With everyone jumping on the SUV "gotta get to work, can't get stuck so I'll spend thousands of dollars just to put it in 4wd once, maybe twice a year" bandwagon I just thought I'd say that a 960 wagon with 4 Gislaved snow tires will get you anywhere in the snow SAFELY. No tire spinning, no fishtailing and able to still stop on a dime. Best snow car ever.

My 745 has always gotten me where I want to go in the winter. But I have to say, the best winter car I ever had (in terms of traction) was my 1973 VW Squareback wagon. Truly awesome. It would go anywhere. Of course, you froze in the process. Still miss it.
Richard
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86 740T/87 745GLE

Jeff, i would have to agree. I have a 940 92............. last two years no snow tires this year I decided it was time. What a difference!!!!!!!! It feels like I am in a tank. I really stepped on it and it has responded very well.

Pretty amazing stuff isn't it. As simple as the tires. The general public is being duped!!!!!
jeff

Yeah-- and if all of that does not help and the Volvo still does not move:
Snowchains!!-- And then there were times with snowdrifts, where the front got stuck,-- at the end of the day, i have a Mercedes unimog in the back of the yard, if all comes to all-- and there were at least three occasions, where the Volvo just did not do it last winter-- one due to flooding.

Huh?

You must have ALD in the rear. They made that an option at some point, probably after 95, and I, of course, bought a 97 V90 'southern car' without it. My 92 came standard with ALD, along with those wonderful Nivos. When the Hakka's were put on in the winter, it was unbeatable. I haven't used winter tires on my 97 (tires went with the 92 to my son), so I can't compare, but I can't help think that winter performace is compromised without ALD.
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John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 105K

I think it has the locking diff but the real deal is with the winter mode selction on the transmission.
Jeff

It's definitely the combination of all the winter features, with the snow tires being the most important. The Winter mode helps in preventing spin at start-up as it skips gears 1 and 2, so you have far less torque applied to the drive wheels. The ALD is available at anytime you require additional traction. But the all work together in perfect harmony! You're right that the public is being dupped!
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John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 105K

Well i agree with you that very few people need a SUV, you can't say that any rwd volvo is a great snow car. Sure it may bee good enough for most needs but you'll proably get stuck easier than most fwd modern cars. since you have a 960 you probably have irs and lsd/locking diff wich helps a lot. In my 940 even with new winter tires the tail is all over the place if you're not careful. If i have to stop on a steep hill i doomed to get stuck. A bit of weight in the back helps a lot, but it's never going have good traction on snowy/icy conditions. In my mothers 98 fiesta I can stop anyware/go anyware.

I have mixed views about that. While I agree that tires help, you can be in trouble with the Volvo since the RWD is not an 4x4 SUV. However, the problems you describe can be vastly improved by using quality tires WITH STUDS(such as Nokain, Gislaved, Pirrelli etc). Then hill climbing from a dead stop on a hill becomes a fun and easy drive. Ask my how I know ;) Oh and that is without extra weight in the car!!

Tim

Unfortunately in the state of Maryland studded tires are not allowed. The politicians seem to know what is best for all of us. HA HA
Jeff