I went to wvu and had a Toyota pickup truck (4wd).
I went skiing a lot at wisp and 7 springs, made the Greco to beckley often with my gf. Lots of trips to coopers rock and camping near Seneca rocks.
68 is always tough in winter if you are a skier heading to deep creek.
A used Tacoma 4 door is what I would put my kids in if they were in Morgantown.

You don't need a "mountain car" for this unless you anticipate he's going to have to plow his way out of two feet of snow to get somewhere, in which case you may consider 4WD. You in no way need 4WD to drive around on snowy roads in normal conditions, it does nothing to help you, regardless of what the flatlanders would have you believe.

Do not buy a RWD car for anywhere you anticipate driving on snow. They are a nightmare. FWD cars are great in the snow.

Biggest consideration for mountain driving would be 4 cylinder vs six cylinder engine. Non-turbocharged 4 cylinder is gong to drag its butt getting up the hill with the AC on in the summer, which is not super fun. 6 gives you enough power to easily get around on a hilly drive.

Get a used Cherokee. Subaru has had a lot of quality issues during the past three years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get your kid a used avalanche or ranger pick up truck with 4wd. Perfect for those situations.

Which situation is that - driving to the grocery store?

If it were just the grocery store I dont think she would be asking. I live in west virginia and roads like 340 arent treated as well in snowstorms. 340 has closed many times because of high winds. I've ended up on a back road in snow and rain to get home and was happy I had my pick up truck. Inhave dragged 3 people out of ditches with my tiny ford ranger.

Did you read the post - he is a student at WVU - why would he end up on 340 on the way home from the grocery store?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get your kid a used avalanche or ranger pick up truck with 4wd. Perfect for those situations.

Which situation is that - driving to the grocery store?

If it were just the grocery store I dont think she would be asking. I live in west virginia and roads like 340 arent treated as well in snowstorms. 340 has closed many times because of high winds. I've ended up on a back road in snow and rain to get home and was happy I had my pick up truck. Inhave dragged 3 people out of ditches with my tiny ford ranger.

Duh:
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Mercedes-Benz-G-Class-Baltimore-d78_L14959#listing=265961224

Used 4runner.

Anonymous wrote:The SUV fixation on DCUM is really beyond rational.

My sister in-law went to WVU so I've been to Morgantown many times - the entire drive from the DMV is on the interstate and there is nothing you'd need to do on a day to day basis as a student there that requires you to be on a windy mountain road - trust me your son can get to the grocery store and every bar and fraternity in town without driving on a windy, snow packed mountain road. In fact it is a pretty typical college town in that most of the stuff can be reached on foot or bike.

+1 all of this is unnecessary. Plus, if they're living in Morgantown near the campus, they'll be walking most of the time and they have the PRT to get from campus to campus. This is all overblown. West Virginia isn't Afghanistan.

I would get your kid a used avalanche or ranger pick up truck with 4wd. Perfect for those situations.

Used Subaru, good snow tires, and driving lessons. Our Subaru's job, before it came to us, was getting towed behind a huge motor home, rarely, and going for short excursions.

It was in like-new condition, cheap, had low mileage, & is jut big enough to be useful, but is not an SUV. You can camp in it!

It has a manual transmission because I hate automatics for anything other than the truck that pulls my horse trailer.

We also have a Ford Focus station wagon with a manual transmission, & it got stuck in barely any snow in the parking lot at Timberline Lodge, not due to bad driving, either.

Anonymous wrote:The SUV fixation on DCUM is really beyond rational.

My sister in-law went to WVU so I've been to Morgantown many times - the entire drive from the DMV is on the interstate and there is nothing you'd need to do on a day to day basis as a student there that requires you to be on a windy mountain road - trust me your son can get to the grocery store and every bar and fraternity in town without driving on a windy, snow packed mountain road. In fact it is a pretty typical college town in that most of the stuff can be reached on foot or bike.

+1 I go hiking/camping enough and in my 20s had a Toyota Corolla that got me everywhere just fine. Even back to JMU in a snowstorm (thought I got out early enough to get home before the storm hit - no go). It's more important to know how to dive said car in the conditions.