<p>My problem with the focus is that if there is any snow at all, it’s really not safe to drive in it–not just these last few big storms. I had a harder time last winter than this winter. And I’ve got almost 200lbs of sand bags in it. I’ve driven a 2010 and a 2006(?) focus, and a '97 grand am, and I’ve never had these kinds of problems. I live within a few miles of work and am expected to drive no matter what the weather is, but they don’t realize even side streets are impassable in this kind of weather-- and in my focus it’s not safe even when it’s not quite this bad. If there is any accumulation, I don’t want to be on the roads in this car.</p>
<p>Maybe the problem is simply that my car is a death trap and a different car would be better even without the AWD. I didn’t realize that about the MPG. I’ve had my current car since Nov 2013 and I’ve only put 4k miles on it so I don’t drive much, but I do expect to drive this one more… it will make 6-10 Detroit to Grand Rapids trips a year and probably a Detroit to Florida trip, too. Other than that, it will really only be used for errands. I am thinking we’ll get a 36 month lease. </p>
<p>P.S. My pipe froze again this morning. I was late for work because I was boiling water… we will definitely have to work on that in the spring. I am hoping we can just wrap it in some kind of insulation and that will do the trick?</p>
<p>Electrical heat tape - you can buy it at Walmart etc. It winds around the pipe and plugs in. Then you wrap that with the foil insulation sticky insulation. Both of them together work well in that situation, or at least they do as long as the electricity stays on.</p>
<p>Can you put that on a plastic pipe? What I think is freezing is just the plastic drain trap… thankfully I don’t think any of our supply lines are freezing, just this trap in the shower. </p>
<p>I think it was probably frozen all last winter and we never used the shower and it didn’t break so we never noticed.</p>
<p>I don’t know why your Focus is having so many problems. I suspect it’s the tires like suggested upthread. My ex had a Focus and it was pretty good in the snow (don’t remember the year).</p>
<p>The problem is definitely the car, not the lack of AWD.</p>
<p>That’s why I don’t get it, my first car was a 2006 or 2007 and that car was AMAZING in the snow, and the 2010 was worse but still good, the poor handling on this 2013 just blows my mind. I didn’t even test drive this car because I have always loved focuses, I was sure it would be great. </p>
<p>I am reading that FWD with snow tires is better than just AWD, and AWD and snow tires is the safest-- but probably not necessary for my purposes since I’m not a skiier or anything like that and I don’t drive much. So, FWD with snow tires might be the compromise. I just have to add up the cost of the snow tires and the cost to swap them out twice a year and make sure it is indeed cheaper, which I think it must be by a lot. That, and I need to find a place to store four extra tires.</p>
<p>I am glad I thought to post this here after all, snow tires never occurred to me.</p>
<p>A few years back I bought a Honda Fit, and didn’t drive it the first winter due to poor traction. This year, I bought the best all season radials on black Friday, and the traction is now as good as my old mini van. I live in Wisconsin, where the weather has been AWFUL. </p>
<p>Yes, I know about the Fit and the safety news this week. Fortunately, I’m usually alone in the car, so not risking anyone but myself.</p>
<p>The point is that my car, being less safe than some in a crash, is a risk to just me. If I crash, or more likely, you crash into me, I am the injury prone party, not the other car. </p>
<p>As far as being crash prone, with my good traction, my car is as safe to the cars around me as anything else on the road. Probably more so, as I am very careful in icy conditions, not one of the speed demons, and my commute is short. Just don’t hit me with your SUVs!</p>
<p>We have a front wheel drive Ford Edge and it handles like cr@p in the snow. My RWD Lexus is better. Given the fancy wheel rims we have, getting snow tires will cost $300/tire. We are just praying this lousy weather will stop and look forward to spending the 2015/16 winter somewhere warmer. D1 has our Corolla at school and we miss it!</p>
<p>Good to know about your FWD edge… I won’t be getting fancy rims so snow tires hopefully wouldn’t be that much? I am thinking I will get the most basic car I can get and still get the rearveiw camera, which is going to be an SEL but we won’t buy any other upgrades if we can avoid it. It will depend on what the dealer can find for me. I won’t be able to afford something with a lot of upgrades anyway so if that’s all he has I’ll end up with an escape or nothing.</p>
<p>Right now we have the death trap focus and a 2010 hyundai genesis coupe between us-- the genesis rides better than my focus does, unless the snow is too deep for it because it’s so low to the ground. We are selling the genesis and then I will drive the edge and he will take my focus… then we will re-evaluate what car is practical/affordable for him when the focus’ lease is up in November. When weather is really bad we will ride together in my edge, but I’ll make him drive. :)</p>
<p>I agree that dogs are generally better than people, but I am undeniably impressed that VeryHappy’s son actually dresses for the weather…unlike my kids, who think it’s “hot out” when it gets above 20.</p>
<p>Fiance is at the dealership now getting some questions answered and getting his car appraised. He said the dealer told him I could get FWD and not bother with the snow tires because the all season tires it comes with are great. Not sure why he’d say that, I don’t believe him and I would have thought if nothing else he’d try to sell me on the AWD.</p>
<p>There was another thread about tires a while back.</p>
<p>I have a Volvo sedan. Actually I have two. We have snow tires on them both. Even top radials didn’t work well. But with snows, they do quite well. Have you considered snow tires for your focus?</p>
<p>Well, I live in one of the top 3 and am not happy. My user name is a hint to where I am from. So please forgive me if I am a little whiny about this winter.</p>