Topic: Question for all you Ottawa folk

[mmret]

I'll be moving to Ottawa for the foreseeable future in a few months and I'm wondering what kind of winters you have been getting lately.

Do people still dig their cars out of the snow regularly? Do people use snow tires and/or carry chains? Are there a ton of trucks with plows on the front? Are the highways in and out of the city uber crappy at night?

In short, is the winter still something to be reckoned with?

I'm trying to decide if I should buy a car that handles the winter like easymode (Subaru Legacy), or if I should get a car that is probably average in the winter but has a neat transmission and ridiculous fuel economy (Nissan Altima CVT).

[articsteve]

It's nasty cold compared to Hamilton.  I live 100 miles north of Toronto and get twice the snowfall that Ottawa does.  So don't make snowfall your deciding factor in car buying.  Good snow tires all around is what you need and a HAT.

[G0dspd]

Do people still dig their cars out of the snow regularly? Do people use snow tires and/or carry chains? Are there a ton of trucks with plows on the front? Are the highways in and out of the city uber crappy at night?

In short, is the winter still something to be reckoned with?

From what I've heard, Southern Ontario has a lot more snow than the Ottawa Region these days.    Ottawa has very average winters.  We do have cold spells and a few snow storms but nothing that should influence your vehicle selection.  Anything with good winter tires will be more than enough around here.

[Pleem]

I moved to Ottawa (Kanata) from Oshawa-Whitby nine years ago so I understand your concerns.  Yes, winters here need to be taken seriously although long-time residents of the 'valley' claim they're not as fierce and long as they once were.  4WD/AWD is not mandatory but snow tires are strongly recommended; both my vehicles have them.  Generally, the city is quick to clear and 'treat' major urban roads.  Side streets and rural roads don't get the same attention but are certainly safe and useable.  My street was plowed after the last minor dumping and remains snow covered but that's OK/normal.

Lee

[tortoise]

I agree that winter tires are a must as we'll get freezing rain that coats everything a couple of times a year.

[wing]

Do people still dig their cars out of the snow regularly?
No

Do people use snow tires and/or carry chains?
snow tires yes, chains no

Are there a ton of trucks with plows on the front?
No

Are the highways in and out of the city uber crappy at night?
No

[mmret]

Hmm, seems like the brutal winters of my childhood (Sudbury) don't exist in Ottawa.

Mmmm 270hp 3.5L Nissan V6.
Mmmmm...

[airbalancer]

I thought there was to much hot air produced in Ottawa to have it snow, or is that only when the house is in session

[supercrip]

I live in the east end of Ottawa and I second Wing's response.

[curls]

I grew up in Thunder Bay, and those were BRUTAL winters.  Major snowstorms, brutal cold and wind, and it seemed to last from early October until mid-April.

Now, in Ottawa, the winters are fairly easy-goin'.  Not a ton of snow here (the most I've seen in my 6 years here has been about 25cm in one dumping and even that was rare).  The biggest problem here in the Ottawa region is FREEZING RAIN.

That's why I recommend to people (who don't ski and travel mountain roads often) to buy witner tires that are better for ICE than anything else.  We don't get a lot of deep snow, as Wing and others have said, but we get tons of freezing rain and that makes driving tricky.

Also, if you're getting a new car, spring for a clear-bra on the front.  There's nothing worse than having to repair a bunch of salt/stone chips on your hood every spring before they rust.  A clear bra will definitely help here.

[airbalancer]

I grew up in Thunder Bay, and those were BRUTAL winters.  Major snowstorms, brutal cold and wind, and it seemed to last from early October until mid-April.

Now, in Ottawa, the winters are fairly easy-goin'.  Not a ton of snow here (the most I've seen in my 6 years here has been about 25cm in one dumping and even that was rare).  The biggest problem here in the Ottawa region is FREEZING RAIN.

That's why I recommend to people (who don't ski and travel mountain roads often) to buy witner tires that are better for ICE than anything else.  We don't get a lot of deep snow, as Wing and others have said, but we get tons of freezing rain and that makes driving tricky.

Also, if you're getting a new car, spring for a clear-bra on the front.  There's nothing worse than having to repair a bunch of salt/stone chips on your hood every spring before they rust.  A clear bra will definitely help here.

