I am hoping to move to upstate NY September time and will need to buy a car.

Do you have any suggests for something suitable? Anything I should avoid?

sanj2010

Anything with chains on the tyres

Convertibles

Depends on what type of car you want. SUV? Truck? Compact? MPV? Look at edmunds.com and kbb.com. They have good reviews and advise, plus a search feature for you to find a car that suits your lifestyle!

A lot of people will tell you that you need some sort of SUV/4x4/AWD because of the snow up there. However, I lived in Ithaca for 4 years, drove a little Ford Focus and never had any problems in the snow. However, if you think you might like an SUV by all means go for it! Just don't think that All-Wheel Drive or 4-Wheel Drive or the like is absolutely essential. However, the one thing that is essential is an anti-lock braking system. It was helpful when driving/slipping down Ithaca's many hills during the winter!

If you think you might be doing off-roading or living in a more remote or rural area (ie where there are unpaved roads or long and treacherous driveways), THEN you may want to think about an SUV. These are the type of situations where an SUV-type vehicle is better than others. However, if you are going to be sticking to the road, an SUV is not essential.

The most important thing about driving up there is not what car you have, but your driving style. In the snow, drive carefully, but confidently and not over-cautiously In Upstate NY, people don't let a silly thing like snow stop them from business as usual!

kellwie

Well, that's exactly where we are going....Ithaca!

I was considering an SUV, given that was about the only thing everyone seemed to drive there! I am planning on living in the villages outside Ithaca, but fancy getting some skiing done in the winter.

SUV I guess it is!

sanj2010

An SUV is certainly a good choice--can't go wrong. You are right, that does seem to be the car of choice there. Basically my point was that, if you are for some reason completely oppossed to the though of driving an SUV, it isn't essential.

I hope you enjoy Ithaca! I went to university there (Cornell) and absolutely loved it. Beautiful area, very liberal town, and loads of fun stuff to do in and around Ithaca.

Dodge Durango ..with the Hemi ...just the right thing.

I'll second that, I've been driving the new Durango around for the last seven weeks. A BIG beast... I had to give it back last week and drive a dodgy Pontiac for a couple of weeks....

I really miss being so high up and being able to see the road properly....and it's got a BIG engine. 5.7 litres!!

5.7 L....isn't that a tad excessive?

Something with a plow!

You'll be almost in my neck of the woods... make it a BIG plow and you can make a million clearing driveways. -- Ours didn't get done untill 4:30pm one day.

Not for upstate NY!

If you want to enjoy things like ATVs, dirtbikes, skiing or snowmobiling then no, it isn't excessive. We have a friend with the Dodge Hemi 5.7 and it has been its weight in gold for when he and hubby go dirt biking. Hubby says that he would never get his car into the place they go because of the dirt tracks. His next car will almost certainly be some type of SUV.

and there's absolutely NO truth in the rumour that the size of a man's car/SUV/truck is directly inproportionate to the size of his todger!!

Ooh I don't know, hubby rides a bike to work

What exactly does the "upstate" in upstate NY mean? Further north? Higher altitude? I've never quite understood it .....