Another New Car Thread

[BmillsSkier]

Give her a woody & call it a day

Have you considered a PT Cruiser for your family?

Therefore, either tuk tuk or Creep Van will suffice. Ladyboy and/or axe murderer optional.

Here, In simplest terms, is the difference between those who see a car as a tool and those that see it as so much more.

[AK47bp]

If your looking for something impractically not practical, go with the New Honda Ridgeline.

[TAFKALVS]

Have you considered a PT Cruiser for your family?

Everyone knows an Au Pair will demand a big woody.

This one is $71k, pocket change for a dental lawyer like Rontele: http://wagonmaster.com/inventory/?al...oneer-4x4-1797

[El Chupacabra]

Give her a woody & call it a day

So we can put down your vote as "tuk tuk with optional ladyboy/ axe murderer," right?

[Bobby Stainless]

if minivan and AWD, doesn't that leave only the Sienna? Problem solved!

The new ones are nice.

[El Chupacabra]

The new ones are nice.

^^^ Rear seat depicted in "service mode."

[Bromontana]

So we can put down your vote as "tuk tuk with optional ladyboy/ axe murderer," right?

They're called Jeepneys meng

[schuss]

Is the SUV 3-row? If not, you need something of that size as 2 car seats+2 people+stuff = full up real quick. It's the reason we picked up a minivan (PS - congrats!). New Outbacks are fine, but I thought you had a Merc wagon?
Fun cheap option right now is the Ford Fusion Sport - 325 HP turbo 6, AWD, can score them new for 25-30k

[grskier]

If this is your vermonter then you need a sienna with a gun rack and and a I heart killing fun bumper sticker

[Rontele]

Is the SUV 3-row? If not, you need something of that size as 2 car seats+2 people+stuff = full up real quick. It's the reason we picked up a minivan (PS - congrats!). New Outbacks are fine, but I thought you had a Merc wagon?
Fun cheap option right now is the Ford Fusion Sport - 325 HP turbo 6, AWD, can score them new for 25-30k

SUV has a third row. Dealer called us and asked if we would be interested in trading in the Merc wagon and gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. A real third row was the reason we swapped out the Merc.

[Rontele]

Why don't girls from Vermont do reverse cowgirl?


You NEVER turn your back on your family.

[riser4]

Actually looked at this but not AWD, which is a necessity since this may be needed in Vt.

I have never owned a 4wheel drive vehicle and I was born here and have lived here ever since except for one winter. My parents didn't have 4x4 either. Snow tires son. Much cheaper than 4WD and you will be glad you have them when one of those freak winters happens again.

[riser4]

VWs have a excellent safety rating, if that is important, but as a VW owner I would not buy another.

Just don't drive them out of warranty and you'll be fine. Working for me so far.

[schuss]

SUV has a third row. Dealer called us and asked if we would be interested in trading in the Merc wagon and gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. A real third row was the reason we swapped out the Merc.

OK, you have a bunch of options then. As mentioned elsewhere, you don't 100% NEED AWD in New England if you're willing to commit to snow tires (just get them pre-mounted on wheels from tire rack, takes maybe an hour to swap if doing yourself, 15 minutes at the service station with lift/impact gun) as we don't have the chain control to worry about, it's just about ice traction which is mostly tire-dependent.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

You won't have the mountain lifestyle cred without AWD though.

[Danno]

I have never owned a 4wheel drive vehicle and I was born here and have lived here ever since except for one winter. My parents didn't have 4x4 either. Snow tires son. Much cheaper than 4WD and you will be glad you have them when one of those freak winters happens again.

This attitude bugs the crap out of me, it's like some form of driving machismo. Can you function with FWD and snow tires? Of course. Almost all of the time it will be just fine, especially when home in Boston. But will you feel as safe driving in a blizzard on snow packed roads in VT? Fuck no, with good reason. And you better be damn careful where you park when things are snow packed, because if that spot is sloped backwards and you need to pull forwards, you may be fucked with FWD.

If you want to drive FWD around VT, go for it. But it's dickish bragging to act like FWD is just as good as AWD/4WD because you're such a stud driver. It's not just as good, no matter how good a driver you are, and it's totally unreasonable to suggest as much to someone looking to safely and conveniently tote his family around.

