Vehicle Opinions Wanted

Hi L.,

We just bought a Jeep Patriot a couple of months ago because we were looking for all the things you are. It has 4WD and traction control so it handles great in the snow. It is smaller than the other jeep models so it gets the gas milage (and price)of a car. It is rated at 24/27 mpg (with a manual which is what we have). We took it on a long road trip for Christmas and got 25-26 mpg. We have been very satisfied with it so far. Good luck with the shopping.

A.

I got a Ford Edge AWD in October. It has been great this winter. Good size....fits and finish have been wonderful...rides wonderful and have really enjoyed it so far. Other than something like the Edge...you will want to look for 4WD or AWD. Good Luck!

Once you decide on a specific car/suv/van, call like 10 dealers and get as many quotes as you can (lots of dealers don't like to give info out over the phone to avoid this) I made sure I had each sales person check the EXACT model with the SAME options so I was comparing apples to apples. I was able to get my last van for under $200/mth with $0 down for a 2 year lease. NEGOTIATE, and use the new lowest price against the next guy you call. This does take quite a bit of time, but it is so worth it for the amount of money you will save.
Please try to buy from one of the BIG THREE, all of us in the Detroit area are connected to them somehow. Every couple of days I learn of one more person I know that has been laid off.
Best of luck to you.

I had a Mercury Montego which is now the Mercury Sable again. It drove really well. Handled well in the snow. It
was very roomy. Also made in America...

You have to watch alot of American Cards are made in Mexico. Such as the Vibe & Ford Fusion. If that matters to you.

There also is the Ford Taurus which is the sister to the Mercury Sable. We always preferred the Sable over the Taurus.

Good Luck on your new car purchase.. Sorry to hear about your divorce.

L. -

I'm so pleased to see so many mamas recommending American made vehicles. All are good choices. Just about anything with front wheel drive will handle well in the snow. AWD is great, too, but will not be quite as good on gas.

My family and many, many others are struggling due to the American auto industry crisis. Where you spend your car shopping dollars does matter and I hope you will choose to support an American company so the profit from that purchase will stay here and will benefit our economy.

Enjoy your new vehicle! L.

I would either go with a jeep as some have mentioned like the liberty or Patriot or I love our PT Cruiser it is very versatile does well in the snow and gets prety good gas milage and not sure where you live but Henkle of Battle Creek is running some get deals on used '08 models low milaege for under $10,000 which is great.

I'm partial to the Saturn Vue, a mini-SUV. It's built on a station wagon body, gets good mileage, front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and I like how it handles on snow. They are quite affordable...they have a price list so there's no haggling involved.

Hi L.,

We have a Chevy Equinox and a Pontiac Vibe. The Equinox is terrible in the snow...other than that I like it but am considering getting rid of it because of this. The Vibe is great in the snow and gets really good gas mileage. It looks small but it is actually quite roomy inside. Go out and test drive some vehicles while there is snow on the ground to get a feel for the vehicle. Make sure you find a back road to drive down that has snow and ice on it so you know.

Sorry, but I just can't recommend a foreign car brand. I believe in supporting American made vehicles...especially in this economy.

Hope this helps...

T.

I have a ford fusion, and I simply love that car. It handles very well in the snow, and gets great gas mileage, our family of 4 even took it to florida last summer, and had plenty of room, we were all very comfortable. The trunk is amazing. I have 2 boys who are involved in sports and my huge trunk can handle all there equipment, no problem. Good luck on your search.

Hi L.,

Looks like I'm going to be the lone wolf here. I used to have a Honda CR-V and LOVED it. It handles beautifully in the snow, gets great gas mileage and has a lot of storage in the back.

And in case your concerned about buying a 'foreign' car. Know this... Honda makes cars where they sell them. So, that Honda CR-V is made IN America by American citizens. In addition, Honda continually has a top rating in safety. Also, you can know you are supporting a company that not only supports the American economy by employing American citizens and manufacturing cars IN America... but they manage their business well and are not looking at bankruptcy despite low sales. When Honda sees a particular model is no longer selling, they shift manufacturing to models that are selling. Their manufacturing facilities are that flexible. This keeps people working. They also don't over-produce and force dealers to take cars, like the Big 3.

Anyway... that's my 2 cents.

I have a 2007, Chrysler Sebring, Its ok in the snow, and great on gas, but that's about where it ends. I just wanted to warn you not to get one, they are terrible!!! It's 2 years old and falling apart, in and out of the dealer. I know a few other people who have them as well and have been having many problems too. Everyone that I know or have talked to that has a Sebring will agree with me it was a bad choice!

Good luck with your search!!

A.

My daughter just purchased her first new car over the summer. She bought a Pontiac Vibe after doing a ton of research online. It performed fabulously over the winter and was the car we took when the roads were worst. Her payments are 6 years and under $300. The gas mileage is exceptional, although she does have a manual transmission. I would recommend not only the car, but the dealership and sales person. We went to Ed Rinke Pontiac on Van Dyke and 9 Mile Rd. Our salesperson was a young man named Paul M. (Sorry, the last name was kind of tricky and escapes me) but he was excellent. No regrets.

I absolutely LOVE my Pontiac Vibe! Check them out... very roomie, great on gas, handles well in the snow!

Test drive one!

