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FITM-K t1_jcykx1d wrote

Honestly, in my experience having winter tires is more important than AWD anyway. Plenty of folks here survive winters with 2WD, any AWD vehicle you get is gonna be fine, particularly if you put winter tires on it, which you should.

(I recognize that's expensive, but in the long term it mostly evens out as your two sets of tires will wear more slowly than having one set on year-round.)

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ralphy1010 t1_jcyvhg1 wrote

2wd with snow tires, I've never actually owned a AWD\4x4 vehicle.

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[deleted] OP t1_jcympc5 wrote

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siebzy t1_jcyn47v wrote

My Mazda 3 hasn't been bothered by snow once since I got proper snow tires.

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Gripit__ripit t1_jcytwya wrote

Driving in the snow is:

45% Tires

45% Skill/Experience

10% Vehicle

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synaeryn12345 t1_jczyzee wrote

4WD and AWD must factor higher than 10%

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010kindsofpeople t1_jd180s1 wrote

It's four wheel drive, not four wheel turn, or four wheel stop. It will help you get going but honestly probably hurt you more as all wheel drive cars are heavier.

Light, fwd cars with snow tires are better for the vast majority of people. Of course there's use cases for all wheel drive and four wheel drive, but most people don't need it. Marketing has worked great.

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synaeryn12345 t1_jd2vw3y wrote

All I know is that with my blizzaks I'm not getting up steep hills in the winter in 2WD. Throw it in 4WD and there's no problem.

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TheMrGUnit t1_jd0qf3h wrote

They absolutely do not.

I've driven many winters with only FWD, and a handful with AWD, with otherwise similar vehicles. The step from all-seasons to winter tires was mind blowing. The step from FWD to AWD was almost negligible. The only times it matters are when you're stuck in your driveway or screwing around.

Honestly, without the skill, most people get themselves into way more trouble with AWD because they THINK they have more traction than they really do. Stopping distance and cornering grip are exactly the same with FWD vs. AWD, but massively different with all-seasons vs. snows.

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synaeryn12345 t1_jd2v23w wrote

I meant the jump from 2WD to 4WD or AWD. Not AWD to 4WD

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Gripit__ripit t1_jd301f6 wrote

I've driven every type of drive with every type of tire in pretty much every level of snowy road. AWD/4WD is only useful for getting up steep driveways in serious conditions. I drove a rwd sedan with winters for year in the Bangor area and never once wasn't able to drive somewhere or makes it up any hills on actual roads.

As others have said it doesn't help you stop or turn which the cause of 99% of snowy accidents.

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synaeryn12345 t1_jd32v1c wrote

I guess we just have very different experiences. Because I have also driven a truck/car FWD/RWD/AWD/4WD and have very much had issues in downtown Augusta driving up the hill past the courthouse until I engage 4WD or AWD in almost every snowstorm.

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TheMrGUnit t1_jd3m8gl wrote

That's very specifically what I was talking about: FWD vs AWD.

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synaeryn12345 t1_jd41dnr wrote

So I write something. You rethink your own version of what I said, then make an argument based off your own comment. Am I missing something?

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TheMrGUnit t1_jd4bnag wrote

You wrote >4WD and AWD must factor higher than 10%

And I replied that they do not. 4WD/AWD have relatively miniscule impact on the driveability of a vehicle in snow compared to a similar vehicles equipped with only 2WD. 4WD and AWD are effectively the exact same, with only a handful of minor differences in regards to the function of the system, NOT the driveability of the vehicle.

The only thing that actually matters, unless you're stuck in a snowbank, is the tires you have on the vehicle. That's it.

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TheMrGUnit t1_jd4bz5m wrote

FWD = Front Wheel Drive

AWD = All Wheel Drive

RWD = Rear Wheel Drive

4WD = 4-Wheel Drive

These are common automotive industry acronyms. Nobody uses FWD to mean Four Wheel Drive.

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synaeryn12345 t1_jd4d87y wrote

Sir, I said 4WD and AWD make more than a 10% difference. I meant four wheel and all wheel as I typed them.

If you're saying you don't fishtail like a bitch in winter with front wheel drive you either live in downtown Portland or are a liar.

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TheMrGUnit t1_jd4rm31 wrote

I drove for more than a decade with a front wheel drive car and snow tires, living in central and norther Maine. I did not "fishtail like a bitch" unless I was explicitly trying to do so.

If you have never driven in snow with snow tires, you cannot possibly comprehend how much more grip they have compared to all-seasons. My current car is AWD, and the only thing it offers over FWD is more grip from a stop, and the ability to get more sideways. The tires are the difference maker.

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-DIL- t1_jcys8jw wrote

My mother has a Buick encore (mechanically the same as a trax IIRC). She has no issues in Northern Maine, but like others have said it really comes down to the tires. In high school I had a geo prizm and it was great with snow tires, equivalent or even slightly better than my silverado with all terrains.

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[deleted] OP t1_jcyt68j wrote

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Wonkadonkadoo t1_jcz2st5 wrote

Read up on the 1.4 liter engine in the Trax. Very problematic.

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Thebluelobstah t1_jcz4vow wrote

I’m still daily driving my 2006 Trailblazer! It does exceptionally well in the snow and has been incredibly reliable. I have so much trust in it! The trailblazer line definitely is a solid one.

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SirJoab t1_jcykcrx wrote

My wife just got a Trailblazer in February, and we've already driven it quite a few miles in the snow. It's really good! Very stable, and excellent traction. Pretty roomy inside. Fun to drive too!

