Whats the best car for snow you've ever been in.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
12/02/2014 at 12:00 • Filed to: None

Im talking street legal cars and trucks here folks, what car made you feel safest, most confident and capable in the slippery white cold stuff?

Mine personally was a WJ Cherokee 4.0 liter auto with Quadra-Drive. Holy crap that thing was solid in the snow. It wasn't terribly fun, but its grip was tenacious and it inspired confidence like nothing else.

DISCUSSION (91)

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:04

My 2007 STI with Dunlop Wintersport 3D's. These things are beasts in the snow with winter tires.

Kinja'd!!!

Money Hustard > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:05

A Subaru Legacy, or really any subie I've been in the snow in. The car accurately lets you know where the edge of your handling is and most problems can be fixed with a spot of throttle. Sure-footed doesn't even begin to describe it.

HammerheadFistpunch > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
12/02/2014 at 12:05

I always had all seasons on the Forester XT and MAN that thing was tail happy. a little dab of power? oversteer. A tiny bit of lift off? oversteer. Understeering into a corner? oversteer.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:06

Currently, the Volvo XC60 T6 AWD.

Sn210 > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:06

Kinja'd!!!

Honestly, out of the handful of cars I've owned, my Saturn SC2 was the best in the snow. It never slipped, stopped when it was supposed to, and it had a quirky third door. (Ok I'm running out of good things to say). I spun my YJ Wrangler more times than I wanted to and my civic slid coming to stops quite a bit. I haven't driven the TL in enough snow yet.

HammerheadFistpunch > Money Hustard
12/02/2014 at 12:07

I liked my FXT, it was as described, but it was also light and prone to tail happy antics and didn't make me feel as secure as did the WJ, or even my cruiser.

HammerheadFistpunch > Sn210
12/02/2014 at 12:07

funny, the only car that my wife or even have ever slid off the road in were saturns.

functionoverfashion > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:08

My bmw 325xi wagon with snow tires is pretty phenomenal in the snow. The even weight distribution helps too, IMHO. But in any case it's very capable. Capable of a lot of sideways fun, too.

505Turbeaux > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:08

honestly, a VW fox wagon. Skinny snow tires and an underpowered manual. No problems there at all. Or I would say a Grand Wagoneer

Kinja'd!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > 505Turbeaux
12/02/2014 at 12:08

Skinny and light are underrated snow assets.

505Turbeaux > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:09

that car was an utter beast in the white stuff, no doubt

HammerheadFistpunch > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
12/02/2014 at 12:10

That's a Haldex system right?

Leon711 > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:10

Kinja'd!!!

unflappable

Money Hustard > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:10

Must have hoonability!

HammerheadFistpunch > Leon711
12/02/2014 at 12:10

you are now the second person to recommend this. Interesting.

CalzoneGolem > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:11

1997 Chevy Lumina with studded snow tires. Snow so deep that it occasionally is higher than the hood? Ain't care.

Leon711 > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:11

false, 505 posted a fox, mine is a Polo.

HammerheadFistpunch > Money Hustard
12/02/2014 at 12:12

Well...normally I would agree. But I'm talking about getting places, not getting across the parking lot sideways. though that's fun too.

Agrajag > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:12

My 240D has been the best of the dozen or so cars I've owned. Of any others, whatever my Dad is driving. That man is master in snow. How he made it home in some blizzards with a Country Squire I've no idea.

Sn210 > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:15

that's weird, my car must have had more plastic than hers. Plastic does well in the snow, right?

Kinja'd!!!

Money Hustard > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:15

I once had a 2003 Dodge Dakota V8 with a limited slip rearend, I could do this sort of thing on a slightly-wet parking lot. When I moved to Vermont from Louisiana after college I had to get rid of it immediately, I realized. I still miss that truck from time to time...

Saoul-Virage > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:16

Maybe Fiat Panda 4x4 1st generation with Michelin Alpin tires :

Kinja'd!!!

Doesn't fear snow, only rust can beat the Panda.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:17

As long as you plan on staying on the pavement, we've had five Quattros, all of which have been unstoppable in the snow. If you plan on heading down a trail, I'd take a Land Rover/Range Rover, Land Cruiser, or Jeep Wrangler, of the stuff I've been in.

HammerheadFistpunch > Leon711
12/02/2014 at 12:17

Close enough.