I'm sorry to hear about your divorce. :( We have a Honda CR-V, a small crossover SUV that handles well in snow and gets good gas mileage. If you buy them gently used they're one of the best buys on the market, because they last forever and retain their value better than most other cars. A similar car would be the Toyota RAV-4. Keep in mind that these vehicles' designs have recently changed quite a bit. CR-V is no longer available with the inline-4 engine that made it so efficient, and also only comes in automatic now, I think. Maybe try a 2004-2006 model of either car. Good luck!

I love the Ford Windstar!! :)

L. ~
I have a Saturn Vue and love it. The one I have is a 4 cylinder engine so it gets good gas mileage. They also have a 6 cylinder, and you can get all wheel drive (mine is front wheel drive). It handles well in the snow, is American made, and is lower priced than some others. Another thing is that since replacement parts are cheaper, the insurance is cheaper (bonus!). One thing that I really like, especially being a woman (studies have shown that salespeople tend to bargain more with men and give them better prices on autos!), is that Saturn has a set price...no haggling...they give you the price, a list of what the options cost, and that's it. It will be the same price at all of the Saturn dealers. They offer heated seats, remote start, and many other options.
good luck!
D.

Hi L.! I drive SUV's because of the winters here. If it wasn't for the winter's I wouldn't need the 4 wheel drive. However, the gas mileage stinks in all 4 wheel drive vehicles, realistically, if you can get an all wheel drive vehicle that gives you 15 mpg. that is about as good as it gets. Another option, would be to get a front wheel drive car and for the winter, get superb snow tires on it, that investment will make a huge difference. Also, look for a car that offers traction control, and take the time to learn how to use it (like when to turn it off and how) so your winter driving won't be so bad.IF you go with a Chrysler, Shuman autos in Walled lake offers the best prices, my salesman is Mr. Rossi.I got a phenomenol deal on my last Jeep.

If you want to be able to fly through the snow then a jeep is probably your best option. We have a jeep grand cherokee and its amazing in the snow, I've also owned a liberty if you wanted to save a little money and purchase a liberty it is also very good. Whatever you buy, please buy something American, you'll also save jobs. Also, I can recommend a good salesperson for you, I'm not sure where you live but he is in Saline but he would get you the best deal he could, we always work with him and if you figure out what you want exactly he will find the car for you and even have it delivered to you if you like. He is a friend of my husband's so I can even let him know you would be calling. Best of luck to you!

How exciting! Unfortunately, doing well in the snow and good gas mileage don't go together very well. :) I would suggest front wheel drive in the car that you choose. That will help you in the snow.

A tip that my dad gave me when I was learning to drive in the snow and ice comes to mind.

When you go into a slide on the ice, put your car in neutral real quick. It stops the wheels from pulling you farther out of control and helps you to get control of the car back. People won't really listen to me give this advice, but it works and with your question, it seams to be a good time to share!

S.

My husband and I adopted 3 kids so we had to go from a cute little car to a car that could get kids around in. We didn't have a lot of money so we really watched for deals. We found a chevy Uplander online on the dealer's website for a couple thousand less than what it was selling for on the lot. It was used (1 year with very low miles) but it came with the full warranty. I like it a lot and the price was pretty darn good (they had to give it to us at the online price). We got it for $17,000 and it's pretty loaded. It also handles beautifully in the snow. The best part is, though, it handles like a car. Good luck.

L.

I love my Saturn Vue. Just buy an American made car made by an American Owned Company - GM, Ford, Chrysler. These are the best vehicles on the road. Help save Detroit!!!

3800 SERIES III Engines are "the best" and will last you. However, they're going to give you less gas mileage since the engine is bigger. Van's & SUV's are going to give less mileage also, but they do seat more people. We had a Pontiac Montana and everything fell apart on it, we found two other people that had the same issues so I would not recommend that vehicle. Good luck!

I have a Saturn VUE and I love, love, love it, as well. It handles better than any vehicle I've driven in the snow. It has a Honda engine which was one of the deciding factors for us! One word of warning, though. It is rumored that Saturn is going out of business and there are no current plans for another company to buy it out. So you'll def. want to check it out first. I'd hate for you to get stuck with a car that there are no parts for anymore!

~L.

I would go with a small SUV such as a Ford Escape. They are a great vehicle. My uncle sells vehicles at Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights. His name is Ron Vaxelaire you can reach him at ###-###-####. He would be more than willing to help with any questions you have. He is very much a people person and wants to make sure that his customers are happy with the service that they recieve. If you do decide to call him tell him you heard about him from his niece B.. Best of luck in choosing a new vehicle.

I suggest anything 4 wheel drive. (for the snow) I drive an expedition and fill it up twice a week. I do here the new flex is awesome on gas milage but than just found out the new hybrid made by ford is better than the flex. So I would suggest the flex its a suv 4 wheeel drive and lookis awesome. Plus gives you room for the bigger children.

HI L.,
My husband is a salesman for Hank Graff Chevrolet in Davison. He would be happy to help you out. He is a good guy. I drive a chevrolet trailblazer and feel very confident in the snow and bad weather. When the roads get bad I simply switch the button to auto 4 wheel drive and know that I am safe. I also feel like my vehicle is a little sporty.
If you would like to give my husband a call the number is ###-###-#### and his name is Mark Swanson. He will be in today from 12-8. It doesn't hurt to just call and see what is available.