Car

Published

Hi, I am thinking about buying a new used car. I am trying to decide what would be the best car to buy for home health. I also am a home health travel nurse so I move about every 3 months and have to tote all of my stuff with me. What cars do you all recommend?

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Subaru Outback

Toyota Highlander

I have driven these for the past few years. I currently have a 2014 Outback with 66,000 miles on it - although I don't do home health, I travel a lot and drive in snow, ice, etc.,

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

All wheel drive with snow tires. Audi or subaru are the top choices for the mountains. My home base has been vail Colorado for the past 4 years. We drive on alot of snow up in the mountains. They key is having good tires. You should be able to find decent prices on these if you do a national search and are willing to drive a little to pick it up. BMW actually makes some decent AWD vehicles also....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
I would like something that I could drive in a New England winter.

That's what I needed to know!!!! I really think a Subaru Outback would be perfect and in New England you should have no difficulty finding one. I also second getting snow tires. Your best bet would to get a second set of wheels and have the snow tires mounted on them. It will make it easier for you or your shop to swap them out when the season changes. Some tire stores will store your extra ones for a small fee so you don't lose garage space.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I guess in the case of NE, I would have to put big monster wheels on my super van, but I don't think a van would make for a good home in an area that looks like some of the places that have been shown on the news lately. Would have to opt for an indoors place to sleep at night in that case.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The official car of New England is the suburu. Great for snowy conditions, plus some are hatchbacks which is great for transporting stuff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

In a winter weather region I personally wouldn't even look at a car. A small to mid size SUV or crossover has much better ground clearance. The extra height is also nice for seeing over and around snow banks and parked cars at corners.

I live in the frozen northland and drive a used Ford Escape. The front wheel drive model gets me were I'm going, though I did opt for the V6 engine for the extra power for towing [i've used that feature a few times]. But anything with front or all wheel drive would be good for traction as long as you have good tires. Anything made by Suburu always rates highly for safety and performance, and while I wouldn't mind one the price even used was an ouch to me, so I opted for the Ford and haven't regretted my choice at all. I bought a 2008 model in 2010 and have had zero problems. Plus the heater is great, which is very important to me when the temp is regularly below zero. On the flip side the AC really cranks too, so it's a comfortable vehicle temp wise year round. Whatever you decide to buy, do yourself a favor and have an autostart installed. So nice to get into a warm and defrosted vehicle!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

Subaru Outback with Bridgestone Blizzak snowtires.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Blizzaks are the bomb!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
BMW actually makes some decent AWD vehicles also....

BMW AWD are more than decent. I have had 4 of them. 2 were the 3 series the other 2 were the 5 series. All were beasts in our New England weather. I live in a very hilly area and all of those cars went up and down those hills that were covered in snow like they were driving on nice dry pavement.

My sister-in-law has a very steep driveway. One particular night, it was winter and her driveway was like a sheet of ice. My car went up that driveway like it was nothing. It was like claws came out of the tires and just dug into the ice.

I've never had snow tires on any of those cars...never needed them.

I stupidly traded in my last BMW AWD when the lease was up and got an AWD Cadillac. Love the Caddy..except in snow, slush or ice. Pretty pathetic AWD feels just like I'm in any other front wheel drive car in the snow. I even caved and spent the money for snow tires...still not liking how it handles in the snow. Learned my lesson, never again. Back to BMW I go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Everyone, thank you very much for your posts! I was driving a 2013 BMW 328 xDrive and it was good in the snow, but I was tired of the high payments and it cost to much to maintain. I ended up buying a 2012 Toyota Highlander 4WD....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Everyone, thank you very much for your posts! I was driving a 2013 BMW 328 xDrive and it was good in the snow, but I was tired of the high payments and it cost to much to maintain. I ended up buying a 2012 Toyota Highlander 4WD....

Toyotas are my favorite, congratulations!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I 2nd the Outback!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion