My 2009 Toyota Venza drives very poorly in snowy weather. It's awful. I slip and slide. Its difficult to stop safely. Hills are a nightmare especially if you have to stop on a hill and then take off again. It's downright treacherous. And I'm not a speed demon in snowy weather and usually give my self plenty of space between myself and the next car.
I love my Venza otherwise. It's perfect for me. The seats are comfortable. Everything is in easy reach. It's got plenty of room for all the stuff I haul around. And gas mileage is a respectable 24.7 miles per gallon (in spring/summer) and 23.8 miles per gallon (during fall/winter months).
The best solution that I have found is putting 5-7 bags of kitty litter in the rear of my vehicle. It improves the traction somewhat. The other alternative is new tires which is a pricey option (at about $1200 for a set of 4). The tires do well for the first 25,000-30,000 miles, but then begin giving you trouble during winter weather (and sometimes rainy weather too). I'm getting ready to buy my second set of tires for the car (not including the original set that came with the car). I bought my first set at around 50,000 - 55,000. I'm at 95,000 miles and the tread is way down. I rotate my tires regularly at 5,000 mile intervals. And still, the tire tread wears quickly - too quickly!
The issue has concerned me enough that I am considering purchasing a new car in September. And traditionally, I keep my car for about 240,000 or so. My 1996 Camry, I had for 13 years. The other option that I've considered, is test driving a new Venza with all wheel drive to see if it drives better in the snow than the front wheel drive version. Any other suggestions?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My 2009 Toyota Venza drives very poorly in snowy weather. It's awful. I slip and slide. Its difficult to stop safely. Hills are a nightmare especially if you have to stop on a hill and then take off again. It's downright treacherous. And I'm not a speed demon in snowy weather and usually give my self plenty of space between myself and the next car.
I love my Venza otherwise. It's perfect for me. The seats are comfortable. Everything is in easy reach. It's got plenty of room for all the stuff I haul around. And gas mileage is a respectable 24.7 miles per gallon (in spring/summer) and 23.8 miles per gallon (during fall/winter months).
The best solution that I have found is putting 5-7 bags of kitty litter in the rear of my vehicle. It improves the traction somewhat. The other alternative is new tires which is a pricey option (at about $1200 for a set of 4). The tires do well for the first 25,000-30,000 miles, but then begin giving you trouble during winter weather (and sometimes rainy weather too). I'm getting ready to buy my second set of tires for the car (not including the original set that came with the car). I bought my first set at around 50,000 - 55,000. I'm at 95,000 miles and the tread is way down. I rotate my tires regularly at 5,000 mile intervals. And still, the tire tread wears quickly - too quickly!
The issue has concerned me enough that I am considering purchasing a new car in September. And traditionally, I keep my car for about 240,000 or so. My 1996 Camry, I had for 13 years. The other option that I've considered, is test driving a new Venza with all wheel drive to see if it drives better in the snow than the front wheel drive version. Any other suggestions?
- Jerry N., Dayton, OH, US