Cars - how do I make a good purchase decision?

[Mountain trapper]

The guy I know who restores VW buses and vans replaces the VW engine with Subaru engines.

I've heard of people using Porsche engines too.

 

[Aerindel]

Something else to consider when buying a vehicle, AWD is not the same as 4 wheel drive. Most car salesmen will try convincing a buyer that they're the same. Many cheap "throw-away" vehicles are AWD. Spend the extra $$ and get a real 4 wheel drive. I guess, if most of your driving is on city streets it doesn't really matter.

This is true.

But AWD is still an order of magnitude better than 2WD and a lot more available.

 

[Weedygarden]

I've heard of people using Porsche engines too.

Now I have to put that on my list of things to ask about. Daughter has her (deceased) dad's 914 Porsche. Doesn't that have a VW engine?

 

[Spikedriver]

Something else to consider when buying a vehicle, AWD is not the same as 4 wheel drive. Most car salesmen will try convincing a buyer that they're the same. Many cheap "throw-away" vehicles are AWD. Spend the extra $$ and get a real 4 wheel drive. I guess, if most of your driving is on city streets it doesn't really matter.

This is a point of contention for me. In my experience a good AWD is actually more useful for 99% of the world than 4x4. The old AWD from the 90s was junk but the newer systems are fantastic. For nearly all situations it works better because you always have an instant 4 wheel traction capability but you're never speed restricted. True 4x4 shouldn't be used at interstate speeds and isn't good on pavement. My 4x4 will hop the front end on pavement if it goes from ice to a dry spot in a turn. AWD has similar capability for mud and snow - I've seen a Subaru Outback driving in circles around a half ton Chevy 4x4 that was buried in the snow. It's just not good for rock climbing or hill descents. I'd never take one on a technical off road trail. But if I had an AWD that has around 9" of ground clearance and good tires, I'm pretty confident about nearly anything I'm going to do. There's a reason that there are so many Subarus in the mountain states - they can go wherever people need to get to. Most other AWDs aren't quite as capable, but most of us choose not to live where we need it...

 

[Aerindel]

Now I have to put that on my list of things to ask about. Daughter has her (deceased) dad's 914 Porsche. Doesn't that have a VW engine?

Well, depending on who you ask, VW engines, are Porsche engines. You could saw VW and Prosche, was a Toyota, Lexus relationship.

True 4x4 shouldn't be used at interstate speeds and isn't good on

And yet.....I've driven thousands and thousands of miles like that. Its really only on newer vehicles that they say this....and just because....lawyers....because as you say, it can be unpredictable if your not used to it.

But I always switch to 4X4 on my truck once I get on the highway. I've almost wrecked before when hit ice, while on the gas, the rear wheels instantly kick out in 2WD.

I have no problem with AWD....like I said, I have a fleet of subarus....
But I notice a real difference between my subarus and my Tundras 4WD system. Mainly that the AWD only really works, once you start slipping.
Which DOES work...but the truck feels a lot more controllable because the 4WD is either fully on, or off. My Subaru is 80-20 front wheel drive, until the rear wheels slip enough for the viscous clutch to harden up.

Really I think both are fine....but different.

 

[Spikedriver]

Well, depending on who you ask, VW engines, are Porsche engines. You could saw VW and Prosche, was a Toyota, Lexus relationship.



And yet.....I've driven thousands and thousands of miles like that. Its really only on newer vehicles that they say this....and just because....lawyers....because as you say, it can be unpredictable if your not used to it.

But I always switch to 4X4 on my truck once I get on the highway. I've almost wrecked before when hit ice, while on the gas, the rear wheels instantly kick out in 2WD.

I have no problem with AWD....like I said, I have a fleet of subarus....
But I notice a real difference between my subarus and my Tundras 4WD system. Mainly that the AWD only really works, once you start slipping.
Which DOES work...but the truck feels a lot more controllable because the 4WD is either fully on, or off. My Subaru is 80-20 front wheel drive, until the rear wheels slip enough for the viscous clutch to harden up.