Kate's Dirty Sister > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:17

Current 328i xDrive with blizzaks, it's pretty flawless.

Mattbob > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:17

My girlfriends '05 forester (2.5L non turbo) with winter tires is almost immune to any snow. It is incredible. Also my brother and I took a rental Rav-4 off road in the winter once. The thing was able to go through snow that was up to the headlights. It was wild.

HammerheadFistpunch > CalzoneGolem
12/02/2014 at 12:17

its been SO long since I drive a car with studded tires.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:18

No lie:

Kinja'd!!!

1989 Dodge Dynasty former rental car that I bought for $500 in 2001. There was a heavy winter that year and I had a 35-mile commute. With cheap all-seasons and the low-powered Mitsubishi iron-block 3.0, it was a champ. I had to live in it for a week after a nasty breakup. I showered in the gym at work and was luckily able to find a place quickly.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mattbob
12/02/2014 at 12:18

The rav4 was pretty great in the snow, but the 1st gen models were prone to understeer. Very reassuring chassis though. I had an 05 forester, see the video in this thread.

HammerheadFistpunch > Kate's Dirty Sister
12/02/2014 at 12:19

Yeah, I suspect the 328 xdrive with snow tires would kill it.

HammerheadFistpunch > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/02/2014 at 12:19

Quattro's are pretty amazing, especially the Torsen era cars.

AthomSfere > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:20

An 05 STI

Kinja'd!!!

Not mine... A friends that I was allowed to drive around.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:20

Torsen era was pre-2005, right?

EDIT: Okay, I have no clue when it was.

HammerheadFistpunch > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
12/02/2014 at 12:20

its hard not to love a car that has been there for you in a tough time. Also, big heavy, underpowered engine and FWD I guess, right?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:21

My aunt put a Saturn S-series into a snowbank upside-down. It seems to be a thing. Unscathed, remarkably, other than a mirror.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:22

I think I only got to drive my Rabbit pickup in the snow once, but it was more than capable for a 2wd.

Mattbob > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:22

That makes me wish hers was a turbo so bad. The regular 2.5L is somewhat less eager to break traction.

HammerheadFistpunch > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/02/2014 at 12:23

It was around then they switched, late 90's to mid 2000's.

Big Bubba Ray > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:23

I'll second the WJ. I had one as my first car with the 4.0. It was literally unstoppable in the snow. Well planted and very solid. I'd nominate my Outback, but as you mentioned in another comment, it's a bit tail happy and can be a bit squirrely in the snow. Not a bad thing, but I somehow felt more secure in the WJ.

and 100 more > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:23

I had good results with my 01 Chevy Blazer with the 4.3L V6. The 4WD system was awesome, and rarely faltered on icy surfaces.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:25

I think all 5 of ours were Torsen. 1994 100, 1997 A6, a pair of 2004 a6s, and a 2001 A8.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:26

My two best snow cars have been:

2006 Mazdaspeed 6 with Blizzak LM-25 snow tires: Overall pretty solid traction and amazing braking on ice. The main issue was the electronically-controlled and fwd-biased awd system would go wonky when in deep snow, even with the traction & stability control disabled.

1999 Grand Cherokee with Quadra-Trac II and Uniroyal Laredo tires: This isn't particularly fancy, just has open front & rear diffs and mostly-acceptable highway all-season truck tires. But damn if it doesn't just push through deep snow like a champ. Braking isn't nearly as good as the Blizzaks on the MS6 though.

This weekend I'm likely trading in the WJ for an '05 Grand Cherokee with the Hemi & Quadra-Drive II. It has Goodyear Fortera HL tires on it which from reviews appear to be mediocre at best, but I'm going to do my best haggling with the dealer and then promptly junk the Forteras for some nice all-terrains. I'd been thinking about actual winter tires since it's my winter car, but I do use it at various times throughout the year and I feel like warm-weather road trips will kill the rubber compound in the snow tires. Hence the A/Ts.

wantafuncar > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:27

2007 4runner v8. Full time 4wd, great platform (I believe Toyota LC ), torsen limited slip, 4.7v8 for torques... Great vehicle really. Never even came close to taxing it in the snow, and that was with highway all season tires.

Also — I don't think you mean "car" but "autmobile" or "vehicle" or anything that'll include trucks, suvs, and the like.

