Cheap 4WD Vehicle?

[Fishinguy40]

I don't think I could ever buy a used Subaru, It would be hard to find one without an Obama bumper sticker or a "equal sign". Plus, no ground clearance....... Bye until Monday night.

GOOD ONE!

I appreciate and hear what all of you are saying. Whatever she does end up getting, a good set of tires will be going on it.

As for driving to the road conditions.....Trust me, every time last winter I got a phone call asking me to come pull her out of a ditch, she got the LECTURE. But, you can't teach common sense and you can't convince a teenager that you are not only older than them but wiser!

[Scott K]

What I have learned over the years is 4x4 doesnt keep you out of the ditch, it only gets you further into it. Very few times after you have went in the ditch, are you going to get out, regardless if you have 4x4 or not in the winter. New tires and some more experience behind the wheel will be many times more valuable then a 4x4. Over the years I have always owned a 4x4, and a car. Unless we got more then 6 inches, and the plows havent been out yet, would I even think about taking the truck. A small front wheel drive car can handle the road much better then a rear wheel drive truck with or without 4x4. Unless you have the experience to go along with it.

[TooTallTom]

Trust me, every time last winter I got a phone call asking me to come pull her out of a ditch, she got the LECTURE. But, you can't teach common sense and you can't convince a teenager that you are not only older than them but wiser!

I've noticed that this is often specific to said teenager's parents. If she was hearing the same thing from an instructor with a name tag on in a class, she might actually listen. I know it's aggravating, but it might be worth the investment, along with a set of good tires. Plus, if she can get some "hands on" with her new car that might go a long ways to help with her abilities...

[Pooh]

GOOD SNOW TIRES on the front of a car with traction control. gets my vote. getting her to understand the traction control is another story. same with 4WD my wife thought it was ok to put the 4WD on in her trailblazer and leave it on all winter. she needs to understand what she is driving more than accually what is is she is driving

[JeffB]

If she has a problem with winter driving I would stay away with anything with a high center of gravity. A vehicle with traction control, a low center of gravity and a good safety rating would be my first thoughts on getting her a car. AWD would also be a plus, but may just give her a false sense of security. My sister has driven the subaru cars for a long time and their family seems to have great luck with them, and they commute so they run them up to about 200,000 miles with very few problems.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Subarus are pretty high on my list as well. Most people think wagon(outback) when they hear Subaru but the sedans, especially the legacy, are great looking cars and have all the benefits of the AWD without the stereo type that may be associated with the outback or wagon. The only drawback is the timing belt that will need to be serviced at around the 100k mark. Other than that and the occasional head gasket they are very solid vehicles.

The Vibe in either FWD or AWD would be another sound vehicle. I think both engine options on those have a timing chain. Other than the occasional dirty MAF and leaking intake gaskets they are also very solid cars.

[Lund4ver]

If you go with a FWd, AWD, 4x4 just remember that the tires on the vehicle are the key to traction. If you see a FWD car in the ditch, and the trunk is in first, I would bet if you stopped and looked at the tires on the rear, they would be almost shot. Just because you have great traction on the drive tires, doesn't mean you won't spin out. I have been told by numerous tires guys that have a lot of years under their belts, to make sure even a FWD has good tread on the rear to keep the spin out from happening.

Every vehicle I have owned/driven have never had any problems with snow, because I have always kept good tires on them.

I would throw a vote out there for an older Jeep Cherokee sport with the inline 6, very solid motor and will go high mileage. I bought one, and now wish I still had it.

[MNice]

Heeeeyyy, we actually have TWO Subaru's, and neither has any of the so-called stickers

[Jeremy airjer W]

To add to lund4ever's resonse...

I have mismatched tires front and rear on my saturn. One set is great on the ice and snow the other is terrible. If I leave the terrible ones on the back wheels the back of the car constantly wants to come around on me. If I put the terrible tires on the front it is harder to get going but easier to control the car.

I never believed the old mismatched tire jargon until I bought this car. I am know a firm believer in having all four tires the same!

So I wonder how many of those cars also have mismatched tires or "winter" tires only on the front?

[BobT]

If you go with a FWd, AWD, 4x4 just remember that the tires on the vehicle are the key to traction. If you see a FWD car in the ditch, and the trunk is in first, I would bet if you stopped and looked at the tires on the rear, they would be almost shot. Just because you have great traction on the drive tires, doesn't mean you won't spin out. I have been told by numerous tires guys that have a lot of years under their belts, to make sure even a FWD has good tread on the rear to keep the spin out from happening.

Every vehicle I have owned/driven have never had any problems with snow, because I have always kept good tires on them.

