I got stuck in snow

[Gents]

Yeah, this thing is just a little more about look than it is function. The BS looks *macho* enough- and capable, but it's just that, looks.
It's not very robust at all and with this last round of snow storms in the New York tri-state area, I only got by on my wits and a lot of rerouting. I wasn't even confident about 15% incline Highway exits.
The BS wasn't much better than having a nice front wheel drive station wagon.

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[Garth]

I wouldnt go that far, I still belive my BSBL will out do any other unibody suv off road other than a Cherokee maybe. My only comparison was a 3/4 ton heavy duty standard with positrac and mudterraine TAs back in the 80s. My stuck situation was under exceptional conditions even though it looks harmless. Most wouldnt have made it over the gate keeper berm on the way in and Im sure they wouldnt have made it over on the way out.(without leaving parts behind)
I will chalk this experience to over confidence and drive error.
However it is only a subcompact unibody suv that looks rugged enough to make a person forget.

 

[OBSASQ]

Ground clearance is a problem on any vehicle. I had a Jeep Wrangler up in the mountains on an unplowed forestry road and got high centered. But with 4LO and lockers I was finally able to back and forth a path to civilization. Same with a Blazer I had. Haven't tested the Maverick or BS yet, not enough snow here the last couple of years.
Maybe you need a 6" lift for your BS. Saw one on a mustang in my neighborhood.

 

[Garth]

Ground clearance is a problem on any vehicle. I had a Jeep Wrangler up in the mountains on an unplowed forestry road and got high centered. But with 4LO and lockers I was finally able to back and forth a path to civilization. Same with a Blazer I had. Haven't tested the Maverick or BS yet, not enough snow here the last couple of years.
Maybe you need a 6" lift for your BS. Saw one on a mustang in my neighborhood.

I have 10 inches of ground clearance. The issue was the ice at the bottom of all that snow no traction at all even with my excellent new tires.

 

[sajohnson]

Yeah, this thing is just a little more about look than it is function. The BS looks *macho* enough- and capable, but it's just that, looks.
It's not very robust at all and with this last round of snow storms in the New York tri-state area, I only got by on my wits and a lot of rerouting. I wasn't even confident about 15% incline Highway exits.
The BS wasn't much better than having a nice front wheel drive station wagon.

I'm surprised you haven't gotten flamed yet!

I once criticized the "AWD" system on my 2002 WRX -- saying it stands for "All Wheels Disconnected." That did not go over well on NASIOC. Even after the Ford/Subaru dealer confirmed the system was lame (complete with a lot of laughing from the Ford techs) the guys on NASIOC didn't want to accept the truth.

Granted, the BS BL is not a body on frame, true 4WD, rock crawler with a low range and 12+ inches of clearance, but it's safe to say it's significantly better than a front wheel drive station wagon. A quick look at a roller test will show that.

I wish the Badlands had a locking front instead of using the brakes (traction control). If it did, I think ours would have walked right up the 20% grade in our lane that was covered with 7" of ice-crusted snow (separate thread). As it was, I could feel the traction control hunting back and forth which slowed momentum. We got out, but it took 4-5 runs at that hill. To be fair it still has the OE tires.

That said, a FWD car with traction control and good winter tires will do very well (on-road). In fact, C&D did a test years ago in which they compared a FWD Altima on winter tires to a 4WD Pathfinder on all-season tires. The Altima was better at stopping, cornering, the slalom, and snow course time! The Pathfinder had better acceleration and hill climbing ability. So AWD/4WD is probably not necessary in areas without steep grades.

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