Do I *need* All Wheel Drive?

I have always had a Subaru and love the fact that I've never had to use chains. "Back in the day" I would go into the mountains a lot and drive my suby on all the roads that most wouldn't drive their SUV's.

Now, I get out less and hate the poor fuel economy of the Subaru....so....

Do I need AWD? Would the Jetta TDI be a good substitute? Do I wait for the Forester TDI as a compromise?

(killing time while at a management seminar)

I wouldn't depend on a two wheel drive car in the mountains. My wife and I drive my 4 wheel drive truck in the mountains. She drives a Volvo S60 with traction control, which I thought would handle ok in the snow but when it snowed last year in town, the car got stuck numerous times.

It's funny, I was thinking about how great an AWD diesel wagon would be. The only one (to my knowledge) on the market is the Audi A3 TDI with quattro, but it's not really a full wagon.

I didn't know that Subaru was going to bring the diesel Forrester to the US, that seems like an awesome rig.

It's funny, I was thinking about how great an AWD diesel wagon would be.  The only one (to my knowledge) on the market is the Audi A3 TDI with quattro, but it's not really a full wagon. 

A3 diesel doesn't come with Quattro in the US .

Which is dumb.

Since it is available in Europe.

But I've never been able to understand how the car companies figure out their US/Euro product lines.

Now, I get out less

It seems to me if you fix this your car dilemma becomes a non-issue?

It seems to me if you fix this your car dilemma becomes a non-issue?

Point taken, then I have to add the cost of family counselling

I consider the drive up more of a risk  throughout the season than avalanches. Having flipped my ride on 90 a season back when I drifted too close to a charging semi and over-corrected, I would say that awd/4wd is mandatory. Getting to Alpy on a true powder day, when the snow level is at 1k or less is a drag without. Doable, but why compound your risks any more than you have to?

Front-wheel drive Escort Wagon with (and without (M+S rated all-seasons)) snow tires has served me well for the past couple years. Slush, snow, and driver's-eyeball-high deep light drifts (with chains) at Snoqualmie have all worked out great. Despite a number of intentional attempts to spin it out on snow, slush, and ice, I've never succeeded. One low speed spinout on the road to Paradise in a gathering storm. Snow tires are absolutely worth it.

That said, AWD is inherently better. Plus, you needn't chain up except in the very most dire of interstate circumstances. The road has, as RuSki says, its risks.