I would throw a vote out there for an older Jeep Cherokee sport with the inline 6, very solid motor and will go high mileage. I bought one, and now wish I still had it.

Actually, I would propose that what most likely happened is they decelerated and lost control. One of the drawbacks of front wheel drive is when you decelerate the engine drag acts like applying brakes to the front wheels only and your back end walks around the front. The problem is when you let off the throttle to slow down you are in effect applying this engine drag and can potentially have this problem. Rear wheel drive on the other hand doesn't have this problem because the added engine drag is on the rear and this tends to drag the rear behind the front and so you maintain control. In 4wd engine drag is applied to front and rear simultaneously and so you have no control at all in a spin. Experienced this first-hand myself once.

I was driving down I-94 at about 50mph. It was snowing and a slight ridge of snow/slush had developed between the lanes. Because it was slippery and before I understood the dangers of driving in 4wd on the highway I thought I'd use it to "get better traction." I got behind a semi and the snowstorm behind him prompted me to pass. I moved into the passing lane and when I got in front of him I started to move back into the driving lane. Just as my right front tire hit that small ridge of snow it threw the truck sideways and I found myself looking at the grill of that truck in my passenger window. I'm guessing he figured I was going to be toast. No matter what I did I could not steer the truck because the engine drag and brakes were affecting both axles the same. Somehow I had the wherewithal to reach down and throw the transfer case back into 2wd and immediately I regained steering control and straightened out the truck and was able to continue driving normally. Needless to say, I learned my lesson about driving with 4wd engaged.

[TooTallTom]

I learned my lesson about driving with 4wd engaged.

I don't use my 4wd unless I'm actually trying to get out of something (i.e. mud, deep snow, etc.) even in the winter. But, my 4wd system is one of the "dumb" ones and doesn't help me out in dicey-traction situations...

[delcecchi]

My experience with FWD is that it is quite confusing for a geezer like me that grew up with RWD. Step on the gas, car goes straight even if you are turning. Let off on the gas and it dives in the direction the wheels are pointed. The old "steer into the skid" is pretty much useless.

I about killed myself going from a 77 impala to a 85 tempo. Cock the wheels and step on the gas to help make the corner when slippery is not a good idea. I did it pulling out onto US52 down by Concord or Babcock Trail.

[Jeremy airjer W]

85 Tempo.......sigh! : grin)

[Kettle]

I'm personal to the 4.3 liter chev engine, I have owned two, the current one I have now has 279,xxx miles on it. I am not a car expert nor do I have close to the knowledge of airjer. This being said, and I think most auto mechanics can agree, preventative maintenance is key! I have never bought a new vehicle, if I have $8,000. to spend on a vehicle, I find one for less than $7,000. and put $1,000. into it right away, this sounds nuts but, norm need new tires, new plugs and wires, breaks possibly, radiator flush, new fuel filter and I typically drop the tranny pan and put in a new filter, though I typically don't flush the system. Seeing that I am slow with a wrench, I typically get a truck and it takes a week or two to accomplish this!

Kettle

[zamboni]

The Vibe in either FWD or AWD would be another sound vehicle. I think both engine options on those have a timing chain. Other than the occasional dirty MAF and leaking intake gaskets they are also very solid cars.

Vibes are ok until you hit any size hill, and they buck and grunt and groan trying to make it up the hill. PT Cruisers are the same way.

[Jeremy airjer W]

What kind of hills are you trying to go up?

[Kettle]

I really need a life.....

Kettle

[delcecchi]

85 Tempo.......sigh! : grin)

The 77 Impala was nothing to write home about either.

Sold the tempo to a buddy after it left my wife by the side of the road one too many times. He put like 200k more miles on it. How, I don't know.

The imp (the ala had fallen off) finally got sold to a local junkyard when the second replacement tranny went out too.

[zamboni]

What kind of hills are you trying to go up?

Normal hills on the interstate. Set cruise, get to hill, and just hear the engine buck. I am pretty sure they made them in 6 bangers, and I doubt they have same issue- but the 4 poppers were very weak that I drove

[CigarGuy]

Okay you guys....I get the dig at MY President but I don't understand the significance of the "equal sign". Must be something geezers haven't heard of.

But then.....what else is new, right? Ha Ha Ha!!

"equal sign" means....males like to snuggle with males and females like to snuggle with females......follow the rainbow!!!

[Ufatz]

Oh! Well, we've all got our troubles.

[TooTallTom]

Okay you guys....I get the dig at MY President but I don't understand the significance of the "equal sign". Must be something geezers haven't heard of.

But then.....what else is new, right? Ha Ha Ha!!