New Or Used: Eastern Oregon Survival Machine Edition

Mark Clark writes:

I’d like to ask for advice about buying a winter car. I’m replacing a 1967 Land Rover that my wife has decided is no longer acceptable. She tolerates my other car habits, so replacing her is not an acceptable option. My requirements are: 1) All Wheel Drive: Here in the wilds of Eastern Oregon where the local government does not plow the roads, two driven wheels is what summer cars are for. Don’t worry, it will get snow tires. 2) Car-like Handling: As a summer Miata driver, big SUVs are not acceptable. On the other hand, as a summer Miata driver, Elise-like handling is not required. 3) Year 2000 or newer: When your wife is height-challenged, full-powered airbags are not acceptable. Older cars without airbags are even less acceptable. 4) Cheap: Under $10,000 makes me a hero. 5) Reasonably Reliable: After a 1967 Land Rover, I’m not asking for much, but I’m not interested in wrenching in a snow storm.

Steve Answers:

The fashionable thing to do in your neck of the woods is get a Subaru. The Legacy, Impreza and Forester can easily take care of all your AWD needs in far greater comfort than your British brute. In fact so can my kid’s soapbox derby car. But seriously, I would strongly consider those models.

What else? Well I happen to be a fan of the Mitsubishi Endeavor. They can usually be had for thousands less than the Subarus in the used car market which means you can get a more recent vehicle with lower miles on it to boot. The reviews from actual owners have been strong and I’ve seen them rack up well over 200k in short order at the auctions with little discernible wear. I would cross shop that model in particular.

What to avoid? I’m a Volvo enthusiast but I have trouble endorsing the V70’s. Most folks do not change the transmission fluids because they were supposed to last for a lifetime. They didn’t, and now to replace the transmissions is a $2000+ undertaking. Quality and recalls were both on a steep and expensive decline throughout much of the 2000’s so that doesn’t help.

There are innumerable small SUV’s to choose from. But other than the Honda CR-V which handles like a minivan, none of them are truly car like. I would stick with the Mitsubishi and Subarus. Due to your height challenged wife who probably appreciates a little ride height in her journeys, I would think a crossover styled vehicle would be the best fit.

Sajeev Answers:

You are the first person I’ve met who actually needs a Crossover! If you have other car “habits” I’d recommend making this vehicle so “bread and butter” that finding a cheap one is easy (the Internet is your friend) and parts/service will be affordable and simple. And since simple and Subie don’t go hand in hand, think Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and a blizzard of quickly depreciating iron from General Motors: Chevy Equinox, Saturn Vue, Pontiac Vibe/Torrent and even the Buick Rendezvous. Or perhaps the Buick’s cousin, the Pontiac Aztek?

Oh yes! The Aztek is an outdoorsy lifestyle type of vehicle that’s only marred by its mind numbingly hideous styling. The more I think about it, who gives a crap about winter beater styling? The Aztek hits all the right spots: dirt cheap ownership, AWD, car like underpinnings, user-friendly interior design features for cargo and passengers and a pretty trick camping tent for when you want to out Landie a Land Rover on the camp ground. And I suspect that Aztek’s go for significantly less on the used car market, simply because of that ugly sheetmetal. And plastic.

While 80% of me rejects the notion of a Pontiac Aztek working for anyone, 20% of me is cool with it. And they are in charge of typing on this keyboard. So there it is: buy a Pontiac Aztek to cover all the bases.

Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder.