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
34567

Your comment cannot be blank.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Sep 2009
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 6,966 Posts
630 Reputation
zzyzzx
11-11-2010 at 11:59 AM.
11-11-2010 at 11:59 AM.
If possible just get a beater (as a spare car) and use that when the weather sucks.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
11-11-2010 at 12:13 PM.
11-11-2010 at 12:13 PM.
Quote from Justmtnb44 :
It's been said before but winter driving is all about tire selection, not vehicle selection. You can have the best 4x4 or AWD vehicle out there but with crappy tires it will still suck in snow. I grew up in the hills south of Buffalo NY and had two regular front wheel drive cars and with winter tires they worked just fine in even the worst conditions. I now live in Pittsburgh where it snows less but is still slippery for much of the winter and has lots of hills. I now have an AWD Audi allroad, and with the crappy all season tires it came with it was not much better in snow than any other car. But with some proper winter tires, it is nearly unstoppable.

Get winter tires or good all-season tires with high winter ratings if driving in snow is a problem. Also, find an empty parking lot to practice driving on snow/ice. Learn what it takes to make your car slide, and what you can do to correct it if it does start sliding. Especially if you get a new car, it is important to know its limits as all cars react differently. This will make you a much safer driver on the road.
Nah, that's a bunch of BS. Having an AWD car with summer tires ill solve all of OP's problems. Who needs to learn how to drive? Huh
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Oct 2007
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 493 Posts
148 Reputation
Justmtnb44
11-11-2010 at 02:01 PM.
11-11-2010 at 02:01 PM.
Quote from IVIax :
Nah, that's a bunch of BS. Having an AWD car with summer tires ill solve all of OP's problems. Who needs to learn how to drive? Huh
Exactly! At least that is how everyone thinks around here, for even the smallest amount of snow seems to paralyze drivers.

As to your vehicle weight vs. traction debate, I agree that a lighter vehicle is better in snow, especially with winter tires. My car is very heavy (4200 lbs!) and AWD, and compared to my last car (3200 lbs, FWD) they perform about the same in snow with all season tires. Of course the AWD car has slightly better traction accelerating and on hills. However increased vehicle weight = more momentum once moving which means more difficult to stop or change direction when it gets slippery.

One more general comment; typically the problem that leads to crashes when driving in snow is not so much getting going as it is slowing, stopping, or turning. AWD and 4x4 does nothing to solve those issues. Only proper winter tires will improve those areas of performance, which are more important than accelerating in slippery conditions.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jul 2007
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,883 Posts
2,285 Reputation
Original Poster
Claudia365
11-12-2010 at 06:20 AM.
11-12-2010 at 06:20 AM.
See we have a huge hill and I'm thinking a 4x4 has a better chance of getting up than a normal SUV. I was thinking of getting the RAV & getting some good snow tires and hopefully that will help my commute... What do you guys think?
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined May 2005
Sleeper Supra
> bubble2 269 Posts
67 Reputation
cp44
11-12-2010 at 07:48 AM.
11-12-2010 at 07:48 AM.
My mom has a 2007 Rav4 V6 Sport and its awesome in the snow. I got the TRD wheels for her too and it has the downhill assist which works great.

