first car

if there's a foot of snow, that's easy- don't drive- any car is dangerous in those conditions- and temperatures below zero are gonna be taxing on any machinery- a pickup has no weight in the back so it is really challenged in snow and ice- there is no magic vehicle that is gonna make it possible to master those conditions- if you want to live in the North, it is best to have a heated garage and have the sense to know when to leave the car in it-

I would definitely not get a light pickup truck. If anything, I would recommend a good AWD car, or suv. Trucks have no weight in the rear, making it hard to get going and get around a corner safely! You can't go wrong with a Subaru Legacy, Outback, or Impreza. I own a Mazdaspeed 6 and it is great in the snow with good tires. Make sure you get you some Bridgestone Blizzaks. That will help a lot. Good luck!

The big downside to the 4x4 Ranger is the fuel mileage. A full size F-150 4x4 will get nearly the same fuel mileage as the Ranger. Ranger is a great little truck. I would fully disagree with ConnerSpeed6 as a 4x4 truck will get around just fine in snow. Also buying a used Subaru is a big gamble due to, rust problems, oil consumption and head gasket issues. Some of them are great and some are not.

Well, being a guy that has owned a small size 4x4 truck, I would take a mid-sized AWD sedan any day. Just my opinion. I fully disagree with Bob on this one. It ultimately is your vehicle, and your decision, but I know my experience with a small 4x4 truck and it wasn't all that great. Subaru was just an example of a good option for an awd car. I like Subaru, and it would do just fine, but there are many other platforms out there that will work just fine!

AWD will not handle deep snow like a real 4WD will. F150's and Rangers will have the ground clearance you need in deep snow and you will have low range when you need it. Also most AWD cars are not even AWD but part-time AWD which is not very good.

I live in snow country and drive a real 4wd F150. I can drive through deep snow with ease and plow snow when I need too. One foot of snow is nothing to my truck.

I should add that I have owned both a Ranger and the F150 and the F150 is much better in deep snow than the Ranger which was quite good.

I have owned MANY new 4x4s and a few AWD cars. The trucks will go when the cars won't. Probably due to ground clearance, larger tires with a more severe tread, etc. If I need to go in the deep snow I will not be taking the wife's AWD Lincoln, I will be taking the Ram 4x4.