# Turbo engines and Short Distance Driving **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2021, 12:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993 "2021-07-12T12:05:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TCerebus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TCerebus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TCerebus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 12:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/1 "2021-07-12T12:05:21Z")
My wife is looking to purchase a new vehicle. I understand that there is some discussion about the Honda CR-V and issues about it’s turbo engine (alexonautos etc). Particularly potential problems if you live in a cold climate State and your trips are usually short distances … gas making its way into the oil or something (I’m no expert!). We live in Pennsylvania and all of her trips are short distance ones. So, I’m recommending to her NOT to consider the CR-V … why take the risk. BUT, given her driving circumstances … should she be avoiding any new vehicle that has a Turbo engine? Just short distance trips aren’t great for any car, but is it worse for Turbo engines? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/2 "2021-07-12T12:28:31Z")
base trim CR-V was no-turbo engine from what I recall also, the problem was more or less resolved in 2018 or so, they installed the coolant loop in the exhaust and added diverter to scavenge heat when needed from there ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 12:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/3 "2021-07-12T12:57:53Z")
My wife owned a turbo engine car for 17 years accumulating only 108k miles. That is 5-6k miles a year. No issues at all with short trips. Her previous turbo car, a 1985, was short tripped for the last 3 years we owned it since we lived 2 miles from her work. Don’t indict all turbo cars because of a problem with one model from a manufacturer that hasn’t done many. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/4 "2021-07-12T14:14:27Z")
While they have made changes to the CRV to address the problem, I might consider a non-turbo Rav4 or Mazda CX5 in the OP’s situation. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/5 "2021-07-12T14:21:41Z")
> [@TCerebus](#): > > My wife is looking to purchase a new vehicle. Did you not buy a new vehicle as your previous thread indicated you were going to do about the salesman problems ? ---
**Author:** ![TCerebus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TCerebus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TCerebus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/6 "2021-07-12T16:38:44Z")
My other thread, as you mentioned, was getting a replacement for “my” Volvo S60. This thread is about a replacement for “my wife’s” vehicle. Both of us happen to be in the market at the same time. She desires a smaller vehicle and I desire one that is more reliable. Besides, she has had her car for 9 years. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/7 "2021-07-12T22:09:59Z")
Main thing with turbocharged cars is to use the correct motor oil, change it more often, and check the oil level regularly. The turbocharger should last as long as the car. The Aspen, CO police department used turbo SAABs for about 30 years with few issues and they are definitely in the cold climate category. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/8 "2021-07-12T22:30:33Z")
> [@TCerebus](#): > > all of her trips are short distance ones. Have you considered an electric or plug-in hybrid? ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/9 "2021-07-12T22:30:55Z")
> [@ok4450](#): > > The Aspen, CO police department used turbo SAABs for about 30 years with few issues and they are definitely in the cold climate category. I agree with what you are saying but am wondering about the police part it seems to me they do a lot of idling I had a truck with a Cat diesel that was used for quite a few deliveries a day with idling time while making the delivery the turbo went shortly before 100,000 miles I can’t remember the numbers for sure but I tthink the mechanic said 100 hr’s of idle time was the same as 100 miles road time, ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/10 "2021-07-12T22:44:00Z")
> [@texases](#): > > I might consider a non-turbo Rav4 or Mazda CX5 in the OP’s situation. ^ This +1. While I didn’t totally agree, dad always bought stick shift cars without power steering/power brakes/AC/etc. because that stuff was “something else to break.” Unless you need the added pep there’s something to be said for a conventionally aspirated engine. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/11 "2021-07-13T01:41:40Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > there’s something to be said for a conventionally aspirated engine There is also something to be said about a smaller engine for better mpgs with a turbo for when you need the extra power, too. The most powerful of the 3 turbo cars we owned was only 230 hp. Less than most 3.0 V6s these days. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/12 "2021-07-13T01:58:48Z")
I’m fascinated. Not at the fact that the Aspen PD used turbo cars, but at the fact they used Saab’s. I wonder why they chose…Saab’s. Kind of a niche car for a government contract. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/13 "2021-07-13T02:00:45Z")
OTOH, with a vehicle that doesn’t get driven much, fuel economy is a lesser priority. Reliability is a greater concern. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/14 "2021-07-13T02:02:58Z")
Maybe Aspen chose Saabs because the Swedes understand snow and build cars for it… And maybe Aspen is just a bit too chi-chi elite for Jeep Grand Cherokees or Ford Broncos? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/15 "2021-07-13T02:08:47Z")
True point… but reliability hasn’t been proven to be inferior to NA cars. Sure turbos are more complicated giving more opportunity for things to go wrong but I don’t think the data bears that out. Take automatic trans for example. Pretty reliable whem done well. In my personal experience, I have never broken one. Broke a bunch of manuals, tho… ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/16 "2021-07-13T02:10:23Z")
Mebbe sooo. I dunno. Doesn’t really take a Swedish engineer to understand snow. It’s slick and awd is a nice feature to have. So Subaru, any 4wd domestic… Saab just seems like an odd choice for a fleet vehicle (unless you’re in Sweden, I suppose). Chi chi factor may be a valid factor! ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/17 "2021-07-13T02:25:49Z")
My thought would be that Aspin is the home of many McMansion’s and as you know they think are above the rest of us. 😄 😄 ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/18 "2021-07-13T05:21:37Z")
My dad’s 2019 CR-V Does a lot of short trips and hasn’t had any issues for the 2yrs he’s owned it. My brother’s had a 2009 VW GTI with a turbo engine since it was brand new and has a short commute but maintains the car religiously with a local specialist. More important is how you maintain the car. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/19 "2021-07-13T07:49:14Z")
The city of Falls Church VA use to have Volvo police cars. The dealership there donated them and the owner of the dealer was some gov’t player. ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993/20 "2021-07-13T13:37:46Z")
Don Beyer Volvo? That explains to me one my prior experience with them. I came to test-drive used “one owner, locally maintained” Volvo with ~90K miles on it in mid-2000s and it looked so run into the ground as if it was indeed used in some fleet operations. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/turbo-engines-and-short-distance-driving/177993.md?page=2)