This winter has been horrible

[Carson Dyle]

The Outback would be a good choice, as long as it gives you sufficient ground clearance. I have an older Forester with a 4 speed automatic, but the mileage is crap. Newer Subarus are much better.

 

[merlion]

yep. same area, im not sure work has ever officially closed for me.

Yeah, me either. I'm in western New York, and my employer actually issues those of us in my work unit cards that allow us to drive even when there are official travel bans in effect.

With that being said, it doesn't mean that your vehicle can then miraculously get through all conditions. There were people who couldn't get in for several days this past November when six feet of lake effect snow fell in the Buffalo southtowns.

 

[Jumpem]

Or your click "auto" on the dynamic drive system and it automatically does this for you in milliseconds.

My truck didn't have that option.

 

[HitAnyKey]

FWD with snows is just not good enough in my opinion. Blizzaks + AWD + Common sense (to know how fast to drive for the conditions) is the best approach if you drive in crap snowy/icy conditions like the OP and I do.

Sometimes your stuck in a storm and need to get somewhere. The difference is quite noticeable.

Subaru and Jeep AWD systems are quite good. I think you need to ensure the vehicle as sufficient clearance to avoid the plowing effect of deep snow.

 

[Dice144]

Thank you for all the feedback.

I guess this was the first winter I got stuck that I wasn't able to self rock out of it. Granted the one time the whole I90 was closed so yeah.

When I got off the highway I swore to buy something more beasty in the snow AND never not have a real blanket/change of clothes on me.

Now I went overboard and got a new jacket, multiple warmer fleece mid layers and better boots. (I was being stupid cheap before) Once December hits I normally have a blanket in the trunk but never got hit like that in Nov in my adult driving life.

Just got my first real down jacket (Marmot that was on sale 40% off at dicks)

Anyhow, guess my road trip to Maine last summer for camping AND future plans for more epic road trips makes me want a more reliable/larger cargo room car.

If I scale back my 401k % I could afford a newer Subaru Outback. Which should be a great camper car/road trip car.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Newer Outbacks are pretty cool, I have an 08 forester, which we use for road trips as well as my daily driver. I bought it in like 2011 with 25K miles, now its sitting at 105K.

Anyhow, fiancees car is a 04 Taurus, with about 160K, having lots of problems, history of transmission problems... emissions trouble every year, etc ...

planning on new Outback to replace her taurus when the money is there ..


Dont drop your 401K %

Keep the 401K as high as possble.


Do not sacrifice your retirement for a flashy new car.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Holy cow, if I got stuck in my car for 17 hours I would also freak the hell out and get something that would never get stuck. I don't blame ya.

Maybe an audi with the legendary quattro AWD, a q5, or one of subaru's excellent awd.

 

[HeXen]

I wouldn't go out of my way to push my finances just to have 4wd or Awd because of what if's, especially over one incident. You could just buy an old 4x4 beater that runs good and save it for the really bad snow days that you have to go out in. My creed is that if it's too bad out for my car to drive in then I don't really need to be there.

 

[Dice144]

Update: today my tranmission stopped working 1 mile from my house. It was below about -5F most of the last two days, so hopefully just caused by the extreme cold.

The 401k I would just go from 20% back down to 10% for awhile. So I would still have plenty going to retirement. (company matches 67% of the first 10%)

Parents/friends all saying get rid of the VW Passat before something else breaks. First car I bought the extended warranty on and glad I did so far.

 

[BurnItDwn]

The 401k I would just go from 20% back down to 10% for awhile. So I would still have plenty going to retirement. (company matches 67% of the first 10%)
.

In that case, you are doing awesome!

 

[Midwayman]

My creed is that if it's too bad out for my car to drive in then I don't really need to be there.

Unless you're a EMT or something, work can live without you for as long as it takes to clear the roads enough that a normal car can make it. I'm done risking my life to get to a job where I'm like life and safety critical. They can fire me if they don't like it.

 

[Dice144]

Unless you're a EMT or something, work can live without you for as long as it takes to clear the roads enough that a normal car can make it. I'm done risking my life to get to a job where I'm like life and safety critical. They can fire me if they don't like it.

That is also what I was thinking. It is cheaper to miss work once a month from really bad (normal winter) than to pay $450 a month for a car payment. Plus the added benefit of being home!

Something about paying $24k plus tax for a car just seems stupid. It is almost half my yearly take home from my primary income. As I do not know how long my best friend will keep renting half my house from me. (sure nice to pay off house fast tho!)

 

[AMCRambler]

I hear you Dice. If you've got the room get a full sized pick up with 4x4 and never worry again. Jeep would work too. Grand Cherokee's can be had for cheap.

I work for the electric company so I'm expected to report for work in the shit. Also live in NY, just not Lake Effect Buffalo. I used to daily drive my RWD GTO with snow tires and it sucked. Bought a super crew f150 and the goat stays in the garage in winter. That truck goes though anything.

 

[AdamK47]

-6F in Cincinnati again. It's going to be along time before the snow melts.

Me no like.

 

[tsiunltdus]

GMC Sierra truck. We can go anywhere in it.

 

[tsiunltdus]

GMC Sierra truck gets us where we are going.