4 ms·

Perhaps it's specific to my area of suburbia but a) road trips are by far the most common way to take vacations and b) many of those road-trips have portions go

Perhaps it's specific to my area of suburbia but a) road trips are by far the most common way to take vacations and b) many of those road-trips have portions going over snow or sand or mountain backroads. So you want some sort of all or 4 wheel drive and you need a lot of cargo space. There's tents and bikes and hiking or skiing or climbing equipment. It's possible to brainstorm about other solutions but none are perfect. Years ago we tried to rent a 4x4 for a desert trip and it was a nightmare. We got there, they didn't have any 4x4s, they ended up sending us to another location, and of course you have to sign a dozen waivers that promise to pay huge amounts of money for any scratch or dent.

orwin 4y ago
I guarantee you that unless you are an excellent driver, you'll fare way better in the snow with a normal sized car or even a minivan than with a 4x4. Especially if you are not used to snow. And you can sleep quite comfortably in a minivan.
- nineplay 4y ago
  My experience in snow differs from yours. If that makes me an excellent driver in your eyes then I appreciate the complement. I've slept in a minivan many times and it's wonderful for 2. 3 or more, not so much.
  - mrguyorama 4y ago
    Okay then take it from me who has been driving in several feet of snow forever: Your technique matters a billion times more than your car, and tires are even more important than that up to a point. My Dodge Neon had no problem in $30 tires on literal ice because it's like 1500 pounds soaking wet. All these idiots get a giant 4x4 "for the snow" and then still drive with a damn lead foot in the winter, and all wheel drive does nothing to improve your breaking performance, which will be worse in a heavier vehicle. It's pure stupidity, from people who always want an easy solution with no effort instead of the actual solution, which is to just drive gentler.
    - nineplay 4y ago
      There are a variety of options between driving a Dodge Neon and driving a 4x4 with a lead foot. Suburbanites who take road trips are probably going to find a Dodge Neon inadequate for their needs. I admit to being personally impressed - have you managed to keep one running since ~2006? That's quite an achievement!
      - mrguyorama 4y ago
        That's the trick with dodge neons: They never die. Sure they never run well, but they never die either. It ran on 3 cylinders 90 percent of the time and ran better when it was -20 degrees out because the cold engine block had tighter tolerances. I'm saying that driving a bigger vehicle WILL NOT improve your experience driving in snow, all else being equal.

orwin 4y ago

I guarantee you that unless you are an excellent driver, you'll fare way better in the snow with a normal sized car or even a minivan than with a 4x4. Especially if you are not used to snow. And you can sleep quite comfortably in a minivan.

nineplay 4y ago
My experience in snow differs from yours. If that makes me an excellent driver in your eyes then I appreciate the complement. I've slept in a minivan many times and it's wonderful for 2. 3 or more, not so much.
- mrguyorama 4y ago
  Okay then take it from me who has been driving in several feet of snow forever: Your technique matters a billion times more than your car, and tires are even more important than that up to a point. My Dodge Neon had no problem in $30 tires on literal ice because it's like 1500 pounds soaking wet. All these idiots get a giant 4x4 "for the snow" and then still drive with a damn lead foot in the winter, and all wheel drive does nothing to improve your breaking performance, which will be worse in a heavier vehicle. It's pure stupidity, from people who always want an easy solution with no effort instead of the actual solution, which is to just drive gentler.
  - nineplay 4y ago
    There are a variety of options between driving a Dodge Neon and driving a 4x4 with a lead foot. Suburbanites who take road trips are probably going to find a Dodge Neon inadequate for their needs. I admit to being personally impressed - have you managed to keep one running since ~2006? That's quite an achievement!
    - mrguyorama 4y ago
      That's the trick with dodge neons: They never die. Sure they never run well, but they never die either. It ran on 3 cylinders 90 percent of the time and ran better when it was -20 degrees out because the cold engine block had tighter tolerances. I'm saying that driving a bigger vehicle WILL NOT improve your experience driving in snow, all else being equal.