2WD in Snow?

[courtwshr1]

I'm posting to this forum for 2 reasons:

1) I'm looking to buy my first T4R (used)
2) I live in San Diego... but moving to Cincinnati.

Question: How important is it that I buy a 4WD vehicle? The actual reason for the new car is because (1) we have another kid coming and need a bigger car, (2) planning to tow a trailer for the Cincinnati move, (3) and need something safer in the snow than my little Accord.

Any insight from group members? I'm sure many of you live in snow and could help out. Thanks.

 

[02SE]

Your FWD Accord would be a better snow vehicle, than a 2WD 4Runner.

I wouldn't even consider a 2wd 4Runner, for your intended purpose.

FWIW, I've lived where it snows heavily, all my life.

 

[Robs08Runner]

Are you kidding? Lol Where you're going, you wont regret a 4x4. I have one and I like to ride in 2wd in up to 6 inches. Tires will make a big difference in traction but, you don't want to buy a 2wd and have buyer's remorse.

 

[Link12]

We had a 2006 2wd 4runner that my wife and I bought new. Kept it until last year 140k. Great vehicle but was the biggest POS in the snow I have ever seen. Trac and vsc will completely disable your gas pedal if you keep trying. You absolutely can not get any tire spin and here isn't an option to turn it off.

 

[Rocky5000100]

I honestly couldn't imagine driving my 2002 4runner in the snow in 2wd. The traction control isn't great, and the rear wheels spin so easy. However when I switch it into AWD, it rocks. I prefer AWD mode to 4wd in the snow. 4wd breaks traction in corners. And I do have less than a year old All Seasons. Of course, snow tires would be better. My old 2000 FWD Mitsubishi Eclipse that was lowered did better in the snow than my 4runner in 2WD.

Now maybe newer 4runner have been improved in the snow in 2wd mode, but for 3rd gen I wouldn't.

 

[m85476585]

It's all about the tires. Your accord with snow tires will do a lot better than a 2wd 4runner with all season tires. Maybe better than a 4wd 4runner with all season tires in some situations.

For cornering and braking, 4wd doesn't help much or at all. My 4wd 4runner with all season tires slides almost as easily as my 2wd Civic did with similar tires. I'm much less likely to get stuck with 4wd, but turning and braking is similar.

If your Accord doesn't have VSA (Toyota calls it VSC), then it might be worth upgrading, depending on what you prefer. VSA can apply brakes to individual wheels to somewhat help keep you going in the direction you point the steering wheel. That's cool because no matter how good of a driver you are, you can't replicate that with just one brake pedal. But it also incorporates traction control (as far as I know), which can limit the throttle to keep the wheels from spinning. It's a nice idea, but it can be a bit too aggressive sometimes. But then again when it snows I see enough people flooring the gas and spinning a wheel that I don't think it's a bad idea for the general population. Depending on how VSA is implemented, it might give you some limited slip capability which gives you 2wd instead of 1wd. My civic had an open differential and no electronic aids, so if one wheel was on something slippery it was 1wd. I only got a bit stuck once when there was some ice at a stop sign at the top of a hill. It took three tries to get past it without blindly pulling out into traffic.

It looks like the Accord V6 has had drive by wire since 2003 and the I4 has had it since 2006. DBW is needed for traction control, and probably VSA too.

All 4th gen and newer 4runners have VSC. I don't know about older ones. Some of the later ones have an option to turn it off.

 

[MikeInNH]

and need something safer in the snow than my little Accord.

WHAT SNOW. Cincinnati averages about 10" of snow a year. Which means you will probably driving on snow covered roads 2 days a year.

First thing to do is learn how to drive in the snow. Equipment gets yoy 10% of the way there...knowing how to drive in snow is 90% of it. Get snow tires and you'll be fine for those 2 days the roads will be covered. If you feel uncomfortable then stay home those days.

 

[V8Man]

4WD helps you go but it doesn't help you whoa and that what gets a lot of guys in trouble.

 

[MikeInNH]

I have Cooper AT3's...and I drive on the snow in 2wd all the time without any problem what-so-ever. I only shift into 4wd when needed. We're expecting another storm tomorrow to dump another 18". That will give us a total of 60" in a 10 day stretch. I think I used 4wd ONCE in the past 10 days (to get up a hill).

 

[courtwshr1]

Wow - Very informative and insightful responses. Thank you all very much. I guess I'll continue on my search for the 4WD car.... (I appreciate the comment above that Cincinnati doesn't get much snow - which is true - but we will keep the vehicle for going to mountains on vacation, etc and the 4WD will help).

 

[scw1991]

finally got to drive my 4WD (stock with Michelin LTX tires) in some good snow today up here in Chicago and I would not want to be doing this on a daily basis if I had a 2WD T4R unless it had a locking rear differential. Most cars I saw driving down the road had no issues as they were front wheel drive. But the rear wheel drive cars were not fairing so well but still managing nonetheless.

the semi trucks do a pretty darn good job of plowing most major roads and staying on top of them. Then business owners have contracts with folks with their 3/4 ton trucks to plow parking lots, etc. And as another member has stated, it's Cincinnati, not like remote country up in the New England area.

