Which of these cars is best for mountain driving? (Vail: living in, moving to)

[ryanek9freak]

Originally Posted by risky_analyst

i believe the lexus rx is a Front wheel drive car... unless you opt for AWD.

You are correct. The RX is Front wheel drive normally, until the front wheels slip, then the rears kick in. I would strongly suggest that if you want the RX, definatley get the AWD model, specifically because the resale value on just the FWD model will be much less.

You should know that AWD helps you signifigantly even on dry pavement, in an evasive manuver (sp?) Why do you think Subaru has AWD on every car they sell?

[SheridanL]

I grew up in Denver and, have lived in EVERY town in between!!
I also have had EVERY car that one can imagine!!
SLOW DOWN and GEAR DOWN in whatever vehicle you own!!
Front wheel drive, rear wheel, all wheel, 4x4,....whatever!
They ALL brake the same....right RYAN????
Unless you are an "off road" junkie......you WILL be fine!

[thequickster]

any kind of four wheel drive is good

[McGowdog]

I'm an excellent driver. I don't tailgate.

[zionvier]

Avoid the rear wheel drive if you plan on going to the mountains often. Sooner or later you'll end up stopped on one of the steeper sections (Vail pass, Eisenhower Tunnel, Georgetown) because of an accident or jack knifed truck and you might not be able to start going again without chains.

Frankly, go with the AWD for the extra $2000. Putting chains on isn't fun, or you'll end up spending $2000 because you slid into a ditch or something. Plus if you're going to have kids later and will have same car then $2000 is nothing when you think of the extra control and safety it will give you while the kids are in the car. In the end that $2k is the less expensive option.

[ryanek9freak]

I agree as well. What's one more pound to an elephant? Just spend the extra money. It would make your car payment, what, an extra $20 a month?

[zionvier]

Plus in Colorado, AWD and 4WD cars hold their resale value better than the 2WD (especially rear wheel drive cars), so you'll make back some of it when you sell it/trade it in.

[bluescreen73]

My first car was a RWD behemoth. It was a 1976 Dodge Aspen with a .318 V8, single barrel holly carburetor.

During the winter I ran studded snow tires and had two 90lb bags of Quickrete in the trunk. There were a couple times I had to stop on a hill and worried about whether I'd make it up or not.

All that aside, compared to the FWD cars I've had since, the Aspen was the easiest to lose control in, but also the easiest to get back under control once I started to lose it.

FWD is great until you lose control, then you're toast because the car understeers badly and plows. In a RWD you steer into the skid and let off the gas. To each his own, though.

[Shuffler]

FWIW, consider the Bridgestone/Toyota high performance winter driving school in Steamboat....

Bridgestone Winter Driving School

I'd like to do it this year...a friend attended it last year and said it was great.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

My first car was a RWD behemoth. It was a 1976 Dodge Aspen with a .318 V8, single barrel holly carburetor.

Err make that a 2-barrel carb. Didn't catch that in time for an edit.