I am a new grad (hopefully) beginning my first job soon. However, I will be commuting about an hour each way to my hospital. I live in NJ, and weather is four season so I need a car that is good in rain, slush, snow, etc. especially because of my long commute.
My only two other requirements for the car are affordable, obviously, because I am a new grad and am just getting on my feet, and decent/good gas mileage. I'm currently driving a 2005 Honda Civic and while it's great on gas, I can barely drive around town without skidding through at least one stop sign in the snow.
Any ideas? I've heard a lot of good things about Subarus.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Not buying it. I had a 93 Honda Civic I drove home through the WV and VA mountains every year through college, never had any issues
with it. My mom did homecare for a decade in a 95 Civic in the notoriously narrow, winding roads of PA, we had more issues with salt than ice.
New brake rotors and tires should be investigated first.
I've lived in southwestern Wisconsin, where it's hilly and in Washington State -- both sides of the mountains and drove back and forth over the mountains frequently. I had a Honda Civic and a Toyota Tercel, both with front wheel drive and never had any issues with either of them. (Well, except for the time I stopped for an accident and a state trooper moved my car off to the side, carefully placing the rear wheels on the pavement "so you'll have traction." Civics are FWD -- one of the first ones around.) I got my first Subaru because the Toyota was worn out and my best friend and I were going scuba diving (shore diving -- right up to the shore, unload the equipment) every week all summer and skiing all winter. I loved it, but I did just as well with the Honda and Toyota. I traded my last Subaru for a Prius, and have never had any issues with that, either.
It's all about knowing how to drive in the snow. The only time I got stuck in the Prius was the time I was coming home from work at 8 AM and the streets hadn't been plowed yet. I was doing just fine until I encountered an imbecile in a big 4WD SUV fishtailing up the middle of the road, who suddenly stopped in the middle of the road halfway up a hill to clean her windshield I couldn't get past her, and got stuck behind her. She couldn't get started again, either. I finally backed down the hill and started up from the bottom and managed to squeeze by her because she was sitting still rather than sliding all over the place. She's still mad at me because I just kept going instead of helping her push her SUV.
Do your research online there are lots of good resources that will be more reliable than a personal recommendation. I would recommend a short term subscription to Consumer Reports to start off your research. I always have purchased their top recommendations in the appropriate category and I have not had to have a car repaired or a car problem in over 30 years. Between today and NYE the ideal time to buy a new 2015 car!
As others have said, it's all about the tires. I would avoid SUV's and trucks, since they aren't actually all that good on ice and snow, even if they are AWD, the center of gravity and overall weight don't do well on slick conditions. They're good for busting out of a plowed in driveway, but after that they're ditch magnets. If you're going to be driving 2 hours a day, I'd focus on a car that will do well with that first (reliable and efficient) and make tires the next priority (either studded x4 or good ice tires), then AWD. (but no rear wheel drive no matter what).
My point was that in 2000, a 10 year old car was a 1990 model. The average longevity of a car then was not ten years. Now it is longer. And 'deserving' a new car? That smacks of financial immaturity.
My husband is still driving his 91' Cherokee and it has almost 200k. He's got a 2 1/2 hr rt commute. Granted it hasn't always been that long but if you have good vehicle maintenance it can be done. I still say if you're asking....Subaru is a good bet. If you wanna not go in debt over your eyeballs look for one that is 3-5 years old. Subs go forever.
OP, you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders. Subs are safe and with your commute, you need to take that into consideration. If you were thinking of a BMW or MB, then I'd consider you irresponsible.
If you bought a new one just make sure it's what you want and will stick with for years to come. I like the idea of a warranty and AWD for your circumstances and would want my nieces to make the same choice.
Subaru's have all wheel drive which works great in the snow, but I've heard that regular cars would be just as good as long as you get snow tires for the winter. Of course then you need a place to store the tires off season and have to pay to have them switched every year. I used to have a honda and it would get stuck in the alley when there was a snow storm, couldn't even use my garage had to park on the street. No such problems with the Subaru Impreza I now have!
A great set of all weather tires are just as good as snow tires! All the years I lived in CT, I never once had snow tires. The cars I drove while living there were a Chevy Cavalier, Volkswagen Jetta, and Honda Civic coupe. All tiny front wheel drive vehicles.
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
Forgot to add, my latest vehicle has been a RWD stick shift Nissan Frontier. That thing is super fun to drive in the snow with some good tires and sandbagged in the back. I've had to back it all the way up my parents' long driveway to get it over snow and ice, good times!
I agree if you plan to buy another vehicle to go used. I have 2 SUVs, "old Jimmy" -a 2000, and "new Jimmy" -a 2001. My SO has a Subaru. We live in the country, SO has a 1-hour commute each way, and I cover nursing homes in 6 counties, so we are both on the road A LOT. "Old Jimmy" was the first 4WD vehicle we ever owned, and I will never go back since we live so far out. I also love the fact that I can use or not use the 4WD as I choose. It gets rather poor gas mileage - 20 - 26 in 2WD, and frankly, when I need the 4WD I NEED it and don't CARE when the gas mileage is - I put safety first! (I also keep excellent 4 season tires on everything.) Good luck - we've been lucky so far this winter!
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I used to drive a Ford Focus. It did fine in the snow, even getting me home in 8" deep unplowed snow one night. The only reason I no longer have it is that it needed some repairs that were nearly the value of the car. I drove it for over 10 years. When it died, I did go for an SUV. I vote for getting brakes and tires checked. A new car payment is a huge commitment when you're also going to be paying student loans and other debts that you may have. Driving in snow is more about the know how than the vehicle.
I'm a Chevy girl. I just had to put a vote in for a Chevy. I have a 2014 Traverse that I absolutely love and does terrific in bad weather. I live in Indiana where you can pretty much have all 4 seasons in a day!! We just had tornadoes in December. One time I had to come the whole way back from Milwaukee in a bad snow and ice storm. One we got south of Chicago it was nothing but ice and my car did awesome. No sliding or anything.
I do a lot of commuting right now as my boyfriend and I live over an hour apart. So I'm constantly driving back and forth. I actually get pretty good gas mileage for a crossover. Especially on the interstate. My car can say I have like 100 miles left until empty and when I get to his house it will be fairly close to 85 miles left even though I drove 55 miles.
I have not not had one issue with this car. Good luck with whatever you buy!!
My husband has a 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback, he is obsessed with detailing it and loves it very much! I have a 2014 Jeep Cherokee that I adore. I have been a Jeep girl for a long time - I drove a Patriot for a long time until I got out of the Army in June, when I traded my Patriot in for a Cherokee (used, but low miles). I haven't bought a NEW new car for a long time.
We live in Savannah, so it's like 80 degrees today and I doubt I will see snow here ever. But when I lived on the side of a mountain in Virginia and commuted across another mountain with 70 miles total round trip for work, I had a Honda Civic hybrid (front wheel drive does well in the snow) and then the Patriot. I still WANT an AWD vehicle now, though I don't need it!
Good luck choosing, OP! I would recommend many test drives. Carmax is fun for that, they usually have a good variety.
Wrench Party
823 Posts
Not buying it. I had a 93 Honda Civic I drove home through the WV and VA mountains every year through college, never had any issues
with it. My mom did homecare for a decade in a 95 Civic in the notoriously narrow, winding roads of PA, we had more issues with salt than ice.
New brake rotors and tires should be investigated first.