Thoughts? Comments? Feedback

As part of the move back to Boston, it's time to make another purchase: a car.  I'll be commuting to the 'burbs to work out of our HQ (working from an office for the first time in three years instead of in my pajamas or from a coffee shop is an entirely different post. The wardrobe implications alone are enough to stress me out).

Since it's Boston and I plan to spend the majority of the winter weekends at Mt. Snow, I suppose a 4wd would come in handy. I was thinking of a Rav4 - unlike most SUVs, they get the same gas mileage as most cars, better than the Outback even, and are on the smaller side (as far as SUVs go anyway). For some reason, I still feel guilty driving an SUV --- I feel like I would have to put a sticker on it with the gas mileage just so I don't get dirty looks from all my earthy crunchy neighbors. I'd love to get the Highlander hybrid, but I'm supremely cash poor. Thoughts or suggestions on other 4wd cars I should be looking at?

Comments

[hubs]

Subaru Outback (sedan or wagon are bith cool)

[Jen]

See, and here I was all set to make a joke about Subarus. Damn.

I have several friends who are very satisfied with the Honda CR-V. I love my Saturn coupe, but it's not the chick magnet that the ads make it out to be. Nor does it have 4WD. Bygones.

[Meri]

What about a regular car with 4WD. I love my volvo S40 and even without 4WD it is really good in the snow. Glad you are moving back!! When do you close?

[Dorothy Snarker]

My family swears by the CRV. Seven years and counting for my parents and no problems (well, except when my dad forgot to put on the hand break while on a hill and rolled across an intersection and into a stone wall...) But I don't think we can blame Honda for that.

[tj]

I know saturn makes a suv that gets great gas milage and seeing my family has destroyed more cars than most have families have owned, I feel like I can say that saturns are good cars and hard to kill. they are also pretty cheap and easy to buy as there is no haggling, set prices all around.
tj

[K.]

I'm a huge fan of the Ford Escape - though there is a certain amount of wimp-factor to the small SUV. It doesn't get terrible gas mileage and it's made in America...god bless America...err...

Did I mention that it comes in a really hot yellow?

[Nick]

There are plenty of SUV's out there that get good gas mileage, the Escape / Rav4 / Grand Vitara for example. I would though look into the all wheel drive cars. My recomendation would be to buy used. 2004 or newer, look for the used vehicles with fully transferable warranties, you will save youself a ton of cash. Also, unless you know the person your buying the car from get your own financing froma credit union. If you have any questions or need some help negotiating a good deal or would like to make a quick 40 min trek north remember I am a Finance and Sales Manager at a large dealership up here in NH.

[John]

you should feel guilty.
get a CJ-7.
not great in the snow or all that reliable.

[sarah]

Not to mention the CJ-7 gets about 15 mpg and Jeeps going more than 25 miles an hour have a tendency to rollover. Haha, I did have fun wrecking your transmission learning to drive stick on that though. Oh, good times, good times.