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Escape Hybrid/ Mazda Protege Hybrid. Same car
Good mileage and reliability. 4 cyl is over 30 mpg.
Also, Ford Sport Track. Also Mazda. Not so good on mpg, but good on reliability as it's Mazda.
If you really want something older/cheaper, 1st gen CR-V or RAV 4. Not fancy but very good cars.
Surprised the Dunlops don't cut it, winter sport are thought of favorably by guys around here (PacNW) who use them for skiing. Granted, snow tires on my sport pickup do not improve its poor winter manners much, either, absent 300 lbs of weight over the rear wheel wells. Some cars/trucks just aren't cut out for snow. Hence my AWD 911 P-car, but that was a choice I made.
If you're already planning to have kids, the answer is before you. Cross that bridge when you come to it, not before. Out west, $3K would only buy an Outback parts car, not including sales tax. May you have better luck; east coast has corrosion stuff to worry about, as you say.
Like the other guy indicates, once "a baby" and all that BS is in the pipe, all bets are off unless you're independently wealthy or in a growth field. Gaming it all out, may wish to wait until the crazy train has left the station before buying any more vehicles (woman moved in, pregnant, clamoring about "furniture" and other garbage no man cares about). Until then, mass transit is probably an attractive option in the winter months? Assuming available, of course.
Mildly surprised the S4 didn't win out as your do-everything car. AWD of various flavors are great do-everything cars here in the land of constant winter rain, marginal traction, and (rare) snow. In my case: test drove an S5, found it gorgeous but uninspiring, hence the AWD P-car as both the sports car and snow runabout. Problem solved.
Surprised the Dunlops don't cut it, winter sport are thought of favorably by guys around here (PacNW) who use them for skiing. Granted, snow tires on my sport pickup do not improve its poor winter manners much, either, absent 300 lbs of weight over the rear wheel wells. Some cars/trucks just aren't cut out for snow. Hence my AWD 911 P-car, but that was a choice I made.
If you're already planning to have kids, the answer is before you. Cross that bridge when you come to it, not before. Out west, $3K would only buy an Outback parts car, not including sales tax. May you have better luck; east coast has corrosion stuff to worry about, as you say.
Like the other guy indicates, once "a baby" and all that BS is in the pipe, all bets are off unless you're independently wealthy or in a growth field. Gaming it all out, may wish to wait until the crazy train has left the station before buying any more vehicles (woman moved in, pregnant, clamoring about "furniture" and other garbage no man cares about). Until then, mass transit is probably an attractive option in the winter months? Assuming available, of course.
Mildly surprised the S4 didn't win out as your do-everything car. AWD of various flavors are great do-everything cars here in the land of constant winter rain, marginal traction, and (rare) snow. In my case: test drove an S5, found it gorgeous but uninspiring, hence the AWD P-car as both the sports car and snow runabout. Problem solved.
the S4 at the time was a little too pricey for me I couldn't find a certified one for under $40k while I got my 370Z for 24k. I didn't get it certified but I should have (no issues but for peace of mind). I also wanted something that barely anyone had around here and was a pure sports car. I test drove a G37 coupe and while it was still very fast it felt like a boat.
the Dunlops do work very well but if I still had the car instead of springing for another set every few seasons I started considering a second car, also to keep the Z out of the snow/salt/crap. If I don't go that route though, an S4/S5 could be in the future. I drove my uncle's S5 and it was amazing.
Older Mercedes are awesome in the snow. They are like tanks, safe and cheap to insure due to how safe they are rated. The leather seats, sunroof and impeccable condition of most, (as owners usually love them and maintain) is a huge plus. Just make sure if you get one it has been maintained. A maintained older Mercedes is a gem, a unmaintained one an expensive endeavor. I have quite a few Mercedes and love each of them.
Just be careful of the years of 93-95 they are great but make sure wiring harness was already replaced as that is the years they had green " disintegrating " ones
I have an old Subaru Forester as my "beater" car, and its been great this winter. That way I don't have to take the "nice" car out in storms, plus I didn't get round to putting snow tires on it.
^ I should have done that to start off. but I wanted this car so bad lol
what year is your forester? I heard early 2000's models and earlier had head gasket issues but my dad has a 2009 and put 90k on it so far and no issues at all (even has the same tires with tread life left!)
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