SchnookoLoly

Agreed, though it does also depend wher eyou're living. Tory's out in cottage country, so a 4x4 makes a bit more sense out there. In the GTA I've never felt the need for a 4x4 or SUV, we have a hatchback and a station wagon (estate car) and both are just fine.

AlliF

Wow, I read this and am just thankful that my husband's employer took care of most of the relocation costs.
We still ended up slightly out of pocket - having to ditch a car and replace with the exorbitantly priced second hand ones here stung a bit - but it was nothing like the amounts you lot had to fork out.

R I C H

3 years living and running a business in a ski resort and I coped fine with a rear drive coupe. You just adapt.

Tirytory

Yeah I can see that...

The first winter we arrived and bought cars had over 60ft of snow, we lived rurally and had a steep hill. Snow tyres might have sufficed but I doubt the fiesta we used to own in the UK would have cut it.

Almost Canadian

I live rurally and I drive a Fiesta. It copes.

GC44

Wives Fiat 500 got through last 2 prairie winters with winter tyres, no problem.

Tirytory

Excellent. Well done for you. With two young children and a newborn I needed a bit more security.

dbd33

I collected my then wife and first born from the hospital, in January, driving a Fiesta on all season tyres. It was a good car for winter, that Fiesta.

scrubbedexpat091

Are trucks and 4x4 actually safer in snow or is it just perception?

I have only driven small cars and they have always done well in snow and winter, so can't compare car vs truck.

Does seem to be more trucks and SUVs in the ditches though in winter.

scilly

The trouble that we have seen with SUVs in the city and up country, especially the large models such as the Mercedes etc, is that people buy them because they believe they are safe. However, they then forget to drive safely and to the road conditions!

The car then is not safe!

It's amazing how many large SUVs get into single vehicle turnover accidents in Vancouver, and they are usually being driven by lady with 2 or more children in the car.

I agree ............. we have seen more trucks and SUVs in the ditch or by the side of the road but facing the opposite direction having spun out. The Coquihalla and north of Cache Creek to PG is where we have seen most of that. Plus the SUVs in town, as mentioned above.


We have mainly had station wagons since we arrived in North America in 1967, with just one sedan that we had from about 1988 to 1996 ............. and interestingly enough that sedan was the only car that we had accidents in.

One was when a young guy started to do fancy manoeuvres on the on-ramp to a bridge, lost it and slammed in to the passenger side. Not too much damage done fortunately! The other was sliding on black ice up north and rolling into the ditch on the other side of the road ...... again surprisingly little damage done, OH managed to drive it back to Vancouver for repairs. That 1988 Hyundai was a solid strong car.

We have always put on winter or snow tires ............. and even kept them on during some summers as OH thought they gave better grip on the back country gravel roads that we tended to take.

We currently have a 2006 Subaru Forester ... small for int own, but with a high-ish wheel base for driving over rough roads.

Aviator

4 x 4 vehicle has more traction in slippery conditions. A larger vehicle has a greater mass and thus greater inertia when moving, a higher C of G, therefore when driven improperly or carelessly has a higher risk of an incident. Newton's laws of motion apply to large SUVs as well, just many SUV drivers seem to think otherwise or blindly unaware!

MillieF

I had a Fiat 500 before we came here and loved it, the nicest car I've ever had. I only drive a Hyundai here, but it's largish, and I feel I need it because of the snow. It makes me feel safer I know a man who commutes daily from Saint John to Fredericton in a Fiat 500, and in the 3 years I worked with him he was never late Enzo got him there It's all with what you are comfortable with.

Tangram

Indeed, even with Atlantic Canada winters I manage with a two wheel drive Mini Cooper S

GC44

Thats basically why we got one here. The OH loved her white 500 in the UK, now she has a red one to love.
Her commute is about a 20 mile round trip 4 of which are gravel. No problems so far after 2 Manitoba rural winters.
St John to Fredericton, thats over 120 miles round trip.

JamesM

I think my only costs were the flight and the PR Visa. Under 1500GBP

I crashed on sofa's for 2 months.

When I bought my civic I transferred another 2000 GBP.

Initial rent outlay was $2200 for first and last.

It sucked a little because in the 3 months before I moved the pound dived by 20 to 30 percent so I avoided using too much cash as much as possible.