So sorry to hear you are from Tbay, if you are from Fort William I cannot correspond to you, has my wife would shot me
I remember snow in August
Anyway they have had very little snow this year

[curls]

I grew up in Thunder Bay, and those were BRUTAL winters.  Major snowstorms, brutal cold and wind, and it seemed to last from early October until mid-April.

Now, in Ottawa, the winters are fairly easy-goin'.  Not a ton of snow here (the most I've seen in my 6 years here has been about 25cm in one dumping and even that was rare).  The biggest problem here in the Ottawa region is FREEZING RAIN.

That's why I recommend to people (who don't ski and travel mountain roads often) to buy witner tires that are better for ICE than anything else.  We don't get a lot of deep snow, as Wing and others have said, but we get tons of freezing rain and that makes driving tricky.

Also, if you're getting a new car, spring for a clear-bra on the front.  There's nothing worse than having to repair a bunch of salt/stone chips on your hood every spring before they rust.  A clear bra will definitely help here.

So sorry to hear you are from Tbay, if you are from Fort William I cannot correspond to you, has my wife would shot me
I remember snow in August
Anyway they have had very little snow this year

I am from Fort William (Northwood).  You are thereby my sworn enemy.  Let the winner of the snowball fight at high noon be declared king.  Iceballs not allowed.

[airbalancer]

Lived in Tbay from 79-85, on THE Hill in Port Arthur,
So you came from the swap area, I forgot most of the rest of Tbay is also on a swap
I heard they closing on the mill in FW, I wonder if the city with smell better now

[curls]

Lived in Tbay from 79-85, on THE Hill in Port Arthur,
So you came from the swap area, I forgot most of the rest of Tbay is also on a swap
I heard they closing on the mill in FW, I wonder if the city with smell better now

Yup, our house is on muskeg.  As with every house built on muskeg, we've had to add one or two steps to the front steps because the ground is shifting over time. LOL.  I like visiting there (parents, friends, lots of family) but will never move back there.  Too much blue collar, and the people drive SO DAMN SLOW!!!! LOL.

[airbalancer]

Lived in Tbay from 79-85, on THE Hill in Port Arthur,
So you came from the swap area, I forgot most of the rest of Today is also on a swap
I heard they closing on the mill in FW, I wonder if the city with smell better now

Yup, our house is on muskeg.  As with every house built on muskeg, we've had to add one or two steps to the front steps because the ground is shifting over time. LOL.  I like visiting there (parents, friends, lots of family) but will never move back there.  Too much blue collar, and the people drive SO DAMN SLOW!!!! LOL.

The roads are so bad also, you need a 4X4 to get out of the pot holes
When we were there in November, father in law was give for driving 3 km over the limited
You have to try Bistro One http://www.bistroone.ca/world-class-restaurants-thunder-bay.htm the food was great
Took the in laws there for 50th dinner, the food was great,

[curls]

Bistro One is OK for sure... although I much prefer The Prospector for their prime rib and salad/bread/soup bar. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Not to mention the Hoito.  World's best pancakes, bar none.

OK I think we should give the poor guy his thread back.

[Velvetsmack]

Pretty much what wing/curls have said in earlier posts (living in Ottawa since 1990). I even question winter tires for most part (been driving good all-seasons for god knows how long).
Ottawa is very good for clearing most main roads. The freezing rain comment is spot on.

[wing]

No question about winter tires here, it's not the snow and ice so much as the cold temperatures as all-seasons turn to hockey pucks.  The Winters just make your drive a million times safer and more enjoyable on any day with any type of snow or ice.

We had a guy demonstrate to us saturday at our slush 'n slide event.  He was the only car with all-seasons.  He was running 1 min 30 sec runs while everyone else was 1 min flat.  Then he got stuck in the parking about 10 times while nobody else had any issues. 

[AMDdude]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta

DO IT!

[mmret]

Pretty much what wing/curls have said in earlier posts (living in Ottawa since 1990). I even question winter tires for most part (been driving good all-seasons for god knows how long).
Ottawa is very good for clearing most main roads. The freezing rain comment is spot on.

What about the 416 south and the 401 (Kingston, Belleville, all the way to TO?)

I realize this isn't Ottawa jurisdiction, but its a concern for me