Moving to Alaska, what car should i get?

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xmirage2kx - 23 Jul 2005 03:35 GMT

I am going to be moving to Alaska here soon, and not a warm part
either, we are talking above the artic circle, the only way in/out is
by plane or boat, and for 4-9 months boats cant even make it cuz the
ocean is frozen. there isnt a single paved road, and gas is VERY
costly. I would like to know some suggestions of cars/trucks/suvs that
would be good for such an area. I am hoping for something that seats
3-4, but not required. its gotta be good for up to -70, ice, and
off-road, and i would prefer something that gets 15+mpg, but im
flexable. there isnt a whole lot of places to tinker, and parts can
take up to 9 months, so a good rep is important. any suggestions would
be great.

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SnoMan - 23 Jul 2005 03:35 GMT

>I am going to be moving to Alaska here soon, and not a warm part
>either, we are talking above the artic circle, the only way in/out is
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>take up to 9 months, so a good rep is important. any suggestions would
>be great.

I lived in Montana for a spell at 7000ft above sea level. It could get
beter than -50 and -40 was not uncommon. I learn a few things first
hand. A good front wheel drive car with a bra on the front to limit or
block off airflow is the way to go and with manual tranny to if you
can handle it. In a car like this the complete drive train can be kept
warm easier and if airflow through front in limited, under hood temps
will be near normal on the coldest day when it is warmed up and it
will run like summer time too. I also had two 4x4’s but, they felt
like they were dragging anchors all the time when it was cold even
with syn oil in transfer case and rear axles because they never warm
up in those temp and MPG really sucked in them when it is that cold.
You might think you want a 4x4 but a properly winterized front wheel
drive will perform extremely well in temps of minus 40 and lower. I
have taken long trip in both kinds. One winter I drove across south
dakota when it was between minus 25 and minus 30 with 50mph winds in a
suburban with dual heaters and a adjustable front bra that was nearly
closed. We kept warm but MPG sucked as it took nearly 40 gallons of
fuel to go 350 miles. On a trip with a front wheel drive 4cyl mid
sized toyota I would get well into the 30’s on a trip even when below
minus 40 and the car ran great and we were warm. We would drive 230
miles to shop once a month and spend the nite and return next day and
95% of the time in was in a the yota and alway felt safe and secure.
ALso if you have never been in that kind or extreme cold, ice is not
slippery at those temps and a warm reliable good running car is
paramont. Another word of advise, do not let any one talk you into a
diesel. Sure some will get one running and keep it plugged in but it
is a very fine line to keep it running and if you loss heat, it will
not start whie I have started a gas motor at minus 40 once or twice
without heat, it will never happen with a diesel SUV. IN the town I
lived in EVERYONE parked their oil burners in the dead of winter for
several months.

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Raymond Sirois - 23 Jul 2005 04:21 GMT

I'd look for a Skidoo, or a Polaris. Having lived in the interior of
Alaska, I can assure you, as many folks get around on snowmobiles as
in cars in the wintertime, and there really isn't anywhere to go in
the summer if you're out in the Bush...

Raymond Sirois KU2S
SysOp: The Lost Chord BBS
607-733-5745
telnet://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6023

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SnoMan - 23 Jul 2005 18:35 GMT

>I’d look for a Skidoo, or a Polaris. Having lived in the
>interior of
>Alaska, I can assure you, as many folks get around on snowmobiles as
>in cars in the wintertime, and there really isn’t anywhere to go
>in
>the summer if you’re out in the Bush...

Good point as we used them too but there are times when need a car
even if there is nowhere far to go and I would put a SkiDoo above a
Polaris anyday in quality and design for such severe useage.

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Floyd L. Davidson - 23 Jul 2005 20:38 GMT

>Alaska, I can assure you, as many folks get around on snowmobiles as
>in cars in the wintertime,

That is true, and becomes increasingly true in smaller villages.

>and there really isn't anywhere to go in
>the summer if you're out in the Bush...

That isn't true. Not even close. Everyone just switches
to boats and 4-wheelers, that's all.

