I’m looking to buy a used car (up to 15K) to mainly be used for driving long distances in the inner mid-atlantic region. Due to the mountains and heavy winters (at least compared to the warmer climes where I was raised), I had been considering buying a used Subaru for AWD, safety, and reliability. I am not sure if the AWD is necessary though, and am wondering if it might be better to spend the money on a newer FWD vehicle with higher MPG, less mileage, and newer features such as ABS and TCS (I’ve been considering the Cruze). I’m not particularly car savvy, so I’m trying to figure out which would ultimately require the least maintenance and be the most cost-effective.
FWD with a second set or wheels with winter (snow, NOT all-season) tires mounted on all 4. Cheaper, better mileage, more reliable (simpler, less to break), less costly maintenance and better in the snow than an AWD car without 4 mounted winter tires. You want ABS, TCS and electronic stability control (sometimes called ESP. ESP. DSC and other acronyms). There are LOTS of cars for sale that meet these criterion. Try Consumer Reports, KBB.com or Edmunds.com to get reviews.
Used Subarus can be problematic, the 2.5 L engine used on lots of them often has head gasket failures which are expensive to fix. I’d go for a newer FWD car. If you do lots of driving in snow I’d add a set of winter tires.
Go for a new FWD from a reliable manufacturer. The gas saving alone over many miles will be significant. As pointed out, AWD vehicles will need more maintenance and repairs over the time you own it.
I am always leery of buying AWD used cars because unfortunately the majority of the owners are ignorant of the needs of the AWD system and will just go about their business as usual. Mismatched tires, no rotation etc and then you would be on the hook for $$ repair.
Have a coworker with an AWD BMW, just changed on tire. I told him about potential issues but he thought it is another case of OCD from me. He owns the car and I am waiting to hear about his problems and how his warranty claim was denied.
I just feel that at 15000 used and long driving distance the advantage as Docnick says a new purchase with warranty and road side service is best. Most people do not believe there are great cars out there in the 20000 or less range. I even got 0 percent interest on what I bought recently.
I’m with Doc no this if you can handle the slight extra cost.
At $15,000 on the road there will be few caers that you can buy. Does it matter if it has options or not? I understand that college graduates will but a stripped car for their first one and then sell it after a couple of years when they can afford something they like better. A stripped Cruze might fit that description. My daughter bought a new 2012 Cruze. We looked at the Spark and Sonic, but they were priced about the same as the Cruze when similarly equipped. We liked the Cruze LS. It had enough features in the base model to keep her happy.
Though I too agree that used AWD can be problematic, $15k gives you enough choice, that if you are careful, can give you good value. I have bought AWD/4wd vehicles for that price and less and been very happy for 100k more miles. Do you NEED AWD in the mountains all the time during winter travel ? Probably not. But if you equip a used RAV or CRV with winter tires, my two choices ( not a used Subaru), you have an element of security NO fwd vehicle can come close to, especially in the mountains. Conditons can vary a lot from the forecast in mountainous terrain and you will not be able to just, sit out a winter squall with 5 inches of fresh snow in hilly terrain.
Personally, I would rather be in a used AWD with snow tires any time in winter travel in areas I was unfamiliar with and weather patterns that were unpredictable. Not a difficult decision for me. Have owned both types of vehicles and I know what each is capable of. Park your fwd car a little too far one way or another and near a little 8 inch ditch that is snow covered, and you could be stranded. AWD makes more areas accessible for your traveling pleasure and helps keep you from traveling in fear all the time. A modern AWD vehicle with snow tires will go up hill or down in snow and ice will go easily until it is literally “hung up” and nearly to where the doors are blocked…There is no fwd vehicle that I know of that can do that.
From a pure economic view, I agree with all that a newer fwd car is the best choice. From a security point of view given where you will travel, the decision for me would be easy. AWD rules !
But this is the Middle Atlantic area and inland. Whatever that is. It could be NC, VA MD or PA. Maybe WV. For most of these states, FWD would be acceptable. A lot depends on whether the OP must drive in snowy or icy weather.
I have never had a problem with FWD vehicles and my wife and I owned both in Northern Maine and in Seattle. I owned one AWD Jeep Grand Cherokee and it was a gas hog and the handling was no better than any FWD vehicle that I’ve ever owned.
I read Long distance driving in inner mid Atlantic region which includes the mountains
Recent and typical winter forcast.
http://news.yahoo.com/more-snow-forecast-mid-atlantic-appalachians-060853925.html
http://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Virginia/annual-snowfall.php
When you get rain on the lower elevations, you get 3 to 5 inches of snow in the mountains.
I had a tough time explaining that to my wife while we were packing to hike Yosmite last year. Thinking it would be in “sunny California” did not come to fruition while hiking in 6 inches of snow in the low 30s in the mountains. The bus taking us to the trail heads had to " chain up"… and this was in the fall. It just ain’t the same at higher elevations in any mountain range ! They have ski resorts there for a very good reason. Any time you combine, elvations, mountains and snow, I immedialy think…winter tires and 4wd.
