Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands or deals, including promoted items.
Forum Thread

Do you drive an SUV

1,883 2,285 November 10, 2010 at 08:40 AM in Chat
If so, do you recommend it? why?

I'm trying to get an suv before winter starts but i'm unsure of what to get. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

TIA
Add a Comment
Reply

Community Wiki

Last Edited by idkist November 10, 2010 at 01:55 PM
Requirements:
$22,000 - $25,000
Compact to Mid-Size SUV
4x4 or AWD

Suggestions From Loungers:
VW Tiguan
bmw x-5 /nagin
Hyundai Sante Fe
Hyundai Tuscon
Honda CRV
Jeep Liberty
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Mercury Mountaineer before 2001
Subaru Outback before 2003
Passat Wagon 4-motion around 2001-2003
Grand Cherokee anything before 2005
Toyota Rav 4

102 Comments

View Forum Thread
12345

Your comment cannot be blank.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Jul 2007
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,883 Posts
2,285 Reputation
Original Poster
Claudia365
11-10-2010 at 09:38 AM.
11-10-2010 at 09:38 AM.
I also like the VW Tiguan which is reasonably priced.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jul 2007
Not. Going. Anywhere. LOL
> bubble2 5,232 Posts
9,419 Reputation
Thrifteh
11-10-2010 at 09:53 AM.
11-10-2010 at 09:53 AM.
Are you looking for a full size, mid size or crossover? That would narrow down suggestions.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined May 2009
GO UVA!
> bubble2 1,501 Posts
165 Reputation
Kate1240
11-10-2010 at 10:06 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:06 AM.
Hi Tia! I have never owned an SUV (or crossover) but I hear alot of good things about the Honda CRV and Rav 4. Smilie I have an Acura TSX, it goes pretty well in the snow but an SUV always seemed like too much of a vehicle for me to control and park in the city.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jul 2007
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,883 Posts
2,285 Reputation
Original Poster
Claudia365
11-10-2010 at 10:07 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:07 AM.
Quote from Thrifteh :
Are you looking for a full size, mid size or crossover? That would narrow down suggestions.
compact to mid-size.

Quote from Kate1240 :
Hi Tia! I have never owned an SUV (or crossover) but I hear alot of good things about the Honda CRV and Rav 4. Smilie I have an Acura TSX, it goes pretty well in the snow but an SUV always seemed like too much of a vehicle for me to control and park in the city.
Actually the compact SUV's are no bigger than your TSX.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Last edited by Claudia365 November 10, 2010 at 10:08 AM.
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
11-10-2010 at 10:08 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:08 AM.
Quote from Phrozt :
Oh I saw it, but I still think weight is going to be a much bigger factor unless you're talking about specialized tires.

Slightly different treads in a tire are going to make a difference if you're talking about increasing traction for a specific car (i.e., you already have a car, you're looking to increase traction), but if you have the choice OF the vehicle, then I'd go for more mass if you're looking for more traction.

Honestly, at this point it would be speculation unless we have hard numbers in front of us. But out of these two scenarios, you know which one I'd pick.

A) 4497 lbs. w/ winter tires
B) 6411 lbs. w/all year tires

Spoiler for which weight belongs to which SUV.
So here it is, lol... (I wasn't sure if I was right or not, and slow day at work = google for proof one way or the other)

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/.../551.1.pdf
Page 13.

Highway tires on snow - traction coeffecient = 0.024
Snow tires on snow - traction coeffecient = 0.055

A heavy (6411lb) vs. light (4497lb) SUV (as you mentioned)

From the formula above, usable traction = traction coeffecient * weight.

Heavy car with regular tires = 153 units
Light car with snow tires = 247 units

The lighter car with snow tires has higher traction by about 1.5x times. If you put "studded snow tires" (instead of regular snow tires that I was talking about), that number goes up by even more.


For some reason on this site, the "ice" coeffecients are identical. No clue.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jan 2008
the Drunken Snowman
> bubble2 10,780 Posts
154 Reputation
Phrozt
11-10-2010 at 10:16 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:16 AM.
Well there ya go! Learn something every day I guess.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
11-10-2010 at 10:19 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:19 AM.
Quote from Phrozt :
Well there ya go! Learn something every day I guess.
laugh out loud I totally Thread Jacked this thread.

