Recommend a bike friendly wagon or small SUV
- Thread starter bluebug32
- Start date
or one stuck on 'kill' setting...
I'm looking at one of these this year or next. Exactly what I want out of a daily driver. Interestingly enough, it comes in rootbeer.....
Ok, on the phone with her now, and we both agree that the element is an awful, horrible, ugly mess of a box on wheels. 3 strikes, it's out.
I think there is a mass recall or class action I read about, it was defect. I owned a VW for a few years starting in 99 and a taillight died in less than a year
And thats one reason why I like it. Its 100% purpose oriented and suits a cyclist like nothing else that small.
you could have a brothel in the back of that thing!
Not enough clearance, not enough amenities, no fulltime AWD. And vomiting when you get into it just isn't fun. Although it's probably easy to clean.
Who ever said I'd be offroading it?
Worm indeed, it's her decision. I'm leaning towards the hybrid. But we'll have to see. She likes those small carsARe you getting a new car or is Veronica?
What kind of Honda?
pensupnewcanofworms:
I agree, its a shoe box on wheels
lthumbsdown:
With the snow here, winter = offroading.
the Civic? I think the Prius is more affordable and gets more mpgWorm indeed, it's her decision. I'm leaning towards the hybrid. But we'll have to see. She likes those small cars
I agree, its a shoe box on wheels
You have to drive a lot of miles to pay back the difference in cost and/or gas has to get to $4-5/gal soon after you buy the car. Plus there are plenty of very low emission SULEV and PZEV 4 cylinder cars (even V6s) with regular drivetrains that still get decent mileage and have more cargo room (no batteries to carry), better performance, and feature set. Most hybrids will drop 20-30% in their mileage ratings due to the revised 2008 real word EPA testing standards, so don't be wowed by their window stickers.
Don't believe the hype plus the complete lifecycle of the vehicle the small clean 4 cylinder is better for the environment when the total dust to dust resource impact is tallied.
New plug-in multi mode hybrids could change this, but you probably won't see any until 08 or 09. Hell maybe they'll even have some clean diesel hybrids eventually now that the US has low sulfur diesel.
Check out the revised EPA mileage figures here...
EPA updates website tool to calculate realistic mileage figures based on the new 2008 EPA standards
I'm going to throw this out there...
Seriously though...avoid Audi/VW if you're looking for utlilitarianism (unless you score a Touareg). Mostly poor gas mileage (1.8t is the exception), poor reliability marks, and fairly spendy. I think they're awesome, but that's because I'm insane.
Seriously though...avoid Audi/VW if you're looking for utlilitarianism (unless you score a Touareg). Mostly poor gas mileage (1.8t is the exception), poor reliability marks, and fairly spendy. I think they're awesome, but that's because I'm insane.
I live in Toronto, Canada, and fwd seems to work 99.9% of the time even in our snowstorms. I'm 100% sure the simple 'awd' system would be more than adequate. The #1 accessory for winter driving is the tires,tire pressure (whereas the most important is obviously the driver) and since I'll be on roads I'm perfectly content with the system in the element. If I cared about 4wd performance, I wouldnt be looking at a Honda.
How do you know so much about cars?
You're in Jersey, I should just have you find and haggle the price down for a new car!
True that! It's not an atractive car at all....it's all about function! It's not exciting at all. I thought it was the ugliest thing on the road, until I got inside one.
We'll agree to disagree with the idea of FWD being sufficient in bad weather. In my area, lack of AWD means you're not going to go anywhere during much of the winter. But if FWD works, more power to you.
The point here remains that a good AWD system is a must for this vehicle. And something that's not an eyesore (IMO) is also a pre-requisite.
I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night
Did you get a free continental breakfast?I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night
Their free breakfast blows
That's bull$hit - buy a decent set of snow tires. How do you suppose people survived before the advent of AWD? Just rolled up into a fetal ball every time it snowed?
This is actually a good way to go - think of all the extra money you'll have.... even if repairs cost $5K you're still ahead.or you could go the "economy" route and get an older suby like mine for around $2k
Here is a good resource:That's bull$hit - buy a decent set of snow tires. How do you suppose people survived before the advent of AWD? Just rolled up into a fetal ball every time it snowed?
http://www.canadiandriver.com/winter.htm
Most AWD systems slapped on vehicles these days are to sell more cars the minimal difference isn't worth it.
However, Subaru has a good AWD system and for 2008 they've finally added VDC (stability control) to 4 cylinder legacy and outback.
