<p>Good plan! A Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great choice. Wonderful in snow, fits in parking spaces and has a good price point.</p>
<p>You don’t need a 4-wheel drive, to drive during winter in Minnesota - especially in Twin Cities and suburbs. All you need is good winter tires that are not bold.</p>
<p>I have driven my Prius this entire winter (and 5 winters before) - no problems.</p>
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<p>Yes, that’s good, but I would caution not to let that 4-wheel capability lead to overconfidence. </p>
<p>I live in CA but visit the Twin Cities on business about once a month, including the winter months. And more than once I’ve been carefully driving along on the snowy/icy road and have some local in 4-wheel drive go roaring around me, obviously impatient with my timid SoCal snow driving. At least twice I have then repassed them a mile or two later because their vehicle slid off the road and into the ditch - and I just keep chugging along, safely to my destination.</p>
<p>^That is so true coureur! Driving a 4-wheel drive in the snow does not mean you can drive faster. Fortunately DS grew up in a state with lots of snow and has lots of winter driving experience (thanks to a strong desire to get to the ski slopes!). He also put our 4WD SUV in the ditch once as a new driver in high school- highly traumatizing, but a very good lesson learned. </p>
<p>The rule of thumb we always say is “it takes exactly as long to stop a 4 wheel drive car as it takes to stop a 2 wheel drive car…transmission doesn’t matter when your wheels aren’t moving.” :rolleyes:</p>
<p>4 wheel drive is overkill for the maybe handful of days you might need it each year. Front wheel drive is just fine. The roads are cleared rapidly and the reduced gas mileage the rest of the year just isn’t worth the trade off.</p>
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<p>Actually, not true this year. I was shocked how slow they were the first time we had a lot of snow.</p>
<p>lerkin–must be your area–around here they are cleared within a few hours, residential streets. The main roads are plowed throughout a storm. Plows came by about an hour after it stopped snowing this morning-but we didn’t get much, just prep for the big storm tonight.</p>
<p>Actually, I am in western suburbs, so no problems where I live. But Mpls/St. Paul area cleaning were very slow and worse than in previous years.</p>
<p>P.S. Now I know you are not from MA! Which I suspected for a while, but did not have a proof.</p>
<p>At least go for all wheel drive…but as a mother, the Jeep Grand Ch would allow me to sleep better at night. You sure don’t need it everyday, but on days that you do…</p>
<p>Another vote for the Grand Avenue area in St. Paul, especially if he is working in St. Paul (easier commute). Although my D and I drive AWD cars (both Subarus) in MN, a front wheel drive car with good tires and a snow shovel in the trunk are also okay. :)</p>
<p>Re post #23. As a recent California transplant, I would say, yes, watch out for the drivers here. They like to pass on city streets. And twice we watched the car in front of us stop at a red light and then go through it, like a stop sign? Don’t think I ever saw that in California. And the freeways here are not well designed. </p>
<p>Also, my non 4 wheel drive vehicle has been fine this winter, with winter tires.</p>
<p>I am the only one in my family to have a 4WD vehicle…big beast but I need it to tow our boats. Both Ds and H drive AWD and are fine. Our suburb also clears quickly but city streets tend to be be a bit behind. I don’t think it will be a problem for your S. Actually a bit mild today. Now predicting around 8" tonight to go with the 2+ we got here today. No big deal unless the snow hits during commute time! ;)</p>