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!”