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Gaj
Apr 30, 2006

nm posted:

If you are in a situation which actually requires AWD, they're certainly not all equal.
Avoid Honda, for example. Subaru and Audi are generally the best in not getting stuck. Subarus have pretty nice ground clearance too.

If you're not in rural areas, you probably got stuck because you didn't have snow tires though, mustang or no.

Im not just rural, Im in the arm pit of Minnewaska State Park. Its a mountain with poor grading, and few plows. When the snow gets compacted on the road its fish-tailing time.

I am looking a Subaru Crosstrek. Does the thread have any other comparable vehicles I should be looking at.

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IOwnCalculus
Apr 2, 2003





zapplez posted:

The whole Honda AWD = hot garbage thing is massively overblown. Honda's AWD on their consumer SUVs is essentially as good as Nissan/Toyota/Ford/GM etc AWD. They got a lot of bad press because of a certain malfunction in the system that looks really bad in factory testing but wont really happen in the real world. I've driven Honda AWD , Toyota AWD, Ford 4x4, Dodge 4x4, Dodge AWD, Nissan AWD and they are basically all the same unless you are literally mountain climbing.

You are right though that Subaru and to a lesser extent Audi are industry leading for AWD.

4x4 is a different beast entirely.

There's a huge difference between Honda's poo poo-tier "AWD" on the CR-V (and presumably the HR-V... does that even come with AWD?) and the AWD system on the Pilot / Ridgeline / Pilot.

At any rate, as a tall CR-V owner, if you want a crossover that isn't too huge and has lots of room for tall people... the new Hyundai Santa Fe is really loving good in that regard. Had a '19 as a rental a couple weeks ago and now I'm sorely tempted to replace the CR-V with one in the next year or so.

plester1
Jul 9, 2004





Friendly reminder that AWD will still eat poo poo without the right tires:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STaximkaQxo

Behold as the AWD Subaru Forester fishtails all over the place while the RWD BMW M3 has no issues.

powderific
May 13, 2004

Grimey Drawer
I’m not sure why, but my G35 with winter tires was worse in the snow than any of the AWD/4WD vehicles I’ve owned with all seasons. Miata, Fiesta, and Mazda 3 all got around fine with snows, but man the G35 was a pig.

plester1
Jul 9, 2004





FWIW, I used to drive a loving 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in Wyoming and Colorado winters. I bought good-rear end winter tires and put a sandbag in my trunk over the axle for some extra weight and never got stuck in the 4 years I lived there.

Throatwarbler
Nov 17, 2008

by vyelkin
Combination of weight over the drive wheels and probably the miata had an LSD?

KillHour
Oct 28, 2007


Gaj posted:

Does the thread have any other comparable vehicles I should be looking at.

taiyoko
Jan 10, 2008


Although I'm not quite ready to buy yet (need to get that down payment saved up first!), I really need to replace my ghetto-rear end, slowly dying, 230k miles and counting 2004 Chevy Malibu.

Proposed budget: $6-8k, with a $2k down payment (though if there's something needs-suiting that I could get lower than that, I'm all for saving money)

New/Used?: Definitely used

Usage: Daily driver, I have a 140 mile/day commute and while I'd like to move closer to work, I feel like a more reliable car would be the more pressing issue.

Most important aspects: Reliability, gas mileage (the Malibu gets ~30mpg, but I'm still spending ~$300/month on gas), cheap parts when things go wrong. A stock radio with bluetooth built in would be nice, but I can handle "replace it with an aftermarket head unit" so long as I'm not locked into "but then that'll lose your trip odometer/oil life info/etc" like with the Malibu.

But yeah, I'm driving 140/miles a day round trip, and work 3rd shift so it's incredibly inconvenient to have family come rescue me if I break down. I don't expect to be able to sell the Malibu for much because it's got a good chunk of issues both cosmetic and not. What should I be looking into?

plester1
Jul 9, 2004





taiyoko posted:

Although I'm not quite ready to buy yet (need to get that down payment saved up first!), I really need to replace my ghetto-rear end, slowly dying, 230k miles and counting 2004 Chevy Malibu.

Proposed budget: $6-8k, with a $2k down payment (though if there's something needs-suiting that I could get lower than that, I'm all for saving money)

New/Used?: Definitely used

Usage: Daily driver, I have a 140 mile/day commute and while I'd like to move closer to work, I feel like a more reliable car would be the more pressing issue.

Most important aspects: Reliability, gas mileage (the Malibu gets ~30mpg, but I'm still spending ~$300/month on gas), cheap parts when things go wrong. A stock radio with bluetooth built in would be nice, but I can handle "replace it with an aftermarket head unit" so long as I'm not locked into "but then that'll lose your trip odometer/oil life info/etc" like with the Malibu.

But yeah, I'm driving 140/miles a day round trip, and work 3rd shift so it's incredibly inconvenient to have family come rescue me if I break down. I don't expect to be able to sell the Malibu for much because it's got a good chunk of issues both cosmetic and not. What should I be looking into?

I think you're the perfect candidate for a used Prius, I bet you'll be able to find one with that budget.

KillHour
Oct 28, 2007


plester1 posted:

I think you're the perfect candidate for a used Prius.

This should just be the OP.

nm
Jan 28, 2008

"I saw Minos the Space Judge holding a golden sceptre and passing sentence upon the Martians. There he presided, and around him the noble Space Prosecutors sought the firm justice of space law."
I swear it used to be the title.

Shine
Feb 26, 2007

No Muscles For The Majority

nm posted:

I swear it used to be the title.

It was "Just get a Prius" or something, yeah.

Sits on Pilster
Oct 12, 2004
I like to wear bras on my ass while I masturbate?

plester1 posted:

I think you're the perfect candidate for a used Prius, I bet you'll be able to find one with that budget.

Yeah a solid example of a gen 3 should be doable in that price range. I bought a 2010 w/ 112k miles in late 2016 for $8k.

KYOON GRIFFEY JR
Apr 12, 2010



Runner-up, TRP Sack Race 2021/22

taiyoko posted:

Although I'm not quite ready to buy yet (need to get that down payment saved up first!), I really need to replace my ghetto-rear end, slowly dying, 230k miles and counting 2004 Chevy Malibu.

Proposed budget: $6-8k, with a $2k down payment (though if there's something needs-suiting that I could get lower than that, I'm all for saving money)

New/Used?: Definitely used

Usage: Daily driver, I have a 140 mile/day commute and while I'd like to move closer to work, I feel like a more reliable car would be the more pressing issue.

Most important aspects: Reliability, gas mileage (the Malibu gets ~30mpg, but I'm still spending ~$300/month on gas), cheap parts when things go wrong. A stock radio with bluetooth built in would be nice, but I can handle "replace it with an aftermarket head unit" so long as I'm not locked into "but then that'll lose your trip odometer/oil life info/etc" like with the Malibu.

But yeah, I'm driving 140/miles a day round trip, and work 3rd shift so it's incredibly inconvenient to have family come rescue me if I break down. I don't expect to be able to sell the Malibu for much because it's got a good chunk of issues both cosmetic and not. What should I be looking into?

move closer to work, friend

KYOON GRIFFEY JR
Apr 12, 2010



Runner-up, TRP Sack Race 2021/22

Gaj posted:

Im not just rural, Im in the arm pit of Minnewaska State Park. Its a mountain with poor grading, and few plows. When the snow gets compacted on the road its fish-tailing time.

I am looking a Subaru Crosstrek. Does the thread have any other comparable vehicles I should be looking at.

My mom has a Crosstrek, she lives on the spine of the Green Mountains in Vermont. It's probably similar or worse than your environment. It has good ground clearance and the AWD system works well. YOu should get snow tires if you don't already, even with AWD. With AWD and snows, the only thing that really stops the Crosstrek is if there is too much snow (above ~8") and the car starts snowplowing with the bumper.

The Crosstrek is going to be small for a 6'6 person and your requirements. I suggest the Forester or Outback. The Forester is more likely to fit in your parking space. Have you measured the space? What's the max size you can tolerate?

