Best Car for California Driver moving to Alberta? Help!!

[ranran128]

Hey all!

I am moving to Alberta this summer for school, and to live back in my hometown, and realised my little Toyota Yaris is NOT a good/safe car for a first-time driver in the snow! It can barely handle what little winds we get here in southern california ??? I am an art student, so I will need space for canvases, easels, etc but not really looking to get a giant beast. I am leaning towards the crossovers, like a Mazda CX-5, Toyota Rav, Kia Sorrento...but if I could get some advice or input from a seasoned driver in the ways of Canadian winters and what to look for in a vehicle it would be greatly appreciated! I want to get it before I move, so I can get a head start on getting payments made as I don't have a job lined up yet in Alberta.

Thank you!!

 

[steerpike]

Any kind of car is fine but it MUST have a blockheater. In winter you need to plug your blockheater in, otherwise in the morning your car wont start. The only other option is to remove the battery and bring it inside to warm up. ( Some people also light fires under their cars, but I dont recommend that. )

Other than that, snowtires are useful. Dont worry about 4 wheel drive, you see lots of 4x4s in the ditch when it snows because they think they dont need to drive carefully.

 

[Alurra71]

Hey all!

I am moving to Alberta this summer for school, and to live back in my hometown, and realised my little Toyota Yaris is NOT a good/safe car for a first-time driver in the snow! It can barely handle what little winds we get here in southern california ??? I am an art student, so I will need space for canvases, easels, etc but not really looking to get a giant beast. I am leaning towards the crossovers, like a Mazda CX-5, Toyota Rav, Kia Sorrento...but if I could get some advice or input from a seasoned driver in the ways of Canadian winters and what to look for in a vehicle it would be greatly appreciated! I want to get it before I move, so I can get a head start on getting payments made as I don't have a job lined up yet in Alberta.

Thank you!!

You do realize with the proper tires on your Yaris it will be far better than any of those crossovers you mentioned. Just a thought.

 

[Gogia]

expert advice...Go for Dodge Journey...that will do the job...for every thing u said it has...small engines...my recomendation is go for 4x4...it has block.heater option...also.very good in snow...u can use snow tires in winter its extra care...good luck with study...and welcome to alberta canada...

 

[Ponga]

Don't rely solely on your car to get you through those Alberta winters...you have to do your part by learning how to drive in those...Alberta winters.

 

[buliwyf]

Just buy these things for your car:

1. Winter tires
2. Block heater
3. Jumper cables
4. Battery booster or good working spare battery

A 4x4 is no use when your All-season tires can't get traction on ice/snow/slush.

Any car is of no use when it won't start because the engine is literally frozen cold.

Batteries DIE when in extreme cold.

And you can practice skidding on an empty parking lot, so you won't panic when you loose traction on a real road!