Brutal Winter Convinces Buyers That AWD Isn't Such A Bad Idea After All

Winter's wrath fell hard on car dealer David Kelleher last month, forcing him to close his Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep store near Philadelphia for five days due to heavy snow and ice. There was an upside, though: Booming sales of all-wheel drive models.

"In past winters, customers had to take a day off work if they had a car with rear-wheel drive because it didn't get them out of their driveway," said Kelleher, whose store is in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. "When we got hit with this snow, people said, 'Screw this, I'm finally going to take this plunge.'"

Even as auto sales have been slowed this winter by record cold and snow, brands known for their awd offerings have fared well. In February, when industrywide sales were little changed, Subaru sales climbed 24 percent and Jeep deliveries jumped 47 percent.

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MrEE - 3/4/2014 8:10:27 PM

+1 Boost

The going isn't the issue for most in winter, it is the stopping. I will take front wheel drive, good all season tires and ABS any winter in the Midwest. Throw in ESC with traction control for good measure.

trmckin - 3/4/2014 11:34:42 PM

+4 Boost

Well... At least where I live... The going is the issue. It's the civic owner stuck at a light facing uphill blocking a lane of traffic in morning rush because he can't go 10 ft. That one vehicle causes problems for the dozens behind them. Add in a few more of these and you have 4 to 5 cars making the morning commute for hundreds miserable. Yes, snow tires are helpful but clearance, weight, incline, traction control, etc are also factors..

trmckin - 3/4/2014 11:35:24 PM

+4 Boost

And driver skill in conditions. Can't ever forget that.

t_bone - 3/4/2014 9:43:34 PM

+1 Boost

Winter tires uber allez.

Sciros - 3/4/2014 10:08:40 PM

+2 Boost

Yeah, this year I put snow tires on my Subie; with its AWD and VDC along with those tires it's been easy street so far. The snow tires in particular made a big difference for stopping and turning. The AWD and VDC help for the rest.

iamdabest1 - 3/5/2014 11:15:26 PM

+1 Boost

living in nyc every other car i get is the m3, i really love m3's but after this winter, i really , really think im done with rear drive. switching rims and mounting snow tires is not something i want to do.
i envy my s550 / e350 4matic, bmw 650xi, infiniti g37 awd driving friends !!