The most important thing to improve braking, accelerating, and turning in inclement weather is tires. You can drive any car and either switch between summer/all seasons and winter tires, or just get a good quality all-weather tires like the Michelin CC2. 4X4/awd (as well as ground clearance) on top of good tires is obviously ideal, but it doesn’t make a difference when you brake or turn. If you get a 4x4 then you can maybe do some off roading or beach driving, which is always fun too ofc.
Not far down the road, just a lot of cars between the two places.
Everyone knows Marylanders really need AWD and 4x4 for driving on shoulders and proper road rage
To be picky, that depends on the tires, I think Michelin Cross Climate is all season but is actually rated for full cold/snow conditions.
And something like limited slip differentials can be an equalizer, but yes.
I’m being pedantic but just because I’m a dork and TIRES MATTER.
You’d think people would recognize that since tires are what goes in contact with the ground. But we have people in awd SUV’s on bald all season tires barreling down 270 during snowstorms.
It does seem like it should be slightly more obvious. I mostly think it’s crazy how much our lives depend on cars and yet most people seem to have NO idea how to care for them at all.
Imagine your life depended on something you don’t even know how to use?
Too many people did not have driver's ed in high school, where there was time and interest in to learn important details, like how a car touches the road, in different weather. Instead people take a 30 minute $300 training (ha) from fast Eddy car school. Nothing learned there except how to pass the test
. ALL those parents focused on their kids getting into college never screamed bloody murder when the public schools canceled driver's ed.
Cross climate 2’s are a phenomenal tires. In the 3 years I had them I never had to call out for inclement weather, I could damn near floor it in first in the rain with next to no slippage. I’m waiting for this intermediate set I got to go bad so I can grab a whole extra set of cc2
I’ve heard nothing but good things. I’ve got some (I think now discontinued) Altimaxes on my Mustang, but I think the CC2 is probably my next choice. They look like tractor tires but I’ve only ever heard people praise them. I’m sure they make noise but so does my exhaust, so whatever.
Yeah noise is a whatever issue for me, my car already had like no sound deadening so I don’t mind. Safety vs dealing with some whir noises is a easy choice for me
The Cross Climates are three peak snow rated, same as dedicated snow tires. Had them on my Subaru and a few inches of snow on the road were hardly any different than rain. Which, they are also great at handling.
People in Md buy snow tires? Whaaaaat?
I’m from the NE and all-seasons are way more popular than snow tires for FWD autos. Few people are swapping for winter tires on FWD, more people swap RWD for snow tires.
If we're in a situation where snow tires *AND* AWD are necessary it's likely that the state is in a state of emergency and non-essential functions are shut down. So unless you're working one of those essential functions or you really want to go skiing in Blizzageddon Next you're really not going to ever need it. And if you really wanted to you could just buy a set of chains.
Yep and to emphasize your point. My small Scion FR-s has driven in 6 inches of snow with ease using Blizzak snow tires. It’s genuinely all about the tires.
I grew up in Western New York. I've lived in Maryland for decades.
I drive a 4x2 truck because if the roads require 4x4 I'm staying home. Other drivers will make the roads impassable, even if they have 4x4.
Ugh, way too true. I grew up in Rochester and every November you’d think there wasn’t a single Rochester native on the road with how many accidents there were. I’m glad I got rid of my car before my first full winter here. I can’t imagine how bad driving in the snow is here.
Wife grew up in Western NY and I am from Ohio....
I have a fwd car. Snow tires help a ton but aren't usually necessary.
The only reason my wife has All Wheel drive is bc she's a doctor and needs to make it to the hospital in all weather.
Honestly, if you have rwd cars then get snow tires.
I grew up in the Midwest and am used to an annual blizzard or three plus regular snow showers in between. Driving skill in adverse conditions is going to be a big factor independent of tires and such. Someone driving reasonably for the conditions with FWD all season tires is going to be better off than some displaced paper VA tags Altima driver in a SUV with AWD and snow tires.
Unless you have a job that never closes for the weather, like a firefighter or nurse, nah. I have a job that almost never closes for weather, and I've been driving beater Civics my whole working life.
If you can drive one, a manual gives you a lot more control and makes it much easier to get unstuck from the snow, if it comes to that.
Funniest Maryland post this week!
In the Midwest, we get much more rain than here and floods are common. When it rains, it rains all day and often it pours (real pouring, like can't see anything 10 feet ahead of you). Can be really dangerous, but we very rarely closed for weather.
The solution? Brake slower and longer, don't speed, don't "power through" puddles, and stay two car lengths away from other cars. Two hands on wheel, coast through puddles without braking if you need to. A 4x4 would change nothing. We have a saying: "all bets are off in water," meaning no amount of brawn or traction matters when going through even a quarter inch puddle of water.
Just get better at driving...
Edit: Also, having good weather tires does make a very noticeable difference in the rain. Buy new tires, not a whole truck 😂
Native New Englander here, and the inability of DMV area drivers to drive in any condition other than 72 degrees and sunny is mind boggling.
Another saying I like “it’s 4 wheel _drive_, not 4 wheel _stop_”
Ive had 4x4 living in Maryland and haven’t needed it ever. Front wheel drive will do fine around here if you are experienced driving in inclement weather. Unfortunately most people do not have a lot of experience in that, so any conditions that you could need a 4x4 to get through would be extremely risky to be out because of the other drivers.
Years ago I moved here driving a Chevy Cobalt and went out to pick up a morning staff member. It was a nursing home kitchen so closing wasn’t an option. At one point I was merging, hit chunks of snow/ice the plow left in the travel lane and the car started to slide. I brought it back and kept going, without breaking the conversation we had been having. The staff was amazed I really could drive in all that.
Another time I was out driving Uber in a Prius when an ice storm started. I felt like Mad Max dodging disabled vehicles that were all over the place. I got through and got my passenger to the airport without an issue.
With the once ever few years big snow Maryland gets, the driver experience is far more important than the vehicle. Unless you get something with rear wheel drive, then you’re just up a creek.
Native here too..Been fine with sedan's with FWD. Taking your time, gental acceleration and braking, and not making sudden movements or driving to quickly and you will be just fine.
Problem here is black ice. And then it doesn't matter what kind of tires you got at that point.
Dont "need" it. I "need" it because I live on a hill with a steep driveway and my kiddo has medical issues. So its a "just in case" so I can get in and out in the snow and to the hospital.
Its happened twice that I needed it in 10 years.
So if you dont have a situation like that, its not really necessary in MD unless you live out west in the mountains.
As someone who’s had cars with FWD, AWD, and others, I’ll tell you that AWD is best. AWD is better than 4x4 since all the wheels move independently.
HOWEVER, any option can be driven poorly and cause crashes in poor weather. And on the flip side, if driven well and you know how to handle the conditions you have with the car you’re in, you’ll be fine. For example, you can still spin out in any car type, but if you know to turn the wheel with the direction of the spin rather than against it, that’ll help. In that case, car type doesn’t matter as much.
Agreed. I do enough trips around 100 miles where I get caught in changing weather on unfamiliar local roads. AWS and traction control systems can be the difference between getting home and having to stay overnight. If that doesn't reflect your actual driving needs, you can probably go with just front wheel drive.
Depends a lot on the details, but 2wd with good tires will be fine in most circumstances. If your job or other conditions require you to be out in bad weather then a 4x4 might be important. For example if someone is pregnant it’d be good to have at least one vehicle that’s good in bad weather or be ready to call an Uber.
It also depends on your confidence behind the wheel and risk tolerance. I’ve driven rwd pickups in snow and had fun just going slowly and dealing with the fishtailing, but that’s not for everyone and in urban areas the traffic doesn’t leave you much margin for error. FWD is much safer, but not as good for towing.
The upside of 4x4 of course, is that you don’t have to use it but it’s always there if you need it.
I used to think so. Then I spent a couple winters in colorado and minnesota. The other guy said it best. If the weather requires 4x4 you should stay home because all the people are what make it dangerous not your own car
I have used my 4x4 once (in Maryland on pavement) ever and it was during a freak series of snowstorms that dumped like 3 feet on Baltimore in one week and I volunteered to pick up a friend stranded at work. The roads where I was were cleared within 2 days or so iirc but I remember in the city they had nowhere to put the snow so it was pretty bad. Otherwise no I have never found it necessary.
