Snow capable vehicle for under $5k

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Astro14
4 snow tires for that Civic. $500 or less.

+1


What Civic? The one he gave to his son and needs to replace?

*

I lean towards 4Runner. But the full sized truck might be nice too. If you live in the sticks you might be surprised at the mpg, lots of lonely stretches with few stops. No city parking? The no parking issues.

 

[123Saab]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Originally Posted By: joegreen
I will say that my ford ranger is the worst thing i have driven in the snow.


Nothing that 250-300 lbs of sand properly staged in the bed can't take care of.

I've owned four of them and used one as a commuter for almost 200K on a 130mi/day commute. Passed many 4WD's in ditches. In later years, I didn't even bother putting snow tires on it.


I live on a mountain top overlooking the Delaware river here in PA.

My 2003 Ranger XLT has never failed me in heavy snow, Nokian Vatiiva Tires.

I dont even bother with the sand.

 

[Mr Nice]

Keep the Civic and get snow tires.

 

[123Saab]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Keep the Civic and get snow tires.



He's giving it to his kid.........Read the OP.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Astro14
4 snow tires for that Civic. $500 or less.

+1


What Civic? The one he gave to his son and needs to replace?

Ooops. Buy another Civic.

 

[bmod305]

Any FWD car with skinny snow tires. I have lived in MN my whole life(32 years of driving) and never owned a 4wd truck/suv and I have never gone in the ditch or gotten stock. I also don't live in town; 10 mile country drive into work. FWD car with skinny snows will plow snow with the front bumper. Best snow car I ever had was a 81 Escort with 155/80R13 snows. After a storm here, all the vehicles in the ditch are 4wd & SUV's. High center of gravity and over confidence gets them every time.

Dave

 

[Rolla07]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
4 snow tires for that Civic. $500 or less.

Take it from a Vermonter. Flat landers drive AWD vehicles with all-season tires and frequently end up in ditches.

Natives drive rust bucket sacrificial cars with 4 Nokian Hakkapellitta snow tires and laugh as they stop to help those flat landers in ditches...who always say something like, "but I have 4WD!"


Being a tad north of Vermont, I agree 100% minus the fact he needs to get another vehicle lol . My next winter set is going to be Nokian. I have not had any trouble with my Corolla..and I drive it everywhere in winter ie. Vermont, NY, Ontario and Quebec. Never a problem, drive slow havwle excellent tires and you will be fine. But watch out for those who think a 4X4 is invincible and crashes into you from driving too fast.

Id go with a Subaru..anyone even maybe the impreza orlegacy with AWD and Nokians!

 

[toneydoc]

Jeep Grand Cherokee or Cherokee with the 4 liter straight 6 cyl. They have 4 wheel drive availability. Mine has never had any problems other than routine maint.

 

[Rand]

if you get an older subaru make it one with new headgaskets that have a few miles on them.. as they go bad again if done incorrectly, and already has the timing belt job done

a timing belt+ HG job runs about 2k

snowtires will get you anywhere as long as the snow itself doesnt start ripping off bumper and car parts.

you wont get much for 5000$

best thing would be to find something not too low to the ground and put good snow tires on it.

 

[Mike242GT]

Don't let the need for a timing belt scare you away from option #1. It's actually a fairly easy DIY job. Just make sure you do the rollers, tensioner and water pump while everything is apart. Head gaskets are more of a concern as others have mentioned.

 

[eljefino]

I like the cherokee idea. An F150 is just acres of body metal you have to keep clear of snow and ice. Cherokees can roll on reasonably thin 205 or 215 snow tires.

I have folks in Vermont. Everything teeters on a hill. You have to stop on hills then start again. I like getting a running start in snow like the next guy but this is sometimes impossible. There are bunches of tiny bridges and railroad crossings with insane angles you will be expected to stop and restart on.

I get around great 100 miles to the east with snows and a FWD saturn. But I'd probably get something that can spin more wheels. My dad has a Matrix AWD wagon. It's not that great a car, at 100k it's already eaten a transmission, the airbag light is on though it never wrecked. But he's getting around.

Beware VT inspects cars, so don't get a total clunker.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: bmod305
Any FWD car with skinny snow tires.

Dave


^ This!

and this is coming from someone on his second Subaru, with lots of Subarus in the family.

Not only is a $5K Soob going to have a ton of miles on it, potential HG issues and various other leaks, it's probably going to have a rotted out rear subframe that often gets overlooked.

Good snow tires all the way around on a FWD vehicle makes them pretty awesome snow beasts.