But if i had a choice i would buy a 93-97 Toyota Landcruiser because it had the center differential locking system.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jun 2004
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 27,800 Posts
541 Reputation
Pig
11-12-2010 at 09:01 AM.
11-12-2010 at 09:01 AM.
Quote from Claudia365 :
See we have a huge hill and I'm thinking a 4x4 has a better chance of getting up than a normal SUV. I was thinking of getting the RAV & getting some good snow tires and hopefully that will help my commute... What do you guys think?
Yeah with that huge house, you'll have space to store your snow tires after winter is over.....
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jul 2007
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,883 Posts
2,285 Reputation
Original Poster
Claudia365
11-12-2010 at 09:08 AM.
11-12-2010 at 09:08 AM.
Quote from Pig :
Yeah with that huge house, you'll have space to store your snow tires after winter is over.....
I have a storage room where I can put them in.nod
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Jun 2004
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 27,800 Posts
541 Reputation
Pig
11-12-2010 at 09:26 AM.
11-12-2010 at 09:26 AM.
Quote from Claudia365 :
I have a storage room where I can put them in.nod
Wot a waste of storage space. I think you are overreacting about the whole winter and snow thing....
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jul 2007
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,883 Posts
2,285 Reputation
Original Poster
Claudia365
11-12-2010 at 09:37 AM.
11-12-2010 at 09:37 AM.
Quote from Pig :
Wot a waste of storage space. I think you are overreacting about the whole winter and snow thing....
ok so what do you suggest??
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
11-12-2010 at 09:39 AM.
11-12-2010 at 09:39 AM.
Quote from Claudia365 :
ok so what do you suggest??
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jun 2004
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 27,800 Posts
541 Reputation
Pig
11-12-2010 at 09:51 AM.
11-12-2010 at 09:51 AM.
Quote from Claudia365 :
ok so what do you suggest??
If you are really worried about traction, get some winter tires for your Xcion. No need to get a new car for better traction.

I really don't think one needs a 4x4 with winter tires for normal day-to-day city driving, where roads are usually taken care of.

Again - If you want a 4x4 shod with winter tires and studs, go for it! I'm just saying you most likely don't need them...

But then, may be I'm talking out of my ass since I have only lived for a couple of year in cold weather states where it snows more than 3-4 days a year.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
11-12-2010 at 10:18 AM.
11-12-2010 at 10:18 AM.
Quote from Pig :
If you are really worried about traction, get some winter tires for your Xcion. No need to get a new car for better traction.

I really don't think one needs a 4x4 with winter tires for normal day-to-day city driving, where roads are usually taken care of.

Again - If you want a 4x4 shod with winter tires and studs, go for it! I'm just saying you most likely don't need them...

But then, may be I'm talking out of my ass since I have only lived for a couple of year in cold weather states where it snows more than 3-4 days a year.
Even though you talk out of your ass most of the time Wink, you are completely correct about where the OP lives.

I lived in up in NYC for most of my life, and all you really need is a FWD car with decent all-season tires and a little driving know-how. Winter tires is a big plus. Winter tires and an AWD/4+4 is an even bigger plus. But you don't need them, as you said.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Nov 2004
L9: Master
> bubble2 5,314 Posts
470 Reputation
rebat
11-12-2010 at 11:06 AM.
11-12-2010 at 11:06 AM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXuhfwY74b8

If you live in an area with considerable snow, you should consider buying another set of tires. SNOW TIRES.


Doesn't matter how heavy your vehicle is, or if you have AWD. If you don't want to slip, a combination will help you.


http://jalopnik.com/5449015/video...snow-tires
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
11-12-2010 at 11:12 AM.
11-12-2010 at 11:12 AM.
Quote from rebat :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXuhfwY74b8

If you live in an area with considerable snow, you should consider buying another set of tires. SNOW TIRES.


Doesn't matter how heavy your vehicle is, or if you have AWD. If you don't want to slip, a combination will help you.


http://jalopnik.com/5449015/video...snow-tires
That 2nd video doesn't prove anything. The driver floors it and doesn't let go of the gas laugh out loud That's not how you realistically drive in the snow.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Nov 2004
L9: Master
> bubble2 5,314 Posts
470 Reputation
rebat
11-12-2010 at 11:20 AM.
11-12-2010 at 11:20 AM.
Quote from IVIax :
That 2nd video doesn't prove anything. The driver floors it and doesn't let go of the gas laugh out loud That's not how you realistically drive in the snow.
It proves AWD doesn't mean anything if you don't have a set of capable tires to go with it.

Moar videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA...r_embedded


I live in CA where it doesn't snow and the closest I come to it is when I decide to go up to Tahoe... and put on chains if required.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Last edited by rebat November 12, 2010 at 11:24 AM.
Page 6 of 7
34567
Start the Conversation
 
Link Copied

The link has been copied to the clipboard.