I live in Montana also, and I have no problems getting around in the snow
with my van.  If you don't know how to drive in it (snow)  you can still get
stuck with a 4X4.

Just my $298

Bill
'85 GL [*Magic*Bus*]
'82 Westy [FreeBird] ...Cause I'm as free as a bird now...
Big Sky Country                                 ---Ronnie Van Zant

>My experience has been that my '85 is terrible in snow.  Power seems to go
>to the wheel that slips, not the wheel that grips!!  Actually, one night
>while scanning boring web sites I came across the US trade commission site
>and found many complaints filed against VW for "poor wet weather traction".
>Anyway, a friend in Whitefish, MT.swears by her Vanagon - she puts four
>studded snows on it though.  They say tires make the difference.
>Mark
>
>Patrick Hatcher wrote:
>
>> TO: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
>>
>> Hello Vanagoneers,
>>
>> I'm selling one of my cars to pay for my recently acquired 85 Westy.  I
>> live in Southwestern Virginia, and we get some decent snows in the
>> Winter.
>>
>> I want to have at least one car that performs decently on snowy roads.
>>  If the Westy does well, I'll sell my front wheel drive Olds Cutlass, if
>> not, I'll sell my 86 Toyota Van (I love vans!).
>>
>> I can't wait until Winter hits to determine which car to sell, so if any
>> of you can let me know how they perform in the Winter (with or without
>> chains, snow tires, radials, etc.) I'd really appreciate it.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>  -Patrick
>>
>> '85 Westy