With all due respect, OP has little experience in winter driving.
I had a grand cherokee and it was a gas hog and handled no better then any fwd car
Being a gas hog has less to do with a modern CRV which gets 25 mpg highway and if it handled mo better in snow then fwd and it had snow tires, that is completly different from my experience of owning AWD and 4 wd vehicles for 20 years for winter driving. I live in Maine Now and I can tell you, there are more AWD and/or 4 wd vehicles in Nothern maine in the winter then fwd cars on any snow covered road. They are a fact of life in the last 20 years. 4 wheeling is like eating or breathing…only more important.
I'm looking to buy a used car (up to 15K) to mainly be used for driving long distances in the inner mid-atlantic region.
No offense, but what, exactly, does that mean?
“mid-atlantic” means “coastal” to me–BUT, “inner mid-atlantic” means…“non-coastal, coastal?” As in, you can’t see the ocean…but you’re less than a day’s drive away?
OTOH, you mention “mountains,” which are in short supply reasonably close to the ocean…i.e., anywhere east of Harrisburg, PA. So, I’m left to surmise you mean “Appalachian,” but are a bit too “uptown” to cop to living there? Or maybe the Poconos?
It matters, because weather is localized. In the mid-appalachian area, there isn’t all that much snowfall, once you get away from the lakes…or you live in or directly upwind of 3,000’ ASL ridges. I wouldn’t invest in AWD there…you’re buying an older car, that is more complicated by design. Both factors argue for more frequent repairs.
Poconos are a better argument for AWD…but that’s on the edge of what could be considered, MID-Atlantic. Catskills/Adirondaks are decidedly North!
P.S. if you do live in Appalachia, you probably won’t make too many local friends saying, “inner mid-atlantic.” Just tell people (tongue in cheek) that you live “up in some holler!”
The OP made no mention of the kind of roads. If he will be driving small back roads in the mountains, in bad weather as well as good, AWD would be good to have, if not essential. If the driving will be on the major highways after they’ve been plowed and the OP can avoid driving through major storms, the advantages of AWD will be much reduced. A FWD car will cost less, there will be far more selection, and less to go wrong. For many vehicles you can only get AWD in the higher trim levels, so you end up paying for things you’d prefer not to. In the case of Subaru almost all their cars, even the base model Impreza, are AWD, so you might find something affordable if you look hard. Unfortunately, they have very low depreciation, so the prices for used are still pretty high.
The Cruze is pleasant, but doesn’t have the best reliability. Domestic cars do have greater depreciation so used examples can be good values, if well maintained, but Asian cars are still typically more reliable (with some exceptions.) I quite like Mazdas as they have excellent reliability, but used Mazdas typically cost less than used Toyota, Honda, and Subaru models. The previous generation of Mazda6 wasn’t very popular, but is still a very efficient, comfortable, and pleasant car, and very fine for long-distances. The current generation is nicer and even more efficient. The smaller Mazda3 is more popular, and even more efficient, but also noisier and has a firmer ride. It’s generally considered the driver’s car of economical Japanese compacts. P
For Toyota reliability with cheaper prices, buy a Scion. The xD is much like a Toyota Yaris, so not a great car, but very reliable and inexpensive to own. Also noisy, a bit cramped, and not much fun to drive, but a good way to be frugal. The larger Scion xB is a much nicer car in every way, but also less economical to own. Still, it’s very reliable and cheaper than any comparable Toyota (not that there is one). The Pontiac Vibe of a few years ago is also a Toyota in all but name. It’s essentially identical to a Toyota Matrix, a roomy hatchback/wagon relative of the Corolla.
Hyundais and recent Kias (older ones are dogs) are good cars at reasonable prices. Their gas mileage is a little behind the best Japanese models, but they typically offer more goodies for the money. We have an Elantra that we are very happy with and have taken it on several long trips where it has been a very comfortable car even after six or seven hours with only short breaks. The larger Sonata is also a very good car. In the Kia lineup the compact is the Force (rather plain) and the intermediate is the Optima, a remarkably stylish car. The Kia Soul is also a good, inexpensive option. I’d take one over the uninspiring Forte. It has quite a lot of room in its boxy little body. You don’t even have to be a hamster to appreciate it.
Driving a compact fwd car is very limiting. You avoid winter weather, which does occur in the winter, back roads, which is where many worthwhile adventures occur and you avoid being able to go when and where you want.
If you want to only drive on sunny days on paved highways while constantly watching the weather forcast just to live a short ( we are all here for a short time) boring life just to save a few $$$$to buy a new plasma TV; then go for it ;-). We get away from the crowds and the drug dealers and the boom box life style and go for the serinity of nature and return to crowds revitalized…or as many of us do, we stay away.
Having a 4 wd does not just…make things a little better, if prepared correctly, it alters nearly all of your life experiences. It’s like being able to breath clean air…or at the least, driving over a parking curb to find that last parking space available.
