Generally the qualities that make a car handle well on pavement (good suspension, steering, low center of gravity, etc)also contribute to a good snow car, but not necessarily so (Corvette, Mustang, etc). And it's complicated even further by the fact there are a lot of very different snow conditions. A car that's good in three feet of snow in the driveway might not be good on a slippery highway and vice versa. I had a '95 3 series BMW (5 speed w/no traction control and stock tires) that while not so good at getting out of the driveway was able to do 80 mph on glare ice with unbeleiveable control-the best I've experienced. One winter I was working for a Audi/VW/Subaru/Nissan and since things were exceedingly slow I was able to spend some time comparing the various cars head to head in winter conditions. Audis are flat out the best winter car you can get in any/all conditions and the Allroad was the best Audi. The Nissan sport-utes were good in deep snow and so-so in plowed/slippery conditions. The Suburu Outbacks were similar to the sport-utes, but better on plowed roads. The VW & Nissan front wheel drive cars were good in most conditions, but for some reason no where near as good as the 9000 (no snows) I was driving at the time. Finally, once you're up to speed on a slick highway, it doesn't really matter a whole lot if it's AWD/FWD/RWD--I'd rate the Audis, Saab or BMW as about the same, although in the BMW it was much clearer what to do if you got sideways at 70 mph. My conclusion was that when you factor everything in (including the mechanical complexity of an Audi) the Saab was an excellent compromise in nearly all conditions.

posted by 24.247.176...

• So... what makes a good snow car?, Noel, Fri, 2 Jan 2009 14:39:16
  • Re: So... what makes a good snow car?, G.Keyser, Sat, 3 Jan 2009 11:09:51
  • Re: So... what makes a good snow car?, jp498, Sat, 3 Jan 2009 04:36:46
    • Re: So... what makes a good snow car?, No Snaab, Sat, 3 Jan 2009 06:54:55
      • Actually, old VWs weren't good, Ari , Sat, 3 Jan 2009 07:49:23
        • I agree, No Snaab, Sat, 3 Jan 2009 12:10:26
        • Re: Old VWs weren't good. Yes and no., Noel, Sat, 3 Jan 2009 10:17:08
          • How does the snowplow driver get to the snowplow?, Mike Lynch , Sat, 3 Jan 2009 12:05:32
            • Love it! On the wall in my office is, Noel, Sat, 3 Jan 2009 13:28:15
  • Can I put winter tires on viggen rims?, SeaTac93, Fri, 2 Jan 2009 21:37:09
  • traction and weight, dr fall, Fri, 2 Jan 2009 19:23:07
  • Re: Lots of weight on the drive wheels, BobS, Fri, 2 Jan 2009 16:36:25
  • It ain't about the bike...er...car..., Mike Lynch , Fri, 2 Jan 2009 16:15:18
    • It's the nut behind the wheel, Ari , Fri, 2 Jan 2009 17:21:19
  • Re: So... what makes a good snow car?, No Snaab, Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:49:30 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: So... what makes a good snow car?, KevinM, Fri, 2 Jan 2009 16:22:48
  • Re: So... what makes a good snow car?, SeeVTSaab, Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:31:19

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• Prev by Date: Interesting! I'll look into that thanks! (-), SeeVTSaab, Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:35:25
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