# Car recommendation **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendation/63576 "2011-04-11T00:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jillandthom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@Jillandthom](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jillandthom)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendation/63576/1 "2011-04-11T00:01:03Z")
Hi - I’m in the market for a new (to me) car. I live in the mountains of Colorado, commute 60 miles M-F, and 5 of those are on gravel and dirt roads. I need space for 3 medium-sized dogs, too. I prefer a car/suv over a pickup truck and am considering a 2008 subaru outback (6 cyl), 2008 toyota highlander or even 2008 volvo xc. Which do you think would be best for the money? I hope to keep whatever car for at least 200,000 miles. Do I need to get over myself and get the toyota tacoma instead? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendation/63576/2 "2011-04-11T00:20:22Z")
The Volvo will cost the most to maintain, probably by far. You probably want to knock that one off the list. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendation/63576/3 "2011-04-11T00:27:03Z")
I’d forget the Volvo. Maintenance and repair costs on them can be astronomical. I’d say it’s a coin toss between the Outback and the Highlander. Either is good. How much does AWD or 4WD mean to you? The Tacoma is a pickup truck. Dogs in the bed of a pickup truck have no heat. It gets really cold in Colorado. You don’t want a truck. ---
**Author:** ![Jillandthom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@Jillandthom](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jillandthom)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendation/63576/4 "2011-04-11T00:31:59Z")
RE: AWD or 4WD - I guess I don’t have a strong preference. I currently drive an 04 outback and its been my first experience with AWD. It’s nice to not have to think about it, I guess. Have been mostly happy with the outback, but now am having an apparently rare head gasket issue. I would hope that wouldn’t be something I would have to deal with next time around. Mechanic says the 6 cylinder engine is a nightmare to work with. ---
**Author:** ![Jillandthom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@Jillandthom](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jillandthom)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendation/63576/5 "2011-04-11T00:33:21Z")
Oh and thanks for the feedback about the cold for the dogs…we are in SW CO and when we’re out with the dogs, heat is generally the issue, but that’s a good point to consider. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendation/63576/6 "2011-04-11T03:25:03Z")
In addition to the Highlander, I would highly recommend a Pilot if you can find one. They are actually better than the Highlander room wise, handle better and in my opinion, give you good bang for the buck. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendation/63576/7 "2011-04-11T21:27:29Z")
Ford Escape would be another good choice