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
When we had a Snowmaggedon event several years ago my F-250 was a savior. Once I shoveled enough to be able to get down to the door I fired it up and worked it back in the hole. Shoveled down to the front wheels chained them up and was able to climb up out of the hole. For a couple of days you pretty much had to have 35’s to get out of our neighborhood. All in all a great snow rig thanks to that nice long wheelbase manual transmission and limited slip out back. Now if I’m not dealing with 2′ of snow I do love my Scout for most of the same reasons of a manual trans and limited slip though of course its wheelbase is darn near half the length so much less time between the wheels when letting the rear hang out.
1978 Plymouth Volare:
https://www.imcdb.org/i001049.jpg
Because my fantasy is to be as far away from “Snowmageddon” as the Earth will let me!
No snow forecast here on the east side of the Sierras but if it was, the 4Runner with Blizzaks would do just fine. The FJ Cruiser would be more fun, but regrettably we sold it last year.
My FJ was an absolute beast in the snow, even on Michelin LTXs. It just goes.
For 2+ feet, you need something outlandish, because there aren’t likely to be any tire tracks to work with. If you live somewhere the plows will handle 2+ feet, then fine, but for everyone else, it’s fresh tracks all the way. That means ground clearance above all else.
Mercedes G500 4×4-squared. If that can’t handle it, you need Mattracks. Or an actual tank.
I owned a defender of the same era as the spectre one, cosmetically stock, but same engine upgrade, and enclosed back. Honestly can’t think of anything better. Heating even worked in that generation.
Would go through anything. Surprisingly high effort on maintenance, but parts are easy to get (in the UK), and easy to fix.
My brother was a ski instructor in Lake Tahoe and his steed for one winter was an Austin-Healy 100-4 with some signifant modifications. A V-8, no top, no interior at all, and bald tires. When I say no interior I mean nothing other than seats, no dashboard as all instruments just hanging by wires and speedometer cable. He melted a pair of boots on the transmission. Coming out to go to work after a snowstorm, while I was shoveling around my car, he was shoveling out the -inside- of his car.
SAAB 900 with decent winter tires. I need my roof moose-proof.
I loved the Saabs I had.
I was always disappointed that Saab died shortly after they introduced some AWD offerings. It was a Haldex system, and not the best in the world, but it was respectable.
I always figured Saab could have been a cross between Audi and Subaru. I guess that isn’t all that far off from Volvo, so maybe I’m just rambling on about nothing…
It depends on what, not just how much. If it’s a layer of ice huge tires, weight, and clearance stop being such good ideas. But if the issue is “just” how tall the drifts get and the roads are straight and flat I’ve never seen anything bomb through like a rear engined full size BUS.
Given I got the f’ out of North GA this morning – first class tickets on a pair of Airbusses to get home to Florida. Where it will be in the mid-80s all weekend. I shall watch the fun on TV. Will be interesting to see if my client has power on Monday, supposed to continue the project remotely next week.
But if I HAD to be in a snopacalypse – one of these bad boys:
http://www.hagglundsusa.com/
You just made my fantasy garage bigger.
To see some cool videos of them in action, look up Cascade Heavy Rescue on YouTube. Really fun channel in general.
Since I already own it I’m going with my 03 4Runner AWD with BFGATs. Has been a beast in snow.
My easy chair, footstool, 85” OLED, remote, dogs and my curated collection of car movies.
If I absolutely have to leave the house to fetch something from the store, my Honda Accord with its snow tires or if it’s real bad, the Subaru Tribeca and if it’s truly horrendous, I’ll call doordash or instacart.
To be honest I am surprised not to see snowmobiles out on the road at that point.
Any rental car with the traction control and ABS fuses removed.
Antarctica 2 with modern studded tires.
My 08 FJ Cruiser has to be the best thing I’ve ever driven in snow and ice. It just does it, no problem. OTH, my spouse works nights and weekends at the hospital and not showing up is not an option. Her Forester XT always gets her there and back. It’s mostly how you use it, not what you got.
