What is Better for winter driving???

Question

I live in Wyoming, and I will be buying a vehichle soon, I'm just not sure what is best for driving in the winter... 4 wheel drive, all wheel drive, or front wheel drive.
In the winter, the roads get icy, snow packed, sometimes slushy... generally really crappy and I don't want to be in a foolish winter vehichle!!

Answer 1

All wheel drive is the very best. Unless you NEED a big heavy gas guzzling truck, the very best vehicles that you can get are Subarus and Audi Quattros. I live in Oregon and go skiing and snowboarding a lot, and I have a Quattro and almost all my friends have Imprezas or Legacys. THEY ARE AWESOME IN THE SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, there is nothing else that can compare to these cars. It is what they were specifically designed for and they are great at it. It is impossible to exaggerate how good they are, especially with snow tires on them. If you can't afford a new one then get a used one. You won't regret it.

Front wheel drive is terrible in the snow. Front wheel drive cars do not want to turn in snow. The road turns and the car keeps going in a straight line.

Four wheel drive is not better than all wheel drive, because four wheel drive means giant gas guzzling SUVs that also want to go in a straight line when the road is trying to turn.

Subaru and Audi Quattro are what they make rally racing cars out of. They have excellent traction on snow, mud, dirt, wet pavement, and dry pavement. They get at least 25 mpg. They have excellent window defrosters, and you can get heated seats which is very nice when the temperature is below freezing. They are easy to drive and easy to park. They also have excellent safety features, and they are fun and sporty to drive all year, unlike SUVs which are like trying to dance with an elephant.

Answer 2

I've been living and driving in Alaska for the last 14 years.

Most people DO NOT drive cars or SUVs in snow. We use snow machines and dog sleds to get around in the snow.

I have owned and drove in ICY conditions, SUBARUS, FORD ESCORT, FORD PICK UP, GMC ENVOY AND CHEVROLET AVALANCHE.

The avalanche its much more superior on the road since it has AWD and 4X4 by choice. The heavy weight keeps it on the road. The AWD and studded tires help steer away from trouble if you start to slide. Never go faster than you can stop if you slide. If you take this heavy vehicle off road it sinks in the snow and you are going no where. Biggest problem I have with this big SUV it really likes its GAS!!!!

The Subaru went everywhere, I was amazed when snow was actually coming over the hood and windshield I taught for sure I was in trouble a long way from the nearest highway. Drove to the end of where a road was in the summer. turned around and the Subaru actually saved me because it got down to -40 F that night.

People on the side of the roads (ditch) it happens in every kind of vehicle. I believe the vehicle had nothing at all to do with it.

The others are not even worth mentioning!

Answer 3

From observation during winter months, I see FAR more 4-wheel drive pickups and SUVs crashed off the road surface than anything else. Most of the idiots driving them thought that 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive allowed them to drive at the same speed that they'd drive on a clear road. They tend to forget that all vehicles have 2-wheel steering and 4-wheel brakes and that the dynamics of driving on ice and packed snow really don't depend upon how many drive wheels there are.

The only advantage of 4-wheel or all-wheel drive is that you're less likely to get stuck. If you keep that in mind, go for full-time 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. If you think that you can drive them faster than FWD or RWD, don't buy one.

Answer 4

Your better off with an optional 4 wheel drive. This transmission can be shifted into 4 wheel drive when it is needed. They only get 6 to 11 MPG but you will be ready for anything.

Answer 5

First some technical info:

4WD and AWD are basically the same thing, with the exception that AWD uses a computer to actively determine where the power should go, and 4WD just uses a mechanical differential. (Usually, all car makes are different, and marketing might of screwed up the labeling)

I hope that made some sense.

However, for ice and snow, I’d go with AWD, it’s going to cost a little bit more, because it’s a more advanced system, but if your really worried about snow, it should be worth it.

I’d personally recommend Subaru, they have had AWD standard on all models for around a decade and seem to have worked out most of the kinks.

Answer 6

The ideal vehicle that I had for these conditions was a Honda CRV. This is a SUV that in normal conditions,the drive is to the front wheels. As soon as the ABS sensors detect any loss of traction, four wheel drive is engaged automatically, with no input from the driver.

Answer 7

All wheel drive, low profile, Subaru's are nice cars. SUV's or trucks are topheavy & act like a sail when the wind blows (youse guys get a LOT of wind out there...).

As long as you're not driving off road or through a lot of HEAVY snow I'd recommend an all wheel drive passenger car.

Oh, and GET SNOW TIRES!!! Not those 'all season' tires, they're the worst of all worlds. Nothing can beat real snow tires for traction period. Of course when summer hits you'll want to switch back to summer tires, snowies don't grip the asphalt as well in dry or wet conditions.

Answer 8

front wheel drives go better in the snow but don't stop worth a crap. go with the all wheel drive or 4wd. the 4wd will get better mileage over the awd because when in 2wd there is less moving parts and 4wd tend to be cheaper to fix than awd

Answer 9

in your situation,if you can afford a 4 wheel drive. the better tractiion on all wheels.. and it will get you to a wreck fast but it won't stop any faster than any other.... the best is having all four wheels pulling for you...

Answer 10

4 wheel drive. the other two should work,but you want power to all four wheels at all times if you should have an emergency