Ask Toshi about his WRX without stability control
Stability control systems are definitely worth the money - they rank up there with ABS.
Anyone know how many mpg a Rav4 AWD 4cil. actually gets? I've heard everything from 22-30.
How are the older (past 3 years or so) Rav4s compared to the newer ones?
How are the older (past 3 years or so) Rav4s compared to the newer ones?
seriously....it always makes me wonder about people.That's bull$hit - buy a decent set of snow tires. How do you suppose people survived before the advent of AWD? Just rolled up into a fetal ball every time it snowed?
The most important part of your car is the tires! think about it! slap a set of bald street tires on a 4wd locked truck and you'll get nowhere just as fast as if you had fwd.
FWD cars aren't so bad if you have good tires on them. I had an MR2 that was hilariously fun in deep snow with good snow tires.
The only supplement to that is you really need a limited slip or other kind of locked. I see so many people spinning one tire in the snow...if only they had some kind of locking differential to power the other tire....but the first and best step is a good set of hakkas or similar snow tires.
If you are going to go used, buy the CRV its better than the prior generation RAV4.
I would also check out the new CRV if you are going 4 cyl.
CR 2007 CRV 4cyl AWD Actual mileage - 21 overall, city/highway 15/29
CR 2007 RAV4 4Cyl AWD Actual mileage - 23 overall, city/highway 17/29
CR 2007 RAV4 V6 AWD Actual mileage - 22 overall
Don't waste your money on these BS electronic AWD system - buy a cheap set of rims with snow tires.
The 2008 adjusted figures website should give you a more realistic idea, but it all depends on the operating conditions
Why buy more fvcking tires when you can have a set of ASRs and AWD? Gotta love storing a spare set of tires.That's bull$hit - buy a decent set of snow tires. How do you suppose people survived before the advent of AWD? Just rolled up into a fetal ball every time it snowed?
The point here is...why buy a 2wd with electronic 4wd when there's MUCH better options out there? Having lived in the NE my entire life, AWD > snow tires, every time.
It's always a matter of trade offs - FWD is cheaper, better mileage, less things to go wrong, etc.Why buy more fvcking tires when you can have a set of ASRs and AWD? Gotta love storing a spare set of tires.
The point here is...why buy a 2wd with electronic 4wd when there's MUCH better options out there? Having lived in the NE my entire life, AWD > snow tires, every time.
That being said - when it snows around here I *infinitely* prefer to drive the Subaru than the Honda. Although I've got simple all-seasons on the Honda due to the fact that in a normal winter I'll only see snowpacked roads occasionally.
Of course this winter the roads were snowpacked from Dec. 18th until some time in February.
AWD ain't going to help you stop or turn. Snow tires will. And if you go with snow tires than you can buy true summer tires which will work better on dry roads and in rain than all seasons. Tires are key, and well worth some storage space.Why buy more fvcking tires when you can have a set of ASRs and AWD? Gotta love storing a spare set of tires.
The point here is...why buy a 2wd with electronic 4wd when there's MUCH better options out there? Having lived in the NE my entire life, AWD > snow tires, every time.
Sure it's cheaper, but it wasn't on the list, so why is that a valid point? The original request was a bike friendly vehicle with AWD and decent mileage.It's always a matter of trade offs - FWD is cheaper, better mileage, less things to go wrong, etc.
That being said - when it snows around here I *infinitely* prefer to drive the Subaru than the Honda. Although I've got simple all-seasons on the Honda due to the fact that in a normal winter I'll only see snowpacked roads occasionally.
Of course this winter the roads were snowpacked from Dec. 18th until some time in February.
Perhaps some test driving of Subaru is necessary this weekend.
I'll disagree with the turning part - with a little "body english" an AWD car will turn in ways a FWD car won't.
If you're concerned about performance I'd agree... otherwise the all season radials are "adequate."
I've been driving in Colorado since 1993 and have never owned a vehicle with snow tires. I'd like to get a set for the Honda, but probably won't.
The hell AWD won't let you steer. You can steer out of a hell of a lot by giving gas to an AWD car.
Again, AWD requirement, so FWD with snow tires is an absolute no.
Well, like any good thread, this one has moved beyond the original intent.
At least we haven't touched the "shaved junk" world yet.Well, like any good thread, this one has moved beyond the original intent.
the phrase "suck it up princess" come to mind.Of course this winter the roads were snowpacked from Dec. 18th until some time in February.