I do agree that snow tires are a hudge help regardless, and he shouldn't avoid them just because he has AWD, but AWD/4WD with snows >>>>>>>> FWD with snows.

[plugboots]

My Honda Odyssey with studded Hakkapalittttttaahs can barely get up my driveway in winter. It usually takes me three tries.

[TAFKALVS]

This attitude bugs the crap out of me, it's like some form of driving machismo. Can you function with FWD and snow tires? Of course. Almost all of the time it will be just fine, especially when home in Boston. But will you feel as safe driving in a blizzard on snow packed roads in VT? Fuck no, with good reason. And you better be damn careful where you park when things are snow packed, because if that spot is sloped backwards and you need to pull forwards, you may be fucked with FWD.

If you want to drive FWD around VT, go for it. But it's dickish bragging to act like FWD is just as good as AWD/4WD because you're such a stud driver. It's not just as good, no matter how good a driver you are, and it's totally unreasonable to suggest as much to someone looking to safely and conveniently tote his family around.

I do agree that snow tires are a hudge help regardless, and he shouldn't avoid them just because he has AWD, but AWD/4WD with snows >>>>>>>> FWD with snows.

Agreed. I don't think the price gap on used cars that are AWD/4x4 vs. FWD is all that much.

[PNWbrit]

Much cheaper

Car is for his kid's nanny....

[Danno]

My Honda Odyssey with studded Hakkapalittttttaahs can barely get up my driveway in winter. It usually takes me three tries.

exactly. I've lived/driven in snow country with studded snows, and while it can be done, it takes a lot of driving adjustment, sometimes multiple attempts at something (like you describe), and there are times when the wheels just spin. That winter is still the only time I have ever HAD to use chains.

Add in 2 littles in the back, and it's just not worth it.

[garyfromterrace]

This attitude bugs the crap out of me, it's like some form of driving machismo. Can you function with FWD and snow tires? Of course. Almost all of the time it will be just fine, especially when home in Boston. But will you feel as safe driving in a blizzard on snow packed roads in VT? Fuck no, with good reason. And you better be damn careful where you park when things are snow packed, because if that spot is sloped backwards and you need to pull forwards, you may be fucked with FWD.

If you want to drive FWD around VT, go for it. But it's dickish bragging to act like FWD is just as good as AWD/4WD because you're such a stud driver. It's not just as good, no matter how good a driver you are, and it's totally unreasonable to suggest as much to someone looking to safely and conveniently tote his family around.

I do agree that snow tires are a hudge help regardless, and he shouldn't avoid them just because he has AWD, but AWD/4WD with snows >>>>>>>> FWD with snows.

Yep. Just cause you CAN do something doesn't make it the correct thing. I got by for years with a rear wheel drive RX7 driving way too fast up one of the great ski hill access roads in history (Fortress). It definately wasn't safer than a 4WD with studs all round.

[liv2ski]

And we are talking a nanny doing the driving of your children, so I would go and for sure

[MagnificentUnicorn]

This attitude bugs the crap out of me, it's like some form of driving machismo. Can you function with FWD and snow tires? Of course. Almost all of the time it will be just fine, especially when home in Boston. But will you feel as safe driving in a blizzard on snow packed roads in VT? Fuck no, with good reason. And you better be damn careful where you park when things are snow packed, because if that spot is sloped backwards and you need to pull forwards, you may be fucked with FWD.

If you want to drive FWD around VT, go for it. But it's dickish bragging to act like FWD is just as good as AWD/4WD because you're such a stud driver. It's not just as good, no matter how good a driver you are, and it's totally unreasonable to suggest as much to someone looking to safely and conveniently tote his family around.

I do agree that snow tires are a hudge help regardless, and he shouldn't avoid them just because he has AWD, but AWD/4WD with snows >>>>>>>> FWD with snows.

So we should buy the car that is best suited for 1% of our driving needs? I don't think anyone is disputing that FWD is as good as AWD in situations with low traction but for 99% of driving FWD is more than adequate. Even if it's skewed toward 10% low traction driving FWD makes more sense.

[liv2ski]

Fucking spell check. Get AWD

[Pegleg]

Have you considered a hovercraft or a train? They're fine options in inclement weather.