Some people are complaining about gas mileage with the V6 all wheel drive. I am wondering what the general opinion is here of going with a two wheel drive? Also, are they that bad in light to moderate snow that you need snow tires? Most of my winter is spent in Florida, but coming from Massachusetts can sometimes catch snow in between. Thanks.

The first SRX I test drove was two wheel drive, the one I bought has all-wheel drive because I bought it loaded and that's what all the loaded ones in the area had. I don't know if the all-wheel drive had anything to do with it but the first week I had it I drove through one of the worse rain storms I've seen and it held the road doing 50 - 80 MPH like it was glued down.

I live about 40 miles west of Chicago and I've "Never" bought snow tires for the winter season.

Johnz,

Try living 40 miles East of Chicago (actually, I'm 90 miles east). There's NO COMPARISION. Dear Ol' Lake Michigan dumps her load of 'lake effect' in this area.

It's been pretty good the last few years, but I can remember clear roads at 8AM, and 5 feet by noon. :bouncy:

Johnz,

Try living 40 miles East of Chicago (actually, I'm 90 miles east). There's NO COMPARISION. Dear Ol' Lake Michigan dumps her load of 'lake effect' in this area.

It's been pretty good the last few years, but I can remember clear roads at 8AM, and 5 feet by noon. :bouncy:

You get dumped on a lot over there but snow tires wouldn't help in 5 feet of snow anyway. Good snowmobiling weather. :bouncy:

It really all depends on how good the factory tires are in the snow. I had a car that I thought was terrible in the snow until I changed the tires. The tread on the stock ones were fine as far as wear was concerned but they were just a bad tire for snow. I changed them to a different design and manufacturer (not snow tires) and it was like night and day.

IMO, I wouldn't waste money on snow tires unless it was absolutely needed.

I don't trust the tire shops or a dealership to take tires on and off the rims twice a year.

My neighbor has a 5 series BMW and he bought a whole new set of rims and tires that he swaps out every year to avoid the damage of taking the tires on and off the rims so often. Those stock tires can't get through a 2 inch snowfall. He got stuck at the end of his driveway in a 4 inch pile of snow and couldn't get out!

V6 AWD 14K miles in Chicago / Michigan. Mileage is very good for me coming from 4.7 Liter V8 Dodge. 18 City / 23 to 24 on highway.(Would be better if I kept it slower on the highway but that's hard to do with this vehicle). i'm in the construction business and the traction in the snow with the oem Goodyear 17" tires has been wonderful both on road in blizzards and off road in 8-12 in day old snow. I have no intention on putting snow tires on. ( Just scratching my head on what the next tires I'm going to put on with the goofy different tire sizes and no rotation issue)