AWD vehicle for nurses

Madras · Apr 5, 2015

Keep the fuel efficient car while in school. With all the driving back and forth plus clinical sites you'll be happy you did. Especially idling in traffic on Long Island for what may be more than an hour most days. Get your big kid car when you are a nurse. Make it a gift to yourself for all the hard work!

I drove a Honda Fit all through nursing school. Great on gas driving back and forth 5+ days a week. Got myself a brand new Durango when I got my first job. And so glad I did, we had snowfall like crazy that winter! The plus was it takes e85 which costs less to fill up as well.

Nurse_Kimurtle, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2015

I live in North Florida where it doesn't snow but rains like a MOFO and the roads get scary slippery when extremely wet. I traded in my 2002 Kia Sportage for a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, after I got my first LPN job, that is 62 miles from where I live. I ABSOLUTELY LOOOOOOOOOOOVE this SUV! I've put almost 20,000 miles on it in the last 7 months, going back and forth to work but it gets up to 31 mpg. I wanted the Wrangler but it gets up to 19 mpg, so I'll have to wait on that until I can find something closer to home. I have to say that this car was the BEST buy I could have made!! A good car to get yourself back and forth to work, without an issue, is ALWAYS a good thing and a GOOD investment. :yes:

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Apr 5, 2015

The longer you keep a vehicle the more money you save over your lifetime. Frankly the more often you trade in for a new car, the more money you waste, in the thousands! This practice of frequent car buying also increases your chances of ending upside down in a car loan, owing more than it is worth as new cars depreciate right off the lot. Most cars should last at least 100,000 miles, many can make it to 200,000 with only modest maintenance costs. I wouldn't be in a hurry to ditch a fuel efficient car. Also I'm not an expert on AWD but I've heard you can get cars where you can turn it on or off depending on the weather conditions. That would be preferable as you know AWD lowers gas mileage. I've read that using snow tires would work just as well or better than AWD, but how many people take the time and money to switch to snow tires in the winter, instead we use all season radials that don't perform well in the winter. Subaru is known for AWD being standard and for some of the highest safety measures. Does anyone know what particular make and model comes with an AWD button that you push just when needed?

I see you want to trade in for an older car. It is true that used cars are considered cheaper, but I don't think I would buy a car that old 2005. I still think you should keep your Elantra. Why would you want to change to an older car with less gas mileage that will probably need more repairs and also probably be less safe. The newer models usually have higher safety standards.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Apr 5, 2015

It makes no sense to trade a reliable, fuel efficient 2 year old car for a 5-10 year gas guzzler of unknown reliability that will be ~10-15 years old by the time you graduate. Also, AWD are more expensive to maintain. Your present car should need little more than oil changes, tires, and brakes for the 1st 100,000 miles. Your car takes its major depreciation in the first few years, then tapers off, so money wise the smartest thing to do is to keep on driving what you got, for as long as you can.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Apr 5, 2015

I have a 2015 Mazda CX5 - sporty, fast, cross over, good gas mileage, AWD and handles the "snow belt" well. All for roughly 25k new stocked well ...ie navigation.
Seriously, check they out. People love them. My mom just bought one few months ago because she loved mine.

Good choice I hear, I have so many regrets...

I was waiting for the Honda HR-V, but since Honda is taking forever to get it into the showroom I said forget it and went with the CR-V, my mistake!

Enjoy the new ride!

Annie

neuroRN14 · Apr 5, 2015

I live and work on Long Island. I drive a Subaru Outback Sport and would't trade it for anything. Thing got me everywhere this winter. Snow storm? No problem, I'll be in for my start time. Hurricaine? Got it. But even in an AWD vehicle take it slow, chill in the right lane and don't try anything crazy.

