Car Buying Help

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Vinen

God is dead
2,791
497
I'm sorry, AWD helps a shit-ton in the snow, particularly when trying to get out of parking spots. Perhaps it gives people an inflated sense of security causing them to drive more aggressively, but this still doesn't negate the fact that it is clearly safer/better than 2WD cars. Same with snow tires. In fact, get caught in Montreal in December with no snow tires on, and you're looking at a ticket.

Just my experience from driving 30+ years in Canada..
This. Being able to say fuck you to a pile of snow is awesome.
 

Tenks

Bronze Knight of the Realm
14,163
607
Vinen have you ever considered adding additional weight to the back of your car with all the sacks of dough you've got?
 

CaughtCross

Ahn'Qiraj Raider
2,977
5,821
Living in Los Angeles I really like having AWD for when I go up into the mountains to ski. I know next to nothing about how to actually drive in the snow and it gives me that peace of mind. Even if it is not needed a lot of people still want it. And Subaru was able to capture an increasing market share by providing a lot of reasonable AWD cars when no one else was. Think that was the original point of this AWD talk.
 

Vinen

God is dead
2,791
497
Living in Los Angeles I really like having AWD for when I go up into the mountains to ski. I know next to nothing about how to actually drive in the snow and it gives me that peace of mind. Even if it is not needed a lot of people still want it. And Subaru was able to capture an increasing market share by providing a lot of reasonable AWD cars when no one else was. Think that was the original point of this AWD talk.
Yeah. AWD and Subaru is pretty much a synonym at this point. Still amazes me that they released the BRZ.
 

Tenks

Bronze Knight of the Realm
14,163
607
Yeah I thought Subaru was needlessly overpriced when I first started looking into a new crossover type car for my wife. But then I realized with Ford the option to add AWD to her car was like a 4 grand option and made the price pretty similar to the Outback. We opted out of the AWD for her Escape and just got FWD.
 

koljec_sl

shitlord
845
2
Yeah I thought Subaru was needlessly overpriced when I first started looking into a new crossover type car for my wife. But then I realized with Ford the option to add AWD to her car was like a 4 grand option and made the price pretty similar to the Outback. We opted out of the AWD for her Escape and just got FWD.
Subaru prices are really good for the stuff that counts (engine and AWD) as long as you stay away from the limited and touring trim levels. They charge way too much for the quality returned on those. Subaru AWD actually works, too -- a lot of other manufacturers' AWD systems are pretty crappy for what you pay.
 

Palum

what Suineg set it to
27,413
43,546
Well they have full time AWD, a lot of manufacturers still have part-time stuff.
 

Vinen

God is dead
2,791
497
Well they have full time AWD, a lot of manufacturers still have part-time stuff.
Any other makes then Audi have full time? Wife needs a new car and she doesn't drive enough to justify a car over 30~K or so.
Probably just going to get another base model Impreza for her.
 

Palum

what Suineg set it to
27,413
43,546
I dunno under 30K and not a Subaru is going to be iffy.

Mini Countryman with AWD maybe? Other than that I think you're stuck with the usual suspects Audi/BMW/Lexus/Infiniti/LR.

Just checked - Countryman S ALL4 with a few options is ~30K. Starts at like 28K though 'stripped'.

Of course used is a ton more options in that price range.
 

Vinen

God is dead
2,791
497
I dunno under 30K and not a Subaru is going to be iffy.

Mini Countryman with AWD maybe? Other than that I think you're stuck with the usual suspects Audi/BMW/Lexus/Infiniti/LR.

Just checked - Countryman S ALL4 with a few options is ~30K. Starts at like 28K though 'stripped'.

Of course used is a ton more options in that price range.
Figured as much. Probably will just be another Subaru. Mini Countryman just looks too stupid to own. It's like the bastard child of a SUV and a Mini.
 

Palum

what Suineg set it to
27,413
43,546
The Paceman does in my opinion because it's a huge coupe truck mini combination thing, the Countryman is more pleasant because it's the four door so it just looks like a stylized small SUV.

That said, it's a BMW so maintenance... On the flip side the interiors and electronics are light years ahead of Subaru.

Also if you want quasi AWD with the torque vectoring stuff you can probably look at Nissan Juke, some Honda or Ford cars...of course even the problem there is the AWD models tend to be the high end expensive ones. I know the AWD Fusion is like the 40k side of things optioned.
 

Sludig

Potato del Grande
10,081
10,769
Was used an option? An 08 vw r32 would be sorry fast, large cargo and was a pretty good awd. Love mine.
 

Picasso3

Silver Baronet of the Realm
11,333
5,322
08 cts tranny shit the bed this morning at 102k. I turned it over to a tiny shop nearby for convenience and it's probably a horrific mistake.
 

Vinen

God is dead
2,791
497
08 cts tranny shit the bed this morning at 102k. I turned it over to a tiny shop nearby for convenience and it's probably a horrific mistake.
Ouch. Probably cheaper to get a used car with the same mileage then fix that.
 

Antarius

Lord Nagafen Raider
1,828
15
Early build issues and the ubiquitous problems with the ZF 9 speed aside, I love my new Cherokee Trailhawk. It's very versatile for a CUV/small SUV- I mean ffs you get a 1:56 rock crawl gear and a rear locking differential lol.

I tried a Rav4, Escape and Soul out and price per value they just didn't compare at all to the TH. The cockpit is amazing, the stop and go ACC is a pleasure to drive with in commute traffic and when some asshole bungs up the entire freeway I have A/T tires, 8" ground clearance, 4x4 low range and skid plates to bail over the median separating the freeway from the exit ramp while the cop just shrugs at all the old people in sedans whining out their window that country kitchen buffet is closing soon. Oh and I can actually tow 4500 lbs.

Cherokee eats Rav4 for breakfast in every way, it's just far more capable than the current gen Escape and the Soul for all it's kitsch had a mediocre driving experience and poor options for almost the same price. The CRV isn't bad, but I guess the question is are you actually looking for a sedan with higher ceilings or something that actually has reasonable capabilities as an SUV?
I actually test drove a trailhawk before I ended up buying my A3 convertible... I know, completely different cars, but I really really like the new cherokee (but only if it's a trailhawk)
 

Antarius

Lord Nagafen Raider
1,828
15
Well they have full time AWD, a lot of manufacturers still have part-time stuff.
There is no advantage to full-time AWD over part-time, as long as the part time actually kicks in during a timely manner (the newest version of haldex is very fast, so fast that I honestly couldn't tell the difference in the snow/slush between my Evo and My A3... it's that good.

And just because it's full-time doesn't make it good... 335 x-drive is 60/40 mechanical full-time awd... and it was absolutely atrocious and unpredictable in bad weather.