Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago Suburbs
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 02-02-2010, 07:25 AM
 
6 posts, read 26,925 times
Reputation: 16

Advertisements

Hi--
We are moving to one of the suburbs this summer and also need to buy a new car. We plan on buying a small crossover (like the CR-V or Equinox) and we will live in the area for just three years (and take the car with us when we go). Do you seasoned drivers recommend an All-Wheel Drive car, or can I get away with a Front-Wheel Drive car with snow tires? I hate to take the hit on price and mpg with an AWD if I don't have to. Thanks for your thoughts!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 02-02-2010, 07:35 AM
 
Location: West 'Burbs of Chicago
1,216 posts, read 5,755,408 times
Reputation: 451
for years I had a "kid hauler" ... big 4 wheel drive, not AWD though .... once i downgraded I got a Front Wheel drive. I too took gas mileage into consideration, and price.

I've been very happy with just the front wheel drive... though i do have to admit.. if the weather is really bad... I just dont go out in it.... but so far, and i've had it 5 yrs now... but so far, it has been a very good vehicle for me and I dont miss the 4 wheel capability... though i do miss the auto start in the winter.

I also find... winters around here are hit or miss.... we could get slammed with tons of snow... or get very little each time it snows. Ya just never know what you're gonna get.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-02-2010, 08:49 AM
 
Location: Chicago, Tri-Taylor
5,014 posts, read 9,392,609 times
Reputation: 3987
We have a rear wheel drive car. All we have to do is put appropriate winter tires on it and not drive like idiots and it's fine. You don't need 4WD here. Automaker marketing hype. AWD vehicles also use more fuel.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-02-2010, 09:02 AM
 
Location: Lake Arlington Heights, IL
5,479 posts, read 12,194,988 times
Reputation: 2847
Partly depends on your driving skills and temperament. If you are comfortable and skilled at driving in snow and rain, then FWD/RWD with good all-season tires will suffice. Add snow tires and it is a step up, next step up is AWD with all-seasons and best is AWD with snow tires. For me, the hassle and cost of switching tires and storing them is not worth it. The only vehicle I had that was bad in snow was my Beetle. Did not have enough weight over the front wheels. Otherwise my RWD Corolla ('77) and Aerostar were good in snow. I actually found them a little more predictable than my FWD vehicles. We had a Subaru Forrester and the AWD on it was excellent. Ever drive into a large puddle of standing water and have your car pull? Not with the Subie. Had to trade it for a minivan because it was too small. Always wished that Subaru built a mini or micro van with AWD.
AWD or no AWD is not on the top priorities of what car I will buy. Space, reliability, performance and creature comforts come before AWD or no AWD. I'm the "odd-ball' that thinks a mini-van's practicality makes it "cool".
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-02-2010, 09:15 AM
 
Location: Saint Louis, MO
1,912 posts, read 4,668,207 times
Reputation: 918
Snow tires are a better purchase than AWD. The key is not driving like an idiot, no matter what kind of tires/car you have.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-02-2010, 09:30 AM
 
1,464 posts, read 5,487,608 times
Reputation: 410
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmallWorldAfterAll View Post
Hi--
We are moving to one of the suburbs this summer and also need to buy a new car. We plan on buying a small crossover (like the CR-V or Equinox) and we will live in the area for just three years (and take the car with us when we go). Do you seasoned drivers recommend an All-Wheel Drive car, or can I get away with a Front-Wheel Drive car with snow tires? I hate to take the hit on price and mpg with an AWD if I don't have to. Thanks for your thoughts!
You don't have to get an AWD, but they are nice to have around here. You only lose about 1 MPG with AWD and the car typically holds its value a slight bit better, so it may be worth the extra $$$. One to look at is the Nissan Murano AWD because they will still get around 20 MPG combined (city/highway). The Lexus RX400H AWD if you don't mind spending a bit more is an excellent vehicle for around here and can get over 25 MPG combined. Others are the Ford Flex which is again over 20 MPG, the Ford Escape H with about 25-30 MPG, the Acura MDX AWD with about 20 MPG, the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid with about 20 MPG, the Toyota Highlander AWD with about 20 MPG, the Toyota Rav 4 with about 25 MPG, the Toyota 4 Runner with about 18-20 MPG, and yes the Honda CR-V. Check em' out cause that is a list of VERY common cars seen around here and all handle the snow nicely.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-02-2010, 09:39 AM
 
Location: Barrington
63,919 posts, read 46,459,926 times
Reputation: 20674
The most important safety feature in any car is the driver.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-02-2010, 09:52 AM
 
Location: Chicago, Tri-Taylor
5,014 posts, read 9,392,609 times
Reputation: 3987
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYrules View Post
You don't have to get an AWD, but they are nice to have around here. You only lose about 1 MPG with AWD and the car typically holds its value a slight bit better, so it may be worth the extra $$$. One to look at is the Nissan Murano AWD because they will still get around 20 MPG combined (city/highway). The Lexus RX400H AWD if you don't mind spending a bit more is an excellent vehicle for around here and can get over 25 MPG combined. Others are the Ford Flex which is again over 20 MPG, the Ford Escape H with about 25-30 MPG, the Acura MDX AWD with about 20 MPG, the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid with about 20 MPG, the Toyota Highlander AWD with about 20 MPG, the Toyota Rav 4 with about 25 MPG, the Toyota 4 Runner with about 18-20 MPG, and yes the Honda CR-V. Check em' out cause that is a list of VERY common cars seen around here and all handle the snow nicely.
Common, I will give you. Since I go by the old saying that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it, I'll just stop right there

FWD cars didn't become common until the late-1970s. And saving for that ugly Eagle thingamajig that AMC used to make, and maybe an equally ugly Subaru here and there, AWD was only seen on trucks that people used for work. Hard to believe now but yes, it's true. ABS and stability control? Foggetaboutit. Pump the brakes and steer into the skid!

Amazing that most of the human race didn't die off before 1985 in icy vehicle accidents.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-02-2010, 10:07 AM
 
Location: Lake Arlington Heights, IL
5,479 posts, read 12,194,988 times
Reputation: 2847
Quote:
Originally Posted by BRU67 View Post
Common, I will give you. Since I go by the old saying that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it, I'll just stop right there

FWD cars didn't become common until the late-1970s. And saving for that ugly Eagle thingamajig that AMC used to make, and maybe an equally ugly Subaru here and there, AWD was only seen on trucks that people used for work. Hard to believe now but yes, it's true. ABS and stability control? Foggetaboutit. Pump the brakes and steer into the skid!

Amazing that most of the human race didn't die off before 1985 in icy vehicle accidents.
Click your heels twice and repeat after me "There's no school like the old school......there's no school like the old school"
BRU- thanks for the laugh
I can't bite my tongue......why do you need a new car for moving out to the burbs unless your current one TRULY needs to be replaced. Remember, thriftiness is the "New Cool" not status symbol vehicles that depreciate.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 02-02-2010, 03:20 PM
 
Location: Chicago
2,884 posts, read 4,956,823 times
Reputation: 2769
TIRES (and the driver) are the most important factor in dealing with snow. I had a Toyota Tercel that was fantastic in snow. My Hyundai Elantra (5 speed) sucked the 1st winter I had it, I was REALLY disappointed with it. I got new tires this spring and it's been much better.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago Suburbs
Similar Threads
View detailed profiles of:

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top