re: AWD vs FWD vehicles

quote:

---

what if you know this vehicle will end up being driven by your child? would this feature make you feel better about them handling adverse conditions?

---

Not sure what you are getting your child, but it sounds like you are concerned with safety (as you should be). But a used Corolla, Camry, Malibu, or Jetta is a great vehicle for a 16-17 year old. Get the smallest, slowest engine and make sure the tires and brakes are in good shape. The car needs to be new enough to be reliable and low maintenance, but not so nice that they worry about parking it in the street or getting it scratched.

AWD isn't really necessary unless they are taking it up north for school. But if you want AWD, the Subaru Impreza, Legacy, and Outback are excellent choices. Know that the flat four engines are known to burn a little oil as they go beyond 75,000 miles - so you'll need to teach them how to add oil occasionally. I think the Corolla can be had with AWD. Nearly all the compact SUVs like the CR-V, Equinox, and Rav4 can be had with AWD too - they all have more conventional engines that burn less oil than a Subaru.

quote:

---

I used to own a Subaru Outback. With winter tires, that thing was every bit as good in the snow as the full sized Suburbans and Sequioas despite being WAY lighter.

They are very impressive in the snow.

---

same thing back in the day with a CJ7 vs full size trucks.

I appreciated having 4wd in my truck the other day when I was going up a steep gravel parking lot

If I was in my wife’s suv I would have had to back up and go straight up it I was turning really sharp fwiw and I always put it on the auto 4wd when raining not sure if it really helps or not

My wife’s old suv was awd and it was awesome but it was a 400hp v8 in a small suv so it def needed it when it was wet

quote:

---

First snowfall of the year, its Pickups in the ditches, not Subarus.

---

anecdotally only, but in snow areas it’s the tourists in pickups and the locals in Jeeps and suburus

just like the wrangler, suburu has defined and captured the small capable bad weather and bad terrain vehicle at a reasonable cost stock from the factory

quote:

---

First snowfall of the year, its Pickups in the ditches, not Subarus.

---

In Chicago it was always the lifted Jeeps that end up on their roof. I imagine pickup truck owners in Alaska are more similar to the types down south that modify them in a way that reduces their capability in the snow and then drive around with way too much confidence.

The pickup drivers in the Chicagoland area aren't lifting their rigs and putting knobby off road tires on them like they do down south. So they are still using all season tires and driving them carefully...thus remain pretty safe in snow.

quote:

---

They're also much cheaper, and still readily available with a stick shift.

---

Not the Outback. They killed that 5 speed about 7 years ago I think.

Annoying.

always wondered how our ancestors survived winters in RWD and bias ply tires...

If AWD is available, and in your budget, I’d highly recommend over fwd. I have a AWD Acura but I also rent a ton of cars. If available I opt for the AWD because of the handling.