[gpskinzhut]

Originally Posted by ember1205

Weather Guessers: It might snow sometime in the next month.
Every New England resident: Gah! I have to go buy milk, bread, and eggs!

Must be universal because any time there's a flurry down here the milk egg & bread shelves are wiped out

[Hekate1]

Originally Posted by Spaceme1117

While a good, true AWD system (BMW xdrive, Audi Quattro) can really help, a good set of all-season or winter tires is really the ticket.

Nothing but studded tires would help with ice however.

Honestly, is it really worth it if you get an ice storm once every 5 or even 10 years or more? I know if there is a major snow or ice storm where I live, I'm just staying home.

The reason I’m so concerned about this is because I’m a nurse and work in a hospital. Staying home isn’t an option

[Hekate1]

Originally Posted by hotlap

Consider getting a second set of rims and tires for the winter/wet season. Cheaper than a second car and more satisfying than driving a beater those four months each year.

I did this during Wisconsin winters with a 2004 GTO, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th gen Camaros.

I changed to a 1LE this year and bought MRR wheels with Sottozero winter tires. I'll get them mounted soon. I put them on Thanksgiving and take them off ~April 1st.

Nice!

[Hekate1]

Originally Posted by zaimer

My opinion - I've grown up & lived in serious winters my entire life - is that a person's driving skill will almost always trump all. I don't care if you have the latest technology, the grippiest winter tires, or the best AWD or 4WD system out there... you need to have the experience and knowledge with winter driving. You need to understand how the vehicle will react to the various conditions and how to do what, and when to do it lol.

A skilled person with a poor setup will do better than a perfectly equipped vehicle with a poor driver. This is true with most driving, not specific to winter conditions.

I agree. But our winters here r becoming harsher and most people from this area, including myself, really don’t have the driving skills to handle it. I’m a nurse and work in a hospital so staying home isn’t an option.

[Hekate1]

Originally Posted by Aquarius

This may all be true for The Great White North, but seeing as the OP states they are in Texas, answers have ben curtailed to apply to his situation. Yes, ice and snow can happen in Texas (it can happen anywhere), but as few times as it does occur, very few people could justify the expense of a new car just to get AWD for the handful of days you may run into ice and snow.

Most people that live in areas of the USA that get ice and snow a few times a year either run all-season tires or drive extremely cautious. If OP feels these 2 options are not good answers for their situation, then I and many others, recommend a snow tire. If OP won the lottery, or likes to buy needless things, then AWD would be perfect for you.

I didn’t win the lottery and don’t have endless amounts of $$ to spend. I’m a nurse and work in a hospital so staying home isn’t an option. I just want to get to and from work without destroying my Camaro. I’ve lived in Texas my entire life so that’s why I’m asking folks from colder regions to help a girl out.

[Hekate1]

Originally Posted by cthulhucaller

Nopenopenope. Staying in the house. When the weather is going to be bad, I make sure I have enough dip, and my wife has enough coffee. Then we stay home for the 2 days. My wife can and will drive in snow if needed, but we do what we can to make sure it's not needed.

Georgia style. French toast, make more kids, more french toast later.

I’m a nurse and work in a hospital. Staying home isn’t an option.

[Hekate1]

Thank u all for ur wonderful responses. It’s helps to get advice from people with experience. Like I stated in a few responses I’m a nurse, work in a hospital and staying home isn’t an option. I just want to get to and from work without destroying my Camaro which I plan on keeping for awhile. So I’m going with a decent FWD vehicle, put some good tires appropriate for the conditions and fingers crossed.

[JKSully]

Originally Posted by Hekate1

I’m a nurse and work in a hospital. Staying home isn’t an option.

At the risk of derailing the thread, just want to say thank you for what you do. My mother was an RN in many areas of the hospital and I know the toll it can take on a person. I've always had great respect for those that can do a job like that. Again, now more than ever, thank you!

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by JKSully

At the risk of derailing the thread, just want to say thank you for what you do. My mother was an RN in many areas of the hospital and I know the toll it can take on a person. I've always had great respect for those that can do a job like that. Again, now more than ever, thank you!

[Aquarius]

Originally Posted by Hekate1

I didn’t win the lottery and don’t have endless amounts of $$ to spend. I’m a nurse and work in a hospital so staying home isn’t an option. I just want to get to and from work without destroying my Camaro. I’ve lived in Texas my entire life so that’s why I’m asking folks from colder regions to help a girl out.

Your questions was perfectly fine. Parts of my comment were directed towards other in the thread giving unsound advise with broad, general statements that did not really apply to your situation. The sarcasm was for them.

[Malbjey]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

Well, Texas...

But yeah, my point above wasn't so much that "AWD only gets you going", it's that if you are really driving on snow/ice (not just penetrating to the pavement below or a plowed and actually dry surface), there are a myriad of situations where the AWD helps you, not just starting, but accelerating almost everywhere, given that a RWD car with less than half the weight on the axle is about as bad as it gets. Lots of little situations and emergencies you can't plan for where you need to be able to move forward at least briskly, not spin the wheels. But yes, that is only if you are truly driving on snow and ice.

I've always read about people recommending loading up sandbags in the trunk of a RWD vehicle for the extra weight over the axle. I never bothered to try it when I had my Camaro. I stayed home when the worst of the stuff was coming down, and the roads were generally plowed when I ventured out.



I don't know anything about Texas geography, so I dunno how many hills the OP will encounter. But I wouldn't bother with an AWD vehicle in Texas when my commute is almost 100 miles round trip every day. Not worth the gas mileage penalty for AWD, IMHO. I wouldn't even bother with a crossover. Just get a FWD Civic or Mazda 3 with winter tires and I should be good.

[SkySerpent]

Originally Posted by Hekate1

Last winter’s ice storm and snowmageddon here in central Texas convinced me that I must have a winter vehicle. My commute to work is 94 miles round trip thru the hill country. Been looking online at AWD crossover SUV’s for less than 20k. They’re going fast! My question is whether or not AWD is really necessary for these conditions because the pickings r slim. Is FWD sufficient? Thanks in advance

FWD is sufficient. However as most people have said a good set of winter tires does WAY MORE then how the car delivers power.



I live in Canada and I daily drive my Camaro. She works perfectly fine in the snow as long as you have winter tires and don't drive like a maniac.



That being said most cars on the road in Canada are FWD (civic country). People get around perfectly fine all year round.

[Hekate1]

Originally Posted by Aquarius

Your questions was perfectly fine. Parts of my comment were directed towards other in the thread giving unsound advise with broad, general statements that did not really apply to your situation. The sarcasm was for them.

Thank u. It’s just gonna be a learning curve for me and I appreciate ur input. Just don’t want to trash a car that means so much to me. I won’t go home crying if I ding up the winter car.

[Hekate1]

Originally Posted by JKSully

At the risk of derailing the thread, just want to say thank you for what you do. My mother was an RN in many areas of the hospital and I know the toll it can take on a person. I've always had great respect for those that can do a job like that. Again, now more than ever, thank you!

Thank u so much for saying that. It means a lot. Also married to a cop so we aren’t able to stay home when things get tough. I just don’t want to trash up my Camaro. I won’t go home crying if the winter car gets beat up.