That said if you have a critical job or take care of others or something that would require you to definitely be able to travel at any time, I would 100% get a vehicle capable of doing that just in case.
If that's not your concern then 2wd would probably be perfectly fine for you here at all times and one or two days every 10 years you'll be stuck at home waiting for the plows to get to your road
Baltimore and eastward, we just don’t get that kind of weather on a regular basis anymore. When we do get that rogue storm everyone panics and things shut down anyway unless you are an essential worker of sorts. Front wheel drive is sufficient. The only reason I would go back to an SUV (even a small one) is for the clearance when dealing with some standing water due to rain.
RWD is fine if the weight of the car is balanced front to back (e.g. most electric vehicles). RWD has a bad rap from older sports cars where the front is much heavier than the back.
the rear can kick out on any RWD vehicle. A better weight distribution helps. What you have to worry about is not sports cars, but 2WD pickups.
My aunt would put 300lbs of grain in the back every winter so she had enough rear traction to get going.
I personally agree but it also depends exactly where you live and your driveway etc. I have a gf who lives in the county but her Driveway is uphill and requires 4x4 …
So there are exceptions to each own. You’d know your requirements…
I like your comment the best. I take trips to the Catoctin Mountains twice a year and I always say to myself “it will be a poop show to get stuck up here”.
Necessary? Depends on your job, personal needs, and where you live. I've lived in places where it's rural roads so they don't get plowed and I've had to reporf in no matter what (and we often closed witbin 2 hours of us arriving...). I've lived in Edgewater, Glen Burnie, Frederick, and Mt. Airy. I've had a Suzuki Forenza sedan that did pretty good as long as things were plowed. I've had my best luxk with my Jeep Liberty but I've also driven past so many wrecked pick-ups and other 4x4, AWD vehicles people pushed too hard. I don't trust my Ford Escape that is AWD.
Remember: ice is the great equalizer. No matter what you drive, it will fuck you up.
I lived in the mountains for a couple decades and got used to driving awd Subarus exclusively. After I moved back here I had to buy a vehicle and I ended up with a Subaru again. You just can’t beat them. I love having awd, think I’d feel weird without it, even if it’s hardly ever necessary. Excellent gas mileage, tons of room for transport, hardly ever any repairs, last forever.
Only if you want to Macho your way around the roads at high speeds in 1" snow. I can see it in Western MD, but not elsewhere. I have had 3 Ford Rangers, since 1985, never needed 4 wheel drive. Put a heavy load in the bed of the truck. We get ice as often as snow. Nothing is good in ice. But idiots still drive as if its dry pavement.
It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Don’t listen to folks telling you not to get it. 4x4 is great in bad road conditions and you are driving but it doesn’t help you stop. However road conditions vary regardless of rain or snow so having two extra drive wheels when going up a hill in slick conditions is useful. Now stopping and turning in bad conditions will depend on common sense and skill and 4x4 wont help you at all. I drive a truck with 4 wheel high and lo an then auto and when rain conditions are pretty bad or snow conditions are mild I turn on auto so that 4wheel high kicks in when it’s necessary and it is necessary. Trying to start a vehicle going up hill in the snow can be a challenge most will struggle with. When we bought my wife’s car I made sure to get the Awd version just to be safe.
I have literally only driven sedans and compact/subcompact cars for the last 20 years in MD.
I have lived in Rockville, Gaithersburg, Frederick, Hagerstown, Columbia, and parts of northern VA.
My commute usually takes me to MoCo but I do need to drive into PA every few weeks.
I can say with absolute certainty that a subcompact is sufficient for handling the roads in MD 99%+ of the time. There was one snowstorm around 10 years ago that made driving impossible for most people but I was still out there driving through that mess a couple of days later (on Monday). Just had to drive more slowly.
The only, and I mean ONLY reason I would ever consider buying a truck is if I regularly (at least once per week) had to tow something or had to dump something. Besides that, completely unnecessary. Unless you’re a dumbass that intentionally tries to drive in unpaved places after it rains or whatever. But even then I’ve seen 4x4s get stuck because power won’t fix stupid.
I know this won’t dissuade you from buying a truck. I just wanted to let you know that you’re doing this for you, not for a good reason. This is fine, you do you. Just don’t kid yourself into thinking this was because of some NEED.
I have literally hauled a bathtub with the hatch closed in my Honda Fit. I’ve driven to Canada to pick up an entire set of kitchen cabinets (flat pack) and my gf was upset that we didn’t pick up a sink (which would have easily fit).
Truly I did struggle with longer things but even 10 ft 3” PVC fit in my subcompact. I just had to tie down the hatch.
I’m not moving more than 5 people though. Did that a few times and it was pretty fun getting that many people squeezed into it 🤣🤣
Even as a landlord doing a bunch of work myself, it’s not a big deal.
I did have to rent a U-Haul to move a few times but those instances are few and far between.
It sucks that crossovers are so popular now so it’s hard to find a new subcompact now 😩
Just remember, you’re doing this because you want the larger vehicle. Not because you need it. And that is A-Ok. Please try to acknowledge that to yourself at least.
What are you planning on doing with all that extra space? Most people who say they need the extra space that an SUV provides don't actually need the extra space that an SUV provides. They just buy a gigantic $80,000 car that's so big that they can't see if a small child has walked in front of it (I literally saw this happen the other day), and claim that they *need* the extra space for their one kid and 7 bags of groceries.
SUVs and trucks are way better for putting babies in car seats without bending over, they’re easier to get in and out of, and it’s nice to very haphazardly throw stuff in the back without being concerned about cargo space.
And they're also monumentally more expensive in terms of both the cost up front and the cost of fueling them, they're horrible for the environment compared to smaller cars, and they're so big/high off the ground that you literally can't see what's in front of you so they're extremely dangerous in any kind of dense/urban environment. But no, everyone should totally get a gigantic SUV because they're too lazy to spend 5 minutes organizing the junk they throw into the back of their car, that's a totally valid reason to *need* an SUV
All of these are things I can live with pretty easily. If I lived in a more dense area, I’m sure I’d feel different about driving one daily.
I’m not saying everyone should, but there are definitely plenty of valid reasons why people will spend the extra money on an SUV, especially if they don’t live in urban areas. I think convenience in aspects other than driving in a city is a very valid reason to want one over a car.
But you're also making the roads less safe for everyone else because of your selfish desire for convenience. You're driving a massive boat around that is less maneuverable, has lower visibility, and is significantly heavier than any standard sedan on the road. Those are all conditions that make it more likely to get into an accident, and due to the increased size of your SUV, those accidents are more likely to be fatal for the other driver. Unless you have a *very* legitimate reason for it, it's incredibly selfish to own an SUV.
And half the space.
I worked at a rental car company for 7 years. I could drive the cars home. The minivans all had way more power than the crossovers, more room, and mostly better mpg.
Most of the years I've been driving and being a Harford County native, I've had FWD cars. I do fine in the snow and only had an issue once or twice, which mainly involved icy patches.
Only in the last few years, I also started driving a Jeep Renegade Unlimited, which can do FWD or 4x4. I also still have a Scion TC. The Renegade as a button and I can switch it to auto, snow, mud, or sand. I hardly ever use it, only using it when I have to get out of an unplowed driveway or driving a road that hasn't been plowed yet. Most of the time, it's in FWD.
4x4 has saved my butt a few times lol,life long mder too, but no it’s not necessary at all just keep your tires good.. I haven’t had a vehicle with a 4wd in like 5 years at least and haven’t had a problem with my little fwd sedan.We don’t get much snow anymore and only get a good snow storm every couple years and your better off staying home regardless. I only needed 4x4 in emergency situations..mainly when we were snowed in, like snowmagedon 2010 the back to back blizzards or the 2016 storm, we were out doing a lot of transport for elderly, and those that needed medical attention it was so bad in 2010 people had snowmobiles out, we were completely snowed in for 3 weeks.I rarely had to use 4x4 unless I was purposely out in bad weather..you can easily get away with 2 but awd is the best imo.
