Anonymous wrote:Literally never.

In the snow, you're better off using care with a normal car, so that you don't flip or drive off the road going too fast with an SUV.

In heavy rain, same thing. Slow down.

If you have an SUV and don't drive too fast, you are better off in rain or snow than in a normal car.

There's nothing about owning an SUV that forces you to drive like an idiot.

Necessary, no.
Nice to have, yes.
Very nice to have, yes.
Good to have, yes.
Cool to have, yes.
For resale, yes.
For show, yes.
For peace of mind, yes.
For the logo, yes.
Necessary, no.

I was driving in the light snow before the big snowstorm in 2016 and wished that I had AWD. My car got stuck at a stop light on 14th Street NW going up a hill. That was stressful.

Anonymous wrote:Resale.

This was my thought too.

Anonymous wrote:Or is it enough to have Front Wheel Drive since we never really drive in the snow anyway, then why bother? Our rains are not worse then California that often does not even stock four wheel drives. Thoughts?

Subarus are quite popular in CA too. I bought one in the Bay Area, though I will say they are probably more popular in Tahoe more than anywhere else in Ca.

Resale.

No. Everything closes or everyone teleworks for an inch of snow. You'd never use it.

Mostly no but I have to say it is nice when it shows.

Anonymous wrote:There's really no reason for anyone to need 4wd in heavy rain.

This.
OP are you required to be at work if it snows or does your job usually close?

Literally never.

In the snow, you're better off using care with a normal car, so that you don't flip or drive off the road going too fast with an SUV.

In heavy rain, same thing. Slow down.

What's more important is maintenance, keeping your tank at least half full in the winter, and packing emergency necessities in your car in case you get stuck on the Beltway driving home in a moderate snowstorm - an SUV won't help you if all the lanes are at a complete standstill! My Finnish neighbor, who has an SUV and knows how to drive in snow, got stuck for 8 hours like this with small kids in the car.

There's really no reason for anyone to need 4wd in heavy rain.

I have the same question. Do you think I'd tell the difference between Front wheel drive and AWD if I mostly drive in the city at 25-35 mile and hour?

Anonymous wrote:Only necessary for perhaps a handful days out of the year. It's not that our area gets a ton of snow, it's that our area is not usually equipped when it get significant snowfall amounts in a short period of time.

Right, but aside from the snow days? Is there any other good reason to invest in 4WD? Considering someone not to be off-roader and for regular city use and significant amount of Highway driving? I am thinking heavy rain and such but nothing off road.

Only necessary for perhaps a handful days out of the year. It's not that our area gets a ton of snow, it's that our area is not usually equipped when it get significant snowfall amounts in a short period of time.

Or is it enough to have Front Wheel Drive since we never really drive in the snow anyway, then why bother? Our rains are not worse then California that often does not even stock four wheel drives. Thoughts?