HammerheadFistpunch > wantafuncar
12/02/2014 at 12:29

I meant "not snowmobile" but yeah, you got the idea. The full time 4wd system on your 4runner is a step up from the one I have in the cruiser, and its pretty much the biz.

HammerheadFistpunch > Big Bubba Ray
12/02/2014 at 12:29

I don't know what it was about the WJ, but it felt like there wasn't snow at all. Maybe it was a complete lack of feeling in the controls. Either way, it always worked.

wantafuncar > Textured Soy Protein
12/02/2014 at 12:30

For what its worth, I hate the Forteras on my wife's Pilot.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:30

3300lbs, 140 hp, 180 lb-ft, on an outsized K-car platform. IIRC, it had the same floorpan as the swb Caravan/Voyager

CalzoneGolem > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:31

They're not great for mpg and they are noisy but damn they will grip on ice and slush. I imagine chains would be about the only thing better.

HammerheadFistpunch > CalzoneGolem
12/02/2014 at 12:32

I'm not even sure studded tires are legal in my state anymore. and holy hell I hate chains. I would almost rather be stuck.

CalzoneGolem > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:34

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/studded-t…

HammerheadFistpunch > CalzoneGolem
12/02/2014 at 12:36

Darn, they are permitted.

deekster_caddy > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:36

My yukon, definitely the best. '05 Yukon XL 2500, 8100 V8 and 4x4, it was totally unstoppable. Basically any full size truck or larger SUV with 4wd is going to be great in the snow. The Yukon had 4hi, 4lo, 2wd and 'Auto' to choose from. Auto worked very very well.

HammerheadFistpunch > deekster_caddy
12/02/2014 at 12:38

knowing what I know now about physics and traction, weight has a lot to do with getting a grip. We had a k2500 suburban with the 7.4 vortech and it was pretty great....well it was no worse in the snow than it was in the dry lets say. The equation changed with the addition of a supercharger, but thats another matter.

I own dead car brands only > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:40

any of my Saab's. They're unstoppable in the snow even with allseasons. My current Saab has snows but not enough snow to really test it yet.

Firewrx234 > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:40

I owned a WJ with the 4.7L and that thing was a beast in the snow. It was also a blast in the moist because that thing got some wicked 4 wheel drifts.

I know the 4.7L isn't as bulletproof as the 4.0L but we never had a problem with ours and it was a crazy torque monster!

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:41

my geo metro i had in highschool...those super skinny tires just sliced through snow. i don't ever remember feeling like i wasn't in control

HammerheadFistpunch > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
12/02/2014 at 12:42

skinny tires FTW.

Jcarr > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:45

I haven't owned a great many vehicles, but the best would probably be a toss up between my '91 Isuzu Trooper with BFG All-Terrain T/As, or my '03 Ram 1500 QC. The tires were better on the Trooper, but the Ram was big and heavy and had a Hemi.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:47

A buddies old Tracker.

Big tires made it float across the snow, and creeks actually.

macanamera > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 12:49

THE SNOWBEAST

Textured Soy Protein > wantafuncar
12/02/2014 at 12:50

Just from reading reviews on Tire Rack, it would appear you are far from the only person who has that opinion of them.

HammerheadFistpunch > macanamera
12/02/2014 at 12:52

Que?

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
12/02/2014 at 12:58

you should look at duratracs, killer looking, great in the snow, tough and quite.

macanamera > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:00

My 2002 Ford Taurus on Ultra Grip Ice WRTs. AKA, the Snowbeast. AKA, He Who Shall Not Be Stopped By Snow.

cazzyodo > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:00

I took my mom's '03 Suburban Z71 out during a blizzard that shut down our town. ZERO FUCKS GIVEN THAT NIGHT

Honestly, I made it 40 ft up an unplowed hill before realizing "no, idiot, you cannot make it to the house you want to until a frickin front loader comes DOWN the hill." Otherwise, bust through all the things.

That last line actually happened when I had a paper route. Private road had a three foot high wall of snow and my mom told me to hop in the car. BLASTED through it. Guy in a plow opened his window to give the thumbs up.