 

[wsar10]

lots of thoughts and opinions here........ But AGAIN the one that comes up the most is a JEEP !!

The 4.0 is bullet proof (other than 99-01), the AW4 auto in the XJ's (Cherokee) is probably the best auto tranny JEEP ever used. Even better go to the AX15 5spd and its bullet proof as-well, SOLID FRONT AXLE (a must for a REAL 4x4), go with the 231 TC and it will also be bullet proof.......Your looking down south, so floor pan rust will not be an issue, no need for added weight in the winter plus you have eth e back seat and still cargo area, not to mention your son can than find a JEEP club local and have unlimited fun !!
a 5spd XJ will still do AT LEAST 20mpg in town and between 25-30mpg hi-way (stock), they are simple to work on and parts are cheap... and he can also become a Rotella user !! LOL !

further more it wil live as long as the Subie but with more capability and room, will also live as long as the Yota but without the (ridiculous) Toyota price tag.....

 

[buster]

I'd find a well maintained Subaru. Subarus are fantastic in snow with winter tires. I can't think of a better vehicle for winter use.

Unless you have full locking diffs in the front and back, which most of the vehicles mentioned above do not have, then you're not going to beat a Subaru in the snow/ice with good tires.

 

[glock19]

Drive what the locals drive. The most popular car in Vermont is the Subaru Outback. Just make sure you get snow tires no matter what you buy.

Reference: http://jalopnik.com/these-are-the-most-popular-new-cars-in-each-state-586657057

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: bigdreama
My teenage son will soon take our beat up '02 Civic as his own so that means that I need to find a replacement vehicle. Since we will be moving to Vermont full-time within 2-3 years and we have a long steep driveway not to mention that the cabin is on a class 4 road that is not plowed, it will need to be awd or 4x4.

Buying a new car is not an option at this time but since we are still in Florida I would like to find a local rust free car to take up north. I have scoured CL to see what is available in the market to get a general idea of what would work for me and I came up with three potential options.

Option #1. Subaru Forester or Outback around 10 years old. Great cars and there seem to be quite a few available but they all seem to be at or around 100k in mileage and due for a timing belt. Not a deal breaker but worth noting.

Option #2. Mid to late 90's Toyota 4runner. I previously owned a '96 and they are absolute tanks but getting hard to find in decent condition without a million miles on them.

Option #3. Late 90's to early 2000's Ford F150 4x4. Surprisingly hard to find here in red neck country but persistence can pay off.

So with a $5000 budget, which option would you prefer? A suggested 4th option would be welcome too.


1996-2001 Jeep Cherokee.

Ship four of these to Vermont before the snow flies.

 

[fdcg27]

My pick would be an AWD Impreza or Legacy with the 2.2.
This engine is smoother than the 2.5 and seems less inclined to suffer head gasket failure.
Any AWD Subaru is pretty idiot proof in winter driving and should get you through anything you're likely to see.
OTOH, a 4X4 pickup would be mighty handy out in the sticks.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Wow, lots of responses and some good ideas. I guess that I should add a Cherokee to my list too.

Thanks to your suggestions I am considering just buying my son a car and keeping the Civic. We have owned it since new and it has new tires and a new timing belt. It is a known commodity and keeps taking the abuse that I heap on it and asks for more.

FWD with snow tires and I'm good to go, huh?

Abuse: pulling a u-haul trailer 1500 miles to Vermont.

 

[Clevy]

I live in Saskatchewan. We get snow,lots of it.
Most fwd cars are great in snow,especially with good tires. You don't need awd or 4wd.
My charger with snow tires was fantastic last year in the snow,rubber is the key.

 

[jeepman3071]

I'd say it depends how far you are off the beaten path. If plows rarely pass by your road during the winter, I would say a FWD car is out. Those saying a FWD car with snow tires is the best option haven't driven in the snow in the middle of nowhere in VT. In areas where the roads aren't plowed as frequently, if you get a major 12" snow storm, that can mean 12" of snow on the road. You can only push so much snow with a civic, especially up hill. Ground clearance is a must in these situations.

Subarus have head gasket issues, and they are a pain to fix.

The 4Runner is a solid option, but like you said they are getting harder to find without a million miles on them.

I'd look for a Jeep Cherokee 1991-1999 with the 4.0L engine and Automatic. The drivetrain is bullet proof and in Florida they should be rust free. There are a bit more of them around as well compared to the older 4Runners. 2000-2001 Cherokees crack the head, especially when overheated, but I've done 3 head replacements on friend's Jeeps and it is basically like working on a large lawn mower. Very simple and easy to DIY. Parts are also everywhere and easy to find.