Honda Car Forum

I live in Elliot Lake, Ontario (Canada) where there is snow on the
ground upwards of fourth months a year. I am looking to buy an
economical car to take me to a college about 16 kilmetres from my home.
My personal budget allows only upwards of $10,000 Canadian (about $7,500
American currently), so a relatively new Honda seems to be a good choice
considering what I've heard and read of Honda's reliability.

However, my family cars have always been four wheel drive or all
wheel drive. I am not very familiar with these systems, but the general
idea I have gathered is that they are ideally suited for the winter
weather conditions here since they are less likely to slip or lose control.

It was recommended to me that I purchase a Civic or Accord as they
are small, fuel-efficient, and reliable cars for students. I don't know
how they will handle in the snow, slush, and ice I expect to be driving
in because they are front wheel drive.

Does anyone have any first-hand experience or a technical explanation
of how driving a Honda will be different from a four or all wheel drive
vehicle during the winter?

- Tacy

"Tacy" <tacyhunter@dontspamthesofthome.net> wrote in message
news:l1b_b.13285$lQ2.1643@okepread02...
> I live in Elliot Lake, Ontario (Canada) where there is snow on the
> ground upwards of fourth months a year. I am looking to buy an
> economical car to take me to a college about 16 kilmetres from my home.
> My personal budget allows only upwards of $10,000 Canadian (about $7,500
> American currently), so a relatively new Honda seems to be a good choice
> considering what I've heard and read of Honda's reliability.
>
> However, my family cars have always been four wheel drive or all
> wheel drive. I am not very familiar with these systems, but the general
> idea I have gathered is that they are ideally suited for the winter
> weather conditions here since they are less likely to slip or lose
control.
>
> It was recommended to me that I purchase a Civic or Accord as they
> are small, fuel-efficient, and reliable cars for students. I don't know
> how they will handle in the snow, slush, and ice I expect to be driving
> in because they are front wheel drive.
>
> Does anyone have any first-hand experience or a technical explanation
> of how driving a Honda will be different from a four or all wheel drive
> vehicle during the winter?
>
> - Tacy

No. just put Bridgestone Blizzaks on all 4 corners, you'll be fine.

Tacy wrote:

> I live in Elliot Lake, Ontario (Canada) where there is snow on the
> ground upwards of fourth months a year. I am looking to buy an
> economical car to take me to a college about 16 kilmetres from my home.
> My personal budget allows only upwards of $10,000 Canadian (about $7,500
> American currently), so a relatively new Honda seems to be a good choice
> considering what I've heard and read of Honda's reliability.
>
> However, my family cars have always been four wheel drive or all wheel
> drive. I am not very familiar with these systems, but the general idea I
> have gathered is that they are ideally suited for the winter weather
> conditions here since they are less likely to slip or lose control.
>
> It was recommended to me that I purchase a Civic or Accord as they are
> small, fuel-efficient, and reliable cars for students. I don't know how
> they will handle in the snow, slush, and ice I expect to be driving in
> because they are front wheel drive.
>
> Does anyone have any first-hand experience or a technical explanation
> of how driving a Honda will be different from a four or all wheel drive
> vehicle during the winter?
>
> - Tacy
>
I have a 95 Civic 4dr which has been great on ice, slush and in snow;
the only winter drawback has been the noise from the 4 studded snow tires

In article <l1b_b.13285$lQ2.1643@okepread02>, Tacy
<tacyhunter@dontspamthesofthome.net> wrote:

> I live in Elliot Lake, Ontario (Canada) where there is snow on the
> ground upwards of fourth months a year. I am looking to buy an
> economical car to take me to a college about 16 kilmetres from my home.
> My personal budget allows only upwards of $10,000 Canadian (about $7,500
> American currently), so a relatively new Honda seems to be a good choice
> considering what I've heard and read of Honda's reliability.
>
> However, my family cars have always been four wheel drive or all
> wheel drive. I am not very familiar with these systems, but the general
> idea I have gathered is that they are ideally suited for the winter
> weather conditions here since they are less likely to slip or lose control.
>
> It was recommended to me that I purchase a Civic or Accord as they
> are small, fuel-efficient, and reliable cars for students. I don't know
> how they will handle in the snow, slush, and ice I expect to be driving
> in because they are front wheel drive.
>
> Does anyone have any first-hand experience or a technical explanation
> of how driving a Honda will be different from a four or all wheel drive
> vehicle during the winter?
>
> - Tacy

Tacy,
Don't believe everything you hear or read. I believe that a 4 wheel drive
vehicle such as a Honda CV-V or Pilot will run better on snow or ice
covered roads than a vehicle that has two wheel drive. Of course, I also
agree that special tires like the other posters recommended will also help
regardless of whether you have two wheel or four wheel drive. Chains also
help.

