do these questions matter? l need to know for when it snows.

4 wheel is just better than any 2 wheel drive. 4 for winter, 2 for summer?

and how much does it cost to do that?
or are you so rich that price does not matter.

i just bought a '93 4wd subaru legacy wagon. 2.2 engine.
$2500.
with any luck, it will last 10 years.
that is $250 a year.
hard to beat.

where are you?
flatlands, or mountains?
snowy or rainy?
what kind of driving do you like to do?

so many questions, so little information.

l do not like driving a vehicle with automatic 4wd in bad weather. If you have something like that then the vehicle feels like it is handling the ice/snow better and you speed up. Then if you hit a really bad spot you are gone. A 4wd is nice to have so if you do get stuck then you can possibly get out.but if you know how to drive a 2wd vehicle in bad weather you can go anywhere you should be. A front wheel drive will be better in slick conditions than a rear wheel drive though.

Get an Audi Quattro.

Yes getting an AWD IS 250 would be better than having a RWD IS 250 when it comes to nasty weather. That is not unique to the IS though most AWDs perform better than RWDs in snow & ICE. l would also recommend changing to winter tires. Summer tires perform badly in the winter due to the tread type & rubber compound.

Some people who drive poorly get a false confidence in the AWD system & assume that because they can accelerate fast in awd they can stop fast as well. let me assure u that this is not the case. The AWD system can not overcome the simple laws of physics.