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"
Today's Front Wheel Drive vehicles work just as well as the AWD. The car guy told me there was no real difference drive wise. And he was right. Never have had an issue.
Well, that's a stretch. A FWD vehicle with a good set of snow tires can be just as good as an AWD vehicle in some situations, and might actually be better than an AWD with crap all-season tires, but that certainly is not the case for all vehicles in all situations. Vehicle clearance can be an issue. Your "car guy" was trying to sell you a vehicle. Your lack of issues with your FWD car really isn't absolute proof that he was right.
Today's Front Wheel Drive vehicles work just as well as the AWD. .......... I saved by not getting the AWD. The car guy told me there was no real difference drive wise. And he was right. Never have had an issue.
Today's front wheel drive don't do as well as AWD or 4-wheel drive but they are ok.
Yes! But I knew about that issue before I bought the car, my oil light went on the other day so I bought some oil and just topped it off, I'm getting it changed next week.........but for all the things that can go wrong with a car I think it's a minor issue and really easy to fix (add more oil!).....for the 2015 model year on the forester I believe they still hold the best resale value/reliability for its class
Yes! But I knew about that issue before I bought the car, my oil light went on the other day so I bought some oil and just topped it off, I'm getting it changed next week.........but for all the things that can go wrong with a car I think it's a minor issue and really easy to fix (add more oil!).....for the 2015 model year on the forester I believe they still hold the best resale value/reliability for its class
How often are you adding oil? More than the usual for a boxer engine? Subaru considers it burning oil if it's more than a quart every 1200 miles I think. And I agree, unless you are adding oil every week I think people are making a mountain out of a molehill or don't understand the idiosyncracies of the boxer engine. I'd rather add a little extra oil then have my AWD fail when I needed it the most.
"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.
I had been wondering if I was the only person who thought this on reading the OP ...
I think this is a really good idea and I'm glad you brought it up b/c it's something I'll consider for myself later. Like you I'm working on pre-reqs and hoping to be in a program Fall 2016. My husband has a 4WD vehicle and he's able to get places when I can't, so great idea.
However I do agree this may be a bit premature. I won't be able to consider a new vehicle at all until I'm making an RN's salary as opposed to the crappy one I make now. If you can afford it, I guess there's no harm in it, though.
The problem was with some of the 2014's. They discovered the problem (bad rings), they fixed the problem. No car is perfect. There are always going to be some that have issues. The majority of Forester owners have absolutely no oil burning issues. You're making it sound like these are POS vehicles and they aren't. Subarus always burn a little more oil than other cars. It's because of the orientation of the engine. This is not a design flaw just a consequence. Which is why it's in the manual to check it more frequently. I have owned 3 Foresters and have had zero problems with them. Every one I know who has owned Subarus (and it's a lot since I'm a skier) have had zero problems with them.
Honda makes good cars but recently have embarassed themselves when it was determined that their AWD isn't really AWD at all because the transmission overheats when the rear wheels spin which disables the AWD. And yes, it took a lawsuit for them to admit it. Frankly, I think having a virtually non-functional AWD system on EVERY vehicle is much worse than the few vehicles that burned a little oil. All car manufacturers are the same. It's a bottom line focus not a customer focus. I'm getting the feeling you got your info from a Honda salesman.
I agree. Honda is losing business because of this. What was once a great car company is now turning itself in. Subarus are the original AWD vehicles. That is their concept. When something isn't broken, you do not fix it. All cars have problems. Subaru is not a car. It is a company, who believes in their idea of what true AWD is. They are willing to adjust and research behind AWD. Why do you think they have a different engine blueprint? Every car has a philosophy. Car makers attempt to master that philosophy. A Ferrari wouldn't attempt to change their company's idea for the sake of making ONE capable AWD vehicle.
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.
Snow tires would be my recommendation if wanting to pay for an improvement in snow driving performance. In practice I drive a front wheel drive (much safer on snow than rear wheel drive) Saturn sedan that I paid 3 grand for almost 10 years ago. I don't yet have snow tires but just make sure the tires are replaced when they show enough wear, and only drive when I have to on the snow.
Along these lines, I enjoyed a Mr Money Mustache article titled "All Wheel Drive Does Not Make You Safer", written by an author dealing with snow in Colorado who recommends snow tires. I'm not sure if posting links is frowned upon, but it can easily be found via google.
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
The problem was with some of the 2014's. They discovered the problem (bad rings), they fixed the problem. No car is perfect. There are always going to be some that have issues. The majority of Forester owners have absolutely no oil burning issues. You're making it sound like these are POS vehicles and they aren't. Subarus always burn a little more oil than other cars. It's because of the orientation of the engine. This is not a design flaw just a consequence. Which is why it's in the manual to check it more frequently. I have owned 3 Foresters and have had zero problems with them. Every one I know who has owned Subarus (and it's a lot since I'm a skier) have had zero problems with them.
Honda makes good cars but recently have embarassed themselves when it was determined that their AWD isn't really AWD at all because the transmission overheats when the rear wheels spin which disables the AWD. And yes, it took a lawsuit for them to admit it. Frankly, I think having a virtually non-functional AWD system on EVERY vehicle is much worse than the few vehicles that burned a little oil. All car manufacturers are the same. It's a bottom line focus not a customer focus. I'm getting the feeling you got your info from a Honda salesman.
May want to do more research, complaints about excessive oil consumption are already coming in on the 2015! Apparently the issue is not fixed.
I don't agree that all new cars have issues, I have had several that had zero issues and never had problems. The one I just bought has been the first one I have every had issues with as a new vehicle... and it is minor compared to other problems I am hearing about. Nissan apparently had to recall a 2014 or 15 model because the wheel can fall off.... ugh!
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FlyingScot, RN
2,016 Posts
Well, that's a stretch. A FWD vehicle with a good set of snow tires can be just as good as an AWD vehicle in some situations, and might actually be better than an AWD with crap all-season tires, but that certainly is not the case for all vehicles in all situations. Vehicle clearance can be an issue. Your "car guy" was trying to sell you a vehicle. Your lack of issues with your FWD car really isn't absolute proof that he was right.