Just Wish to Ask an Alaskan (Healy, Nenana: 2009, transfer, live)

[RAMFEB31]

I know this same subject has been posted before but, since my memory is fleeting, I thot I would ask again.
Why is Subaru so popular up here? Why not a Jeep or a Toyota or a Honda?
All of these have 4 wheel or all wheel drive.

[bortstc37]

a whole lot of folks might tell you that real alaskans don't bother getting a car, truck, or SUV with 4wd at all. that's what 4-wheelers are for!

(note: i walk everywhere. exempt me from this discussion henceforth).

[warptman]

.....waits for Stiffler to chime in....

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by RAMFEB31

I know this same subject has been posted before but, since my memory is fleeting, I thot I would ask again.
Why is Subaru so popular up here? Why not a Jeep or a Toyota or a Honda?
All of these have 4 wheel or all wheel drive.

All the vehicle brands you have mentioned are popular, but Subaru offers perhaps a preferred traction system for winter driving. Subaru has improved quite a lot on their "Viscous" transmission or transfer case system through the years, and they started quite early compared to several other brands. Also, Subaru cars tend to be very reliable in the interior of Alaska, as one can see very old Subaru cars still on the roads.

In my view, Subaru is popular because it has kept its reliable all-wheel drive automobile packages competitively priced. In fact, a lot cheaper than Honda, Toyota, and other all-wheel drive automobiles. For example, I paid $18K for a 2009 Forester a few months ago. I don't like automatic transmissions, so I bought one with a manual one. The same vehicle, but with an auto transmission costs approximately $1,000 more, but the trim for both is the same, and standard on both. It includes:
-ABS
-Computer-assisted traction control
-Air bags all the way around the cab (front and back)
-Disk brakes all the way around
-Air conditioner
-MPG monitor
-Cruise control
-Thermometer and a whole bunch of bells and whistles

Mine does around 26 to 27 MPG (combined driving), 27-30 MPG (highway driving only). It uses more fuel than my Honda Civic, but it has a lot more power, comfort, and greater traction. The one with automatic transmission uses more fuel (I have been driving manual for decades, and know how to save fuel).

[JohnPF]

I wonder if air bags improved since few years ago when they were the source of prolonged illness for people who inhaled the fumes. They had to... but than again, I don't know.

[DannyL]

Jeep, Toyota, Honda .....trendy.....$$$$$$$

Subbies....they work. Safe . All wheel drive. Used a dime a dozen.

[stiffnecked]

Subaru's are incredibly dependable. You just can't kill them. Per capita Alaskan's own more Subbies than any other state.

[akck]

I drive a Toyota 4Runner, mainly for the boat trailer pulling power. It does good on snow and ice too. We would have liked to have gotten a Subaru Forester this year, but the dealer had sold all his inventory prior to Cash for Clunkers.

[starlite9]

Their MPG seems to be a lot higher than any of the other 4WD models you mentioned, and the fact that they do run forever doesn't hurt either.

Our rural mail delivery family had one that had over 400,000 miles on it. all stop and go along the highway from Nenana to Healy, six days a week. When I had my shop I had to replace the front 2 CV shafts once, and a tune up another time... thing wouldn't die... did finely rust out, was friendly though, it waved at everyone as it went by... fenders flapped so hard, one finely fell off...

[bajadrmin]

Subaru's get better mileage and never die plus the all wheel drive far exceeds 4 wheel drive on a daily driving basis.. I wish I had my Baja back.. but traded it for a Toyota... love my toy but really it was a stupid desision... I tend to make lots of those...ha..