Why don't people who live in states with snow get AWD/4WD cars?

AWD/4WD get worse gas mileage.

Here's the thing. I live on the Canadian Prairies and I have at my disposal a 2006 Malibu Maxx and a 2008 Ford F150 4x4 pickup. And 95% of our roads are gravelled grid roads.

The Ford Pickup is currently in the process of either being traded in or sold outright. I have found that when it snows hard enough out here to require a 4x4, no one should be on the roads anyway. The Malibu, with four dedicated Winter Snow Tires is more than capable of getting through all but the very worst snow falls. If it snows harder than that everything around here shuts down anyway so who needs the 4x4 (there's no place to go anyway).

The Ford is 3 years old and has less than 5000 Kms. on it. (waste of money). And here is a newsflash for you. Very few of the people out here with 4x4's run them in four wheel drive when they are on the main roads. They use the 4x4 feature in the Summer for crossing muddy fields. Simply put, the only difference between 2WD and 4WD drive in a snowstorm is that in a 4x4 you have 4 wheels spinning when you slide off the road arrsse backwards, instead of two.

Ask any tow truck driver and he will tell you the same thing. The operators around here pull out more know-it-all 4x4 drivers than they do 2 wheel drivers.

awd/4wd only helps you get moving. it doesn't prevent you from getting in an accident due to bad traction while braking or cornering. SUV's are heavier and results in poorer cornering and braking. Winter tires on a car is better.

awd/4wd uses more gas. More pollution. 1/3, only 33% of the year. Plus after every storm the roads are cleared so it really isn't that bad.

Why don't you use your head?

well, i agree and disagree at the same time. I live in Minnesota and have a rear wheel drive car and it SUCKS in the winter!! however, my dad's truck is 4 wheel drive. the problem with 4WD if the ice. it is VERY VERY hard to control a 4wd car on ice. D=

Sir my answer to your question is that Front wheel drive are best for snow covered areas because when i used to have old sports Toyota Corolla which was Rear wheel drive and i used to have a lot of problem while on snow starting in 1st gear the rear tyre used to skid a lot and the car did not use to move on.i used to see the cars passing me which were front wheel drive. even cops cars are real wheel drive but they have snow tyres at rear side so it is less problem for them.Plus Front wheel drive car has more traction control.Go for Toyota control 4 doors 1.3 or 1300 CC or 1.6 ltr or 1600 CC same thing. Regards.

Cost plays a major part in that. Cars without 4 wheel drive are not as expensive as those with, for the same make and model, etc.,

A SUV with half of the stuff a nice car has, may cost as much as a nice car, but it has 4 wheel drive.

A Grand Cherokee for instance, can run up in the $40,000 or more.

Only in an exceptional year would you use 4WD more than 1% of the time.

hmmm, I live in NY.

gas guzzlers. Hate SUV drivers in the city, can't maintain lane control, too big to park in public spaces, costly. Subarus excluded. they're affordable awd. I hate driving suvs. feel like the car will tip over on curves and I love sportier cars.

well, ricardo9, some smaller cars can have AWD. My dad's Honda Fit has AWD and it's a tiny thing.

I have lived in some very cold and snowy places Northern Arizonia, Colorado, North Dakota, Alaska, Delaware and Conn. I never needed 4x4 most roads are kept clear and the cost aren't worth it and the maintance is expensive