I believe one of the KW coilover kits allows you to adjust the height, but I think it maxes out at stock ride height (or thereabouts).

Do you know of any other Focus owners in your area that has run into the same situation with hitting snow? I don't think our ground clearance is lower than other vehicles out there. I guess we'd need to know which vehicles you're making the reference that they are higher clearance cars.

One option (which may not be feasible) is for the cost of a coilover kit and labour for switching suspensions, you may want to get a used SUV that can handle that much snow, and leave the Focus for the summer.

 

could go with bigger tires and the 4.06 gears

 

Where in "Upstate" do you live? Syracuse? Watertown? Potsdam? I live in Western New York, which is mistakenly called Upstate, and we get a ton of snow in the winter. I have stock suspension, and I've only gotten hung up a couple of times.

I also keep my dad's old E-tool in the trunk to to dig myself out if I need to. 30+ years old and hasn't failed me yet.

http://www.armynavysales.com/Mercha...merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=01&Product_Code=ME136&Category_Code=CAMPSHOV
More modern design, but serves the same purpose as the one I have.

 

I believe one of the KW coilover kits allows you to adjust the height, but I think it maxes out at stock ride height (or thereabouts).

Thanks, I will check them out.

Do you know of any other Focus owners in your area that has run into the same situation with hitting snow? I don't think our ground clearance is lower than other vehicles out there. I guess we'd need to know which vehicles you're making the reference that they are higher clearance cars.

I drive on a number of smaller roads at night when I visit friends. These roads don't get plowed as often as the main roads, this is where I have mildly annoying noises of snow hitting the underside of the car. Not too big of a deal, as long as you are going fast enough not to get stuck

One option (which may not be feasible) is for the cost of a coilover kit and labour for switching suspensions, you may want to get a used SUV that can handle that much snow, and leave the Focus for the summer.

Not a bad idea since I want my next car to be RWD. Just not the kind of RWD that gets bad milage.

 

Where in "Upstate" do you live? Syracuse? Watertown? Potsdam? I live in Western New York, which is mistakenly called Upstate, and we get a ton of snow in the winter. I have stock suspension, and I've only gotten hung up a couple of times.

I also keep my dad's old E-tool in the trunk to to dig myself out if I need to. 30+ years old and hasn't failed me yet.

http://www.armynavysales.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=01&Product_Code=ME136&Category_Code=CAMPSHOV
More modern design, but serves the same purpose as the one I have.

LOL, I am nowhere near as hardcore as someone in the lake effect snow area. I think the Tug Hill / Buffalo area where you are gets about five times as much snow per year as we do, maybe more. I am near Saratoga Springs (capital region).

Digging myself out is no problem... but as someone who's used to having no problems plowing through unplowed roads with a taller car, getting stuck (or just waiting for another car to make 'ruts' is going to take getting used to.)

 

In south dakota we get some rather large snowfalls but for the last 3 years I have been running the 1.5 eibach kit on my wagon with no issues in the snow. The biggest reason is a good set of snow tires. I run the Nokian Hakkaplla Q on the wagon.