How bad is the snowstorm this weekend going to be? That depends a lot on where you live, and I’m definitely in that borderline space between a fairly pedestrian six inches and up to two feet of utter insanity. I’m already at the point where I’m just listening to online meteorologists 24/7 in the background, I’ve found parking for my press car (FWD on all seasons), and there’s a beef stew going in the crockpot.
It’s a Snowmageddon-type vibe, and I want to be ready. The last time New York got hit hard by a record-breaking storm was, coincidentally, almost exactly ten years ago to the day. I remember this well because my wife was eight months pregnant, and our planned delivery hospital was on the other side of a river. This meant my options to get there in the event she went into labor early were: Ambulance (iffy), CitiBike (lol), train over the bridge (probably going to be shut down), or train under the river.
The storm came and went without too much drama for us, and my daughter ended up coming a little late and on a day with no snow. It did get me thinking about what kind of vehicle would be ideal for a huge snowstorm. If the world goes The Day After Tomorrow on you, a Golf GTI with snow tires might not be enough. OR maybe it is! You tell me!
For my part, one of the SPECTRE-created Land Rover Defenders done up by Bowler Motorsport with 37-inch tires, a hydraulic handbrake, and a tuned motor (a whopping 180 hp) is what I want. Not only is it going to be safe and rugged, but the handbrake sounds like a lot of fun for when it gets too safe.
What about you? What are you into?
Top graphic base image: Silverstone Auctions
The Armada with fresh 3-peak tires should be pretty good.
I’ve driven it in ~15 inches of snow before, ground clearance is the limiting factor.
4HI, snow mode and traction control off tends to work the best in deep snow.
If it gets much deeper than that, I’d either need a 2″ lift, or chains, or both, but realistically, I’m just not going anywhere then.
Each year at the Bozeman Ice Climbing festival a huge number of people who don’t always drive the plowed, but snow/ice over dirt, 10mi road make the trek in. Inevitably, at least one person always ends up off the road. And 100% of the vehicles I’ve seen lose it were Jeeps. I think people pick 4×4, lifted, fat chunky AT tires and such are great… and they aren’t.
My ultimate choice would be an Outback fitted with LSDs sitting on slightly oversized studded blizzaks.
Why do Jeep people continue to think that chunky mud tires would do well on ice/snow?
Even after sliding through every stop sign in the city.
Because they look cool, so they must be good.
That said, aired down mud tires tend to be great for paddling through deep snow, but are terrible for the other 95%+ of snow conditions.
Because they confuse mud prowess with snow prowess. Mud Tires throw mud away from the lugs whereas you want the snow to stick to the tires to help with the grip.
I have ATs on my FJ and I slid through the stops too. They were on the FJ when I bought it, so I’m guessing they just aren’t rated for snow and that’s why? I’m going to replace them with Falken Wildpeaks soon, which should be better if I end up in the snow again (I assume).
No appreciable siping, large flat trad blocks, and a rubber material that gets hard in the cold. They’ll all conspire to slide around in cold and icy weather
It looks like the Wildpeak 4TW has the 3peak designation, so should be better than the typical AT tire.
Nice, happy to have that confirmation! My spare that I had to buy in an emergency (one of my tires had some kind of gash in it) was a A/T3W so I’m going to get a full set pretty soon. That spare hasn’t been on the road yet so they’ll all be “new” once I get them
My Wildpeaks have been pretty solid in snow. I definitely recommend them.
Hell yeah
They got my family home last January in a snow/ice storm. A normal 2.5 hour drive took 6 hours, and we had over 1.5″ thick of ice buildup on the front of the truck.
We were one of very few vehicles that were able to keep it moving that day, zig zagging through countless stuck vehicles and semi-trucks.
Counterpoint.
https://youtu.be/v6hXr0uRaL0?si=7yXV_bfTGBvS8qhQ
His argument of “nothing likes ice” as justification for the poor performance of those tires speaks volumes.
Well, he is from Tennessee so…
From my experience, a generic rental SUV did perfectly fine on Michigan backcountry roads so snowy that you couldn’t even tell where the pavement was.
And since I turned driving-age, I’ve never lived in a place that gets more than a fraction of an inch of snow at a time.
A rental is the best answer!
Only if you pop for the extra insurance.
I’ll go full David Tracy and say my ’78 J10.
A 1972 SAAB 99 equiped with 155/85-15 rallystudded wintertyres! It was a beast in snow because it was very good with the very narrow tyres to dig throu the snow even at highwayspeeds. And the fact that it was my first hand-me-down car thru college may have some influece on the memories 😉 .
Kinda jealous. I’m not in the area affected but the states I lived in made studded tires illegal.
In college it was my trusty International Scout Terra. Today it’s my Badlands Bronco on 35’s with a wich on the front and locking diffs.
My FRS did pretty well in the snow with decent snow tires. It was a year-round daily so I kept the suspension stock, but I always dreamt of lifting it on a set of coilovers that were made for rallycross. A little taller tire to get another 2″ of ground clearance over stock and some white O.Z. rally wheels.
Maybe someday….
