dbd33

But we're not talking about challenging terrains, at least I don't think we are, I think the intended use is for roads. For use on roads four wheel drive is only valuable if the vehicle is poorly designed for road holding; like a pick up truck.

Atlantic Xpat

As it happens I drive a 2013 Ford Escape 2.0T presently (& until the lease expires next August). It's the new version (known as the Kuga in Europe) and is surprisingly comfortable and useful vehicle. It's a nicer drive and has better ergonomics than the Mrs's Toyota RAV4 and is more practical for every day use than the F150 I had previously.

The new escapes are less bland and I think better built than the old boxy ones but, as its a lease over the three year warranty period it can fall apart once it's 3 years and one day old and that will be Fords problem not mine.

MarkG

Or for driving on crappy road surfaces, like snow and ice. But no-one does that in sunny, tropical Canada.

Edo

Would you say cars like Honda Civic, Toyota Corrolla, and VW Passat can handle the Canadian roads in the winter? Cuz none of them have AWD

Shirtback

Judging by the vast numbers of them (at least the first two!) on the roads here, yes.

dbd33

Of course, there are loads of them about. I think FWD is desirable on roads, though I don't bother with it myself, while AWD is overkill unless you're crossing fields.

ging

My daughter has had a Corolla from new 10 years ago, no winter issues with it. She sticks winter tyres on it and runs it on synthetic oil year round. Good all round car.

The old man here runs a 1997 Jimmy 4x4 with the same regimen as my daughter. I've never actually had to use the four wheel drive except for pulling a neighbour's Toyota Sienna out of a drift a while back.

Highl@nder

Possibly a little less likely to get you into a crash though, small thin wheels can be handy for cutting through the snow, some larger vehicles with rear wheel drive and wide tyres often catch folk by suprise with a false sense of security in snow and heavy rain,

I'm not familiar with the road surfaces or the heavier snow Canada can get, though I'd imagine its much and such the same.

Pizzawheel

I'd agree. RWD is a liability which is why you see so many Mercs/ BMWs with AWD over here that you wouldn't see in blighty.

And don't confuse offroad 4WD with AWD. AWD is the best solution (and I'm thinking Subaru here) but will cost you a little. offroad 4WD like you get in a wrangler can be an utter liability- because you can only use it on full mud/ snow/ice. Once the roads are ploughed you have to switch it off or your going to damage your transmission.

I drive a FWD with a lusty turbo on all-seasons and it never feels like a liability. Only had one nasty sliding sideways from stationary incident in a campsite in February in 4 years.

Also it's a soft-top. Canada is PERFECT for convertibles.

dbd33

When I lived in the GTA I never considered weather as a factor in driving, after 20 years or so of living there I heard about winter tyres for the first time on this site. Out in the country, where I now live, it's slightly different.

If we are listing features in terms of practicality then I'd say one should have a convertible with heated seats, a manual box, front wheel drive, two sets of tyres and an enormous reservoir for the squirter fluid. The Beetle had most of that but not the manual box nor the reservior; it needed a person sitting on the bonnet to drip feed the bottle.

The current car is RWD but otherwise fits the "sensible features" list. RWD gives up something in traction but, for me, gains it back in fun.

One can, of course, manage quite well with all sorts of cars. It's common to see Chrysler New Yorkers and Lincoln Towncars delivering to the dump; they get there somehow. I also see a Smartcar used for commuting, I suppose the owner has to wait for the plough as it won't deal with deep snow but, otherwise, it'd be better in winter than a pickup.

dbd33

Incidentally, what stops me on the days when I don't drive (typically two per winter) is blowing snow. It doesn't really matter what techno-gubbins you have if you can't see where you're going.

Pizzawheel

Funnily enough the European Sports Car (TM) has a pretty generous squirter reservoir, and it's only that I'd just bought a full set of Continental all-seasons before switching jobs (and switching to a car commute) that I don't have two sets of tires.

Was it the turbo beetle?

I also saw a Pontiac GTO (the mid 00's version) being overtaken by a TTC bus in the snow once- 400+ HP through the back wheels on fresh snow obviously somewhat nerve wracking. I'm a huge fan of RWD for fun but would concede FWD for the year-round versatility.

dbd33

Not the turbo Beetle, no, 5 cyls, I forget the capacity. Very silly but surprisingly good in the snow.

Googling "European Sports Car" returns the Ferrari Enzo which I think must turn heads outside Tom Houston's.

Shirtback

I've driven all sorts of silly vehicles in back-country QC silly snowy/icy conditions.

Winter (sometimes studded) tyres & FWD/AWD/4WD plus manual gearboxes were my friends

VW Fox (awful, had a tendency to "jump" into the nearest ditch with no warning).
Suzuki Forsa (great fun, bounced back out of ditches all by herself)
(Ancient) Chevy RWD barge - can't even remember which model (point & drive but don't ever stop. *If* she made it out of driveway)
Chevy Aveo (don't, just don't. Ever.)
Mazda MPV (the old AWD. Meh)
Subaru Impreza, Loyale, legacy & Outbacks (I miss the Loyales )
Dodge Ram (great fun, went everywhere, best with *heavy* weight in the bed)
Toyota Tundra (generally boring, occasionally scary, even with weight out back)
Audi A4 (not as much fun as I thought it would be. Still, does the job)

Then there was the Renault 5, the Landy, & the Ladas....

dbd33

I had a Suzuki Forsa turbo. On ice I could crank it up, lift my foot off the clutch and have it turn 360; that made traffic lights a blast. I left it on the central barrier of the 401 in Ajax, perhaps it's still there.