[Suds]

My Mom’s car. Just joking.
Chevy 2500 diesel.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by Ugly Kar

having spent few winters in the midwest with a RWD BMW there is absolutely no way in hell I'll ever do it again. Digging yourself out of the snow all the time sucks about as much as anything.

Strange comment.
I've owned FWD, RWD, and AWD cars while living in NE for the past 20+ years. Including driving in a snow-storm from Boston to Montreal on of the Xmas-es in RWD 3-series. Rock solid on snow tires, even as all other cars gradually disappeared from the roads.
Not once did I have to dig myself out of the snow on the road. Ever.

Originally Posted by Ugly Kar

It will be AWD and a set of snow tires for the winter.

I have sets of snow wheels + tires for all my cars, including the M3.
Not that I drive M3 much in the winter, but when I feel like having fun, there is no substitute!
Snow tires are a must!

Originally Posted by StaninOrlando

My stock Jeep Gladiator Rubicon diesel. The Swiss Army of vehicle - not an excellent truck or rock crawler, but solid build quality with outstanding driver interface (little slow) - simple, time-tested interior/dash layout. FUN.

Jeep Gladiator/Wrangler were the absolute WORST vehicles I've ever rented.
Terrible handling, terrible ergonomics, terrible NVH at any speed above 30 mph. Plus I got knee bruses every time I had to drive those abortions on wheels.
You could not pay me money to drive one again!

Originally Posted by Alfisti

The big issue with urban winter driving is braking, not traction. AWD does nothing for braking.

Very true.
And for that reason I would not advise anyone to drive on AS tires over ice/snow - you never know when you need extra traction that only dedicated snow tires can provide. But when you do, it will be too late!

Two (3) most frequent scenarios when traction becomes an issue in snowy winter:
1). 1+feet of fresh unplowed snow on the road. Your bumper becomes a snow plow. Eventually, snow will build up under the front axle and you start loosing ability to steer. Not fun. You can reverse (assuming it's safe) to clear the snow dam, but it will build up again. Applies equally to AWD/FWD/RWD cars. The only solution for this is either staying home, or driving a car with much higher clearance.
2). Going uphill on an icy road. Here every bit of traction counts, and AWD > RWD > FWD (the worst). Having said that, I live in a hilly area, and have never had a problem with traction on RWD or FWD cars as long as am rolling on Blizzaks.
3). Doing anything else on icy roads. Here drivetrain configurations makes ZERO difference, and quality winter tires mean everything. Lighter car is an advantage, so for that reason AWD is a small liability.

Every fall when snow arrives, local news channels get plenty of content filming clowns standing next to their SUVs (featuring a few X3s/X5s) in the ditch, all on All-Season tires, all surprised that AWD didn't save them.

YMMV,
a

P.S.: Model 3 AWD (previously Model 3 Performance) is my daily driver / winter beater.

[pbonsalb]

I have lived in NH for over 30 years and my cars were RWD until 5 years ago. I always get a set of snow wheels for each of our cars, even the AWD ones. I bought an AWD car in 2021 to help put the power down under more conditions rather than because it was necessary for snow. I do think AWD with snows is better than RWD with snows, but I went everywhere I needed to go with RWD and snows.

As noted above, an SUV has advantages on snows when unplowed snow is higher than the ground clearance of a car. This is just common sense. I don’t live miles up unplowed dirt roads so this is not a concern, but sometimes when the plow trucks have left a berm at the bottom of the driveway and I want to go out but have not shoveled or blown yet, I will take my wife’s SUV and just drive through the berm. My lowered M5 or prior lowered M3 could get hung up on the berm.

[jdeesel]

2012 E91

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by jdeesel

2012 E91[ATTACH]undefined[/ATTACH]

Last of the naturally aspirated I6? We have a 2012 X3 with N52 in the family. But I bought it a few years ago and would not look at 15 year old cars for daily drivers today assuming finances allow something newer.

[jdeesel]

Yeah, last year for it. Work from home so it doesn't see to many miles. 100,000 mile car.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Strange comment.
I've owned FWD, RWD, and AWD cars while living in NE for the past 20+ years. Including driving in a snow-storm from Boston to Montreal on of the Xmas-es in RWD 3-series. Rock solid on snow tires, even as all other cars gradually disappeared from the roads.
Not once did I have to dig myself out of the snow on the road. Ever.