I am fairly sure for your use case that any CUV with snow tires will be fine as well.

vincentpricesboner
Sep 3, 2006

by LITERALLY AN ADMIN

taiyoko posted:

Although I'm not quite ready to buy yet (need to get that down payment saved up first!), I really need to replace my ghetto-rear end, slowly dying, 230k miles and counting 2004 Chevy Malibu.

Proposed budget: $6-8k, with a $2k down payment (though if there's something needs-suiting that I could get lower than that, I'm all for saving money)

New/Used?: Definitely used

Usage: Daily driver, I have a 140 mile/day commute and while I'd like to move closer to work, I feel like a more reliable car would be the more pressing issue.

Most important aspects: Reliability, gas mileage (the Malibu gets ~30mpg, but I'm still spending ~$300/month on gas), cheap parts when things go wrong. A stock radio with bluetooth built in would be nice, but I can handle "replace it with an aftermarket head unit" so long as I'm not locked into "but then that'll lose your trip odometer/oil life info/etc" like with the Malibu.

But yeah, I'm driving 140/miles a day round trip, and work 3rd shift so it's incredibly inconvenient to have family come rescue me if I break down. I don't expect to be able to sell the Malibu for much because it's got a good chunk of issues both cosmetic and not. What should I be looking into?

Get a last generation Civic.

Impossibly Perfect Sphere
Nov 6, 2002

Dead? That's what they want you to think.

taiyoko posted:

What should I be looking into?

A new place to live.

Apollodorus
Feb 13, 2010

TEST YOUR MIGHT
:patriot:
What do I need to know in order to buy a car from a neighboring state? I think the previous discussion(s) have given me a clearer picture of what I want, but I'm trying to cast as wide a net as is practical. I live in NC within a fairly short drive of both SC and VA, so there are plenty of options within a ~2 hour drive, but I'm not sure if it would be worth the hassle to buy a car and then register it across state lines.

TheReverend
Jun 21, 2005

I drove 125 mi roundtrip for work for 2 years.

Used Prius!!!!

Boring, but affordable and reliable.

euphronius
Feb 18, 2009

I once knew a guy who did a 110 mile commute (so 220 miles a day) for years. He used once of those old 3 cylinder Fiestas.

Apollodorus
Feb 13, 2010

TEST YOUR MIGHT
:patriot:
I've been doing a 170mi roundtrip to work for the last 3 1/2 years, in my 98 Ford Escort wagon.

Depending on job-related news, I'll either be doing a much shorter ~60mi round trip, or walking. :suspense:

IOwnCalculus
Apr 2, 2003





Apollodorus posted:

What do I need to know in order to buy a car from a neighboring state? I think the previous discussion(s) have given me a clearer picture of what I want, but I'm trying to cast as wide a net as is practical. I live in NC within a fairly short drive of both SC and VA, so there are plenty of options within a ~2 hour drive, but I'm not sure if it would be worth the hassle to buy a car and then register it across state lines.

It'll depend on the specific states in question, but unless you're dealing with a situation where one state doesn't require a title and the other does, it isn't really that different. I've bought one car from out of state (CA to AZ) and the only reason the process was different was that it had been salvaged as a donation in the past and AZ wanted to do a VIN inspection before they'd title it.

CornHolio
May 20, 2001

Toilet Rascal
So I'm trying to research cars that I never would have ever considered buying.

My grandparents were in a really bad wreck last week. My grandpa, in his 2004-ish Buick Le sabre, was waved on by the lead tree removal truck in a convoy and he turned left - unaware that a driver was using the half-lane to go around these trucks at about fifty. She hit his passenger door, killing my grandma instantly. No side airbags in the car.

My grandpa is home recovering now and soon will need to replace his Buick.

He is thinking something certified pre-owned, and wants something like his Le Sabre but newer. Preferably Buick but he's also open to Ford. So I'm thinking Impala, Lucerne (do they still make that?) or Taurus.

Another thing - he's ninety years old. Many would say he shouldn't be driving anymore, but he's still in good health and other than this accident (which, while being his fault, isn't something I'd say age had anything to do with) he's a capable driver. Slow, and hates interstates, but around town he's fine. But he isn't going to want a ton of modern technology because he isn't going to understand it or use it.