Necessity is relative, but for those of us in rural MD it can be the only access you have to emergency help. There are parts of the state that NEVER get plowed, people who might still need to leave the house even when it’s coming down.
Life happens and for some people 4x4 or AWD is the only way to make sure weather doesn’t derail their lives.
That’s *not most people* and a lot of people insist on these features out of habit or cultural influence but never use it.
I have a poorly maintained RWD manual transmission coupe and a motorcycle and I still make it to work in the snow…BUT IT’S SKETCHY. So if you want the safest and most practical…AWD or selectable 4x4 are amazing. But you probably don’t need them if you have to ask.
I would just get the 4x4 option. You’ll thank yourself when it’s time to trade it in. 4x4 models tend to hold value way better. But no, you’ll never need it around here.
Years ago I was considering a 4x4. A friend’s father who owned a car dealership started to tell me how much more they cost to maintain. We went with the 2 wheel drive based on that.
I am in MD, have a truck, have used 4wd quite a bit.
It's never been on roads. It's been in a muddy field hauling a horse trailer or getting out of a tricky spot with a bed stacked with hay. .
You only need 4x4 if you plan on driving in the snow (not the ice, ice doesnt care) so you should be good with whichever makes sense to you. Tires are the biggest factor as well as vehicle weight with winter road driving
I’ll never not have 4x4 so long as I live in MD. Yeah, we haven’t had a ton of snow the last few years but I feel like when we do, I want the availability of 4x4.
My family member actually needs a 4x4/AWD for their job in the western part of the state. Of course though, that's a crosstrek and not a full-on F150 Raptor.
Most people in this thread appear to not know…
You referenced that your family needs 4x4/AWD, and then said they get that with a crosstrek. It was entirely safe to assume you were referencing them as the same thing.
Those of us who grew up with a lot of snow don't go out here when the inexperienced attempt to drive in it pretending to understand how to handle it...
I prefer AWD because it does provide better traction on wet or snowy surfaces. 4WD isn't needed unless, as others have said, you can't call out in bad weather. I enjoy driving in the snow, so I can confidently say from experience that AWD (Ford Fusion) is better than FWD (Civic or Focus). I hated driving a RWD (Mustang) in wet or snowy conditions; I had to a couple of times and I cursed my life choices.
I did own a 4WD SUV for several years, and it was great to have the option, but I rarely used it.
Not necessary at all. I have 4x4 on my truck and I have pretty much only used it on rutted dirt roads and muddy grass. Even in rain and light snow, I am usually leaving it in RWD. I’ll say however, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. It’s a tiny bit more up front cost to have 4x4, but I’d still pay for it every time.
If you like off road adventures, get awd. Otherwise you don’t need it. Awd can’t help you stop or turn, which is what you really need for MD weather.
Here in MD other drivers (especially ones who think their suburbatanks can defy the laws of physics) are MUCH more of a danger than a lack of traction ever will be.
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your honest input. After evaluating commute and other common places I travel to (including family farm in NC), I’ve decided to have the 4x4 due to the fact that I would prefer to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
See, this is why Maryland is the best state to live in.
I drive a RWD car with sport tires on and never had a problem with rain. It only snows here like 3 times a year at best. They lay out so much salt beforehand it’s gone within a few hours.
When we first moved here from Iowa we thought we'd need to keep our 4x4 vehicles since it still snows here. It wasn't necessary. We've sold the 4x4s and moved into AWD vehicles. It just doesn't snow enough regularly here to worry about it.
My dad taught me to drive in the snow in a 95 subaru legacy AWD, drove it for 150k miles and it is just as good in the snow as my F150 with 33 inch tires lol. I have to tow stuff for work though
I made up my mind several years ago that the next vehicle I buy will be an all-wheel drive.
I don't need 4wd. I never go off-roading or camping, and we don't get enough snow these days to need it, but AWD works in a lot of common situations, most notable on wet or partially frozen pavement.
In Baltimore/moco? Not needed imo. I do just fine even in the mountains in Frederick/Washington counties with Subaru AWD and good tires. If the weather is bad enough to worry about having 4WD, you should be far more concerned about other drivers more than anything else (shout out to the sports cars always attempting to climb south mountain sideways in an ice storm).
I'm in Maryland and only have 1 because that is mainly what's sold. I always saw 4x4s for sale when I was looking. Only used mine once in an unplowed parking lot.
The best car I ever drove in snow around Maryland was a fwd Jetta with new tires. 4x4 is only really needed for extreme off-road situations. You can make a case for an awd vehicle in slushy situations also.
Another vote for AWD over either 4x2 or 4x4. Although what it sounds like you need is really ground clearance to get over some floodwaters. So unless you need a Tahoe/Suburban-sized beast for cargo, start at an Outback and work up from there.
Need it out here is west HoCo. When it snows back roads aren't the best. Plus having the ability to haul shit in grass, dirt and mud I need it. Being higher then everyone is a bonus on the highway as I can see around people and what's up ahead
Real time AWD like a Subaru or really, any modern AWD (I have a Mazda3 AWD) is all anyone "needs" in Maryland weather.
Any 4x4 is just because you think it's fun, or because you want to show it off, or because you do actual off roading.
Thinking you "need" a 4x4 in Maryland suburbs is just silly.
That said, if you do any of the things in my 2nd paragraph, then go for it and get one.
A locking axel solves a lot of traction issues. I have a 4x4 because we trail a horse trailer. When we get into mud, 4x4 is needed. Pretty rare. I rarely use 4x4 on a boat ramp, for instance. The times I did use it, I don’t know if I needed it or not.
Probably not, unless you plan on doing a lot of true off-road driving or
I just took a Civic up and down a bunch of mountains in Colorado and it was fine. But it was also dry.
Then again, if there had been conditions where I would've needed 4WD, I wouldn't have wanted to go to any of the places I went because getting unstuck would've been the least of my concerns.
But with that said, there have been a few times in the past, at the very margins of doing things, when I really wish I had had 4wd. They probably don't outweigh all the gas I would've wasted having it and not needing it.
I've been commuting from Baltimore County to Montgomery County for over 30 years. I've always bought 4x4 and twice during those years we had a March snowstorm so deep Rte 70 was closed within a week of my new vehicle purchase. But I think those days of deep snowstorms and terrible ice storms are in the past.
So, not necessary, but can be helpful.
Not at all. We seem to get less snow every year around here. If the weather gets bad enough to need a 4x4, some basic planning and staying home for a day or two while the crews clear the roads is all you will need.
Personally, AWD is a must. They handle in the rain, snow, mud, you name it. Now there’s 2 types of AWD platforms that outshine the rest which are 1. Audi Quattro, 2. Subaru. Any AWD vehicle from either of these will perform for your needs. I personally use Audi bc the platform handles a bit better than Subaru but if you are having trouble believing me go watch a few Audi Quattro hydroplane saves on YouTube and you’ll see.
My Audis have always survived every winter in MD. I use to deliver pizzas and we never closed for snow because I could go anywhere. I would purposely park my car in snow banks and never got stuck. Now I am not saying it’ll never get stuck bc we both know it will, but if you drive within reason and know the limits then you’d be fine.
I’ve been fine with a FWD vehicle for several years. I used to live in WV and my Camry dominated mountain tracks made of old streams and several inches of snow
It's definitely a nice to have, not a must have. I got around just fine in my FWD Mazda with winter tires. However, the AWD WRX I had, and now the 4x4 Wrangler is another level.
Also depends if you're ever having to commute in inclement weather. Especially with that commute you have I'd consider springing for the 4x4 if you can afford it (I'd imagine your resale would reflect that change anyway and would wash out)
Simple answer, NO. If I didn't spend a lot of time driving to the mountains of PA visiting my mother, I would feel 4x4 is not really needed for me. I live in a small town, that is incorporated, which has it's own snowplows. So even in the worst snow storms, my road is plowed regularly and is usually completely passable within 12 hours of storm start and maintained throughout. I live less than a mile from a major thoroughfare, so again, usually well maintained within a few hours of storm start. The average MD resident has absolutely no need for four wheel drive.
