You don't say? Driving with summer tires in winter is illegal in northern Europe. As soon as the police see your car, they will fine you and impound it. Are there any front-based 4WD pickups at all? Because otherwise you'll have to constantly drive in 4x4 mode (RWD + bad handling + winter =/= good).
I only use 4x4 in my pickup when going off road. Why bother anywhere else unless you can't manage your throttle? LSD helps too. I should mention it is a snowy area here as well. We got a few inches last night and about 6 inches just 2 days ago. I've only used 4wd when in the yard pulling a car and when on a trail pulling my car trailer in the last couple weeks. Otherwise rwd is fine and fun if you stay out of the deep, deep snow.
I have had snowy hill experience with a 1952 Standard Vanguard, front engine RWD, curb weight 2ton. It has about 60hp and handle snow well on all-season tires. I currently use a fwd 1978 SAAB 99 Turbo EMS, (1.5 tons, 140 hp), which handles snow and hills well on hankook all-season tires. Plus everyone in Finland is an amateur rally driver.
Weight helps with RWD, having ridiculous amount of who knows what junk in trunk is essential for light RWD vehicles. But with bit heavier vehicles lorries and kind of, weight is not helping so much when warm tires melt packed snow as you stop, but for vehicle sizes we are talking about weight at trunk is needed for RWD option. However I don't really see RWD as viable option for OP, FWD probably best choice as AWD is quite costly to have.
So to summarize to you guys: fwd or 4wd, avoid french cars which iv'e been told by others too actually irl, keep the car clean because of all the salt on the roads in winter, better to aim for a younger car with higher mileage (which I kinda prefer newer vehicles anyway), and try to have some kind of cover for the car (Would a simple plastic cover work to put on during the night?) And be sure of winter tires, which anyway it's the law there to have winter tires during certain months. Also @fufsgfen i'll be sure to try Mammi
I put some links, so you can see pics, some weird words in links too, but safe to ignore I guess. Don't get this kind, your car will just rust faster. (warm car, cold air, put cover on and you get wet car, cover will hold on to dampness etc. http://www.biltema.fi/fi/Autoilu---MP/Autotarvikkeet/Kuomut/Kokopeite-polyesteria-2000023916/ This kind works better, but if temperature goes above or around freezing (which it mostly does), then that is useless and you are better of what majority does, many have such cover but it does not get really used by any, because it is kind of annoying to use and because of weather issues: http://www.biltema.fi/fi/Autoilu---MP/Autotarvikkeet/Kuomut/Puolipeite-polyesteria-2000029998/ What majority does is curse in finnish and use this at the morning, freezing your knuckles and getting late from work: http://www.motonet.fi/fi/tuote/6500969/KUNGS-Mega-Is-Leijonat-lumiharja-jaaraapalla You have good chance of getting fined if not clearing snow from top of the car. However you are supposed to curse only when others are not around, when others are around just show no emotion, don't engage to small talk and look really busy while scraping enthusiastic manner. You know when you are doing something wrong when finn stares at you, if they keep staring the ground, all is fine. Oh and have this always in your winter coat's pocket or someplace other than in car, because during winter you will need it to get into car, probably less with some other than French car, but you need it, that spray melts the lock, you need lock oil to lube the lock after using that, that is learned from practice. http://www.motonet.fi/fi/tuote/600065/Korrek-Lukkosulaspray-40ml
Awesome, i'll learn some more swearwords other than the most known ones for mornings if the cover doesn't do a good job.
AWD handles the snow very well + imprezas where i live the 1998 model costs 1000€ its basically a winter beater for that model year
I have a junker 95 Impreza 5spd on enlarged cheap tires... let me tell you... that thing will go through any type of snow you throw at it... 3 ft deep? It literally doesn't care. Mud up to the top of the tires? It eats that for breakfast. As long as you use your brain a little bit that thing will get you anywhere. Literally... Bought mine for $500 and am still driving it 2 years later. Sure, it's a piece of junk, but when it really comes down to it and the truck gets stuck... I have the Subaru that makes it every time without fail.