Almost 30 years ago now I was in Boulder Colorado in a healthy snowstorm (+18 inches), plows were running continually through the storm to keep the main roads at least decently navigatable.
I did a triple take as I saw a guy in a red Mazda Miata drive by on snow tires.
A Hilux or Hiace 4WD, or perhaps even a T30 X-Trail, yeah not the most off-roady truck in the world, but it should be as good as a Subaru but without Subaru’s problems. It’s basically a Forester Done Right 😀
When we get more than a foot of snow here (in Alaska), I tend to want to stay put and let the plows work and stay out of any traffic nonsense. But if I need to go out, I’ve never had a problem getting around with my old manual Subaru Legacy wagons (which I prefer over the Outback versions). Though the LSD would be nice, I can’t say I’ve ever been stopped by the lower ground clearance. My manual Loyale wagon that I had in 1999 was also unstoppable and fun when switched to 4WD mode.
An ideal snow vehicle for me, since I don’t off road, would be an un-lifted old Legacy wagon with LSDs. If talking dream car, add the DCCD from the STI and an EJ22 or EJ207 turbo.
Short clips of a lowered Legacy wagon having fun in the snow: https://youtu.be/ddugE5uYpAA
and deeper snow: https://youtu.be/vBz4YhxHc2E
My stock ride height 05 legacy GT with manual and LSD on triple peak snowflake tires usually kicks butt, but … When the snow was not only over a foot but also quite dense I got enough snow under the floor that the tires in the ruts they made didn’t have enough normal force to climb the hill. It felt like getting lifted up off the road. Had to back down in my own tracks, do a slow motion Rockford, and go home for something with more clearance and equal tires.
Yeah, I’m sure there is a limit and you’ve found it. By time I get my driveway cleared, and I’m often the slowest on my road to do that, enough traffic will have gone up and down that I’ve never had a problem. Other than my driveway, which I don’t drive on when it’s not dug out, steep hills are optional for me. I only drive them to get to some local trailheads. I ski out my back yard most winter days anyway and don’t go looking for problems when there’s a big dump.
We just fixed up a 1995 manual Legacy wagon for my son to have as a winter beater in Maine. Snow tires and no lift. Works great. It has the NA EJ22 that should be good to go for a while.
Sounds pretty impressive you found a 95 Subie in Maine? That exists as more metal than rust
Watching the Rual Vermont YouTube channel bc of all the salt used cars over 10-15 years old are like Swiss cheese more holes than metal
I have relatives in upstate NY and they advise the same
Of course that’s still N = 2 so Im sure YMMV certainly applies…
especially if fluid film or lanoline products are regularly applied to the underside
It’s an odd car for sure. The unibody shell has very little rust, but the subframe and suspension stuff is rusted to the point that it would need to be cut off and completely replaced if something breaks. It was lightly driven for a few decades and then parked for a while. It’s a beater for sure: cracked windshield, failed clearcoat, missing the passenger mirror, and more. But it goes, stops and drifts very well. It was the cheapest car we’ve ever registered or insured. They should all be that inexpensive. It makes me want to go out west to bring a Subaru (or 3) home to Maine.
Nice. Im in MN here too it is uncommon to see anything older than about 20 years old.
2? Years ago I saw a really clean looking teal 93? Chevy Baretta parked at work and had to walk out to take a look at it.
Any car +25 is pretty rare.
Now, All 3 of the family ‘daily drivers’ were Fly & Buy (and drive back here) situations bc for some reason cars in MN seem to have a significant enough price difference that it has been worth it to me to make the extra effort
That fly & buy is our plan for the next vehicle. The trouble is that it’s quite the distance from Maine to anywhere that doesn’t have salt and sand rust. Pretty much a 2 day drive at minimum. Oh well, a small price to pay to be able to turn a wrench instead of breaking out the torch and grinder.
Another option worth looking in to would be to find a dealer that is within a days drive (driving one way at least), that is in the habit of selling vehicles that they themselves have delivered to them from dry states or at least states that don’t use salt on their roads.
I would expect you could find such a dealer in / around the Boston area, which if you’re able to come to a deal remotely (preferably using a 3rd party for a point + indy mechanic inspection) hopefully could be completed in 1 day.
Of our 3 dailies
1 was bought in OH used and appears from the vehicle history spent it’s life prior in OH
1 was bought in N. Kentucky and spent most of its prior life in Utah
The 3rd was bought new in Chicago area.
So the OH and Ky cars were about 750 miles away, so roughly 12 hr drive.
Both the KY and OH deals ended up taking 2 days each. The Chicago one I was able to fly in on the 1st flight head straight to the dealer, sign the ppwk and get hm the same day
https://arctictrucks.com/toyota-hilux-446×6/#gallery
A working 2CV is surprsingly good in the snow. Also an Argocat (for this one does need the right clothing) or, my favorite snowmaggedon vehicle, an Alvis Stalwart.
I make no apologies to those who have to google these!
An Argo might be able to go anywhere, but you’re never getting there quickly.
True, but my other two options are not that much quicker.
Having spent my grade-school years in Upper Michigan near the Soo….
….give me a hill and a Toboggan.
