[924leigh]

How does the TDI perform in winter driving in the mountains? We are looking at cabins in Big Bear and I am wondering if I need to start looking at Subarus instead:eek

 

[chittychittybangbang]

Good. Winter tires are a bigger factor in winter traction vs. FWD or AWD.

The fact that the engine is heavier than average and over the front wheels helps. And all VW in the US come standard with stability and traction control so that really helps.

 

[DirtyTrix]

2nd, no traction on 4 wheels still equals no traction, winter tires are needed for serious snow. If you are driving into the mountains, you might just need 4wd + winter tires. Then again, the Subaru might just let you get stuck deeper in the woods than a VW, lol.

 

[1Kevin]

check out nokian hakkapeliittas, they make a lot of winter tires

 

[Hazady]

The engine is over the front wheels and is pretty heavy. That should help winter capability. All VW come with traction and stability control too.

 

[chittychittybangbang]

The engine is over the front wheels and is pretty heavy. That should help winter capability. All VW come with traction and stability control too.

Exactly. Strangely enough, stability control isn't standard on Canadian models.

Little known fact: ABS helps car control but it hasn't been shown to significantly reduce the number of accidents. This is because people follow too closely and ABS can't prevent that. Stability control does significantly reduce accidents because it takes what the driver wants to do and does it, overcoming driver skill or lack of.