Advice for a winter roadtrip?

It drives in snow pretty much like any front wheel drive car. Mostly watch out for deep snow. The Prius lacks the ground clearance of an SUV, so don't expect to wade through deep snow.

Tom

 

I'm traveling to Boston from Florida next week and I have decided to leave my nice new Prius home and take my Subaru Outback

I am not afraid of the Prius's driveability, but why take a chance on someone sliding into it on a possible snow or ice slick road.

 

You might want to get snow tires for it and/or carry chains (sometimes they are mandatory if you want to proceed on interstates). Put some blankets inside and carry warm clothing just in case. Standard stuff for winter travel.

Some people love to complain about the traction control. Last night I was driving around Edmonton in snow and ice. Yup, the traction control made it slow to take off from a light. Yup, the cars behind me were left there as they were even slower to take off.

Mileage WILL suffer. Horrors, I only got 5.6 l/100 km last night in my 40 km drive. Temps were just around -22C.

 

I wouldn't want to drive any new car in Boston, regardless of the weather.

Tom

 

Welcome to Viriginia.

Virginia likes to put safety islands everywhere, even on the middle of the freeway. By safety island I mean something that looks like a sidewalk.

When making left turns at night, for example, don't shortcut and cut across any lane lines unless you are sure you do not see a traffic island.

Getting on the freeway, once you get off the on ramp, you may still be in a restricted area of the freeway. Check for a safety island like thing between your (just off the off ramp) lane and the main freeway. Change lanes only if you don't see a traffic island.

Of course, in daylight it is all clear. Driving at night, in the rain or snow, is an adventure.

In the snow, drive on the well trodden path. Don't say to yourself, I can cut the corner closer (snow hidden safety island). Don't be lazy. Make proper turns and don't cut corners short.

For those of you who wants an example. Drive rt 66 east. Take the off ramp to go 495 south. Once you get on 495 south, there will be a safety island either immediately or in a tenth of a mile preventing you from joining the main 495 until later.

I have seen cars hitting safety islands head on (wheels on the ground, safety island hitting between wheels) the frame gets bent and I think they get totaled.

 

Watch their local forecast as trip approaches. If heavy snow forecast, consider the SUV since some roads may become imPRIUSsible due to clearance.

 

After Christmas, my wife and I are going to DC from Georgia straight up I95 to our hotel right off the interstate. The travel there is the one thing I'm worried about. I hope everything works out for us because I definitely don't have snow tires or chains. We'll be traveling during the day both there and back.