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What's the best vehicle for my needs?

1145 messages,  Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM

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#754 of 1145 Re: Buying a car after 10 years and need help... [plekto] by sebring95 Dec 29, 2008 (8:09 pm)
Replying to: plekto (Dec 29, 2008 6:41 pm) Unless the system has locking differentials (front and rear), you're not driving all four wheels at any time. Almost all "part-time 4x4" system have open differentials in the front. So assuming it has a rear-locking differential, the best case scenario (a low-traction situation) you'll be getting traction/power to three wheels. Landcruiser, Range Rover, Wrangler are the mainstream vehicles that have options for a fully locking front differential and they have to be manually engaged. These are amoung the few vehicles that could drive all four wheels at the same time.   Most of the trucks on the road, and particularly the SUV's with part-time systems have open-differentials on both axles. Like the Jeep Liberty base command-trac. So you're really only driving TWO wheels at the same time. And the open diff will typically favor the wheels with the least amount of traction. So really, the electroncic systems could be better for the average driver. Replies to this message: plekto (Dec 30, 2008 11:03 pm) sebring95 (Dec 31, 2008 6:20 am) plekto (Jan 01, 2009 12:12 am)
#755 of 1145 Re: Buying a car after 10 years and need help... [sebring95] by plekto Dec 30, 2008 (11:03 pm)
Replying to: sebring95 (Dec 29, 2008 8:09 pm) Yes, I know. I don't consider those systems to really be the real deal, either. 4WD in my mind is all four wheels getting power at once. Thankfully a few SUVs and most of the trucks have it available. A 4Runner, though, does have a button and you can hear the hubs lock and the transfer case engage. My friend's ~2002 4Runner out-did his Wrangler off-road and so he sold the Wrangler. It's actually a proper off-road SUV like they used to make. But a 4Runner might be a bit out of the budget that the OP wanted.   Actually *my* 4Runner is a bit older and has a manual transmission and actual gear levers to engage everything. IIRC, you can get a Patriot with 4x4 and manual transmission. No low range, though, but no gimmicks, either - really does go off-road if you want. The XTerra also can be had with a manual setup. Replies to this message: sebring95 (Dec 31, 2008 6:20 am) plekto (Jan 01, 2009 12:12 am)
#756 of 1145 Re: Buying a car after 10 years and need help... [plekto] by sebring95 Dec 31, 2008 (6:20 am)
Replying to: plekto (Dec 30, 2008 11:03 pm) I don't know of any truck that has locking front diffs (short of a Unimog). And I've had one of every brand out there, currently a Tundra. In fact, until around 2004 Toyota didn't even offer a limited slip on the Tundra. They did have some locking rear-diffs on their 2wd trucks though. Either way, nearly impossible to dig with 4 wheels on pickups without going aftermarket. Toyota had a pretty good thing with some of the earlier Landcruisers and 4runners. Wife has a GX470 that basically has limited slips on both ends so there's still no locking in and truly digging with all four. Of course that thing comes with glorified car tires anyway, which is what makes most SUV's useless off the dealer lot. Replies to this message: plekto (Jan 01, 2009 12:12 am)
#757 of 1145 Re: Buying a car after 10 years and need help... [sebring95] by plekto Jan 01, 2009 (12:12 am)
Replying to: sebring95 (Dec 31, 2008 6:20 am) I give vehicles with limited slip a technical pass They are at least trying and are decent in off-road conditions. Perhaps a more accurate criteria in my book, then, would be that the proper 4x4 has equal power to the front and rear without any computers or other idiocy trying to transfer power back and forth.   And on a lot of vehicles, a locker is possible to add after market if you REALLY need it.(a Wrangler, IIRC, does come with the option from the factory...)
#758 of 1145 Lease questions by collins3 Jan 04, 2009 (10:42 am)
I am turning in my leased BMW325 CIA with 17,000 miles used on a 3 year lease having paid for 30,000 plus miles. I loved the car but don't want or need to pay as much this time around. I would like some suggestions on a lease payment for $300 - $400 per month with little or no down payment. I don't care what kind of a car it is so long as it is new - I only use it for back and forth to work and shopping. I like the honda civic and the infinity but don't think they would lease that low. Any ideas? Thanks collins3 Replies to this message: exb0 (Jan 04, 2009 4:00 pm) sebring95 (Jan 05, 2009 5:53 am) kyfdx (Jan 05, 2009 8:56 am)
#759 of 1145 Re: Lease questions [collins3] by exb0 Jan 04, 2009 (4:00 pm)
Replying to: collins3 (Jan 04, 2009 10:42 am) Honda offers   2009 Civic Featured Special Lease $189.00 per month for 36 months. $1,999.00 total due at signing. Includes down payment with no security deposit. Excludes taxes, titles and fees. For well-qualified buyers.   You can also lease 2008 Infiniti G35 Journey for $349 a mo with $2653 down.   However, IMHO, the most economical way is to buy, don't lease, yourself a Civic LX for about $17K or Accord LX for $19.5, or Hyundai Sonata GLS for $15K and keep it for 10 years.
#760 of 1145 Re: Lease questions [collins3] by sebring95 Jan 05, 2009 (5:53 am)
Replying to: collins3 (Jan 04, 2009 10:42 am) What's the desire for a new car if you only drive 6,000 miles a year? You're basically spending $.65-.85/mile just in rent. That's quite possibly the worst financial model you can build for buying a new car because of the very high depreciation during the first few years. If it's a warranty issue, it would be more cost effective to add a service contract and keep the vehicle longer. You can add a Honda factory 7 year 100k mile bumper-to-bumper warranty for around $1,000. Very little maintenance required on any vehicle these days (if you follow the owners manual schedule, not the dealers). I guess I could understand if you were just into the latest/greatest car, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
#761 of 1145 Re: Lease questions [collins3] by kyfdx HOST Jan 05, 2009 (8:56 am)
Replying to: collins3 (Jan 04, 2009 10:42 am) You can lease a Subaru Legacy for well under $300/mo., and an Impreza for around $200/mo..   If you like Civics, as noted above, you should easily come in under $300/mo.
#762 of 1145 I'm looking for a used winter awd by stewardrobbins Jan 05, 2009 (4:08 pm)
I'm looking for a used winter awd or 4wd. My criteria are: cheap - what depreciates a lot? reasonably reliable - I will get it checked out by a mechanic, of course. good awd or 4wd system   Any suggestions of makes or models??   Gas mileage is not a factor, though I don't want anything as big as a Suburban or even a Tahoe.. I like Subarus, but they don't seem to depreciate very much. Replies to this message: jchan2 (Jan 05, 2009 7:57 pm) plekto (Jan 05, 2009 9:39 pm) qbrozen (Jan 06, 2009 9:01 am)
#763 of 1145 Re: I'm looking for a used winter awd [stewardrobbins] by jchan2 Jan 05, 2009 (7:57 pm)
Replying to: stewardrobbins (Jan 05, 2009 4:08 pm) Depending on how old you're willing to go, I think a Subaru is a decent choice; you can pick up one as recent as a 2000 model in the $5K neighborhood, which isn't bad for a winter beater.   I would also consider an Isuzu- since the brand has died, the products it left behind will have depreciated significantly. While the Rodeo and Trooper weren't exactly the greatest of cars, they fit your criteria as a winter beater. Other Isuzu vehicles, such as the Axiom and Amigo (Rodeo Sport, in later years) are also fine choices, although the Rodeo/Trooper will be an easier pair to locate.   Another decent choice would be a Ford Explorer, although it may not be as good of a deal as you expect as the Explorer doesn't depreciate as much as you'd expect from a Ford product.

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