I am sure a few people wonder why I drive a car in winter instead of my truck. The 2010 Ford Ranger is 2WD and is not a great vehicle in a little bit of ice and snow. The truck is in near mint condition with only about 135,000km on it. That is not a lot.
My 2012 KIA is better suited for winter for a few reasons. Front wheel drive is one. I have new winter tire on it. It got damaged in a hailstorm about five or six years ago and the damage estimate to repair it was about $9,000.00. I took a settlement on it from the insurance company, less the deductible, and used to funds to pay and overpay some bills and put me in a debt free position at the time. With the existing hail damage (which is hardly noticeable) and the age of the car it might not be worth anything. At least not to an insurance company if it got written off in a claim. The car is better in the winter and it is kind of expendable.
So that is why I use the car in winter. I would be much less upset if something happened to the car in winter driving. I prefer driving the truck down back country gravel and dirt roads in the summer anyway.
Thanks BW - curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.
ReplyDeleteYes, too much weight in the front, not enough in back can make for "interesting" driving in winter whether truck or car. I know weight can be added in back (did that every winter with my Hornet) but it's still not the same as front wheel drive, especially with new tires.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a 1973 Hornet Sportabout, bright yellow, had the small (232cid) six and traded the 3 speed on the column to a four on the floor, installed a Jeep 4 barrel manifold and 4 bbl carburetor and a split exhausts and had a little race car... I used to put in about 300 of tube sand in mine and could get anywhere with it. I have a i ton older Chevy pick up and I put about 700 pounds of tube sand in it for the winter and it being two wheel have no problems in Idaho winters.
DeleteThe truck needs weight to be driven in winter but it is meant to be my summer vehicle. I once had a five speed manual VW Golf that was great in winter. Another good winter car I had, surprisingly enough, was a Plymouth Horizon.
DeleteVans are nearly as bad, but both do really well with a half ton of cattle feed in the back! - lol - My folks had an old '64 Chevy Impala station wagon that would go anywhere, especially if you put a couple hundred extra pounds in the back. If I could get a new one just like it, I'd get rid of my 4x4 pickup!
ReplyDeleteWhen DH and I were dating he owned a van and thought it was a clever idea to carry his snowmobile in the back. That was good until the day we were out in freezing rain and he lost it and we ended up in the ditch. The snowmobile came loose and, had we gone in at a different angle, we would have been seriously hurt. Needless to say THAT wasn't used for weight anymore!! And he traded the van shortly afterwards.
ReplyDeleteSo the blogger needs a half tonne of cattle feed. I think a snowmobile is a lot more fun. I just picked up some sand from the community sand box for icy sidewalks. I didn't think I took that much sand but my Subaru shot away from parked like it had spikes for tires. What a difference a lot of weight makes.
ReplyDeleteThe truck is meant for summer driving. I might get some sand for my winter beater.
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