Technically it’s not the power of the engine but the AWD/4WD. You can floor your engine and just skid on ice. Subarus are pretty cheap 4 cyl boxer engines known for great handling in snow with some clever differential systems they have (viscuous coupling diffs, active torque split, etc.) But yeah a Ford Focus or Honda Civic or whatever with FWD only will leave you stranded. Not your main point I know.
One time it snowed a foot or two in Seattle. I had a set of studded tires on a little Toyota Tercel and I swear I was the only fucker driving around. Uphill, downhill, cruising down the lumpy hard-packed freeway, didn’t have any problems. Besides, if you get stuck in a Tercel you can just lift the whole rear of the car out of the snow with a second person. I really miss that car.
If you’re into cars for curiosity’s sake, it’s a fun deep dive to look into the cars used in Russia, including the USSR-era ones. Harsh winter conditions, huge backcountry. Some of the government issue ones, uh, GAZ-69, UAZ-469, GAZ-66. I bet people have done modern engine swaps with the chassis on those. One of the crazier things is in the colder regions (e.g. Yakutia) engine cooling isn’t an issue, rather they have to insulate the engine so that it’ll be warm enough to start.
With that said, a beater with snow tires and chains on the trunk (and a driver that knows how to put them on before they are needed) will do better than a Subaru with all season tires.
Source: Subaru forums, even a RWD like a BRZ/FRS with snow tires can be safe if driven with the car’s limitations in mind.
Technically it’s not the power of the engine but the AWD/4WD. You can floor your engine and just skid on ice. Subarus are pretty cheap 4 cyl boxer engines known for great handling in snow with some clever differential systems they have (viscuous coupling diffs, active torque split, etc.) But yeah a Ford Focus or Honda Civic or whatever with FWD only will leave you stranded. Not your main point I know.
One time it snowed a foot or two in Seattle. I had a set of studded tires on a little Toyota Tercel and I swear I was the only fucker driving around. Uphill, downhill, cruising down the lumpy hard-packed freeway, didn’t have any problems. Besides, if you get stuck in a Tercel you can just lift the whole rear of the car out of the snow with a second person. I really miss that car.
I looked that car up a few days ago - know why? It was Jesse’s car in Breaking Bad.
There is a reason why the Italian mountain police uses the Fiat Panda (other than it being an Italian car)
That fucker will go ANYWHERE
If you’re into cars for curiosity’s sake, it’s a fun deep dive to look into the cars used in Russia, including the USSR-era ones. Harsh winter conditions, huge backcountry. Some of the government issue ones, uh, GAZ-69, UAZ-469, GAZ-66. I bet people have done modern engine swaps with the chassis on those. One of the crazier things is in the colder regions (e.g. Yakutia) engine cooling isn’t an issue, rather they have to insulate the engine so that it’ll be warm enough to start.
I just shake my head at people that think if you’re spinning out on the ice, just press the throttle harder. Fucking idiots.
With that said, a beater with snow tires and chains on the trunk (and a driver that knows how to put them on before they are needed) will do better than a Subaru with all season tires.
Source: Subaru forums, even a RWD like a BRZ/FRS with snow tires can be safe if driven with the car’s limitations in mind.