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went and checked one out today... did not drive it though. I was really surprised that the build quality of the vehicle was rather poor. Panels did not align, plastics were shockingly cheap looking and a lot of the car looked rough for the $30k asking price. I have seen better quality materials used in a Toyota Corolla econobox.
how about the 2014 Mazda CX-5? Fully loaded for the AWD model it's a hair over $30,000 for the grand touring which comes with leather and the works. It has a 184hp/185 ft-lb engine, 0-60 is about 8 seconds I believe - not the fastest around but decent for an SUV. Towing is 2000 lbs which is again decent. Ground clearance at 8.5" is great and so is the mileage at 24mpg city and 30mpg hwy. I think it looks good in blue too
It does not have the ability to handle extreme winter conditions like a Subaru. The ground clearance is a bit less as well.
Put it this way. You can certainly get a unibody AWD car or CUV, and hit all those light trailheads you already go to hike from. OR, you can get a body-on-frame 4x4 truck or SUV and explore the far parts of the backcountry that most cars cannot get to.
So I am trying to seriously evaluate if I really *need* an SUV or a 4WD/AWD instead of just settling for a car or a RWD/FWD.
I live in Southern California but frequent the mountains during summer - perhaps 4-5 trips during the winter season for snowboarding. Occasionally I may go to mammoth or Tahoe. I also am into hiking so sometimes have to drive to trails that are reachable only by driving on gravel or very rough roads that require high ground clearance but these types of trails are a rare occasion rather than frequent.
Given this info do you think that AWD/4WD is worth the extra expense? What about an SUV? Is a car sufficient for the 10% of the time I would need the extra space or traction?
No to the SUV. For the few times you might need it, not worth the extra expense. Think of the poorer mileage you'd be getting driving it around town. That costs, too. FWD are good in light snowy conditions and can handle rough roads, I had one in Colorado and it was fine. I'd get an AWD before I'd spring for an SUV.
Put it this way. You can certainly get a unibody AWD car or CUV, and hit all those light trailheads you already go to hike from. OR, you can get a body-on-frame 4x4 truck or SUV and explore the far parts of the backcountry that most cars cannot get to.
The jeep Cherokee XJ was a Uni-body SUV and one of the best Off-Road Mid-Size SUVs every made I put it up there with the only Mid-size SUV that was as capable off-road as the Full-Size K-5 Blazer and Ford Bronco but it is nt really a SUV to do any major towing with but otherwise it will take you places that the new CUVs will not even get out of a some minor snow or loose gravel.
Thinking about buying a 2011 Ford Explorer with FWD not AWD or 4WD. Live in Western PA and winters aren't really that bad. Do you think that the explorer with FWD can handle snow. Also the explorer has something called traction control. Will that help in the snow. thanks
*chuckle*
Yeah, and the first time you get your 4x4 buried in mud up to the axles and have to call a tractor you're gonna think, I need to use more common sense when choosing my paths.
i live in an area that gets multiple feet of snow each winter and i drive a mini cooper. i have never had trouble getting to or from work. 4WD AWD is just a security badge people slap on vehicles to make mom feel happy that her kids are safe when its really not all that useful. dont waste your money.
i live in an area that gets multiple feet of snow each winter and i drive a mini cooper. i have never had trouble getting to or from work. 4WD AWD is just a security badge people slap on vehicles to make mom feel happy that her kids are safe when its really not all that useful. dont waste your money.
Do they plow and salt the roads where you live? I'm pretty sure your mini would get stuck and you'd be SOL if you tried to drive it up to a remote ski resort like Crested Butte or tried to drive any other remote mountain road in January that doesn't get plowed.
I love my AWD CRV because of the very reasons the OP pointed out. About half the time I go boarding at the resorts in Arizona and Utah the road leading up to the resort requires chains, AWD or 4WD. Well, I'm not driving 20mph, which is typically the maximum recommended speed for driving with chains, for 30 miles not to mention the fact that driving with chains for any length of time destroys a vehicles tires. With so many reliable and gas efficient AWD and 4WD vehicles on the market, dealing with the hassle of putting on, driving with and then taking off tire chains just doesn't make any sense.
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