Best used AWD or 4wd vehicle

[Firemn41]

Hello,
My wife and I were thinking of buying another car as soon as out escrow closes and we get into WW. Right now we have the Honda Accord and I have a 4wd Chevy but with the weather I was thinking of buying a used 4wd or AWD vehicle instead of chaining up the Honda. Was thinking of a used Jeep Wrangler or a Subaru Outback since I have seen alot of those around town. How do they handle the weather and what else out there is everyone driving? Thanks

[wwpt]

 
  A light on its feet front wheel drive is my preference...I don't like noisy 4x4's the 362 days of the year when you don't need it or the mileage drop or the rough ride. In real deep drifts ,ground clearance is an issue...never really see it that much up here though.
 
    I always like to tell this story to snow folks..When I worked at Mt Baldy we had to open up on a snowy morning ...one by one , I saw my co-workers spun out on the side of the road and stopped to pick them up in my Jeep Wagoneer...Toyota 4X4's, 2wd pick-ups (bottom of my list) , you name it.

  While we were going through the S curves  a front wheel drive Volkswagon rabbit passed us up with 3 girls in there , ski's sticking up,With the top down! Boy were those guys embarassed! LOL

[Leftfield]

I agree that even 4x4 and AWD can spin out if driven too fast.   We have an AWD and 4x4.  Typically AWD get better mileage than a 4x4 but mine is only AWD when one of the front tires start slipping and only going forward.  In other words, AWD doesnt kick in when in reverse.  The 4x4 we have have also have a ultra low drive for real deep snow or mud, similar to a tractor and since its similar to a tractor, it only works at real slow speed.  Dont forget either can help to maintain surefootedness in the rain. 

Lastly, get a vehicle with Antilock Braking System (ABS) which can really help on slippery roads when the other guy is spinning out in front of you.

[gypsywolf]

I have a Subaru Forester and have been completely happy with the way it handles in the snow. It gets on average 25 MPG and it handles great for a box-shaped car. It has lots of room inside, too!

[Wildman]

If you are thinking of a car that you can commute to the fire station in, your Honda will do just fine.  I drove down the hill to my station for almost 30 years in a Honda Civic and put chains on once....that was because i couldn't get up my street because of the ice. 

[hill okie]

I've had good luck with my front wheel drive Sentra. Front wheel drive means the engine weight is in the front of the vehicle, hence better traction, and also that the drive wheels pull the car through the snow instead of plowing through it as in a rear wheel drive. Another really great thing we did is to buy Spider Spikes. They snap on in about 30 seconds and come off even faster. They're expensive but if they keep me and the wife out of the snow and out of the way of skidding flatlanders, it's worth it. I'd be happy to pass along the e-mail address if anybody is interested. (no, I'm not affiliated, just a satisfied customer) .................Praying for snow!

[liz]

I was fine with my little front wheel drive Subaru until at coming back from work in late April, many years ago, the CHP decided to stop everyone and make them put on chains, which by the time I got on, they told me I could take off! Eek! Spider chains weren't an option then. I like my Subaru all wheel drive and feel it gives good traction in rainy weather as well as snow and ice (it isn't perfect for ice, but gives you a better chance that at least one or two drive wheels will be on pavement).

[klquinn]

I have a front wheel drive volkswagen and I do just fine in the snow. I've put the cables on a few times, but only because of where our house is. It's also a diesel so I'm getting 45mpg. For when it's really bad.....we just stay home!

[ChessT]

I agree, Subaru AWD is really GREAT up here....    No chains needed, and it really handles well.

[wwpt]

 
 
   I don't think I've ever heard a Subaru owner say anything but Glowing Reports on their cars handling in the Snow...
 
   You guys don't have to go to meetings or anything , do you?
 
 

[michael]

Subaru really does have the AWD system perfected.  I have a 1999 model I purchased new and I still have it.  I bought a much larger Toyota recently and it is the primary car.  During snow conditions the Subaru takes the primary role. 


It is a superior bit of engineering and it is no surprise there are so many of them in cold country.  Word of mouth is the best advertising.

[K9luvr]

Oh goody!  I was planning on my next vehicle being a subaru.  I can't decide if I want an outback or a forester.  I have two labradors and have to think of things like dog crates fitting in etc.  My concerns are ground clearance, inside space, and overall gas mileage.

[gypsywolf]

K9luver,

I have a shepherd mix and a collie.  They both fit comfortably in the back of the Forester. I think there is more room in the Forester than the Outback.

I put the dog gate in when I first got the car so they learned not to jump over the back seat. I recently took it out and they have never tried to jump on over.

The downside is you have a car that looks like a box But I would give up aesthetics for practicality any day!

[Chesslike]

You cannot go wrong with the Forester. My wife loves ours and though it does look like a box it certainly does not drive like one. When you are in the driver's seat you would swear you were driving a sedan. We have the stick shift and have been getting around 26 mpg in all around driving, not bad for coming up the mountain. We also have a shepard mix and her and her crate fit in just fine. I think the higher roofline is a plus. As for ground clearance, we have a foot of snow on the ground and I did not bother to shovel the driveway out, just the berm and the Forester had no problem getting out.

[tiltronix]

Stay away from the small wheeled 4WD.  I owned a 1987 Toyota Tercel with small wheels (and tires).  I wouldn't go over the berms the snowplows leave all around Wrightwood.  Get a 4WD with 15 inch wheels (old style tires) or something with equilavent diameter tires.  Posi-traction isn't the complete answer in power-trains either.  I had a Ford Bronco with posi-traction that did a 360 on Highway 2 one morning when one wheel hit solid surface with the other wheels on ice.

[K9luvr]

The downside is you have a car that looks like a box But I would give up aesthetics for practicality any day!

Well, aesthetics are not a big issue with me considering most of my vehicles have been pickup trucks...   I have only owned two real "cars" my entire adult life 

And BB--I haven't owned an automatic in a personal vehicle since I sold my Ford Pinto in college over 20 years ago.  I do hate having a stick when stuck in traffic down in the valley.  But since I plan on leaving southern CA and going to less populated pastures, I think my next rig will be a stick also 

[Chesslike]

Good choice K9, I think people should not be able to get their driver's license, without knowing how to drive a stick. I think it makes them better drivers. I made sure I taught my son how to drive a stick when he was learning to drive and before he got his license. Both of the vehicles that he has owned have been stick shift.

[wwpt]

[hill okie]

WWPT Your correct on all counts. My last car was a 4 cyl. stickshift. I got 42 m.p.g. and 293,000 miles before the top end gave out. Also it had the factory starter, alternator and water pump. The only bad thing was that it was underpowered and boy did folks glare at me coming up Lone Pine

[wwpt]

 
   Yes ..i still have a 1987 Mazda with a 4cyl motor...It's got 240,000 and just keeps on purring. 

      But I think I've had more horsepower in some vacuum cleaners I've owned..LOL Don't get behind me on LPC...I'll keep those speeders in check.
 
 I'm looking for a new truck now...probably give the other one to a kid.