Should I sell my Yaris when I move to Montana?

[Hemeek]

Hey Guys,

I have a 2012 yaris with 65000 miles on it and we are planning to move to Kalispell MT next year. Here in Oklahoma we only get a few inches of snow a year and my car has always done really well but I'm wondering how it will do where there is a real winter. Also, I've talked to some people from that area who say that the roads aren't cleared as well as other wintery states.

Should I trade it in for something with AWD (I was looking at a Subaru) with winter tires or stick with my Yaris and put winter tires on it when I move. I have it paid off and really love the car, so if it makes sense to keep it I will.

[Dodge Aries K]

Snow tires will make it do pretty well. However, awd with snow tires is even better.

[malibuguy]

Go the snow tire route and just see how things go. My car is good to about 6" of snow and its starts dragging on it.

Worse case scenario you "trade up" to an awd scooby. Consider the forester for its ground clearance.

I view it as dont spend the money until you know for sure you need to spend it

[bronsin]

Keep the car for a winter and see how it does. Yes you'll need four good mounted snow tires. Also I suggest the made for the 1.5 liter Yaris engine block heater. Toyota has it and can install. You will want to use synthetic 0W-20 oil in the engine too.

I'm not sure they get as much snow in MT was we got in upstateNY near Lake Ontario. Maybe someone from there can advise.

The Yaris is too good a car to give up on!

[justanotherdrunk]

you can buy a helluva nice house there for what seems ridiculously cheap

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale...9_zm/4_p/1_fr/

[tmontague]

Keep it, throw some good winter tires on in and run Mobil 1 0w30 oil in it. A block heater is also a good option as stated above.

I have a lowered Yaris (~1.8") and I installed a blcok heater, run 0w30 and have winter tires and I have yet to have an issue in Southern Ontario. If you were moving to a rural location that consistently gets >6" of snow fall and your roads took a couple days to be plowed, then I'd say go with a Subie. If that's not the case then the Yaris should be fine. It handles very well in snow and even ice with proper tires on it due to its balance and low weight.

I own an AWD Vibe with winter tires and as fun as it is in the snow, the extra weight, cost (I purchased it used), extra parts to fix and lower fuel mileage isn't worth it IMO. I don't regret it because it is fun and I didn't pay anything extra for it since it was such an old car, but I wouldn't buy an AWD new and pay the premium imo it's not worth the extra cost.

Side note, I do like the Outback and Forester and would think of buying one of those down the road for back country camping and it's ruggedness.

[Kalispel]

You snow/ice/salt people are loco.

[malibuguy]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

You snow/ice/salt people are loco.

75mph in 5+ of fresh snow is a ton of fun

[SirDigby]

I drive over Loveland pass (highest interstate pass in North America) in blizzards with no problems as fast as I can. this car has no problems in the snow. get some autosocks if you are worried. I would never recommend an AWD unless you make so much power you need to distribute it more, like over 300. and I would never recommend a Subaru. I don't like anything about them, yuck. if, for some reason, I felt I needed a AWD I would go Mitsubishi EVO, Suzuki, Audi/VW, then Honda, then Toyota. I just hate Subaru. (IMO)

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by SirDigby

I drive over Loveland pass (highest interstate pass in North America) in blizzards with no problems as fast as I can. this car has no problems in the snow. get some autosocks if you are worried. I would never recommend an AWD unless you make so much power you need to distribute it more, like over 300. and I would never recommend a Subaru. I don't like anything about them, yuck. if, for some reason, I felt I needed a AWD I would go Mitsubishi EVO, Suzuki, Audi/VW, then Honda, then Toyota. I just hate Subaru. (IMO)

That is dangerous talk. You might get run out of Colorado by a pitchfork mob.

[Bluevitz-rs]

Keep the Yaris and get some slightly taller winter tires. 185/70/15

[3cyltrbo]

Originally Posted by Hemeek

Hey Guys,

I have a 2012 yaris .................. Should I trade it in for something with AWD (I was looking at a Subaru)

blasphemy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thirty-Nine]

I grew up in Minnesota and Wisconsin driving front-drive cars. Most of those cars didn't even have snow tires. But once I slapped a set of Nokain snow tires on my Honda Civic, I couldn't believe how good it was. I was a believer.

I run 14" snow tires on our Yaris and have had it in a few inches of snow (it's lowered) and it does very well. It's not as good as our AWD Subaru on studded snow tires, but it's great for FWD.

[Hemeek]

Thanks everyone!

I think you have all convinced me to keep it for at least one winter and see how it goes. This has all been really helpful information!!

[bronsin]

Thats our job. Keeoing Yari and owners together!

[toad]

back in the day i would deliver newspapers in the mornings before the trucks could get out to plow. i was lowered and on stock tires and the yaris never got stuck once on the route. i think the reason was actually because the plows hadn't been out yet and created little 'mountains' of snow on the sides of the roads(bad for when you need to access mailboxes).

[B.B._07]

I live about 300 miles north of Kalispell and it's not a problem with winter tires.