AWD Car Recommendations

[CRT1]

My wife has an '04 CRV AWD with the AT and we are pretty happy with that. Good overall utility and comfort and she gets about 23 around town and 26 on the highway using her normal driving (not HM) techniques. She only drives it about 50 miles per week to/from train station so we have no compelling reason to retire it.

I have to 2rd, or 3rd the notion that she *may* be able to live without AWD. When I lived in upstate NY I had a pair of winter tires I would put on the front of my '97 civic and I never had any trouble even with unplowed snow up to 6".

Also, if you can get her into a Manual Trans I think that will really pay off for everyone in the long run. I bought a AT thinking it would be better for the family but I should have gotten a MT and let my wife drive it for 2 months. She, like your girl, knows how but just needed some encouragement and some time for it to become 2nd nature. Now that I am just starting to get it HMing, I am regretting the decision. It is hard to beat the HM potential of MTs unless you want to go hybrid or EV

[abcdpeterson]

Subaru

We have had a few AWD.
Chevy Luv (Isuzu), Toyota Tercel, 2 Jeep Cherokee's, 3 Subaru's, and a Mazda Tribute (Ford Escape).

Subaru has been best over all. One of my top choices for when you need AWD, and best mileage by far. I wanted my wife in something safe, she wanted something that drove like a car, after the 1st Subaru she wants nothing else. 1st was lost in an accident, 2nd to head gasket problems at around 170k miles, 3rd is still going at 160k miles.

[TIGR]

What a great bunch of replies! Thank you all.

I'm on the fence about AWD. We are out in the boonies and even her Land Rover has wound up stuck in snow—circumstances include a long driveway and a rarely-plowed gravel road—AWD here is for "pushing through" more than it is for steering straight. However, energy conservation and financial responsibility are important to us.

Every suggestion is appreciated and I am looking them over one by one.

[MaxxMPG]

If a Land Rover is getting stuck in the local snow drifts, it's time to consider some winter tires and swap them out between Thanksgiving and Easter. My cars do pretty well with deep snow in the mountains with only front drive with traction control and a decent set of Blizzaks. The Nokian brand has its share of fans as well, and either one will give you the traction you need to get around with minimal risk of getting stuck. AWD and winter tires are the best bet for getting through the hundred-year-blizzards, but I find that anything up to a foot of powder can be driven through with only the two front wheels and a little blinking of the Trac light.

[WriConsult]

Well, a long unplowed driveway was one of the "unless" conditions I mentioned when I said most people don't need AWD. Guess you'll have to decide for yourself, and whether you'll live with not being able to get out once or twice a year, and given your situation I certainly won't be able to second-guess your choice. Do bear in mind that a 2WD vehicle with good winter tires and a 2nd gen TC system is phenomenally more capable in the snow than an older 2WD with regular all-season tires.

[phoebeisis]

Peace of mind and not having to jump thru hoops when your wife gets stuck is worth something.
Like WriConsult says-long unplowed drive- no fun.
Besides some folks are more adept snow drivers than others- is your wife "good" at snow drivi
Put another way are you a sexist that insists on protecting your wife-and implying she isn't a Vodka fueled Finnish World Class Vodka autocross snow driver??
Yes- if you buy a AWD you are sexist!!

Just kidding-Wri has it right-lotta great AWD out there-and they have rain and icy roads safety advantages over 2wd-not just the "less likely to get stuck in deep snow" advantage
Charlie