There's always one person that claims they drive RWD all winter on racing slicks on frozen lakes and it's "fine". As soon as you get frozen precip, a rear wheel drive car is a bad idea, it loses traction so fast and you're the idiot at the stoplight/sign that can't get going again because your wheels just spin and the car doesn't move forward. Especially with a slight uphill.

[davey111483]

My new daily is a Model Y. Don’t judge me. 😂

Toys are the M3 and the STI.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by RM7

There's always one person that claims they drive RWD all winter on racing slicks on frozen lakes and it's "fine".

Exaggerating much?

Originally Posted by RM7

As soon as you get frozen precip, a rear wheel drive car is a bad idea, it loses traction so fast and you're the idiot at the stoplight/sign that can't get going again because your wheels just spin and the car doesn't move forward.

That makes no sense - if you don't have traction to get going (2WD or 4WD), you have no traction to stop either. Conclusion - you are on wrong tires to beging with, and 4WD might only get you into more trouble at higher speeds if you, somehow, get going but then can't stop or make the turn!

Thus the parade of ass-clowns in AWD SUVs in the ditch after the first snow storm of the year. They all thought AWD was going to save them...

a

[freakystyly]

At least with RWD you are aware of the crappy conditions from the get-go, and not when you would like to slow down.

[hirole]

I'm driving a 2022 Ford Escape PHEV. I fill up with gas every 3 months

[smokinjoe64]

My DD alternative...when late for work, need to take a short cut‼️

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Exaggerating much?



That makes no sense - if you don't have traction to get going (2WD or 4WD), you have no traction to stop either. Conclusion - you are on wrong tires to beging with, and 4WD might only get you into more trouble at higher speeds if you, somehow, get going but then can't stop or make the turn!

Thus the parade of ass-clowns in AWD SUVs in the ditch after the first snow storm of the year. They all through AWD was going to save them...

a

In total agreement. When I was dailying my 135i, I would put on set of wheels with winter tires on the car. The winter tires were the Blizzaks WS variants. Never got stuck in any of the winter events in my area. There was one time I was driving along while a snow storm was dumping snow. There was already a few inches on the ground. I was laughing to myself when I drove buy a stuck WRX with all four tires spinning while my RWD winter tire equipped car just motored by.

I also agree with you about the false sense of security with 4WD/AWD car owners have. My past daily was a 2019 C-HR which I put on a set of all weather tires (Cross Climate 2s). That car is FWD and again never got stuck in any winter precip events. My current daily is a 2025 CX-5 with AWD. Would have preferred to have it with FWD only but Mazda went with having all trim levels with AWD. Not crazy about the complexity AWD brings to the drive train, the additional maintenance needed, and the weight it adds. But that car will have a set of Cross Climate 2s (or 3s if they're available) when the factory tires are worn out.

[zx10guy]

2025 Mazda CX-5 S Select as my daily.

[Alfisti]

AFter 16 years with a Saab 9-3 wagon, it was finally time for a change. The car was still running OK but the lack of basic functions like being able to make a hands free call and nav was beginning to be an issue. Lots of little things were starting to get annoying (trunk door wouldn't stay up, sunroof was jammed, heated seats were burning my arse and a few other small things. It was also feeling every bump in the road. TBH I wanted some creature comforts too, like a heated steering wheel.

After much consternation, mostly around issues related to intrusive tech and my allergy to it, I settled on a 2019 F-Pace. The car I wanted was an Outback but could not find a 3.6 without the full EYESIGHT package and again, I am VERY anti the whole tech intrusion thing. Other option was the Ford Edge ST with Sync 3, Sync 3 is the perfect tech IMHO but the Edge just drove a bit big for me and many were in really rough shape. I only drive 5K KM a year so hoping this lasts me 10+ years. It's the base 2T engine but my DD is a bit of a beater, I have a sports car for jollies. I also refuse to buy a car with a tacked on iPad, the screen must be in the dash, not on it. Finding a modernish car with good, hard, clicky buttons that offer tactile feedback was a fucking chore TBH.

90k KM in pristine shape for $23K CDN seemed like a fair buy.

[smokinjoe64]

e92 M3 - - my 'canyon' daily driver