Beloved Prius vs a 4WD

I think based on what you posted you may need 4WD. Have you looked at a Highlander hybrid?

I don't mind owning more than one vehicle so I have a older 4WD pickup in addition to my Prius. But I don't live where you do either.

 

Installing condition-appropriate tires will be far more cost effective than exchanging vehicles. That should greatly cut back on your winter limits. If that still leaves you somewhat limited, then see how much it would cost to rent an AWD or high clearance vehicle for the remaining occasions. That will help guide any financial considerations.

Myself? The new Prius replaced an old 2WD, not the less-old Subaru. The later is staying until a similar hybrid or modern diesel becomes available. We didn't get any significant snow out of this week's cold snap, yet this season the Subaru has already reached its clearance limit three times, and gone through one chains-required pass crossing. It definitely has its place in the household stable.

 

I'm a Level II PSIA certified instructor. I go to the hill every weekend. The Prius easily fits our skis and giant bags without having to angle them in (my neighbor's gas guzzling, luxury 4x4 has a smaller rear cargo area). If the weather is THAT bad, no one should be on the road. A 4x4 may get you out of the ultra rare, super deep, drift from a dead stop, but nothing -- NOTHING -- will keep you on the road when going too fast for conditions. It will also, however, roll over much more easily than a Prius. Use your head: stay on the plowed roads and parking lots. STUMP! Saftey, Fun and Learning!

 

Did you have on dedicated snow tires the times you had problems in the snow? Most seem to find that good snow tires make all the difference in winter.

 

If you do any amount of driving in the snow, definitely do yourself a favor and get some dedicated snow wheels/tires that you swap on/off for the winter. Will probably cost $600-$1000, but everyone who posts after getting some good snow tires raves about how well they work.

Do a search for snow tires and you'll find a lot of information.

Edit: Subarus do very well in the snow, but the AWD doesn't mean you won't need snow tires. Even a Suby needs snow tires if you're going to be spending any significant amount of time in the snow.

Edit 2: Here's a couple threads with a good amount of snow tire info for - there's more, too

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...shooting/70379-snow-tire-recommendations.html
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/42135-snow-tires-worth.html

Edit 3: If you go to tirerack.com, you can get a winter tire/wheel package for a reasonable price (looks like they start around $500 before shipping, shipping is about $100). Then all you have to do is swap your wheels out which is easy to do.

 

Sounds like you are the victim of the infamous TC (traction control) problem. I parked my '05 when it snowed or was icy. I considered it downright dangerous. The TC would kick in and the car would stop dead in its' tracks. Even worse, after it stopped, it would start sliding uncontrollably. Snow tires were of no help. Do a search for "traction control" and you'll find all sorts of comments, pro and con.

There are those on Priuschat who will tell you the car is wonderful in snow, but I can only tell you my experience.

I must add that I drove my Gen III in icy conditions a few days ago that would have stranded me in the '05 and it did amazingly well.

Enjoy your Prius but, if I were in your shoes, I would find a more suitable vehicle for the usage you describe.

 

Toyota does have the hybrid Highlander, might not be a bad idea to look at one of those, even used.
Also, Subaru is suppose to be coming out with Toyota's HSD hybrid in one of their cars in either 2011 or 2012. So your dreams might be in the not to far distance. It's my dream to have our Prius sitting next to another Subaru - hybrid Subaru that is.

 

aapoppa sounds a bit extreme to me, but I think he raises a good point: there is snow driving, and then there is snow driving in hills.

If I was you I would get the snow tyres, and then go out to a safe and suitable place and test the limits of traction control. Knowing how the car is going to react is worth a lot for peace of mind and pre-planning what is reasonable.

 

Who, me? Nah, I'm a pussycat except when it comes to Prius Gen II traction control.

I've been very scared numerous times and stranded as well until I accepted the cars' limitations. Between the low ground clearance and lousy TC, I would stand by my comments.

FWIW, I lived in NYC (a long time ago) and drove to Vermont to ski every weekend. The thought of driving my '05 on the Taconic Parkway and Route 22 (I'm sure I'm showing my age here) in the winter makes me shudder.

 

You just struck one of my sore points.

My Subaru ('97 Legacy GT Wagon) is not an SUV. It is legally a car.

Unfortunately, all new Subaru wagons are SUVs, not cars. They take advantage of the light truck loophole in fleet CAFE requirements. They are jacked up even higher, which is not a good idea for what was formerly the car (Outback) most prone to rollover. Some have window tinting that is illegal for cars in my state. And they probably took advantage of a few more SUV loopholes.

 

Our '96 Outback is a car legally, but we treat it like a truck ;-)

 

I think the Outback became an SUV with the MY 2004 redesign. Then the non-Outback Legacy wagons were abolished more recently.

 

Sounds like a ford escape hybrid would suit you well.

I've been doing alot of reading here and see that the prius tends to leave alot of you stranded in a little bit of snowy weather. In my eyes thats totally unacceptable. My wifes beater ford contour goes just about anywhere in the snow with regular street tires. Im sure you all heard about the blizzard we had here in WI over the last couple days. Her car got her almost anywhere she needed to go. If her car didnt do it my F250 damn sure did. Its nice to have a vehicle that I know will always get me from point A to point B. After reading these statements about the prius not being able to climb hills or move in the snow. I dont understand how anyone that lives in a state that has snow or crap weather in general would buy one

 

Maybe because they don't off-road much? It's quite simple. If you live in a snow prone area you buy the correct tires and everything is fine. Purchasing a vehicle that gets subpar MPG and puts out a ton more emissions is a waste for a lot of people. It reminds me of people who buy a 4wd vehicle because they go skiing once a year when they could have purchased a 2wd and just rented a vehicle for that once a year trip.

If you do outdoor work/activities that require a more rugged vehicle with real off-road ability then you should purchase one that fits your needs. I'll likely trade in the Prius to purchase a diesel truck if they ever become clean enough in emissions for me to even consider. My work and activities require more than the Prius but for now I make it work.

 

What a coincidence, my dad was an F-250 / Contour household too, on a ranch in rural Idaho, until last year. Make that multiple F-250s -- the recent one for the livestock trailer, the old beater for rougher work, and the ancient super-beater that I wouldn't take up to highway speed.

He would not agree with you on the Contour, even with better tires. It has balance that the F-250s lack, but like most regular cars, lacks the ground clearance and 4/AWD needed for serious conditions. But then my Subaru -- not as high as an Outback -- was once high centered there.

I do agree with you on the Escape Hybrid. Dad thought about the Escape. I tried to talk him into the Hybrid, but he is not ready for new technology. Then a neighbor's late model used Jeep Cherokee fell into his lap. While I cringe at its fuel consumption, it is otherwise a much better choice than the Contour for him to get around off-ranch.

Living in a major urban area, I bought the Prius as a replacement 3-season car, knowing full well that it isn't suited for some of my ski outings. Everything appears that with good tires, it will handle 3-1/2 seasons at least as well any of my previous FWD cars. But because the state patrol and DOT close local highways well before my Subaru becomes necessary, I'll have to travel elsewhere to find out what this Prius can really do.

 

With all due respect, the finest snow tires in the world won't be of any help when a wheel, even just momentarily, loses traction and the engine totally dies. It's then compounded on a hill, when the car starts sliding totally out of control.

Not a good feeling.