Oh - he hasn't forgiven the Japanese for Pearl Harbor, so anything Japanese is out of the question, even if it's built in America.

Thoughts?

euphronius
Feb 18, 2009

He just killed his wife and probably maimed the person driving the other car. maybe he shouldn’t be driving.

Throatwarbler
Nov 17, 2008

by vyelkin
Jesus Christ. Maybe teach him to use uber or lyft for a bit.

CornHolio
May 20, 2001

Toilet Rascal

euphronius posted:

He just killed his wife and probably maimed the person driving the other car. maybe he shouldn’t be driving.

The other person was unhurt. Both parties were found at fault (apparently, I haven't seen the report). He turned in front of a bunch of trucks that waved him by (as they were turning left coming from the other way) and his view of the right half-lane/shoulder or whatever you wanna call it was blocked. No markings to indicate there is a lane, but people use it as a lane to go around vehicles turning left. One of those deals. Anyway, he shouldn't have gone but I can't say that he shouldn't be driving based on that accident.

Throatwarbler posted:

Jesus Christ. Maybe teach him to use uber or lyft for a bit.

hah, he doesn't have a smartphone so that'll be hard.

euphronius
Feb 18, 2009

Man you said it was his fault in the op.

KillHour
Oct 28, 2007


euphronius posted:

Man you said it was his fault in the op.

No they didn't. But don't let your 90 year old racist Grandpa drive, JFC.

Something Offal
Jan 12, 2018

by FactsAreUseless
Wow that is quite a story. Tell him to spend the money on a basic smartphone and service for Uber/Lyft instead of a car. It seems like a great alternative to driving for all tech savvy olds. In fact if I worked for Uber/Lyft I'd be hella pushing that marketing material out, there are tons of kids of boomers who would see those ads and strongly consider telling mom/dad to start that up, seems like a huge relatively untapped market since rideshare is a new concept.

Something Offal fucked around with this message at 17:17 on Jun 6, 2019

nm
Jan 28, 2008

"I saw Minos the Space Judge holding a golden sceptre and passing sentence upon the Martians. There he presided, and around him the noble Space Prosecutors sought the firm justice of space law."
If he does get a new car, something small will be more manageable to drive and decrease the likelihood anyone else he hits dies.
My grandfather was in the exact same place and it loving sucked, but we eventually got him to turn in the keys. At least see if you can get him evaled by a doctor.

Impossibly Perfect Sphere
Nov 6, 2002

Dead? That's what they want you to think.

CornHolio posted:

So I'm trying to research cars that I never would have ever considered buying.

My grandparents were in a really bad wreck last week. My grandpa, in his 2004-ish Buick Le sabre, was waved on by the lead tree removal truck in a convoy and he turned left - unaware that a driver was using the half-lane to go around these trucks at about fifty. She hit his passenger door, killing my grandma instantly. No side airbags in the car.

My grandpa is home recovering now and soon will need to replace his Buick.

He is thinking something certified pre-owned, and wants something like his Le Sabre but newer. Preferably Buick but he's also open to Ford. So I'm thinking Impala, Lucerne (do they still make that?) or Taurus.

Another thing - he's ninety years old. Many would say he shouldn't be driving anymore, but he's still in good health and other than this accident (which, while being his fault, isn't something I'd say age had anything to do with) he's a capable driver. Slow, and hates interstates, but around town he's fine. But he isn't going to want a ton of modern technology because he isn't going to understand it or use it.

Oh - he hasn't forgiven the Japanese for Pearl Harbor, so anything Japanese is out of the question, even if it's built in America.

Thoughts?

90 year olds have no business driving.

FCKGW
May 21, 2006

He doesn't even necessarily need to learn Uber/Lyft, many communities have dial-a-ride services for seniors. This was a problem long solved before ridesharing apps were a thing.

CornHolio
May 20, 2001

Toilet Rascal

nm posted:

If he does get a new car, something small will be more manageable to drive and decrease the likelihood anyone else he hits dies.
My grandfather was in the exact same place and it loving sucked, but we eventually got him to turn in the keys. At least see if you can get him evaled by a doctor.

