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.
I gave up on looking for the "perfect" anything. I'm in Montana but our roads are much like Idaho's. We went with a used Trooper as the cost of most of the other SUV s were so freaking out of our budget.
They are basic and rather plain, but they handle great and really get the job done without to many do-dads and all. Very efficient rigs they seem to be.
We have a used Toyota Highlander and love it. Our 4x4 gets 23-25 mpg on average and has third-row seating (the hybrid apparently gets 27mpg--hardly worth it, IMHO). For a family of 5 and two dogs, it's been great.
We tried the Explorer, Pathfinder, Armada, and Pilot in addition to the Highlander and ended up liking the handling much better than the others mentioned and found the Mpg quite pleasing, as well.
I personally would have loved an FJ Cruiser. Way more rugged (and I'd actually consider offroading with it for pleasure .....), but it didn't get the gas mileage and was far less family friendly.
You guys are terrific! Indeed, Rickers, there's no such thing as a perfect car, or anything else for that matter, except for a perfect summer's day in North Idaho, and a couple of other things... But you guys have helped me narrow down the field of possibilities. It's hard when you want a car for city driving that's also going to be your road trip car, and occasional off-road vehicle. With the research in hand we'll just see what's out there and get the best deal we can. Hopefully our little old 2nd car can hang in there a few more months, but I want to be prepared for whenever we have to go out and get a replacement.
Land Cruisers are great, probably the best production 4x4's in the world but they won't deliver the MPG you say you want. An Outback or Forester could be a good second choice. I have a series 100 Land Cruiser and can (and do) drive it everywhere. It's not only great in snow but back country roads and trails. The MPG hit is worth it to my family.
Do you have one? We were pleased with how much larger the 2010 Outback is than in previous years. My husband is 6'2" and feels ery comfortable in ours.
Do you have one? We were pleased with how much larger the 2010 Outback is than in previous years. My husband is 6'2" and feels ery comfortable in ours.
I need to go look at one of the new ones. Is the Forrester bigger or smaller than the OB?
I need to go look at one of the new ones. Is the Forrester bigger or smaller than the OB?
The Forester is now smaller than the Outback. Used to be the opposite. My oldest daughter graduates from Whitworth in 3 (!!!) months and is buying a Forester. Such a sensible girl...
Oh yeah..have I bragged that she already has a real job lined up...in what she majored in?
She does.http://bestsmileys.com/clapping/4.gif (broken link)
I naively thought they put AWD in Dodge Caravans so we could drive them in the Winter in Idaho.We learned the hard way that there's not enough clearance for the fiberglass bumpers to drive in even moderate snow. Anything more than 6 or so inches, and you have to wait for the snowplow. That's just not useful.
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.
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.
.....
), but it didn't get the gas mileage and was far less family friendly.
But you guys have helped me narrow down the field of possibilities. It's hard when you want a car for city driving that's also going to be your road trip car, and occasional off-road vehicle. With the research in hand we'll just see what's out there and get the best deal we can. Hopefully our little old 2nd car can hang in there a few more months, but I want to be prepared for whenever we have to go out and get a replacement. 
