Beloved Prius vs a 4WD

Not trying to be a dick or anything here but being from California you wouldnt understand. You dont see much bad weather. Even with snow tires on a prius with the average snowfall here you would not get anywhere.

 

I know there's others out there who share my awful experience with TC on slick surfaces but most just don't participate in these interchanges since they know the usual reaction, which we are once again seeing here. I've been stuck, absolutely powerless, just on a slightly inclined gravel driveway.

As I said in my previous post, my preliminary experience on an icy hill is that the Gen III TC is much improved.

I've said my piece and am backing out of this thread. :rockon:

 

Right. Because the Sierra Nevada range never gets snowfall. Learn your geography man.

Nothing I stated is incorrect. The Prius with proper tires works fine for those who do not experience off-road conditions. Those who live in areas that dump huge amounts of snow for long periods should consider a different car/truck that fits their needs. It's quite simple.

 

We get just a tad more snow than you, and we find we do quite well with our Prius. I seem to recall one PC member who drives a Prius for mail delivery over on your side of the lake.

Tom

 

I've been there and done that. I own an '05 and run high performance 17" tires which hate thick gravel and ice. The point is, if you drive in these conditions regularly then you should look into another car like I stated in my post.

I've also done the same thing in my old Mustang GT and ended up in a ditch and had to have my 2 friends push the front side of my car so I could complete a 3-point turn without the car sliding in the wrong direction. It's not just a Prius thing. It's a passenger car with the wrong tires or horrible conditions thing.

 

I've been there. It was a bit more than slightly inclined, but stuck I was. A Gen II Prius combined with gravel and OEM tires is not a happy mix.

Tom

 

Yeah you know alot about snowfall being from Sacramento

Taken from Wiki

Snowfall is exceptionally rare in Sacramento (at an elevation of only 25 feet (7.6 m) above sea level). The all-time record snowfall was 3.5 inches (9 cm) and occurred on January 4, 1888. Dustings occur every 5–10 years, with up to an inch accumulation in outlying areas. During especially cold winter and spring storms, intense showers do occasionally produce a significant amount of hail, which can create hazardous driving conditions. Significant snow accumulations occur each year in the foothills located 40 miles (65 km) east of the city.

 

Just buy a used 4wd for your ski trips. Look for one in mechanically good condition that is about 10 years old. They are inexpensive - and your Prius will be reserved for regular driving.

Jim

 

My wife used to drive a 1969 Camaro. It was fun to drive, but that beast was a horror in the winter. No weight in back, rear wheel drive, wide tires, and *way* too much torque. It was like driving a hover craft.

With a cold start, the fast idle setting on the carb would make the car go 40 mph without touching the gas. If you touched the brakes to slow down, the front wheels would lock and you would lose all steering. The only option was to shift back and forth into N and D. I don't miss it for winter driving.

Tom

 

Since I had to trade in a Porsche I ordered both a Prius and a Rav4 diesel. The Rav4 diesel is supposed to be a clean diesel (159 grams of C02 per km). My advice is to keep your Prius and buy a used and inexpensive 4WD car (even a Fiat Panda 4x4 if you get them in the US, or a Suzuki Swift 4x4). These small cars beat several preminum SUVs in terms of snow traction (even uphill) because of the narrow tires and low weight and can achieve great mileage.

 

Yup and I never have to travel into the foothills and Sierra Nevada for work where our nature preserves are located. I just stay at home Sacramento (technically Rocklin at the base of the foothills) every day of my life. You're acting like a %$^&^*idiot. Tell me where what I posted is wrong instead of trying to attack my knowledge of harsh conditions without knowing anything about me besides a location description.

 

Three thumbs up, Justin !
Well placed cursing does have it's merits

The guy isn't listening to you, he is hearing his stereotype. Tell him how TC is awesome on the beach, and he'll believe you.

 

*In general*, are RWD or FWD vehicles better in the snow ?
I ask because obviously snow country has been auto country for a lot longer than AWD SUVs have been around.

 

FWD. The weight balance favors FWD for traction, and they're less likely to oversteer (fishtail, spin out, etc.).

 

The fact you can't/don't want to have two cars make the choice easy. If you truly feel you need more off-road ability than the Prius can provide then look into a Subaru. Most of my friends that live in the foothills or higher in elevation (2,000-7,000ft.) drive Outbacks and they love them. You don't sound like you need a fullsize 4wd truck so the Outback may be your best best. My friends are avid outdoors people like you seem to be so whether for work (biologists, botanists, geologists, ski resort workers, etc.) or play they keep buying Outbacks.

 

You obviously have not tried to get to Sacramento from nearby Reno or Lake Tahoe, at one of those times when Tahoe's weekly snow is measured in yards, not inches. When the orange chain-checkpoint man standing in the middle of I-80 going up Donner Summit is turning back 90% of the already sparse traffic. When Hiway 50 from South Lake Tahoe is simply closed.

 

There is another snow issue unique to metropolitan areas. In a big city, regardless of what sort of tank you drive, you aren't going anywhere after a big snowfall. You may be able to drive through the snow, but you can't get around all of the other stuck cars.

I found this out the hard way when I moved to the city after years in Northern Michigan. I was driving an old Jeep C-J5. A Subaru was a mere toy when compared to that beast. Regardless, it didn't matter. The first joker with bald tires snarled up traffic and no one went anywhere.

As a city dweller, take a long hard look at your transportation needs. If you don't drive much, fuel mileage is not much of an issue. On the other hand, don't base your decision on 1% of your needs (or perceived needs), which is a mistake made by many. Very few SUVs are ever used off road, and even fewer are really needed. Ultimately only you can make this decision.

Tom