Signature

Floyd L. Davidson <http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com

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xmirage2kx - 23 Jul 2005 18:36 GMT

> I am going to be moving to Alaska here soon, and not a warm
> part either, we are talking above the artic circle, the only
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> parts can take up to 9 months, so a good rep is important. any
> suggestions would be great.

would a skidoo be something i should look at, from my understanding it
doesnt get alot of snow up in areas like barrow or kabuzetue. I know
theres not alot of places to drive, but the idea of walking 1-2miles
in sub temps carying my grocies and such just doesnt sound pleasant.
heck, doesnt sound fun even if it was 70. would a powersled be useful
year round, or should i look more towards something with wheels

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Floyd L. Davidson - 23 Jul 2005 20:34 GMT

> > I am going to be moving to Alaska here soon, and not a warm
> > part either, we are talking above the artic circle, the only
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> > area. I am hoping for something that seats 3-4, but not
> > required. its gotta be good for up to -70, ice, and off-road,

Wow. You must be talking about Siberia! That's over west a
ways... ;-)

Coastal areas don't get down to -70F. "Ice, and off road" sort
of depend on where you are talking about. In some villages you
are essentially in "off road" conditions all of the time! In
places like Barrow and Kotzebue, you don't really want to *ever*
do any "off road" in a car/truck type of vehicle.

> > and i would prefer something that gets 15+mpg, but im
> > flexable. there isnt a whole lot of places to tinker, and
> > parts can take up to 9 months, so a good rep is important. any
> > suggestions would be great.

Nah. Parts take a few days. They *don't* come by barge, but in
a Boeing 737 that says "Alaska Airlines" on the side.

>would a skidoo be something i should look at, from my understanding it
>doesnt get alot of snow up in areas like barrow or kabuzetue. I know

Wait until you get there before making decisions like that. If,
and only if, you want to get out of town and go exploring the
boonies, do you want to consider a snowmachine or a 4-wheeler.
Which one you'd want depends on what you will do, and where.
There is just no way to get a grip on that until you see what's
there. The best way to know what is appropriate, is go there
and look at what everyone else there is doing. (Little things
like which brands are stocked by the local store can make a huge
difference.)

>theres not alot of places to drive, but the idea of walking 1-2miles
>in sub temps carying my grocies and such just doesnt sound pleasant.
>heck, doesnt sound fun even if it was 70. would a powersled be useful
>year round, or should i look more towards something with wheels

If you are talking Barrow or Kotzebue, you either want a 4-wheel
ATV or a car/truck. But the ATV will *not* be something you
want to use when it is -35F and blowing 40 mph (and if you've
never seen those conditions, don't assume you'll want to drive
in them at all!). You'll have a hard time starting it at -45F;
however, it hasn't gotten down to -50F in either place for years
now. (The record in Barrow is only -56F, and in Kotzebue it is
only -52F.)

If what you want is comfort when making a run to the Post Office
and store, or going to work, then you want a car or truck. If
you are going to do much of that, you probably want a car rather
than a truck just because gas is expensive. Something like a
Subaru is really nice, though lots of people make due with
various other 4-wheel drives or with only front wheel drive too.

There are certainly advantages to trucks though. But gas in
Barrow is currently $3.45/gal and will go up when the fuel barge
arrives. It costs $130+ to fill the 40 gallon tank in a
Suburban! (I have a Suburban, but I drive only perhaps 1200
miles a year too...)

However, all of the above is more or less moot.

*Do* *not* *buy* *a* *vehicle* *until* *you* *get* *there*.

If, for example, you are talking about Barrow, once you arrive
you can either buy a vehicle that is already here, or you can
buy one in Fairbanks and have it shipped to Barrow. There are
*no* other reasonable options. I wouldn't even buy one in
Anchorage! That is because it never gets cold in Anchorage and
they simply do *not* know how to winterize a vehicle. Buy it in
Fairbanks, and they will winterize it as a matter of course, and
they will do it right. (At half the price it will cost you in
Barrow.)

BTW, figure $4-5,000 to ship the vehicle from Fairbanks to
Barrow.

All that said, be more specific about where you are moving to,
and what you'll be doing there, and I can give you other ideas
on what to expect. You might want to visit my web page listed
below.

Signature

Floyd L. Davidson <http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com

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