AWD/4WD car recommendation

We've really liked our Volvo and have had great service from the dealer and zero problems out of it. We have the XC90 but I think the cars are available in AWD as well.
 
The Volvo X90 (sedan) is available as awd. Small SUVs like the honda CRV and Pilot come to mind, as well as a some of the others like the Lexus 350. My wife just got a Touareg and loves it.
 
I really like the Forrester for this type of thing and used ones can be had for pretty good prices IMO. Enough ground clearance for driving in fresh snow and beaches that aren't too soft. They handle decent, the boxer engine adequate power for that size vehicle (not fast by any means, but not a dog either), and there is quite a bit of room with the fold down rear seats. If the N/A model doesn't have enough get up and go you can always look for one of the turbo ones.

The Legacy looks nice if she wants a traditional looking car, but I've never driven one.
 
Ive got an 06 Pilot, made it through snowmageddon 2010 here in VA with no issues at all. Its a great vehicle. Tons of options, room, and a cozy daily driver.
 
This is out there but a family member just brought an Isuzu Vechicross and that thing is FUN with different looks and thick interior. Not many around and Isuzu parts are harder to come buy....

Audi makes a nice ride and Volvo's are tanks
More and more AWD/full time 4wd coming out but I still think subrau has a lock on that market.
 
UNBREAKABLE said:
WRX. STI. TRAX!
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Eh. Had one. Crappy DD. That car is either turned off, sitting or it is driving 120 mph. There is no inbetween. They loose alignment quick and normal maintenance parts are $$$. Lastly, uncomfortable as crap. Gas tank is small and crappy MPG forced me to DD a truck...because it got better MPG and didn't beat my ass to death.

For a weekend ass kicker, it cannot be beat...well, can be beat by a Audi R8 V10. I did find this out. Everything else is meat on the table.

The Subaru Foresters are awesome. If I had a wife, I would have no problems with putting her in a new one. The base engine has plenty of power for that car. The auto trans is actually pretty good (I hate auto trans, so my endorsement is pretty strong). Avoid the turbo'd ones, they need to be cooled off before shut off and well, wimmens don't seem to understand this and then the damn turbo blows. This sucks.

Do your homework on the Muranos. I've heard of bad axle and transfer case issues.
 
you had an sti though, what did you expect? It's a street legal rally car. I have a bugeye wrx and love the car. It's quick, but i get almost 30 mpg. its comfy to me (5'11 185lbs) and the ride isn't harsh. I have suspension work done, but its still a nice ride, IMO, but I like a firmer, sporty feel. It's protuned and makes more power than a stock sti too. Sti's are firm, but they're not bad. anyone that drives a lifted jeep with factory control arms would appreciate the nice ride a wrx or an sti has. I've owned my wrx for almost 3 years now and have really enjoyed it. my only complaints are the cargo capacity(i'm a musician and carry a lot of equipment around) and the ride height, but then again the car is lowered, so i did it to myself. in deeper snow i tend to high center easily.

a car only goes as fast as you drive it. if you arent responsible enough to drive the car like an adult, then maybe its not the car for you, but just because it's quick doesnt mean you have to drive it that way. ultimately, you're the driver, not the car. wrx's and sti's both have small, quick spooling turbos, so they're good daily drivers and make good torque down low. it's very easy to drive one and stay out of boost and get good gas mileage.

but here's another subaru vote. If its for a woman that just wants a nice car, Id def go for a legacy if she wanted a sedan, and a forester our legacy outback wagon if she likes the suv kinda thing. they're awesome cars. read consumer reports. I would steer away from any of the turbocharged models if its strictly a commuter, though. gas will be cheaper as well as insurance.

Also, subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive is the absolute best awd system on the market. they're fully symmetrical, so the power split left to right is the same. for traction, it can't be beat.


And btw, subaru turbo's dont need to sit and cool off after running. they're both water and oil cooled, so they dont have the problem with gumming up like a strictly oil cooled turbocharger does. There was a problem with the turbochargers in the forester xt's in the mid 2000's. something about oil starvation, so i'd avoid one of those if I could, or at least check to see if it had been taken back to the dealer and fixed under warranty. If i do drive my wrx hard, I always do let it idle for 20-30 seconds before i turn it off though, just for peace of mind. I've got 100k miles on my stock turbo and it still makes 21lbs every day :)
 
My buddy has a Mazda speed6 he's going to sell, wich I'd take hands down over about anything else that's been mentioned. PM me if you want his contact info. He's 39, bought it new and isn't the "boy racer" type.
Sub's are nice luckily your wife is married so the Lesbo thing won't come into play.
 
i HATED, HATED, HATED my wrx. mostly because i tried to drive it like a rwd car...and went through 3 trannies and 2 clutches....but, still, it left such a bad taste in my mouth i won't ever own another.
 
My mom drives a Nissan Murano AWD, she loves it, drove it in the snow, I didn't like it, drove it in some harsh rain and the front tires were pulling harder then the rears, made controlling the car at a normal rate of speed a pain.

Subi's are wicked, Basic Jeep would do the job though. Get her a WJ, people will probably bitch, but thats a damn feminine vehicle in my eyes.
 
GSRswapandslow said:
i HATED, HATED, HATED my wrx. mostly because i tried to drive it like a rwd car...and went through 3 trannies and 2 clutches....but, still, it left such a bad taste in my mouth i won't ever own another.
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that sucks man. i know a lot of guys that have done that. it's def not rwd, and the transmissions in the wrx's dont like being driven like that. the sti gearbox and diff's can take the abuse, but the wrx's can't. they need to be driven within their limits. Ive got 100k miles on the original transmission and clutch with absolutely no issues. they're good cars.
 
you can get your hands on it, and cheap too compared to what people are paying.

black on black, nav, heated seats, come on
 
damn, i wanted an R when i bought my T5.

tell me a little about it....
 
it is not perfect, but nice.

80k miles

black on black

interior is good, a little wear on driver seat

climate package, nav, heated seats, sunroof/moonroof

17" pegasus wheels, some curb rash, not perfect, but good

Runs great, change the oil every 3k. Tires are excellent.

No leaks at all. Everything works

$12,900
 
Chris_M said:
I think the Subi is the way to go. Everyone that I know that has one, loves it.
http://www.awdreport.com/
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Meh, I'd probably look at a AWD Matrix next time. I have a 2000 Legacy, and I'm not a fan of the engine's tendency to blow head gaskets if it gets air in the system or if the special Subaru additive is low.

Also, in Raleigh, there is only one dealer and I won't go back. There are dealers south of Cary, and in Chapel Hill, but both are painful to visit for warranty issues.

J
 
GSRswapandslow said:
i HATED, HATED, HATED my wrx. mostly because i tried to drive it like a rwd car...and went through 3 trannies and 2 clutches....but, still, it left such a bad taste in my mouth i won't ever own another.
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dude, you just can't drive...you did a motor swap and had the car for a day before you drove it through a field and wadded it up:lol:
 
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