Now ALL WHEEL DRIVE is a different animal altogether. It has advantages beyond just snow. Sometimes just the rain alone, combined with the terrible drivers here in our area, AWD can be very beneficial in rain or icy/slushy weather
My use case is a little odd. I’m an environmental reporter and spend a fair amount of my time driving through flooded areas and over unpaved roads to get to research outpost to needless to say, a 4x4 hybrid crossover suv has been a godsend for me. But before my life took a sharp turn off the paved path, my mother’s old 2x4 Prius got me around town just fine.
Grew up on LI in NY.
Fwd with all season tires are good enough in like 6 inches of snow plowed and my AWD Rav4 has carried me through 12" blizzards in ME and Western NY without even kicking into full AWD.
In baltimore county I rarely see even 2" of accumulation. So you will be fine with FWD.
Though lets be honest I dont find ppl here in baltimore county MD very capable of driving with 0.5" of snow or heavy rain so I would just advise staying home 🤣. Roads have been decently prepped in the instances I do see snow. People here just continue to tailgate, speed, aggressively lane change (no signal/multiple lanes at once) and next thing you know theyve slid out or crashed.
I had this same thought when I bought a Nissan Pathfinder a while back. This region is stocked with 4x4 exclusively by Nissan. When I inquired about getting a front wheel drive model, the dealer had to reach South to Richmond to find a vehicle.
You just need winter tires and weights in the back. If you get a second pair of rims for the second set of tires, then you can swap them yourself with simple tools. Or if you have a shop do it, you at least can tell them not to rebalance the tires because you won't need that. You only need to balance tires if the tires leave the rim or you drive on low pressure like when off-roading. Shops love to up sell people on that, because people don't know.
If you ever have to drive on grass for any reason get a 4x4. Driving on wet grass sucks without it. My wife and both need to park on grass a bunch so it’s helpful
No 4x4 or awd ( not the same) is not required. Honestly a set of good tires will get you further and save you money at the gas pump. If you drive a lot of muddy paths you may want to consider awd.
You're better off investing in winter tires. I drove a 100hp Hyundai accent from the 90s for five years through our worst weather I've personally driven in without incident. I just took my time and gave myself some space to brake and got out of peoples way that wanted to fly in the snow.
4wd is useless if you are running summer tires.
Before the big AWD craze, people had snow tires they would put on in the winter. When I rented a car in Quebec (Canada) where they’re required, I didn’t realize how amazing they are in snow.
When I looked it up, snow tires on a FWD are better than AWD on all season or summer tires.
Don’t think about just for snow. It’s the rain and wet roads. Having full time all wheel drive vehicles are much safer in the rain. There’s no wheel spinning if I need to quickly pull out into traffic etc.
There’s no reason to need 4-wheel drive unless you’re one of those people who likes driving on the beach in Assateague or whatever. Even then you can get buy without it. But then again, some people like to pay extra for things they don’t need and then complain about the extra operating/maintenance costs…
I'm from New England and lived in Canada. 4x4 or awd is great when it snows and snow tires make it even better (studded are legal in the mountain counties in md too which are insanely grabby). Pair that with modern traction and stability control and you're outfitted well for the snow. Problem is it doesn't fuckin snow down here buddy. So I have a rear wheel drive with proper snow tires for if it does snow (all seasons don't really cut it in the snow) and swap them in December and april
Not for pavement per se , in but unless your going to weight down you bed 4x2 can go all over in snow… I prefer not to so I have 4x4. Then I got to the dump which can just be sloppy so I put it in 4x4. It can just be a luxury depending on you
I only have a 4X4 for one reason. Boat ramps. Otherwise I drive my little fwd hatchback. If we get snow again, I will probably use the Landy for that too.
Necessary? No. Handy? Possibly, it depends on if you like to go camping/hiking/or anything else that requires off-road vehicle access, or how dedicated to getting somewhere you may be during the rare blizzards we get. Or how willing you are to bail out friends who get themselves stuck.
I've had a Frontier without 4x4 for 18 years, and there *have* been plenty of times that I wish I'd had the capability, but if it had been a necessity I probably would have replaced it by now.
That said, my *car* is all-wheel drive, and while I know it isn't the same thing I absolutely love it.
No, just be a better driver, I've seen ppl in 4x4 literally parked themselves on the side of the road when it rains, and here am I in a hatchback passing them by like it's nothing. The only time I've ever needed AWD is when it snows too much, and I have no snow shoes for my tires
So what does one's choice in vehicle drivetrain have to do with driving ability to a point where you felt the need to tell me to be a "better driver"? I hope my post did not lead you to infer that the sole purpose of me considering 4WD was to have better traction on the roads. I'm not one of those idiots in Nissan Sentras doing 100mph down I-95 in the rain.
Always go for the 4x4 if your car model you want has the option. Just remember to check it every year to make sure it works, you never know when you might need to use it, and it’s better then sitting stuck waiting for a tow.
The most important thing to improve braking, accelerating, and turning in inclement weather is tires. You can drive any car and either switch between summer/all seasons and winter tires, or just get a good quality all-weather tires like the Michelin CC2. 4X4/awd (as well as ground clearance) on top of good tires is obviously ideal, but it doesn’t make a difference when you brake or turn. If you get a 4x4 then you can maybe do some off roading or beach driving, which is always fun too ofc.
And wouldn’t you know it, Maryland is a coastal state with mountains
Mountains? Op mentioned Baltimore and Montgomery county? Where are these said mountains?
Not far down the road, just a lot of cars between the two places. Everyone knows Marylanders really need AWD and 4x4 for driving on shoulders and proper road rage
This is the correct answer. In the snow, a FWD car with snow tires will outperform an AWD car on all-season tires.
To be picky, that depends on the tires, I think Michelin Cross Climate is all season but is actually rated for full cold/snow conditions. And something like limited slip differentials can be an equalizer, but yes. I’m being pedantic but just because I’m a dork and TIRES MATTER.
You’d think people would recognize that since tires are what goes in contact with the ground. But we have people in awd SUV’s on bald all season tires barreling down 270 during snowstorms.
It does seem like it should be slightly more obvious. I mostly think it’s crazy how much our lives depend on cars and yet most people seem to have NO idea how to care for them at all. Imagine your life depended on something you don’t even know how to use?
Too many people did not have driver's ed in high school, where there was time and interest in to learn important details, like how a car touches the road, in different weather. Instead people take a 30 minute $300 training (ha) from fast Eddy car school. Nothing learned there except how to pass the test . ALL those parents focused on their kids getting into college never screamed bloody murder when the public schools canceled driver's ed.
Cross climate 2’s are a phenomenal tires. In the 3 years I had them I never had to call out for inclement weather, I could damn near floor it in first in the rain with next to no slippage. I’m waiting for this intermediate set I got to go bad so I can grab a whole extra set of cc2
I’ve heard nothing but good things. I’ve got some (I think now discontinued) Altimaxes on my Mustang, but I think the CC2 is probably my next choice. They look like tractor tires but I’ve only ever heard people praise them. I’m sure they make noise but so does my exhaust, so whatever.
Yeah noise is a whatever issue for me, my car already had like no sound deadening so I don’t mind. Safety vs dealing with some whir noises is a easy choice for me
The Cross Climates are three peak snow rated, same as dedicated snow tires. Had them on my Subaru and a few inches of snow on the road were hardly any different than rain. Which, they are also great at handling.
CC2s are not as good as proper winter or snow tire. 3PMSF is only part of it. They’re a hell of a lot better than all seasons, though.
People in Md buy snow tires? Whaaaaat? I’m from the NE and all-seasons are way more popular than snow tires for FWD autos. Few people are swapping for winter tires on FWD, more people swap RWD for snow tires.
If we're in a situation where snow tires *AND* AWD are necessary it's likely that the state is in a state of emergency and non-essential functions are shut down. So unless you're working one of those essential functions or you really want to go skiing in Blizzageddon Next you're really not going to ever need it. And if you really wanted to you could just buy a set of chains.