He has just been evaluated by a number of doctors. He was in the hospital. They say he's good to drive and live alone once he's healed, assuming there aren't any further complications.

I'm not about to get into the "seniors shouldn't drive" argument. I don't disagree that they should be tested but my grandfather is in pretty drat good shape for ninety (well he was, before his accident but he's expected to have a 100% recovery). He wants nothing to do with uber/lyft and it's pretty poo poo in our area anyway (not to mention I generally disagree with their entire business model, but that's a topic for yet another thread). He wants a car of roughly equivalent size to his Le Sabre.

Uthor
Jul 9, 2006

Gummy Bear Heaven ... It's where I go when the world is too mean.
A Prius would be best...

Just get a Regal with every safety feature he can afford.

Or an Encore with a more manageable engine.

Uthor fucked around with this message at 18:21 on Jun 6, 2019

heffray
Sep 18, 2010

Just get a new Buick and don't tell him the good ones are German.

CornHolio
May 20, 2001

Toilet Rascal

heffray posted:

Just get a new Buick and don't tell him the good ones are German.

He still has a 1991 Dodge Spirit that I'm pretty sure was made in Mexico. He hates anything having to do with Mexico. I don't know if he's in denial about it or accepted it but I always found that amusing.

Something Offal
Jan 12, 2018

by FactsAreUseless
Racism isn't really that amusing

CornHolio posted:

He has just been evaluated by a number of doctors. He was in the hospital. They say he's good to drive

I could be wrong but I don't think doctors 'officially' evaluate fitness for driving in any way outside of physical limitations or serious health problems that could cause spontaneous confusion (e.g. dementia) or unconsciousness (e.g. fainting issues, heart issues) behind the wheel. The fact that your grandpa does not have the aforementioned problems doesn't mean doctors are saying he's 'good to drive' from what I understand. The lower reaction times of even a healthy 90 year old should probably be disqualifying in a rational world, but the medical community is not in the business of making that call.

Just because he legally can drive doesn't mean it's a good idea, do you see that angle? Depending on where you live I'm still not sold on Uber/Lyft being a non-solution. Whatever economic argument you may have seems moot if there are sane people of their own accord willing to be drivers in your area.

Something Offal fucked around with this message at 19:15 on Jun 6, 2019

CornHolio
May 20, 2001

Toilet Rascal

Something Offal posted:

Racism isn't really that amusing
Oh his racism isn't, and we get into it often about that and other things, it's more his complete cognitive dissonance that allows him to love the car.

quote:

I could be wrong but I don't think doctors 'officially' evaluate fitness for driving in any way outside of physical limitations or serious health problems that could cause spontaneous confusion (e.g. dementia) or unconsciousness (e.g. fainting issues, heart issues) behind the wheel. The fact that your grandpa does not have the aforementioned problems doesn't mean doctors are saying he's 'good to drive' from what I understand. The lower reaction times of even a healthy 90 year old should probably be disqualifying in a rational world, but the medical community is not in the business of making that call.

Oh don't get me wrong, he's old and I'm sure his reaction times aren't that of a twenty-year-old, but I've not seen any evidence that would suggest he's severely unfit to drive. And if I did, I... well, I don't know if there's anything I could do, honestly, because he's pretty stubborn and has been driving his whole life, but I'd at least bring it up I guess? He's a very independent person, always has been, and absolutely hates the idea of being reliant on other people.

euphronius
Feb 18, 2009

He just killed your grandmother !!!

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Something Offal
Jan 12, 2018

by FactsAreUseless

CornHolio posted:

Oh don't get me wrong, he's old and I'm sure his reaction times aren't that of a twenty-year-old, but I've not seen any evidence that would suggest he's severely unfit to drive. And if I did, I... well, I don't know if there's anything I could do, honestly, because he's pretty stubborn and has been driving his whole life, but I'd at least bring it up I guess?

Just Google it man, this is a common conversation that millions of families have and will keep having until self driving cars are mainstream, and yes there are probably ways of forcing him out of the keys if you do feel he is unfit.

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