LSSU student here. I completely agree with you. Perfect for the I-500 though and the Iditapotty.
I think Autopian should send an intrepid reporter to witness the Soo 500 for us.
Just two weeks away!
depends on the level of ‘Mageddon were talking about. Anything where tires will still eventually hit substrate, then I’m quite happy in the GX or Cruiser. Where tires will never dig down and touch earth, then I’m looking at a Hagglands. For something inbetween where I need to be able to street and go off the path, then I am getting mattracks for the cruiser and calling it a day.
I would be all over this R2.8/8-speed converted model http://www.trackedoutdoors.com/hagglunds-bv206-a6e7809-for-sale-981651.html
Also, amphibious so it works for floods too.
AMG Mercedes-Benz Brabus 6X6
Not that I can park it in my neighborhood.
I’m fat, have a beard and a red shirt on today so I’ll go with a sleigh pulled by donkeys.
Have you seen the price of reindeer? I don’t have that kind of money lying around.
The donkeys do a better job in the hills, at least in Sicily, from what I hear.
I’d get myself an Italian Christmas Donkey for these conditions.
https://youtu.be/Ca5wXojemRM?si=GEPhRsacwPTM8xcL
Dominick! Haha!
Mmmm reindeer. Delicious with green pepper sauce!
just about anything with good snow tires
or tank treads
Ask the Germans how well tank treads do in the snow.
By the same token, ask the Russians how well tank treads do in the snow.
No different than tires, gotta have the right tread for the terrain you’re going over.
Absolutely. Tank treads can work great but they have to be compatible for the environment just like footwear and tires.
When the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
No! Of course not! There is no snow at Pearl Harbor!
Silly Bluto!
A couch, prefereably soft enough to fall asleep on while I watch TV waiting out the storm, but firm enough that I can sit on it and put my feet up with a tray to eat dinner.
A bulletproofed 6.0 excursion makes an excellent snow vehicle to rescue both people and vehicles. But a kei truck with snow or all terrains would do it for me they just float on top of the snow. Or if more comfort a some form of land cruiser or gx would be great. But if money is no question and no one is going to ask if it’s road legal a sherp.
That’s exactly my truck! It really is unstoppable in the snow
Something with a good heater… so sadly, probably not a d110. I’m going with a 200 series Land Cruiser. Comfortable, safe, fun of road and reliable
Scroll down a couple posts and you’ll find what you’re looking for. A WWII-era Jeep will get through anything, albeit slowly. Those wide tires in the Sceptre will sit on top of the snow, but some skinny Jeep tires will dig right through it and find something that provides traction. If you add a hard half-cab to an MB or CJ, the interior volume is so small that the heater will melt your socks.
My official answer is: don’t go out in the snow! Seriously, if you can arrange it so you don’t have to, the drivers that do have to be out there and first responders will appreciate fewer cars on the road.
My unofficial answer is something with treads or at least good winter tires. Good tires make all the difference.
Of the vehicles I’ve owned, my 96 Ford Explorer with AWD and 302 V8 was almost unstoppable. Just point it and mash the gas, it had good power and good ground clearance and would just dig in and go.
We’re in the 12-18″ band it seems. Rough.
Biased, but I genuinely think I would chose my old Suzuki SX4. I ran it with snows every winter and the thing was absolutely unstoppable.
Never drove my sx4 in snow. It was a ton of fun in sand, just floated over the top. I imagine snow would be similar
I always wanted to take it out on sand.
And yeah, it was excellent in snow. It was a better handling and built car than it had any right to be.
Learned to heal-toe in mine on fire roads too. They really are a blast! I used to love skipping past the big trucks on the beach
My old lifted 5-speed 99 Forester was an absolute monster in the snow. I played around in a field with roughly a foot of snow on the ground on more than one occasion, and was never ever stuck in that thing.
https://imgur.com/gP3XpL2
However, if we’re talking dream snow rigs, I’d want a 70-series Land Cruiser with lots of tire, lift, and maybe even portal axles while we’re at it. A fella can dream, right?
I grew up as far north in MI as you can get with around 300+ inches every year. My 97 Subaru Impreza L with a stick on Blizzaks made it through everything. I miss that little car.
Love me some Keweenaw. Reminds me of my home here in Door County, WI but with so many fewer people.
Oh nice, we are in the Fox Valley so we get up to DC a couple times a year. Such a great place but growing like crazy it seems. We were recently looking at some land up there to invest in (and perhaps eventually build on) but eventually decided against it so we could wait for something to go up for sale in the Keweenaw.
I had nokian snows on my old STi, and even with lowered suspension it was hilariously good in snow. I want to own an old 90’s GC chassis Impreza someday! They’re just all rotted out around here sadly.
I’m on my second Golf R- both with Hakkapeliita R5’s- really amazing in the snow.
They were freaky good for sure! I bought mine gently used as part of a winter wheel/tire setup from a guy on a forum, and they were outstanding even with a few winters under their belts already.
Anything that gets me away from the snow and to an appropriate climate. As Jimmy Buffett said in Boat Drinks, I gotta go where its warm.