AWD ABS and TCS/stability management car. If you managed to roll a car 3 times, chances are it was driver error, because you were going far too fast for the weather.

SUVS arent particularly good on ice/snow anyways. too little weight on the rear tires, theyre RWD mainly, dont have TCS, and generally just arent good on that terrain.

the best cars for ice/snow are subarus and quattro based audis. Check out the used imprezas and WRX's from subaru, and any of the quattro based audis. if you dont like the look of the subarus, look back a couple of years, and check out the previous models. theyve changed many times in the last 5-6 years.

edit: also, make sure you get some good snow tires too, that makes a massive difference.

Answer 3

Most any front wheel drive car will be good in the snow. An all wheel drive car like the Volvos and Audis would also be good, but expensive.

If you are going to live in Denver, you need to learn to drive in the snow, or you will be stranded 7 months of the year. On the bright side, however, they have great public transportation.

Answer 4

I had a 76 cutlass coupe, 350 engine auto trans. I made my 4 wheel drive neighbors look foolish when I plowed through 14 inches of snow and busted out of a 2 foot pile of snow that the snow plows left on the side of the road and simply drove away.I don't need no stinking 4x4. the right tires and the knowhow is all you need, And rear wheel drive.

Answer 5

The subaru gave you 4 wheel drive. Perhaps you can't drive 4wheelers. So front wheel drive with good winter tread will get you thru. I am in Canuk land where it is always snow and slush and ice. Pick ups are useless. You got to have good snow tires, not all season.

Answer 6

Well, generally front wheel drive vehicles tend to do better than rear wheel drive cars in an icy environment due to the pulling of front wheel drive vehicles compared to pushing of rear wheel drive vehicles. I would assume that an all wheel drive vehicle would perform a lot better in icy situations. More and more companies are releasing all wheel drive cars as either a feature that can be turned on or off, or an all time feature.