 

[tranmd]

I'm currently living in Long Island, NY where we got a good amount of snow recently and I'm driving a 2wd. I moved here from Houston, and when I bought my 4runner, I didn't plan to live in the Northeast. But here I am.

Recently bought brand new 4 Cooper Discoverer AT3 and they seem to be holding up ok against the snow. Granted I haven't tackle any big snow since everything is plowed very well. I had to use my LSD several time to get out of slippery situation. Love to have 4wd but love this thing too much to trade it in for another runner and start over.

 

[M1911]

I grew up in Chicago. I went to college in central NY. I live near Boston. So I've spent a lot of time driving in snow.

My 4Runner has 4WD and I use snow tires in the winter. Personally, I don't see the point of a 2WD 4Runner. I just don't.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Why a 4runner?

If you're not planning on off-roading just curious about why you would want a 4runner. How big is the trailer you plan to tow?

If it was me I would be looking at some kind of mid sized AWD crossover. Highlander, Pilot, etc. I don't know about the Highlander but the AWD pilot is rated to tow over 4,000lbs (not that I would tow anything that heavy with a Pilot - but I wouldn't tow anything that heavy with a 4runner, either.

EDITED TO ADD: OK, just checked Edmunds, the AWD Highlander is rated to tow 5,000lbs, same as the 4runner. Honestly unless I'm missing something, it seems like a Highlander might be a better choice for what you are wanting (a family wagon that can survive in the snow and pull a small trailer.)

 

[Greydog]

Agree with others, would go 4WD or AWD vehicle if you're moving to a snow location.

 

[MikeInNH]

I have to disagree about NEEDING 4wd/awd just because you live in an area that gets snow. Cincinnati gets very little snow.....their record yearly snow total is less then 30". You do NOT need 4wd to handle the little amount of snow they get.....If you do..then you don't know how to drive in snow.

Step up to NH where our average snow fall of 50+ inches and you still don't NEED 4wd to easily travel around during the winter. If you travel to the mountains for skiing or go off roading...then that changes the equation.

Now step up to upstate/central NY where the average snow fall is over 100"...the town I grew up in was over 200" a year....Now you're driving in a place that gets so much snow that 4wd really makes sense.

 

[M1911]

I was just in Manchester, VT over the weekend. They have a lot less snow on the ground than here in Boston. There was a slight downslope where we were parking. The fellow in the 2WD pickup truck next to me wouldn't have gotten out of his parking place if two of us hadn't been pushing.

I agree with Martinjmpr that an AWD Highlander might be a better choice for his needs.

 

[jdc62]

I would strongly recommend that you go with the 4WD. I’m from Dayton and while we get more snow than Cincinnati, our average (30 inches) is only about 10 inches more than Cincy. When we do get more than 5-6 inches, my 4Runner doesn’t do well in rear wheel drive mode, particularly in the wet, dense stuff we tend to get here.

The snow isn’t nearly as challenging as the freezing rain and ice which this region gets a fair amount of. Rear wheel drive is almost useless in those conditions when you’re on any type of incline. The greater Cincinnati area is a very hilly region. You could go with RWD and snow tires, by they really don’t help much on ice.

 

[mid9pitstop]

I vote for 4x4...

I'm posting to this forum for 2 reasons:

1) I'm looking to buy my first T4R (used)
2) I live in San Diego... but moving to Cincinnati.

Question: How important is it that I buy a 4WD vehicle? The actual reason for the new car is because (1) we have another kid coming and need a bigger car, (2) planning to tow a trailer for the Cincinnati move, (3) and need something safer in the snow than my little Accord.

Any insight from group members? I'm sure many of you live in snow and could help out. Thanks.

Nothing can be compromised with safety, especially when it comes... your love ones. If you can get a 4x4, please do so as you will appreciate it more later. Is it a must to have, probably not.

My retired uncle has been driven rear wheel drive trucks for years (40+) and completely has refused to drive 4x4. Never once was he in an accident nor in the ditch. During the winter season, he had at least 4-5 25/30 lbs bags of sand seating on the back of his truck.

I, too, have driven rear wheel drive vechicles, 3 of which were twin turbo 300ZX. Never once had any problem. The tricks were... the sand bags on the back, snow tires and driving slowly when it snowed :banana:

Towing wise, I find it a lot easier with the 4x4 when pulling the boat (4500-5000 lbs) from a 35-40 degree steep boat ramp. On a flat or regular hills, you should be fine with a rear wheel drive.

The question is, which one would you feel comfortable with?

Think and pick wisely.

Good luck with your move!

Cheers.

 

[Eurotrsh]

I live south of Buffalo, the snowfall to date is 140 inches. I have a 4x4 Urban Runner with Hankook Ipike snow tires. I rarely used awd, only when I am in a big hurry, just the extra insurance when traveling 65-70 on a snow covered road. Snow tires make a world of difference on any vehicle.

Typically I get in, turn of all the VCS Traction stuff and go. I also drove a RWD BMW for 5 years with no issues, it was a lot more fun in the snow than the 4runner, but a 2 door coupe was no longer practical.