I found another useful sight during my research, http://www.unb.ca/transpo/mynet/mtu13.htm . It doesn't answer "this" questions, but it has a lot of the physics equations and formulas for cars (including traction coefficients on various pavements).

Traction coefficient for concrete is 0.7
Traction coefficient for snow/ice is 0.06 - 0.12

Dontknow

And if the ice coefficients are really the same for different tires (from the first site), then you were right that weight would be more important than tires. I dunno. Too lazy to continue researching it. It's not that important. laugh out loud


I'm a geek and proud Flex
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Jan 2008
the Drunken Snowman
> bubble2 10,780 Posts
154 Reputation
Phrozt
11-10-2010 at 10:24 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:24 AM.
The only thing I have a problem with is that they say ice and snow have the same traction coefficient. Common sense tells you this simply is not true. Kinda casts doubt on some of their numbers IMO.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 24,000 Posts
2,237 Reputation
Kolto
11-10-2010 at 10:32 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:32 AM.
Quote from Kate1240 :
Hi Tia! I have never owned an SUV (or crossover) but I hear alot of good things about the Honda CRV and Rav 4. Smilie I have an Acura TSX, it goes pretty well in the snow but an SUV always seemed like too much of a vehicle for me to control and park in the city.
i got a Rav4 4X4, love it with the proper tires.
Dealer junk had me spinning the tires in the rain, got a set of All Weather Cooper S tires and set of Michelin Latitude X-Ice winter tires for the wintertime snow here in NY (as im a commuter so i gotta do the drive in the snow/slush to NYC)
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
11-10-2010 at 10:33 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:33 AM.
Quote from Phrozt :
The only thing I have a problem with is that they say ice and snow have the same traction coefficient. Common sense tells you this simply is not true. Kinda casts doubt on some of their numbers IMO.
Iagree

I haven't figured that out either (though studded snow tires do matter if it's ice or snow), there may be something written in the report explaining it, but it's 80 pages and I'm not THAT bored, and ...

Quote from IVIax :
Too lazy to continue researching it. It's not that important. laugh out loud
laugh out loud (it = the whole argument)
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2009
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 6,971 Posts
630 Reputation
zzyzzx
11-10-2010 at 10:53 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:53 AM.
And the reason why you think you need a SUV is?

What does it do that a car doesn't?

My Ford Escort did just fine in last years record breaking snow.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
11-10-2010 at 10:55 AM.
11-10-2010 at 10:55 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
And the reason why you think you need a SUV is?

What does it do that a car doesn't?

My Ford Escort did just fine in last years record breaking snow.
Iagree

Driver >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tires >> vehicle



Hide look around Hide
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jan 2008
the Drunken Snowman
> bubble2 10,780 Posts
154 Reputation
Phrozt
11-10-2010 at 11:17 AM.
11-10-2010 at 11:17 AM.
Quote from IVIax :
Iagree

Driver >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tires >> vehicle



Hide look around Hide
+1 for that. I got my '86 olds cutlass ciera S (4 cylinder) out of more crap than I can remember, and drove along some HOOOORRIBLE roads in very bad weather just fine while others ditched their cars.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jul 2007
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,883 Posts
2,285 Reputation
Original Poster
Claudia365
11-10-2010 at 11:23 AM.
11-10-2010 at 11:23 AM.
Quote from azianai :
i got a Rav4 4X4, love it with the proper tires.
Dealer junk had me spinning the tires in the rain, got a set of All Weather Cooper S tires and set of Michelin Latitude X-Ice winter tires for the wintertime snow here in NY (as im a commuter so i gotta do the drive in the snow/slush to NYC)
I live in the bronx but work in NJ so I need something that reliable. I was thinking about that one as well cause it's not too pricey.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Sep 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 24,000 Posts
2,237 Reputation
Kolto
11-10-2010 at 11:27 AM.
11-10-2010 at 11:27 AM.
well i live on long island and work in queens while driving around JFK/Newark/La Guardia a lot.
Been great for me
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Page 3 of 7
12345
Start the Conversation
 
Link Copied

The link has been copied to the clipboard.