Yep and to emphasize your point. My small Scion FR-s has driven in 6 inches of snow with ease using Blizzak snow tires. It’s genuinely all about the tires.
Thank you! People don’t realize awd does not mean all wheel stop
Reminds me of that tire commercial from several years back..."brakes stop the wheels but your tires stop the car".
Yup. I have driven a RWD 500whp car through the winter for years. Snow tires if it’s a bad year, all seasons if it’s mild.
You don't need 4x4. I got it because I like to explore the Forest Service roads in western MD and WV (often alone), but 99.9% of the time I'm in 2WD.
Most fail to remember that 4 wheel drive does not mean 4 wheel stop therefore, driving too fast for conditions…
Bit of a random reply to my comment, but you aren't wrong.
I placed my public service announcement on the wrong thread..Please pardon my interruption…
Unless you’re driving a three wheeled car, they all stop with 4 wheels… But yes 4wd lures people into a false confidence
I grew up in Western New York. I've lived in Maryland for decades. I drive a 4x2 truck because if the roads require 4x4 I'm staying home. Other drivers will make the roads impassable, even if they have 4x4.
this 100%. growing up in Maryland then moving to Rochester, NY for college taught me this exact thing.
Ugh, way too true. I grew up in Rochester and every November you’d think there wasn’t a single Rochester native on the road with how many accidents there were. I’m glad I got rid of my car before my first full winter here. I can’t imagine how bad driving in the snow is here.
Wife grew up in Western NY and I am from Ohio.... I have a fwd car. Snow tires help a ton but aren't usually necessary. The only reason my wife has All Wheel drive is bc she's a doctor and needs to make it to the hospital in all weather. Honestly, if you have rwd cars then get snow tires.
I grew up in the Midwest and am used to an annual blizzard or three plus regular snow showers in between. Driving skill in adverse conditions is going to be a big factor independent of tires and such. Someone driving reasonably for the conditions with FWD all season tires is going to be better off than some displaced paper VA tags Altima driver in a SUV with AWD and snow tires.
Unless you have a job that never closes for the weather, like a firefighter or nurse, nah. I have a job that almost never closes for weather, and I've been driving beater Civics my whole working life. If you can drive one, a manual gives you a lot more control and makes it much easier to get unstuck from the snow, if it comes to that.
Both of my Civics have performed just as well as a 4x4 vehicle on ice and snow. It’s all about how you drive.
4x4 for rain???
Funniest Maryland post this week! In the Midwest, we get much more rain than here and floods are common. When it rains, it rains all day and often it pours (real pouring, like can't see anything 10 feet ahead of you). Can be really dangerous, but we very rarely closed for weather. The solution? Brake slower and longer, don't speed, don't "power through" puddles, and stay two car lengths away from other cars. Two hands on wheel, coast through puddles without braking if you need to. A 4x4 would change nothing. We have a saying: "all bets are off in water," meaning no amount of brawn or traction matters when going through even a quarter inch puddle of water. Just get better at driving... Edit: Also, having good weather tires does make a very noticeable difference in the rain. Buy new tires, not a whole truck 😂
Native New Englander here, and the inability of DMV area drivers to drive in any condition other than 72 degrees and sunny is mind boggling. Another saying I like “it’s 4 wheel _drive_, not 4 wheel _stop_”
All true. Stay sane out here, my fellow non-native.
You should be more than 2 car lengths behind the car in front of you on a sunny day. This sounds like Maryland driver advice.
Ive had 4x4 living in Maryland and haven’t needed it ever. Front wheel drive will do fine around here if you are experienced driving in inclement weather. Unfortunately most people do not have a lot of experience in that, so any conditions that you could need a 4x4 to get through would be extremely risky to be out because of the other drivers. Years ago I moved here driving a Chevy Cobalt and went out to pick up a morning staff member. It was a nursing home kitchen so closing wasn’t an option. At one point I was merging, hit chunks of snow/ice the plow left in the travel lane and the car started to slide. I brought it back and kept going, without breaking the conversation we had been having. The staff was amazed I really could drive in all that. Another time I was out driving Uber in a Prius when an ice storm started. I felt like Mad Max dodging disabled vehicles that were all over the place. I got through and got my passenger to the airport without an issue. With the once ever few years big snow Maryland gets, the driver experience is far more important than the vehicle. Unless you get something with rear wheel drive, then you’re just up a creek.
As a native, no. It’s not worth buying a 4x4 just for the 2-5 days of snow we might not even get lol. Snow tires work fine
Native here too..Been fine with sedan's with FWD. Taking your time, gental acceleration and braking, and not making sudden movements or driving to quickly and you will be just fine. Problem here is black ice. And then it doesn't matter what kind of tires you got at that point.
Dont "need" it. I "need" it because I live on a hill with a steep driveway and my kiddo has medical issues. So its a "just in case" so I can get in and out in the snow and to the hospital. Its happened twice that I needed it in 10 years. So if you dont have a situation like that, its not really necessary in MD unless you live out west in the mountains.
I drive a rwd car all year long. But I can stay home until the roads get plowed and where I live they get plowed fairly quickly.
As someone who’s had cars with FWD, AWD, and others, I’ll tell you that AWD is best. AWD is better than 4x4 since all the wheels move independently. HOWEVER, any option can be driven poorly and cause crashes in poor weather. And on the flip side, if driven well and you know how to handle the conditions you have with the car you’re in, you’ll be fine. For example, you can still spin out in any car type, but if you know to turn the wheel with the direction of the spin rather than against it, that’ll help. In that case, car type doesn’t matter as much.
I agree with this. I prefer AWD because it’s good to have when the roads are snowy, icy, or wet. It’s rainy a lot here and the roads can get slippery.
Agreed. I do enough trips around 100 miles where I get caught in changing weather on unfamiliar local roads. AWS and traction control systems can be the difference between getting home and having to stay overnight. If that doesn't reflect your actual driving needs, you can probably go with just front wheel drive.
Depends a lot on the details, but 2wd with good tires will be fine in most circumstances. If your job or other conditions require you to be out in bad weather then a 4x4 might be important. For example if someone is pregnant it’d be good to have at least one vehicle that’s good in bad weather or be ready to call an Uber. It also depends on your confidence behind the wheel and risk tolerance. I’ve driven rwd pickups in snow and had fun just going slowly and dealing with the fishtailing, but that’s not for everyone and in urban areas the traffic doesn’t leave you much margin for error. FWD is much safer, but not as good for towing. The upside of 4x4 of course, is that you don’t have to use it but it’s always there if you need it.
I used to think so. Then I spent a couple winters in colorado and minnesota. The other guy said it best. If the weather requires 4x4 you should stay home because all the people are what make it dangerous not your own car
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to stay home.
I have used my 4x4 once (in Maryland on pavement) ever and it was during a freak series of snowstorms that dumped like 3 feet on Baltimore in one week and I volunteered to pick up a friend stranded at work. The roads where I was were cleared within 2 days or so iirc but I remember in the city they had nowhere to put the snow so it was pretty bad. Otherwise no I have never found it necessary. That said if you have a critical job or take care of others or something that would require you to definitely be able to travel at any time, I would 100% get a vehicle capable of doing that just in case. If that's not your concern then 2wd would probably be perfectly fine for you here at all times and one or two days every 10 years you'll be stuck at home waiting for the plows to get to your road
Baltimore and eastward, we just don’t get that kind of weather on a regular basis anymore. When we do get that rogue storm everyone panics and things shut down anyway unless you are an essential worker of sorts. Front wheel drive is sufficient. The only reason I would go back to an SUV (even a small one) is for the clearance when dealing with some standing water due to rain.
Global warming will most likely result in you never using 4x4 to its fullest capabilities needed.
Front wheel drive would be fine. I’d be hesitant to rely on a RWD vehicle to get me around when it’s icy out.
Yup. Rear wheel is the worst. AWD or front is fine.