T. Nelson wrote:

> Tacy,
> Don't believe everything you hear or read. I believe that a 4 wheel drive
> vehicle such as a Honda CV-V or Pilot will run better on snow or ice
> covered roads than a vehicle that has two wheel drive. Of course, I also
> agree that special tires like the other posters recommended will also help
> regardless of whether you have two wheel or four wheel drive. Chains also
> help.

I checked some local listings and it seems like CR-Vs are quite
affordable but not at all common. Are all of them 4 wheel drive? Are
there any certain things I should look for in a used CR-V?

--
-- Tacy

Fergie wrote:

> I have a 95 Civic 4dr which has been great on ice, slush and in snow;
> the only winter drawback has been the noise from the 4 studded snow
> tires

Do you ever have to stop on hills? I live in a region with many soft
hills and I see some vehicles spin their tyres on slopes. Does pressure
applied to the pedal have a lot more impact in icy conditions or is it
the weight of the car or tyre condition?

--
-- Tacy

"Tacy" <tacyhunter@dontspamthesofthome.net> wrote in message
news:nQx_b.63$Pc.35@okepread02...
> Fergie wrote:
>
> > I have a 95 Civic 4dr which has been great on ice, slush and in snow;
> > the only winter drawback has been the noise from the 4 studded snow
> > tires
>
> Do you ever have to stop on hills? I live in a region with many soft
> hills and I see some vehicles spin their tyres on slopes. Does pressure
> applied to the pedal have a lot more impact in icy conditions or is it
> the weight of the car or tyre condition?
>
> --
> -- Tacy
>

You have to keep in mind that there are a lot of morons on the road and more
often than not, when you see someone spinning their tires, it's because
they're using worn all-seasons. Get a good set of winter tires on all 4
tires and you'll be fine.

"Tacy" <tacyhunter@dontspamthesofthome.net> wrote in message
news:HKx_b.60$Pc.1@okepread02...
> T. Nelson wrote:
>
> > Tacy,
> > Don't believe everything you hear or read. I believe that a 4 wheel
drive
> > vehicle such as a Honda CV-V or Pilot will run better on snow or ice
> > covered roads than a vehicle that has two wheel drive. Of course, I also
> > agree that special tires like the other posters recommended will also
help
> > regardless of whether you have two wheel or four wheel drive. Chains
also
> > help.
>
> I checked some local listings and it seems like CR-Vs are quite
> affordable but not at all common. Are all of them 4 wheel drive? Are
> there any certain things I should look for in a used CR-V?
>
> --
> -- Tacy
>

CR-Vs are actually 2 wheel drive with a real-time 4 wheel drive system.
This means that most of the time, it's in 2 wheel drive mode (front wheel
drive actually) but it will seemlessly switch to 4 wheel drive if the front
tires slip. Once the front tires grip again, then it's back to 2 wheel
drive. This system is meant to give the best of both worlds. The traction
of 4 wheel drive when you need it, and the fuel economy of 2 wheel drive
when 4 wheel isn't needed.

Sean D wrote:

> You have to keep in mind that there are a lot of morons on the road and more
> often than not, when you see someone spinning their tires, it's because
> they're using worn all-seasons. Get a good set of winter tires on all 4
> tires and you'll be fine.

How many kilometres or miles could I expect from a set of winter tyres?
What sort of wheels would I want for the winter?

--
-- Tacy

Sean D wrote:

> CR-Vs are actually 2 wheel drive with a real-time 4 wheel drive system.
> This means that most of the time, it's in 2 wheel drive mode (front wheel
> drive actually) but it will seemlessly switch to 4 wheel drive if the front
> tires slip. Once the front tires grip again, then it's back to 2 wheel
> drive. This system is meant to give the best of both worlds. The traction
> of 4 wheel drive when you need it, and the fuel economy of 2 wheel drive
> when 4 wheel isn't needed.

Some people tell me that the CR-V is a Civic frame (pardon my
terminology if I'm incorrect) with a truck body on top, so it drives a
lot like a car. Is this true?

--
-- Tacy