Re: What car to get
 

The thing about truly rural driving is that you've usually got room to start or slow down or make changes in direction, without too many other vehicles on the road.

City driving means having to brake for traffic lights and morons every 50 yards - that's much easier to do with "good winter boots", as I believe the jargon goes.

Re: What car to get
 

We have just changed to an SUV for safety, not too sure what the snow is like over in Calgary but going on the snow fall we had here in Ontario last year personally I wanted a bigger car. :p You can pick up a good bargain if you are good at haggling Hope this helps

Re: What car to get
 

What did you have and what is safer about the new one?

Re: What car to get
 

Calgary gets less snow on average than almost everywhere in Ontario...including Toronto...but it can get colder temps but also warmer temps in the winter (chinooks). In other words the winter in Calgary has more variation and more sunshine than an Ontario winter.

Re: What car to get
 

I changed from an SUV Ford escapewith 4x4 to a Ford Focus with winter tires after about three years driving here, stops much quicker, handles on snow and ice much better, great for the comute, and we keep the SUV for the forays to the ski hill and out to the provincal parks for the winter hikes where deep snow might be a real issue..

My only concern in the focus in the winter is being hit up the rear by a truck or SUV trying to use its 4x4 but with all seasons on!!!

Re: What car to get
 

Agreed. :thumbup:

We drive a 2006 VW Jetta TDi (Manual transmission). We swap our alloys for winter tyres and steel rims and drive around happily in London, Ontario all winter. Even when Mother nature deposits 1.5 metres of snow in 36 hours, we still manage to get around.

What makes us smile is the fact that the cold stuff arrives every year without fail and yet people still drive as if its the first time they have ever seen snow!
Intersection T-bones and hapless drivers wondering why they cannot stop on a dime are a constant source of amusement.

Remember that speed IS a factor in every collision (accident implies that no-one is to blame - Hot Fuzz)

Last winter, the Ontario Provincial Police closed the 402 Highway, yet drivers moved the barriers (incidentally this also invalidates your car insurance) and then wondered why they got stuck for 24 hours in dangerously cold conditions - one poor soul died within metres of a house. :(

No matter how short the journey, make sure you have a winter kit in the trunk. Warm clothing, water, food, flashlight, light sticks, etc. See: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/saf...terdrive.shtml

If you want to stay in control, invest in snow tyres, a manual transmission and give yourself thinking and stopping time. :eek:

Oh, and watch out for the buggers who signal after they make the turn - oh, how we laugh!!:rofl:

Re: What car to get
 

I remember that early winter storm last year...but wasn't aware that people moved the barriers....its people like that who should be low priority when the rescue vehicles are searching for people.

Love your use of metric.:thumbup:

Re: What car to get
 

I have a set of winter tyres for the Jag. Should make all the difference when the supercharger kicks in :thumbup:

Re: What car to get
 

Don't be silly. As soon as it gets damp/cold, the electrics will fail and it will sit on your drive. Or whereever it broke down. Lucas, prince of darkness and all that.

Re: What car to get
 

... and don't forget to scrape the letterbox-sized viewing area on your windscreen... :banghead:

Re: What car to get
 

You also need to watch out for the driver immediately in front of the car behind you AND the driver immediately behind the car in front. :blink: :confused:

Re: What car to get
 

To its credit when it broke down last week it did so 50 feet from home :thumbup: I am actually in the process of trying to convince the OH that we should buy a rather nice X-type as a practical 4WD winter car. Her response involved John Prescott.....:(

Re: What car to get
 

Two jags. Like it. The X type was only 4wd because, being based on the Mondeo platform, it could only be FWD or 4wd. And of course, a FWD Jag just wouldn't do.;)

Re: What car to get
 

OH has just picked up some studded tyres for my '94 BMW 318i convertible off kijiji for a whole $80, but then he knows what he's looking for.;)

Re: What car to get
 

Thanks for the comments guys. I was thinking of getting a SUV before but now I think I will strongly consider a standard car. The low mpg's that are got with SUV's means there wont be much of a saving on fuel costs, and I will probably spend as much as I do back home.

Unless someone knows of dood priced version that gives decent mpg. Maybe like a Nissan Juke or something.