Really I think both are fine....but different.

I had a '76 Chevy 3/4 ton when I was a kid, 350 engine and full time 4x4. It mostly got dirt road and mild off road use in farm fields and such. You're right, it did fine on pavement. It was geared to top out at about 65MPH though, and I rarely hit that speed. As far as I know it never actually saw an interstate highway in its lifetime. The previous owner and I both stuck to 55mph 2 lane roads if we had to take a highway. It only got 7mpg at 55MPH so why push it faster, right?

 

[montanabill]

We had a dodge durango for a while because we needed third row seating. It was a bit beat up on the outside but nice leather inside.
One dark and stormy night my wife was out exploring with it (on gravel roads) and she noticed it was in 4WD so she took it out of 4WD and back into AWD. Unfortunately I had taken the front drive shaft out to work on it......In 4WD it would power the back wheels but in AWD it just sat there. No cell coverage in the boonies but being montana someone stopped and gave her a ride.

 

[Mountain trapper]

This is a point of contention for me. In my experience a good AWD is actually more useful for 99% of the world than 4x4. The old AWD from the 90s was junk but the newer systems are fantastic. For nearly all situations it works better because you always have an instant 4 wheel traction capability but you're never speed restricted. True 4x4 shouldn't be used at interstate speeds and isn't good on pavement. My 4x4 will hop the front end on pavement if it goes from ice to a dry spot in a turn. AWD has similar capability for mud and snow - I've seen a Subaru Outback driving in circles around a half ton Chevy 4x4 that was buried in the snow. It's just not good for rock climbing or hill descents. I'd never take one on a technical off road trail. But if I had an AWD that has around 9" of ground clearance and good tires, I'm pretty confident about nearly anything I'm going to do. There's a reason that there are so many Subarus in the mountain states - they can go wherever people need to get to. Most other AWDs aren't quite as capable, but most of us choose not to live where we need it...

Yes and no. I seldom ever drive on interstates, and never drive in 4 wheel drive on bare pavement. That's just asking for trouble. I can shift in and out of 4 wheel drive at any speed that I need to on snow and ice covered roads.
The problem with AWD cars are just that, they are more like cars and not meant for rough terrain. Most have very low ground clearance. Yes, Subarus are popular in areas with plowed roads and where ground clearance isn't that important. Where I live I need a vehicle with high ground clearance for deep snow, deep mud and rutted roads. For me a 4 wheel drive vehicle isn't a play thing, its a necessary tool.

 

[Spikedriver]

Yes and no. I seldom ever drive on interstates, and never drive in 4 wheel drive on bare pavement. That's just asking for trouble. I can shift in and out of 4 wheel drive at any speed that I need to on snow and ice covered roads.
The problem with AWD cars are just that, they are more like cars and not meant for rough terrain. Most have very low ground clearance. Yes, Subarus are popular in areas with plowed roads and where ground clearance isn't that important. Where I live I need a vehicle with high ground clearance for deep snow, deep mud and rutted roads. For me a 4 wheel drive vehicle isn't a play thing, its a necessary tool.

Subaru Foresters and outbacks have more ground clearance than a lot of 4x4 trucks. A stock Silverado 1500 LT 4x4 has 8.1 inches. A stock F150XLT supercab 4x4 has 9.4 inches. A stock Forester or Outback has 8.7 inches, and wilderness trims have 9.5 inches. Of course an off-road model truck like a Trail Boss or FX4 has more. But once again, what a person does with the vehicle dictates what's necessary. I can easily get by with a 8 inch clearance, and my Taco has far more than that. Most any AWD crossover will handle anything I ever throw at it, unless it's something like tiny Corolla Cross that isn't much higher than a car.

 

[Aerindel]

Subaru Foresters and outbacks have more ground clearance than a lot of 4x4 trucks

Yeah, I was gonna say this too. Its not comparable with a lifted 4x4 jeep....but it also costs a lot less.

But I figured I'm disqualified, because I lifted my Subaru I've got 12 inches under my 2000.