Many people who own beautiful cars, performance automobiles, or even highend light trucks would prefer to use a less expensive vehicle during the cold season. That way, they can avoid damaging their prize possessions in ice-caused accidents or subjecting them to salted roads. For these people, now is the time to go looking for a used vehicle that will be their daily drive in winter.

Sometimes people use a “winter beater”, which is a heavily used car or light truck that they won’t bother investing maintenance money into. This might not be the ideal solution for the average driver who still wants some reliability in the winter. After all, beaters can be safety hazards too. The best solution for most people is a slightly used car that is reliable, safe, and can do the job of managing winter roads.

The best formula would be to choose a used all-wheel drive and have it equipped with some of the best winter tires money can buy. Obviously, that means a little bit more money, but unless the buyer chooses to keep the vehicle for a few years, it can bring back a sufficient amount of money if it is sold back in spring.

Alternately, a reasonably priced front-wheel-drive mid-sized sedan can be bought at an even better price and still return a good amount of money when sold later in the year. Is a front-wheel drive as good as an all-wheel drive in winter? It all depends on the way the car is driven. But as in all cases, great winter tires will sure help!