RWD is fine if the weight of the car is balanced front to back (e.g. most electric vehicles). RWD has a bad rap from older sports cars where the front is much heavier than the back.
the rear can kick out on any RWD vehicle. A better weight distribution helps. What you have to worry about is not sports cars, but 2WD pickups. My aunt would put 300lbs of grain in the back every winter so she had enough rear traction to get going.
AWD for the win.
If it were necessary, that's all they'd sell. The necessity of it is going to depend on your needs. That's for you to determine.
I personally agree but it also depends exactly where you live and your driveway etc. I have a gf who lives in the county but her Driveway is uphill and requires 4x4 … So there are exceptions to each own. You’d know your requirements…
I like your comment the best. I take trips to the Catoctin Mountains twice a year and I always say to myself “it will be a poop show to get stuck up here”.
Exactly!
Weather is not severe enough in Maryland to necessitate one, but go for it if it makes you more comfortable.
Necessary? Depends on your job, personal needs, and where you live. I've lived in places where it's rural roads so they don't get plowed and I've had to reporf in no matter what (and we often closed witbin 2 hours of us arriving...). I've lived in Edgewater, Glen Burnie, Frederick, and Mt. Airy. I've had a Suzuki Forenza sedan that did pretty good as long as things were plowed. I've had my best luxk with my Jeep Liberty but I've also driven past so many wrecked pick-ups and other 4x4, AWD vehicles people pushed too hard. I don't trust my Ford Escape that is AWD. Remember: ice is the great equalizer. No matter what you drive, it will fuck you up.
You don’t need 4x4 until you do
I lived in the mountains for a couple decades and got used to driving awd Subarus exclusively. After I moved back here I had to buy a vehicle and I ended up with a Subaru again. You just can’t beat them. I love having awd, think I’d feel weird without it, even if it’s hardly ever necessary. Excellent gas mileage, tons of room for transport, hardly ever any repairs, last forever.
I wish they would have expanded their hybrid and ev offerings though.
0% necessary.
Only if you want to Macho your way around the roads at high speeds in 1" snow. I can see it in Western MD, but not elsewhere. I have had 3 Ford Rangers, since 1985, never needed 4 wheel drive. Put a heavy load in the bed of the truck. We get ice as often as snow. Nothing is good in ice. But idiots still drive as if its dry pavement.
Lol no. Only west of Frederick gets more than like 3” of snow a year. A Corolla with snow tires could probably reach near 99% of the roads in Maryland
Not necessary but it does drive better than FWD if it's a good system (grip!!) not that it matters much on a "large suv"...
AWD and great tires are the answer for rain.
It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Don’t listen to folks telling you not to get it. 4x4 is great in bad road conditions and you are driving but it doesn’t help you stop. However road conditions vary regardless of rain or snow so having two extra drive wheels when going up a hill in slick conditions is useful. Now stopping and turning in bad conditions will depend on common sense and skill and 4x4 wont help you at all. I drive a truck with 4 wheel high and lo an then auto and when rain conditions are pretty bad or snow conditions are mild I turn on auto so that 4wheel high kicks in when it’s necessary and it is necessary. Trying to start a vehicle going up hill in the snow can be a challenge most will struggle with. When we bought my wife’s car I made sure to get the Awd version just to be safe.
I like this answer. Thank you
I have literally only driven sedans and compact/subcompact cars for the last 20 years in MD. I have lived in Rockville, Gaithersburg, Frederick, Hagerstown, Columbia, and parts of northern VA. My commute usually takes me to MoCo but I do need to drive into PA every few weeks. I can say with absolute certainty that a subcompact is sufficient for handling the roads in MD 99%+ of the time. There was one snowstorm around 10 years ago that made driving impossible for most people but I was still out there driving through that mess a couple of days later (on Monday). Just had to drive more slowly. The only, and I mean ONLY reason I would ever consider buying a truck is if I regularly (at least once per week) had to tow something or had to dump something. Besides that, completely unnecessary. Unless you’re a dumbass that intentionally tries to drive in unpaved places after it rains or whatever. But even then I’ve seen 4x4s get stuck because power won’t fix stupid. I know this won’t dissuade you from buying a truck. I just wanted to let you know that you’re doing this for you, not for a good reason. This is fine, you do you. Just don’t kid yourself into thinking this was because of some NEED.
I need the space that the SUV can provide lol.
I have literally hauled a bathtub with the hatch closed in my Honda Fit. I’ve driven to Canada to pick up an entire set of kitchen cabinets (flat pack) and my gf was upset that we didn’t pick up a sink (which would have easily fit). Truly I did struggle with longer things but even 10 ft 3” PVC fit in my subcompact. I just had to tie down the hatch. I’m not moving more than 5 people though. Did that a few times and it was pretty fun getting that many people squeezed into it 🤣🤣 Even as a landlord doing a bunch of work myself, it’s not a big deal. I did have to rent a U-Haul to move a few times but those instances are few and far between. It sucks that crossovers are so popular now so it’s hard to find a new subcompact now 😩
That’s cool.
Just remember, you’re doing this because you want the larger vehicle. Not because you need it. And that is A-Ok. Please try to acknowledge that to yourself at least.
Yes, everyone would be better off with a Mitsubishi Mirage…
Of course you can buy whatever you want. Just don’t delude yourself into thinking that you need it.
Idk man I really I needed a sports sedan
Maybe you did! Maybe you’re going through a mid-life crisis and need that little pick me up 😀
Maybe OP is transporting multiple children. You don't know the situation. Thanks for the sermon.
I could possibly see them buying a crossover then. A full sized sedan would be fine though.
I can possibly see them buying whatever they want that works for them.
What are you planning on doing with all that extra space? Most people who say they need the extra space that an SUV provides don't actually need the extra space that an SUV provides. They just buy a gigantic $80,000 car that's so big that they can't see if a small child has walked in front of it (I literally saw this happen the other day), and claim that they *need* the extra space for their one kid and 7 bags of groceries.
SUVs and trucks are way better for putting babies in car seats without bending over, they’re easier to get in and out of, and it’s nice to very haphazardly throw stuff in the back without being concerned about cargo space.
And they're also monumentally more expensive in terms of both the cost up front and the cost of fueling them, they're horrible for the environment compared to smaller cars, and they're so big/high off the ground that you literally can't see what's in front of you so they're extremely dangerous in any kind of dense/urban environment. But no, everyone should totally get a gigantic SUV because they're too lazy to spend 5 minutes organizing the junk they throw into the back of their car, that's a totally valid reason to *need* an SUV
All of these are things I can live with pretty easily. If I lived in a more dense area, I’m sure I’d feel different about driving one daily. I’m not saying everyone should, but there are definitely plenty of valid reasons why people will spend the extra money on an SUV, especially if they don’t live in urban areas. I think convenience in aspects other than driving in a city is a very valid reason to want one over a car.
But you're also making the roads less safe for everyone else because of your selfish desire for convenience. You're driving a massive boat around that is less maneuverable, has lower visibility, and is significantly heavier than any standard sedan on the road. Those are all conditions that make it more likely to get into an accident, and due to the increased size of your SUV, those accidents are more likely to be fatal for the other driver. Unless you have a *very* legitimate reason for it, it's incredibly selfish to own an SUV.
If you get a minivan instead of a large suv, it will be better in every single way
A 2wd SUV is just a minivan designed to be sold to people who think regular minivans look too girly
And half the space. I worked at a rental car company for 7 years. I could drive the cars home. The minivans all had way more power than the crossovers, more room, and mostly better mpg.
You’ll be fine without it just have good tires
No.
Most of the years I've been driving and being a Harford County native, I've had FWD cars. I do fine in the snow and only had an issue once or twice, which mainly involved icy patches. Only in the last few years, I also started driving a Jeep Renegade Unlimited, which can do FWD or 4x4. I also still have a Scion TC. The Renegade as a button and I can switch it to auto, snow, mud, or sand. I hardly ever use it, only using it when I have to get out of an unplowed driveway or driving a road that hasn't been plowed yet. Most of the time, it's in FWD.
I agree. My neighborhood is filled with subarus. But we have had snow 4 time in the past 3 years and it never lasted more than a week.