I was gonna say my FJ too. On the other hand, cold and snow in Arrowhead killed my fuel pump last year (it was on its way out, this was just the final blow) and I didn’t love how the brakes felt in that snow and cold so maybe not. I think the brakes part is a skill issue since I don’t ever drive in snow or anything.
This’ll git ‘er done…
https://youtu.be/EX6vXsdZmGE
The disclaimer is gold.
So many good choices in my past, but they all have skinny snow tires in common:
’89 Saab 900 S: took it through a huge spring snowstorm driving my buddies to the Minneapolis airport in ’98 or so. went through unplowed 12″ snow like nothing.
’85 BMW 535i with 200# of plate steel in the trunk: so fun, and it was already rusty, so no guilt.
But my current answer is outside, and it’s 2 Toyotas. Prius C on snows if it’s plowed, ’06 Sequoia on snows if it ain’t. That truck in 4×4 will get me through anything we get here on the thumb of WI.
No snow coming, just below zero until Sunday noon. It was -16 when I woke up. It’s a dry cold tho.
2007 Silverado work truck that I don’t really care about, with Blizzaks and a scrap SBC 283 chained-down in the bed.
Here in Minnesota, we had a massive blizzard on Halloween of 1991. My beater Oldsmobile Firenza got me home through 1.5-2 feet of fresh powder. Love a manual trannie in the snow. I also had an 87 Deville that was a monster in the snow – massive V8 between the drive wheels and a built-in car phone in the event disaster struck. Felt like a villain.
My 1977 MGB with Michelin tires was the best small and fun car I’ve ever used in the snow. It would go places that amazed people. For a large car, my 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible with the 390 and snow tires on the rear was even better. Using the D2 setting on the automatic trans started the car in 2nd gear, and the 4,200 lbs weight helped a lot too.
My father had a 74 MG B GT that he would Only drive Spring through Fall. Never in the winter to avoid snow/ice and most importantly to help prevent rust thanks to salt use on the roads.
I dont remember why it must have been the 1st big snow fall of the year bf the plows and salt came out. He drove it with me riding to a nature reserve like park that was near by within which was a monument up a steep hill in what had to have been 6 inches unloved road. Surprisingly to I think both of us it handled it like a champ.
When he got to the top, which was steep enough I couldn’t yet see the road in front. He hit the gas and did a left handed donut in the car turn around. A solid wtf fear moment memory to this day bc he made no inclination that’s what he was about to do and he was kind of a relatively quiet conservative personality kind of guy.
Fortunately that same MG is still in our family, patiently waiting in the garage for spring.
If we’re talking regular snow on the road, my Clio 2 on winter tyres is basically unstoppable.
If we’re talking icy apocalypse, I’ll try to survive it at the wheel if my rusty Datsun 720. No cop will care about my lack of mot then.
Lifted Miata on the skinniest 28″ snow tires I can find, with a limited slip.
Or my my old genesis lifted
Or a rally fighter.
I want a stick shift RWD sports car with ground clearance and I’ll go anywhere.
I like the vehicle used near the end of The Stand by Steven King. A SnoCat
20170205_130536.jpg (4032×3024)
It’s too cold to snow here, so yay no snow but boo -9 as a high today. With the wind it feels like -25 right now, and it got to -40 windchill last night. As for snow driving I haven’t had any issues with either fwd minivan I’ve owned, but I have/had winter/all season hybrid tires on both. And if gets to be too much snow I just don’t leave the house honestly.
I suppose it depends on the depth of the snow. I have a Chevy SS with snow tires that does amazing in the snow. The ground clearance isn’t great, but generally outside of neighborhoods they don’t just let the snow pile up. If the snow removal crews get behind, I’m not so important that I can’t just stay home until they catch back up. If I were more important I’d probably feel better if I had something like a Tahoe on snow tires.