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
2nd gen Suzuki Grand Vitara (2006-?) for roads.
Off road: Last gen Chevy Tracker/Suzuki Vitara with 30″ tires. The places I could make it where crazy.
All with real winter tires, Mud/all terrains are not particularly good in snow.
Because of the storm, I’ve been looking at Mitsubishi Delica’s, specifically they offered a Chamonix trim meant for skiers, with heavy duty carpeting, water resistant cloth on the seats, extra insulation to keep warm, and a limited-slip differential to conquer tough mountain roads on the way to the ski resorts. They could withstand the cold weather with dual 12V batteries and a larger alternator. And the pattern on the seats looked like a blizzard, incredibly rad.
Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 6×6
Class 11 spec Type 1 VW with a diesel heater.
Snow tires are the only thing that really matters. My Grand Cherokee Trailhawk with Blizzacks has never let me down. But (back when I had the car) I trusted my GTI with Michelin X-ice snow tires more than 99% of the 4WD vehicles with all season tires.
You’d have your mind blown by a deep snow tire.
I was unstoppable for 7 winters in my gencoupe with Hankook iPikes.
The 8th year I got gifted brand new X-ices, and I got stuck in my driveway 3 times that winter.
IMO the X-ice is a fantastic winter tire if you live where it snows sometimes but also clears and drys up between storms. It’s what I run here in Wisconsin. It has much better dry road manners than the Blizzaks (which are much better on snow covered roads that I grew up on in far northern MI)
Agreed, years ago we had a Mazda 3 on snow tires and a new Grand Cherokee on stock all seasons. Every snow storm I reached for the Mazda keys for my 40 mile commute.
My go to “vehicle” for 2+ feet of snow is a fat tire e-bike with a home made ski rack, just to get down to the bus stop to get to the ski area. I can always hook up the bike trailer if the 5 year old wants to come along, or tow her in a sled. Feet of snow is normal, so even with 8 feet of snow over a week, the roads are almost always well plowed, and getting past a giant plow berm at the end of the driveway is much easier with the bike than a car. Even the old Jeep has been stuck so badly, with the snow up to the windows, that I’ve winched myself out off the front deck post.
If I actually had to go somewhere without plowing, a snowmobile would absolutely be the way to go.
Oh that’s an easy one for me: Renault Espace Quadra
Yeah, I’ll be the first one getting stranded on the side of the road, but I’m doing it in style.
unimog
Those big wide mud terrains on the rover actually probably suck in the snow. A David Tracy take on this would be interesting.
Logical, sane answer: I’d go with a Volvo XC60 with snow tires.
Nutjob, money-no-object answer: Ripsaw.
Our Audi Allroads do remarkably well in snow and ice (remember the Audi commercial of a car driving UP the ski jump slope?) but if it’s bad enough out there to make driving among my fellow Americans hazardous, I’m content to stay home.
There’s an area of Russia right now digging their cars out of 20+ foot drifts, I say why? Where can you go when the roads are under 20 ft of snow anyway?
Honestly? Probably doesn’t exist. But I’ll list the traits I do want.
Single Speed BEV, e-CVT, or CVT transmission for linear power delivery
FWD based 4WD system (or a BEV that is FWD till you put it into “4WD”)
Turbocharged if ICE (I live at 7500ft of elevation)
Locking diffs or LSDs front and rear
Cab forward or cab over design with a 3 seat front bench (so with 3 people in the car you’re not taking weight off the front (driven) wheels.
Snow tires, ground clearance, etc.
Closest thing to this I can think of is the OX Truck, which they won’t sell to anyone 🙁
Or a VW Hormiga with a ZF transaxle and a turbo kit
Rear seat passengers only take weight off the front wheels if their centers of mass are behind the rear axle.
For the last two big snowfalls my ’78 Bronco was able to tunnel through it, but ideally it would have to have a set of Mattracks under it to tackle Snowmaggeddon depth stuff. That, or I’d give it up for an arctic bus on 72″ tundra tires.
My ideal snowmageddon vehicle is a very large RV with a fully stocked fridge, satellite TV/internet, a full tank of gas to run the generator and/or heater, and a backup solar power system just in case.
You chumps can try your luck with 4wd vehicles. I’ll just chill in my RV until the plows come.
A company called Boreham is actually working on this.
I think a Sherp would be fun.Maybe a lifted 1st or 2nd generation Sequioa with some skinny tires because those things are so reliable and comfortable.
Probably my 100 series Land Cruiser. Cant imagine anything will get in that thing’s way.
The last decade’s 18″ storm I was in Maryland. My 04 Titan made easy work of it. This year Ive got a 19 T4R, but no plans to test it unless necessary. My FWD Saab 9-3 with snows was great up until the front lip started snowplowing. And, the haters can stuff it, but my old Juke AWD on fresh all seasons was a superstar on just about every surface.
Whatever the soon-to-be well-tipped delivery guy is driving.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeuMU6_4uTw
I’ve always had this potentially-psychotic idea that my ideal winter vehicle is a modernized version of an RS200 Evo.
The kit cars exist…so why not build one with a more modernized powertrain…and just as excessively much horsepower.
This time my K3500 is ready to go. Last year it was out of commission and my E39 with summer tires was all I had. That was scary.
I’ve got a 4×4 and several days worth of beer on hand. Bring the snow!
Hell yeah!
Small car, narrow wheels, and proper winter tires.
Honestly, however, in snowmageddon – always remember your life is valuable; take your time, have patience, and don’t do stupid.
The best way to survive snowmageddon is to avoid it all together.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/a-us.storyblok.com/f/1005231/f01b568973/majesty-of-the-seas_sea_broadside_2439.jpg
Honestly, the best snow car I’ve driven was a Fiat 500 Pop with studded snow tires. Light, front wheel drive, and the best tires for the conditions. Just take it slow and steady and even a good ol’ Colorado snowstorm is survivable. Honorable mention though to my first car, a 2000 Chevy Cavalier that had absolutely no business doing as well as it did on all seasons during a proper snowmageddon circa 2007, iirc.