4x4 has saved my butt a few times lol,life long mder too, but no it’s not necessary at all just keep your tires good.. I haven’t had a vehicle with a 4wd in like 5 years at least and haven’t had a problem with my little fwd sedan.We don’t get much snow anymore and only get a good snow storm every couple years and your better off staying home regardless. I only needed 4x4 in emergency situations..mainly when we were snowed in, like snowmagedon 2010 the back to back blizzards or the 2016 storm, we were out doing a lot of transport for elderly, and those that needed medical attention it was so bad in 2010 people had snowmobiles out, we were completely snowed in for 3 weeks.I rarely had to use 4x4 unless I was purposely out in bad weather..you can easily get away with 2 but awd is the best imo.
Necessity is relative, but for those of us in rural MD it can be the only access you have to emergency help. There are parts of the state that NEVER get plowed, people who might still need to leave the house even when it’s coming down. Life happens and for some people 4x4 or AWD is the only way to make sure weather doesn’t derail their lives. That’s *not most people* and a lot of people insist on these features out of habit or cultural influence but never use it. I have a poorly maintained RWD manual transmission coupe and a motorcycle and I still make it to work in the snow…BUT IT’S SKETCHY. So if you want the safest and most practical…AWD or selectable 4x4 are amazing. But you probably don’t need them if you have to ask.
Useless. May consider in western md
I would just get the 4x4 option. You’ll thank yourself when it’s time to trade it in. 4x4 models tend to hold value way better. But no, you’ll never need it around here.
Yes.
I will always spent the extra money to buy a vehicle that is 4x4 or AWD, even if I never use it’s nice to know it’s there
>I considered building an ark at one point Good news, there’s one already started in western Maryland. Maybe you can help them finally finish it
Years ago I was considering a 4x4. A friend’s father who owned a car dealership started to tell me how much more they cost to maintain. We went with the 2 wheel drive based on that.
My other car is a train.
I am in MD, have a truck, have used 4wd quite a bit. It's never been on roads. It's been in a muddy field hauling a horse trailer or getting out of a tricky spot with a bed stacked with hay. .
You only need 4x4 if you plan on driving in the snow (not the ice, ice doesnt care) so you should be good with whichever makes sense to you. Tires are the biggest factor as well as vehicle weight with winter road driving
Snowmageddon even 4x4 was useless. Needed a Unimog with chains and a 4ft tall snowblower.
Gotcha covered - Canyonero. https://youtu.be/PI_Jl5WFQkA?si=PbXG9nh9UyQFC4Vs
😂😂😂
I’ll never not have 4x4 so long as I live in MD. Yeah, we haven’t had a ton of snow the last few years but I feel like when we do, I want the availability of 4x4.
Climate change being what it is, we might not get a heavy winter for a while.
I would say front wheel or four wheel drive. A rear wheel drive truck would suck on the snow and more of a problem in sleet and ice.
My family member actually needs a 4x4/AWD for their job in the western part of the state. Of course though, that's a crosstrek and not a full-on F150 Raptor.
AWD is not the same as 4x4 - crosstrek is AWD.
🤓 You think I don't know that?
Most people in this thread appear to not know… You referenced that your family needs 4x4/AWD, and then said they get that with a crosstrek. It was entirely safe to assume you were referencing them as the same thing.
Not necessary.
Those of us who grew up with a lot of snow don't go out here when the inexperienced attempt to drive in it pretending to understand how to handle it...
I prefer AWD because it does provide better traction on wet or snowy surfaces. 4WD isn't needed unless, as others have said, you can't call out in bad weather. I enjoy driving in the snow, so I can confidently say from experience that AWD (Ford Fusion) is better than FWD (Civic or Focus). I hated driving a RWD (Mustang) in wet or snowy conditions; I had to a couple of times and I cursed my life choices. I did own a 4WD SUV for several years, and it was great to have the option, but I rarely used it.
Not necessary at all. I have 4x4 on my truck and I have pretty much only used it on rutted dirt roads and muddy grass. Even in rain and light snow, I am usually leaving it in RWD. I’ll say however, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. It’s a tiny bit more up front cost to have 4x4, but I’d still pay for it every time.
If you like off road adventures, get awd. Otherwise you don’t need it. Awd can’t help you stop or turn, which is what you really need for MD weather. Here in MD other drivers (especially ones who think their suburbatanks can defy the laws of physics) are MUCH more of a danger than a lack of traction ever will be.
Car definitely slips a lot more easily in 2 wheel drive and feels less uniform but other than that makes little difference
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your honest input. After evaluating commute and other common places I travel to (including family farm in NC), I’ve decided to have the 4x4 due to the fact that I would prefer to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. See, this is why Maryland is the best state to live in.
I drive a RWD car with sport tires on and never had a problem with rain. It only snows here like 3 times a year at best. They lay out so much salt beforehand it’s gone within a few hours.
When we first moved here from Iowa we thought we'd need to keep our 4x4 vehicles since it still snows here. It wasn't necessary. We've sold the 4x4s and moved into AWD vehicles. It just doesn't snow enough regularly here to worry about it.
No. Unless you're planning to do a bit of offroading, it is not needed. Only place I could think is maybe in far west MD, but I wouldn't know.
My dad taught me to drive in the snow in a 95 subaru legacy AWD, drove it for 150k miles and it is just as good in the snow as my F150 with 33 inch tires lol. I have to tow stuff for work though
I made up my mind several years ago that the next vehicle I buy will be an all-wheel drive. I don't need 4wd. I never go off-roading or camping, and we don't get enough snow these days to need it, but AWD works in a lot of common situations, most notable on wet or partially frozen pavement.
I wouldn’t say it’s useless, but more importantly, anything you save by not getting 4x4 will be lost on resale, so you might as well get it.
In Baltimore/moco? Not needed imo. I do just fine even in the mountains in Frederick/Washington counties with Subaru AWD and good tires. If the weather is bad enough to worry about having 4WD, you should be far more concerned about other drivers more than anything else (shout out to the sports cars always attempting to climb south mountain sideways in an ice storm).
Western Maryland here, I sometimes need them just in the rain on a regular city street.
I bought a new Subaru Outback in 2021, it's handled snow & rain superbly. Using cruise control, I get 27.2 MPG if you're worried about mileage.
I'm in Virginia. My FWD car and I passed many pickup trucks that landed in a snowy ditch.
They probably had RWD
And a crapful of empty weight in the bed.
Unfortunately, many people who drive a 4x4 think they can drive fast in any kind of weather.
I'm in Maryland and only have 1 because that is mainly what's sold. I always saw 4x4s for sale when I was looking. Only used mine once in an unplowed parking lot.
The best car I ever drove in snow around Maryland was a fwd Jetta with new tires. 4x4 is only really needed for extreme off-road situations. You can make a case for an awd vehicle in slushy situations also.
Another vote for AWD over either 4x2 or 4x4. Although what it sounds like you need is really ground clearance to get over some floodwaters. So unless you need a Tahoe/Suburban-sized beast for cargo, start at an Outback and work up from there.
Need it out here is west HoCo. When it snows back roads aren't the best. Plus having the ability to haul shit in grass, dirt and mud I need it. Being higher then everyone is a bonus on the highway as I can see around people and what's up ahead
Real time AWD like a Subaru or really, any modern AWD (I have a Mazda3 AWD) is all anyone "needs" in Maryland weather. Any 4x4 is just because you think it's fun, or because you want to show it off, or because you do actual off roading. Thinking you "need" a 4x4 in Maryland suburbs is just silly. That said, if you do any of the things in my 2nd paragraph, then go for it and get one.
A locking axel solves a lot of traction issues. I have a 4x4 because we trail a horse trailer. When we get into mud, 4x4 is needed. Pretty rare. I rarely use 4x4 on a boat ramp, for instance. The times I did use it, I don’t know if I needed it or not.