HammerheadFistpunch > cazzyodo
12/02/2014 at 13:03

Given the tread width and the weight, the burbs kill it in the snow.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:06

Mine, when I got rid of the shitty Pro-Comp Extremes. Snow rated, my ass. Those pieces of shit weren't even humidity dampness on the road capable. But driving in snow with decent tires isn't much different than driving without snow. Except that in the snow when you punch it, it will go sideways.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:14

I've been looking at their AT cousin, the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar. The Duratracs seem a bit more aggressive than what I'm looking for. Oh and now I have a post about the upcoming WK .

cazzyodo > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:19

Absolute murder.

She traded it, though, for a Forester last year. Didn't make sense to have once all the kids went to school.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
12/02/2014 at 13:20

check out this review

http://expeditionportal.com/where-the-rubb…

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:27

Hmm that mentions the Cooper A/T3 is really good for snow. I'm considering those, and the Cooper AT/W is a more winter-oriented version of the A/T3 so those might be particularly great for my application.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:28

My dad's lifted '04 Silverado on 35" Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ tires. Put it in 4WD and it's totally unstoppable. 10 years of midwestern winters and it's never been stuck.

TDogg > macanamera
12/02/2014 at 13:31

YES! The Taurus was a tank in the snow! Felt completely unstoppable. Mine was a 2002 also. Mine was just on all seasons and it still kicked ass.

Meatcoma > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:32

I've only had one car that was a pita in snow. 1985 irocz. Other than that, every car I've owned has gotten around well in the snow.

macanamera > TDogg
12/02/2014 at 13:33

let me tell you, on real snow tires it's just fantastic

ssm-one > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:37

72 VW Bug. Pizza cutters on all four corners and the weight over the rear wheels made it almost unstoppable. If only the defrost function worked..

HammerheadFistpunch > ssm-one
12/02/2014 at 13:38

yeah, in terms of traction...ill give it to you, but what a thing to be stuck inside in a winter wonderland. ugh.

E. Julius > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:39

Last winter I was coming back from a ski trip during a terrible ice storm that pretty much closed everything down for 2-3 days. I was riding in the back of a friend's 2012 Navigator, and even though my friend had broken the driver's side wiper, could barely see out the windshield, and was driving two notches below maniacal, I still felt fairly safe.

ssm-one > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 13:41

I failed to mention that when my K5 wouldn't start (which was regularly in the cold weather), the VW started and ran every time without fail. Yes, it was a little shy on convenience features no doubt!

HammerheadFistpunch > ssm-one
12/02/2014 at 13:44

That's the beauty of air cooled.

Captain of the Enterprise > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
12/02/2014 at 13:55

Did it dy in a nasty way?

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Captain of the Enterprise
12/02/2014 at 14:19

It ended up blowing a head gasket to the point that exhaust gases were coming out through the radiator. Or maybe the block or a head cracked...

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 14:28

My 95 XJ. Thing was awesome in the snowpocolypse we had last year. So much fun.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 14:42

Weird. Mine is very stable. It can be a little understeery, but it's easy enough to get the back end around and easy to hold it once you've got it.

Was there something going on with the alignment or unevenly worn tires? Or do the LSD's on the STI make it that much more controllable?

HammerheadFistpunch > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
12/02/2014 at 14:43

The LSD's are a big contributor, but the suspension geometry on the foresters play a big roll, there is a lot of anti-dive in the front and anti-squat in the rear (more than other subaru's) because they think you will be towing with it, so the handling is more dynamic.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 14:54

Which leads me to a dumb question. Wouldn't the STI have the most anti-squat/dive because racecar? This seems like the kind of thing I should know seeing that I drive one.

HammerheadFistpunch > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
12/02/2014 at 14:55

Im not sure the logic, but the forester definitely has different geometry that makes for LOT of lift of oversteer.

bingham123 > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 15:24

the best car I drove in snow was a s2 land rover with no roof... Lovely and warm....

the most fun was a battered rusty p.o.s Peugeot 306 auto with a 1.8 and 3 1/2 cylinders, bouncing it off the limiter all the time and I never got stuck. Even towd a new discovery out of a ditch the disco owner felt a bit stupid after

JEM > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 15:37

Probably my current XJ with brand new Winterforce tires:

Kinja'd!!!

Past that, my 1998 Tiburon was pretty amazing with snows on it. I remember driving through a blizzard at night in the Poconos and it being rock solid.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2014 at 16:11

Yes it it.

wantafuncar > Textured Soy Protein
12/07/2014 at 12:38

Yeah, we didn't pick them (came on it- we got it used). 10/10 would NOT purchase.