Btw I didn't go to Molloy but know several people who did, message me if you need anything. (Also consider Farmingdale State College, its also on Long Island and is a state school so significantly cheaper)

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 5, 2015

So a "i think it might be a grown up decision" thought came into my head. I'm currently a pre-nursing student working on my pre reqs. I'm at a community college right now working for my ADN. However, my school's program is very competitive (3.8 recommended, I have a 3.7 program GPA, 2.8 cumulative -- I failed algebra + trig). I'll probably be transferring to Molloy University in Long Island once I get 20-30 credits or so (if anyone has any knowledge on Molloy's program, and/or any info on community college to a 4 year university transfer student experiences/perspectives please enlighten me :] ).
My "I think it might be a grown up decision" thought is the following:
If I'm going to be a future Nurse / healthcare provider when I'm older, shouldn't I have an AWD vehicle as a daily driver? I mean I already work in a hospital, I know nurses at my job receive hell when a snow storm happens. THey're not allowed to call out, some have to sleep at hospital so they can come into work the next day. If they do call out they receive zero pay, administration is up their butts. Not fun.
My current car, a 2013 hyundai elantra is great on gas for college/work. I'm thinking of trading it in though at the expense for higher costs in gas, for a 2005-2010 jeep grandcherokee. That way by the time I graduate my "work vehicle" is almost paid off.
TL;DR
As a dedicated pre-nursing student, should I keep my gas efficient car and lose trade-in value over the years for when I eventually get my "work vehicle" which would be an AWD daily (jeep grandcherokee specifically).
Or trade in my gas efficient vehicle now, not lose as much trade in value, for my future "work-vehicle"

"I am going to be a future nurse"?

"If I'm going to be a future nurse/healthcare provider when I'm older . . . "

You've simply made up your mind that you want a new car. There's no "adult decision making" or practicality about it. You just want a different car now and you're trying to rationalize it so you can "sell it". To yourself or your parents or your partner, I don't know.

You need to minimize bills right now, and the gas efficient car you already own is far more practical that getting a different car that you don't really need right now.

waiting4ivpush · Apr 5, 2015

I live and work on Long Island. I drive a Subaru Outback Sport and would't trade it for anything. Thing got me everywhere this winter. Snow storm? No problem, I'll be in for my start time. Hurricaine? Got it. But even in an AWD vehicle take it slow, chill in the right lane and don't try anything crazy.
Btw I didn't go to Molloy but know several people who did, message me if you need anything. (Also consider Farmingdale State College, its also on Long Island and is a state school so significantly cheaper)

I considered Farmingdale if Molloy doesn't accept me. I still have to work on some credits so I'll probably be applying in a few semesters. For the people you know who did go to Molloy, how competitive were they as applicants?

waiting4ivpush · Apr 5, 2015

The longer you keep a vehicle the more money you save over your lifetime. Frankly the more often you trade in for a new car, the more money you waste, in the thousands! This practice of frequent car buying also increases your chances of ending upside down in a car loan, owing more than it is worth as new cars depreciate right off the lot. Most cars should last at least 100,000 miles, many can make it to 200,000 with only modest maintenance costs. I wouldn't be in a hurry to ditch a fuel efficient car. Also I'm not an expert on AWD but I've heard you can get cars where you can turn it on or off depending on the weather conditions. That would be preferable as you know AWD lowers gas mileage. I've read that using snow tires would work just as well or better than AWD, but how many people take the time and money to switch to snow tires in the winter, instead we use all season radials that don't perform well in the winter. Subaru is known for AWD being standard and for some of the highest safety measures. Does anyone know what particular make and model comes with an AWD button that you push just when needed?
I see you want to trade in for an older car. It is true that used cars are considered cheaper, but I don't think I would buy a car that old 2005. I still think you should keep your Elantra. Why would you want to change to an older car with less gas mileage that will probably need more repairs and also probably be less safe. The newer models usually have higher safety standards.

Yup it makes sense logically. And I'm going to keep the elantra I have now, my parents have an SUV for those type of days I can borrow. Side note, I only said 2005 because of the WK model which ran from 05-2010. I was daydreaming of a 2009/2010. But just gonna bust my ass in school and worry about it when I need to. THanks for all the replies people!

waiting4ivpush · Apr 5, 2015

Actually not true. There were a small number that had this problem and they have figured it out. I have a Forester and it does NOT burn oil.

subarus ftw. If anything they are bullet proof. Sure there are a few bad batches. That goes with anything in life.

ponymom · Apr 6, 2015

I have a 1998 sedan, a 2002 mid-size pickup and a 2014 3/4 ton pickup and drive all of them all winter. They are all good in the snow because they all have proper winter tires.

Proper winter tires are the most important factor, everything else is really just secondary.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Apr 6, 2015

I work in home health in Vermont. Most of my colleagues drive Subarus. After driving a Pontiac Vibe for 5 years, I bought a 2012 Subaru Legacy in December. It's roomy (even with 2 big car seats) and gets better mileage than most trucks.