Hi all. I apologize for being off topic. We are considering purchasing a 2001 Honda Prelude for our 16 year old daughter. My concern is central Ohio winters and how this car would handle in snow/ice. (This would also be her first Ohio winter as a licensed driver.) I just put winter tires on my 2008 MINI S, so I know how valuable winter tires are. Thanks for any input or advice you can give!

 

I think those were decent cars for snow it is a bigger car which would help if an accident did happen. Snow tires would be needed for sure, I do not remember how low those are to the ground but that could cause some issues.

 

IMO it would work out just fine. Ive not seen any trouble out of a FWD Honda in snow. When i worked at Honda we plowed those things trough all sorts of stuff lol.

 

For sure it will do well. Preludes are typically lower so there most likely will be several occasions that she will get stuck. It'll be a learning experience, just be sure to have a friend with a 4x4 to get her out.

IMO
The FWD hondas are great until you stop, honestly. I've had several. As long as you keep moving in the snow then they are great and safe. But once the car stops in deep snow, you usually need a good "rock-out" or a pull out.

 

yep its always good to have a few getting stuck experiences lol.

I drove like 4 out of 5 of my first winters in a Mustang GT. half in a 94 auto and half in a 1990 5-speed. Let me tell you, THAT builds a bit of winter driving skill, and unfortunately some terror lol.

 

Momentum is your friend in any car in the snow. Not your friend on ice. Take you daughter out when it snows to a large parking lot. Let her see how her car behaves with little traction. She will be afraid, but better to experience that in a safe environment rather than on the road the first time.

Also buy your daughter a AAA membership. Sooner or later she will need a jump start or a tow. IMO money well spent.

 

Do I hear a shout out for the platinum AAA membership???

I second the parking lot idea, funny thing is I learned to drive on a gravel lot which had about the same grip as a snow covered lot. Looking back that might not have been the best idea as one edge of the lot was a 30 foot drop into the Ohio River.