FWD rental car in February in the Alps?
Discussion
I’ll need to rent a car next year in Feb on a skiing trip. I’ll be driving from Lyon airport to Val Thorens which is at 2300m.
Sixt, or any other rental companies in fact, do not have the option of AWD. I can book an SUV but still end up with a FWD Peugeot 3008. I’ll request chains and fit those if needed, but will FWD be ok on snowy twisty roads at that altitude? I’m also assuming winter tyres will be on by default.
Sixt, or any other rental companies in fact, do not have the option of AWD. I can book an SUV but still end up with a FWD Peugeot 3008. I’ll request chains and fit those if needed, but will FWD be ok on snowy twisty roads at that altitude? I’m also assuming winter tyres will be on by default.
There are 4WD cars with SIXT and they share stock across the sites if you give them warning.
We rented a Maserati Grecale (jazzed up BMW X3 size/functional) out of Geneva to go to ValThorens this year.
The Lyon stock doesn't all have snow tyres though because it's not obviously a mountain airport.
I'd book the right class and then open direct communications with the company via customer service.
We rented a Maserati Grecale (jazzed up BMW X3 size/functional) out of Geneva to go to ValThorens this year.
The Lyon stock doesn't all have snow tyres though because it's not obviously a mountain airport.
I'd book the right class and then open direct communications with the company via customer service.
The road to VT is well maintained in the winter- FWD will really be fine
If you’re not familiar it will be good roads/dual carriageway along valley floors (& likely no snow - but sub zero temps) until you get to moutiers, thereafter you’re on the twisty stuff climbing up the last 25ish miles.
People are their business so access is very important, been many times in FWD cars between Dec & March & never had to break out snow chains.
If snow concerns you learn a bit how to drive, gently, maintain movement rather than stop start, etc. In my view a heavy 4X4 is a bigger concern for something going wrong.
If you’re not familiar it will be good roads/dual carriageway along valley floors (& likely no snow - but sub zero temps) until you get to moutiers, thereafter you’re on the twisty stuff climbing up the last 25ish miles.
People are their business so access is very important, been many times in FWD cars between Dec & March & never had to break out snow chains.
If snow concerns you learn a bit how to drive, gently, maintain movement rather than stop start, etc. In my view a heavy 4X4 is a bigger concern for something going wrong.
Winter tyres + 2wd are always way way better than summer tyres + 4wd
No contest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atayHQYqA3g
No contest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atayHQYqA3g
I flew to Geneva last year and drove to Tignes 2100m. I also used sixt and had booked a "large car" with optional snow chains. When I got there, they recommended we upgrade to a car with snow tyres as the roads were bad in the higher resorts.
We were given a FWD Ford Kuga with snow tyres and it was very good. They were definitely right as the roads were bad but it made it up easily! Other FWD on summer tyres were struggling but we just flew past right up to the apartment on sheet ice.
You'll be fine in a FWD on the right tyres.
We were given a FWD Ford Kuga with snow tyres and it was very good. They were definitely right as the roads were bad but it made it up easily! Other FWD on summer tyres were struggling but we just flew past right up to the apartment on sheet ice.
You'll be fine in a FWD on the right tyres.
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