If you truly want to travel the way OP suggested, any where in this country, personally, I would suggest a used 4wd truck. The gas prices right now would support that previously extravagant decision. You change your mind? Then change your car. For now…go 4 wheelin. Choose bad weather to travel to places that are normally crowded and enjoy the driving experience doing it.
Heck, my bros. in law lives in Georgia and has a 4wd truck and loves the freedom to travel the back roads to hunt and fish or just site see when he sees fit. America is HUGE and beautiful and the majority of it is off the beaten path.
For clarification purposes, inner mid-atlantic with mountains was in reference to central PA, but also some driving through West VA, so the mountains I was referring to were the Appalachians, Alleghenies, and even the Blue Ridge (I wouldn’t normally refer to where I live as inner mid-atlantic, I was just trying to cover a lot of distance in three words and didn’t wan’t people to automatically think MD coast and blue crabs. That is not where I live or drive.). Sometimes there are big highways (I-99, 70, 81, 76) but sometimes I’ll have to drive backroads. And, even on the big highways, I’ve been caught in the aftermath of a snowstorm with only one lane of highway open, and even that lane was still half covered in snow. Albeit, that has happened once, and I don’t really plan on that happening again. It was a terrible experience (in a FWD car, I will admit).
This advice has been extremely helpful. I’m still trying to decide if the technology and reliability of a newer FWD would outweigh that safety and freedom of the AWD. Within my price range, I’ve found a few older CR-Vs that seem a little worse for wear and some 2008-2011 Imprezas or Foresters, but usually with a lot of miles. But, I’ve also found the 2013 Cruze and Focus with reasonable mileage within this price range (it’s been harder to find brands like Toyota and Honda). Although, I haven’t looked that long or done much research on the FWD vehicles since I had only been considering AWD until I wrote this post. I don’t necessarily need the features and I don’t want to buy a brand new car, but I did want the safety features, like TCS, ABS and traction control (hoping that that would make up for the FWD). And, if I wasn’t going for the AWD, I would want something with a higher MPG.
I’m just not sure if the freedom of an older AWD that could potentially have more maintenance problems (which would be scary to have in the middle of the Alleghenies) outweighs the potential and promising, yet not guaranteed, reliability of something newer that has safety features, less mileage, and some warranty.
Thanks, MarkM, for the recommendation on Mazda and Hyundai. I hadn’t thought about either of those companies, really.
With 15K if you are looking at the Focus, go for a new one. Should be able to get a leftover 2014 for less than that.
I don’t know about the used Subaru hate here, but you can get some good deals. At $15k you have to be able to buy a 2011ish Impreza at a dealer or probably a bit newer private party if they’re selling. As far as I know, the “problematic” 2.5 engine stopped being used in 2008, and by now any 2007 and earlier is likely to have had the head gasket changed anyway if in regular use.
Here in the Finger Lakes of NY, there are days in the winter when there are 2 types of vehicles out - Subarus and 4WD Pickups. If you don’t need the hauling / off road clearance, even the “bad mileage” Subarus will beat any equivalent priced Pick-up (24MPG)…
Also, I’d point out that if you get a 2002ish Subaru for $6k (or whatver OLD car), you have many thousands left for repairs - it depends on whether you’re up for some trips to the shop or not. If you regularly get the car checked up on, you’re unlikely to have it break down on a trip (or I’m always lucky) - and get roadside assistance anyway - a brand new car can get a flat, and many models don’t come with a spare tire.
Not true about the 2.5 l Subaru. The basic design wasn’t corrected until 2012 or so. And I very much doubt that most 2007 and older ones have been fixed. Ours hasn’t. Based on CR ratings, the failures start showing up after 5 years or so.
The Focus has also had significant reliability issues, though the worst are in the fancy infotainment systems found only in the upper trim levels. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but if the price were low enough, I might bite. People live and drive in those regions in FWD cars as well as AWD. If I had to drive in the worst weather and drove on unpaved roads I’d certainly favor AWD and something with better ground clearance, but only you know how often you’ll be driving in those circumstances. Highway gas mileage will be substantially worse in a crossover than a car, and AWD also takes a bite out of gas mileage. You pay more to buy, more to fuel, and more to keep running.
The current Mazda CX-5 is one of the best small crossovers and wins most comparison tests. The older CX-7 was also nice, but for most model years came only with a turbo engine that was thirsty and had serious lag. In its later years you could also buy a version without the turbo, but it was often considered underpowered. The Hyundai Tucson is a good value, but less impressive. Used ones should be very affordable.
For cars I’d pick a Hyundai Elantra or Mazda3 over a Focus or Cruze. The prices are quite similar and they’re more reliable. The Mazda gets better gas mileage than the Hyundai. It’s also a bit sportier to drive, but for Highway cruising the Hyundai would be just as good. The AWD Subaru Impreza is also nice, but may cost a bit more. Neither the current Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla has done very well in comparisons, and bargains are rare. The smaller Fit is impressive as a city car, but for long distances could be fatiguing. That’s even more true of the Toyota Yaris.