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Smart Shopper What's the best vehicle for my needs?
1145 messages, Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 19, 2009 9:08 am) |
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 19, 2009 9:08 am) While they don't have AWD, they do have ESP (VW's designation of ESC). This helps a lot with handling in slippery conditions. IMO, if you had to choose between the two I think you are better off with ESC than AWD, if you are driving on roads that are normally going to be plowed but possibly slippery. We've lived in N. IL and S. WI all our lives and have never had AWD, but my wife now has a Jetta with ESP and loves how it handles winter weather. AWD gives some driver's a false sense of security because it enables them to go and it leads to driving too fast in snow and then ending up off the road in a ditch with their AWD or 4WD vehicles, because they can not stop or turn any better than FWD vehicles.
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Jun 19, 2009 10:44 am) The word you are looking for is "4WD". Switch into 4WD with snow tires or knobbies/mudders on it and a SUV or truck will creep and crawl over most anything. If you want real safety in the rain, get a Subaru or Audi. If you want it for the snow, switch to 4WD and go slower.
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 19, 2009 8:22 am) I think its challenging to find a fast slushbox (automatic) with an AWD vehicle in that price range. One of the things you didn't mention was fuel economy, so that might be the trade off value for you. Also, everything mentioned so far, the WRX, the G35, the VW, and the Volvo require/recommend premium unleaded. How fast/expensive is a Subaru Legacy GT 2005+ or Forrester with the 2.5 turbo? I don't know that the slushie Audi A4 Tq meets the speed cut off, and the 330xi might be pricey to maintain, or older to meet pricing constraints. You might want to be a bit more subjective about the 0-60 and instead look at 30-60 or 50-70 times, since that is more relevant to merging in traffic.
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Replying to: plekto (Jun 19, 2009 12:08 pm) The word you are looking for is "4WD". Switch into 4WD with snow tires or knobbies/mudders on it and a SUV or truck will creep and crawl over most anything. If you want real safety in the rain, get a Subaru or Audi. If you want it for the snow, switch to 4WD and go slower. I disagree. Full time AWD with limited slip differentials is pretty good in the snow. 4wd with open differentials leads to 3 wheels stopped and one wheel with no traction spinning its heart out. 4wd low locks the transfer case, but then you are going ~12 mph and its not so practical for highway travel. |
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 19, 2009 8:42 am) No way. That must be the number for the base 2.4 non-turbo model. Our XC90 has the same 2.5T as the S60 and even it hits 60 in less than 9 secs. The S60 is about 1,000 lbs lighter. All you can do is drive one and judge for yourself. I don't find them slow, personally. Shame about the G35x in your area. I can probably find a dozen in a few minutes here in NJ. |
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Replying to: plekto (Jun 19, 2009 12:08 pm) Getting it out of my driveway after a fresh snowstorm is about all I need it for. I'm not a particularly reckless driver, so I tend not to drive faster than 85 in any condition, and I don't usually hop into narrow spaces in traffic. So I've driven RWD cars before when renting and never had a problem handling even during snowstorms because I'm not an overly aggressive driver. It would really just be nice to see an opening in the lane next to me when my lane gets clogged and not lose it every time to the guy behind me because his car accelerates faster than mine.  I think that's my ONLY motive.
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I just saw a listing for an AWD 2004 Jaguar X-TYPE 3.0 X-type 3.0. 35k miles, at $13,500. 0-6 in 7 even. Anybody have an experience with this car? Any drawbacks?
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 19, 2009 1:09 pm) |
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Replying to: demigawd (Jun 19, 2009 12:42 pm) Use the money you save by not getting AWD to buy a snow blower.
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