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Thebluelobstah t1_jcz4l6q wrote

I’m still daily driving my 2006 Trailblazer! It does exceptionally well in the snow and has been incredibly reliable. I have so much trust in it! The trailblazer line definitely is a solid one.

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A-roguebanana t1_jcz1ili wrote

If you want AWD don’t do it in a Trax. They are awful. Subarus are more true AWD than a lot of others that are FWD unless there is slip detected and even then it can be dodgy.

Others have said snow tires are more important and that is 100% true. In fact, FWD with good snows is 10x better that AWD without and it’s 99% as good as AWD with snow tires.

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flocking_north t1_jcyp4v7 wrote

Literally any FWD/AWD car with proper tires will be fine unless you live somewhere that doesn't plow. Bigger=safer is a lie made up by the auto industry to sell more SUVs since the 00s.

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[deleted] OP t1_jcyqn8s wrote

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Nervous_Cellist_3106 t1_jcz5i1q wrote

Would not recommend a Trax then. I have gotten stuck at the bottom of the hill to my private road in Lebanon, doesn’t get plowed much by the town, thankfully a neighbor helps out. Have had to walk about 300 yards to get to my house before in some of the rougher weather. Studded tires would probably bridge the gap.

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[deleted] OP t1_jcz6ip9 wrote

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Nervous_Cellist_3106 t1_jcz6sl1 wrote

I have used winter tires as well as all season, the winter tires helped a bit, but more traction is needed. Snow tires with enough weight in back helps out a bunch, but it still disengages the AWD with ice.

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flocking_north t1_jd3ck6e wrote

It's up to you then. Will your wife be able to ride with you on the occasions that happens? Remember it really only snows like 20-30 days a year... If you truly both need to be on the move during those storms, then you probably should get the bigger vehicle, but if not it sounds like a waste.

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DifferenceMore5431 t1_jcyuroc wrote

Winter tires are a much bigger differentiator than the specific kind of vehicle. If you care at all about overall safety and driving in the snow you should seriously consider getting some. Ideally on a 2nd set of wheels, which makes swapping easier and cheaper.

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gregra193 t1_jcywrih wrote

A regular FWD car with studless snow tires + decent ground clearance (think Honda Accord) will do excellent in a Maine winter. Got plenty of personal experience with that.

Chevy isn’t the most reliable, and not worth going with one just for AWD. You don’t need AWD.

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Nervous_Cellist_3106 t1_jcz3lk5 wrote

I have a 2018 Trax LS AWD, Chevy has now stopped making Trax in AWD for a reason. It is not good in anything with ice. Snow it does fine in, but if there is the tiniest bit of ice on a hill, the AWD breaks and disengages.

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Jwoods224 t1_jczcvl8 wrote

It’s a great vehicle for that. Just make sure the tires are right and you know how to handle snow/ice.

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Longjumping_Ad_6988 t1_jd0qn08 wrote

Repair shop owner here. I know this wasn't your question but I have to throw this out there..... The amount of major jobs we have done on Chevy Trax/Chevy Cruze (same drivetrain) lately has been ridiculous. Turbos, fuel rails, oil coolers, etc. Especially on 2014 and up. There is a reason these things are inexpensive to buy. They were produced largely as fleet vehicles and not made to last. Pretty much all cars have their quirks but as far as I'm concerned these vehicles are hot garbage. If people keep buying them I am going to be able to retire young.

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[deleted] OP t1_jd0sx34 wrote

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Longjumping_Ad_6988 t1_jd0td0j wrote

Depends what year you're looking at. Generally speaking they are pretty much in line maintenance-wise with other large SUVs.

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[deleted] OP t1_jd0tt41 wrote

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Longjumping_Ad_6988 t1_jd0u9tw wrote

Oh brand new? Goes nuts then. They may have changed the Trax for the better I don't know. I saw issues up through the 2018 models. Haven't seen many newer than that. Get the Trailblazer anyway the name sounds cooler.

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pinetreesgreen t1_jd5sm0x wrote

Any awd suv is good. The people telling you awd doesn't matter and it's just good tires have not driven in several inches of snow with a low slung car. Clearance and awd makes a huge difference.

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jparadis87 t1_jdaswfg wrote

I did doordash in a Scion TC (sporty front wheel drive coupe) all of one winter delivering to snowed in people with un-plowed driveways and I never got close to getting stuck thanks to proper snow tires.

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pinetreesgreen t1_jdb9hxb wrote

I had studded snow tires on several sub compact cars in my youth, and they would get stuck several times a winter. Once the snow starts scraping the belly of a sub compact car, its over. They get hung up on everything, I guess bc they are so light. That was my experience in deeper snow you find outside of southern Maine. My old Volvo was better, but still not as good as awd.

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MathematicianGlum880 t1_jcyobfz wrote

We have a Nissan Rogue, with all weather tires, it handles fine. Can’t go barrel assing down the road but I’m 62f and have driven it in the snow. Though if I had the money…I’d get another RAV4.

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SadExtension524 t1_jd18a65 wrote

My mom had a Trax as a loaner and you get what you pay for with that car. Very flimsy materials, uncomfortable driving position, and just overall cheap feeling.

I drive a Chevy hatchback with only front wheel drive and so far have only gotten stuck once and that was in my own driveway. I'd say anything with AWD is going to be fine enough in snow, especially with the right tires.

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thorgundersen t1_jczvyho wrote

It's not so much the vehicle or tires, it's the nut that goes between the seat and steering wheel.

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