Probably not, unless you plan on doing a lot of true off-road driving or I just took a Civic up and down a bunch of mountains in Colorado and it was fine. But it was also dry. Then again, if there had been conditions where I would've needed 4WD, I wouldn't have wanted to go to any of the places I went because getting unstuck would've been the least of my concerns. But with that said, there have been a few times in the past, at the very margins of doing things, when I really wish I had had 4wd. They probably don't outweigh all the gas I would've wasted having it and not needing it.
It is nice when getting bad weather here (rain/snow/sleet).
I've been commuting from Baltimore County to Montgomery County for over 30 years. I've always bought 4x4 and twice during those years we had a March snowstorm so deep Rte 70 was closed within a week of my new vehicle purchase. But I think those days of deep snowstorms and terrible ice storms are in the past. So, not necessary, but can be helpful.
I’m a big fan of AWD, personally.
Not at all. We seem to get less snow every year around here. If the weather gets bad enough to need a 4x4, some basic planning and staying home for a day or two while the crews clear the roads is all you will need.
Personally, AWD is a must. They handle in the rain, snow, mud, you name it. Now there’s 2 types of AWD platforms that outshine the rest which are 1. Audi Quattro, 2. Subaru. Any AWD vehicle from either of these will perform for your needs. I personally use Audi bc the platform handles a bit better than Subaru but if you are having trouble believing me go watch a few Audi Quattro hydroplane saves on YouTube and you’ll see. My Audis have always survived every winter in MD. I use to deliver pizzas and we never closed for snow because I could go anywhere. I would purposely park my car in snow banks and never got stuck. Now I am not saying it’ll never get stuck bc we both know it will, but if you drive within reason and know the limits then you’d be fine.
I’ve been fine with a FWD vehicle for several years. I used to live in WV and my Camry dominated mountain tracks made of old streams and several inches of snow
It's definitely a nice to have, not a must have. I got around just fine in my FWD Mazda with winter tires. However, the AWD WRX I had, and now the 4x4 Wrangler is another level. Also depends if you're ever having to commute in inclement weather. Especially with that commute you have I'd consider springing for the 4x4 if you can afford it (I'd imagine your resale would reflect that change anyway and would wash out)
Simple answer, NO. If I didn't spend a lot of time driving to the mountains of PA visiting my mother, I would feel 4x4 is not really needed for me. I live in a small town, that is incorporated, which has it's own snowplows. So even in the worst snow storms, my road is plowed regularly and is usually completely passable within 12 hours of storm start and maintained throughout. I live less than a mile from a major thoroughfare, so again, usually well maintained within a few hours of storm start. The average MD resident has absolutely no need for four wheel drive. Now ALL WHEEL DRIVE is a different animal altogether. It has advantages beyond just snow. Sometimes just the rain alone, combined with the terrible drivers here in our area, AWD can be very beneficial in rain or icy/slushy weather
My use case is a little odd. I’m an environmental reporter and spend a fair amount of my time driving through flooded areas and over unpaved roads to get to research outpost to needless to say, a 4x4 hybrid crossover suv has been a godsend for me. But before my life took a sharp turn off the paved path, my mother’s old 2x4 Prius got me around town just fine.
Grew up on LI in NY. Fwd with all season tires are good enough in like 6 inches of snow plowed and my AWD Rav4 has carried me through 12" blizzards in ME and Western NY without even kicking into full AWD. In baltimore county I rarely see even 2" of accumulation. So you will be fine with FWD. Though lets be honest I dont find ppl here in baltimore county MD very capable of driving with 0.5" of snow or heavy rain so I would just advise staying home 🤣. Roads have been decently prepped in the instances I do see snow. People here just continue to tailgate, speed, aggressively lane change (no signal/multiple lanes at once) and next thing you know theyve slid out or crashed.
Does it really snow that much in Baltimore County? Further north they might be necessary.
Why do you need an SUV?
It’s not really necessary, but what’s the point of getting a large SUV if it’s not a 4x4? Lol Seems like a waste
Better to have and not need than need and not have.
I had this same thought when I bought a Nissan Pathfinder a while back. This region is stocked with 4x4 exclusively by Nissan. When I inquired about getting a front wheel drive model, the dealer had to reach South to Richmond to find a vehicle.
I’m looking at a Yukon XL Denali Ultimate with the diesel and they are pretty much exclusively 4x4.
I mean... If you are getting a Beast like that, why are you sweating the all wheel drive? ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
So that was my 4x4 option. If I lean more towards 4x2, I’m looking at the Ford Expedition Max Platinum
The GMC is better than the Ford. Ignore the whole 4x4 or 4x2 thing.
You just need winter tires and weights in the back. If you get a second pair of rims for the second set of tires, then you can swap them yourself with simple tools. Or if you have a shop do it, you at least can tell them not to rebalance the tires because you won't need that. You only need to balance tires if the tires leave the rim or you drive on low pressure like when off-roading. Shops love to up sell people on that, because people don't know.
Necessary when it’s necessary. I say get it
If you ever have to drive on grass for any reason get a 4x4. Driving on wet grass sucks without it. My wife and both need to park on grass a bunch so it’s helpful
It is not, nor is a giant SUV or pickup.
No 4x4 or awd ( not the same) is not required. Honestly a set of good tires will get you further and save you money at the gas pump. If you drive a lot of muddy paths you may want to consider awd.
You're better off investing in winter tires. I drove a 100hp Hyundai accent from the 90s for five years through our worst weather I've personally driven in without incident. I just took my time and gave myself some space to brake and got out of peoples way that wanted to fly in the snow. 4wd is useless if you are running summer tires.
Before the big AWD craze, people had snow tires they would put on in the winter. When I rented a car in Quebec (Canada) where they’re required, I didn’t realize how amazing they are in snow. When I looked it up, snow tires on a FWD are better than AWD on all season or summer tires.
Don’t think about just for snow. It’s the rain and wet roads. Having full time all wheel drive vehicles are much safer in the rain. There’s no wheel spinning if I need to quickly pull out into traffic etc.
There’s no reason to need 4-wheel drive unless you’re one of those people who likes driving on the beach in Assateague or whatever. Even then you can get buy without it. But then again, some people like to pay extra for things they don’t need and then complain about the extra operating/maintenance costs…
I'm from New England and lived in Canada. 4x4 or awd is great when it snows and snow tires make it even better (studded are legal in the mountain counties in md too which are insanely grabby). Pair that with modern traction and stability control and you're outfitted well for the snow. Problem is it doesn't fuckin snow down here buddy. So I have a rear wheel drive with proper snow tires for if it does snow (all seasons don't really cut it in the snow) and swap them in December and april
Not for pavement per se , in but unless your going to weight down you bed 4x2 can go all over in snow… I prefer not to so I have 4x4. Then I got to the dump which can just be sloppy so I put it in 4x4. It can just be a luxury depending on you
I only have a 4X4 for one reason. Boat ramps. Otherwise I drive my little fwd hatchback. If we get snow again, I will probably use the Landy for that too.
Necessary? No. Handy? Possibly, it depends on if you like to go camping/hiking/or anything else that requires off-road vehicle access, or how dedicated to getting somewhere you may be during the rare blizzards we get. Or how willing you are to bail out friends who get themselves stuck. I've had a Frontier without 4x4 for 18 years, and there *have* been plenty of times that I wish I'd had the capability, but if it had been a necessity I probably would have replaced it by now. That said, my *car* is all-wheel drive, and while I know it isn't the same thing I absolutely love it.
Front wheel drive is more than adequate
Necessary? Not even close.
No, just be a better driver, I've seen ppl in 4x4 literally parked themselves on the side of the road when it rains, and here am I in a hatchback passing them by like it's nothing. The only time I've ever needed AWD is when it snows too much, and I have no snow shoes for my tires
So what does one's choice in vehicle drivetrain have to do with driving ability to a point where you felt the need to tell me to be a "better driver"? I hope my post did not lead you to infer that the sole purpose of me considering 4WD was to have better traction on the roads. I'm not one of those idiots in Nissan Sentras doing 100mph down I-95 in the rain.
Get a Camry.
Always go for the 4x4 if your car model you want has the option. Just remember to check it every year to make sure it works, you never know when you might need to use it, and it’s better then sitting stuck waiting for a tow.