Cars

[SteveP]

Re: Cars

Question for the experts here:

We're thinking about getting a 2013 Honda CR-V, which will primarily be my wife's vehicle. We haven't bought a car in 11 years, and we're having some sticker shock at the price of new cars these days. I'm looking for ways to trim costs.

My question is this. Is it worth the extra $1200 to get the AWD instead of the 2WD, in terms of improved handling and also potential resale value? We plan on keeping this car at least 10 years (scary to think about, as my now 5-year old will probably inherit this car when she's old enough to drive).

Being as how your sig says you're in Minnesota, I'd say it's worth it - especially if you do any distance driving in winter.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Cars

Question for the experts here:

We're thinking about getting a 2013 Honda CR-V, which will primarily be my wife's vehicle. We haven't bought a car in 11 years, and we're having some sticker shock at the price of new cars these days. I'm looking for ways to trim costs.

My question is this. Is it worth the extra $1200 to get the AWD instead of the 2WD, in terms of improved handling and also potential resale value? We plan on keeping this car at least 10 years (scary to think about, as my now 5-year old will probably inherit this car when she's old enough to drive).

Since your wife's the primary driver, I'd say yes. (Don't tell her I said that.) While I'd like AWD at times, I've never gone into a ditch and I've never had it, and I've driven some pretty long distances during some fairly nasty snow storms. It's not like we get the snow storms seen along the east coast or in the Rockies.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

If you consider the increased value of AWD upon resale or trade in addition to just being nice to have I think it's well worth the added $$. Particularly in the snow belt.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: Cars

If you consider the increased value of AWD upon resale or trade in addition to just being nice to have I think it's well worth the added $$. Particularly in the snow belt.

Agreed. 4WDs/AWDs are worth their weight in gold in winter climates. They hold their resale value even better than they normally do and insurance companies will usually cut you a break as well for the added safety. I've seen '06 TJ Wranglers going for $19K.

It makes buying new a surprisingly attractive option.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Cars

I'll buck the trend. At least for your wife. If she's not had AWD in the past, has her driving skills dropped recently? My wife is ok with FWD, in a crossover that bigger than the Honda you are looking at. Heck, it was only 30 years ago that most cars were RWD, and people survived that pretty well.

Also, for the time you don't use it (which is most of the time)- the AWD will cost more in fuel economy.

But just an opinion.

 

[SteveP]

Re: Cars

While I recommended going with AWD, I'll add what my wife and her colleagues on the Aspen Police Department use to tell tourists:

The only thing 4WD/AWD is good for is getting you stuck in places you can't get to with 2WD

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Cars

I thought it meant rod-through-the-block.

Hey, don't delete the hidden white text.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Cars

While I recommended going with AWD, I'll add what my wife and her colleagues on the Aspen Police Department use to tell tourists:

The only thing 4WD/AWD is good for is getting you stuck in places you can't get to with 2WD

AWD/4WD only doubles your chance of getting out when you're stuck. If all four wheels are on a sheet of ice, 4WD does little, if anything, to keep you on the road.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: Cars

While I recommended going with AWD, I'll add what my wife and her colleagues on the Aspen Police Department use to tell tourists:

The only thing 4WD/AWD is good for is getting you stuck in places you can't get to with 2WD

I'd say it's at least better than RWD. I know a couple Mustang owners and they all say it becomes a wheel spinning disaster as soon as the first raindrop hits, let alone snow.

Also remember, 4WD helps you go. It does not help you stop.

/my Jeep doesn't make me think I'm invincible, my Jeep makes me invincible

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Cars

I'd say it's at least better than RWD. I know a couple Mustang owners and they all say it becomes a wheel spinning disaster as soon as the first raindrop hits, let alone snow.

Also remember, 4WD helps you go. It does not help you stop.

/my Jeep doesn't make me think I'm invincible, my Jeep makes me invincible

Yeah, but if you're smart about driving and preparation (sandbags), a RWD isn't terrible. Of course RWD isn't nearly as good as AWD.

Regarding wheel spin in the rain, that sounds like someone has **** poor tires and a heavy foot. I've never had issues with sheel spin in the rain. It's not pretty in the winter, but that's usually remedied for me by the third or fourth snowfall of the year when I get back to my good winter driving habits. It also makes a lot of sense to buy a set of Blizzaks if you own a RWD car.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Cars

Yeah, but if you're smart about driving and preparation (sandbags), a RWD isn't terrible. Of course RWD isn't nearly as good as AWD.

Regarding wheel spin in the rain, that sounds like someone has **** poor tires and a heavy foot. I've never had issues with sheel spin in the rain. It's not pretty in the winter, but that's usually remedied for me by the third or fourth snowfall of the year when I get back to my good winter driving habits. It also makes a lot of sense to buy a set of Blizzaks if you own a RWD car.

You don't have trouble spinning your tires because you have a V6 mustang.

(you teed that one up nicely)

 

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

Yeah, but if you're smart about driving and preparation (sandbags), a RWD isn't terrible. Of course RWD isn't nearly as good as AWD.

Regarding wheel spin in the rain, that sounds like someone has **** poor tires and a heavy foot. I've never had issues with sheel spin in the rain. It's not pretty in the winter, but that's usually remedied for me by the third or fourth snowfall of the year when I get back to my good winter driving habits. It also makes a lot of sense to buy a set of Blizzaks if you own a RWD car.

Twitch mentioned the Mustang. I can vouch for that. Z rated tires meant specifically for dry pavement only, horsepower and no weight in back and the tires break loose incredibly easily. I never drove my Mustangs in winter and didn't like them much on wet pavement.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Cars

Twitch mentioned the Mustang. I can vouch for that. Z rated tires meant specifically for dry pavement only, horsepower and no weight in back and the tires break loose incredibly easily. I never drove my Mustangs in winter and didn't like them much on wet pavement.

Not sure what the Z rating has to do with traction... Unless you're driving the car at speeds in excess of your rating, you shouldn't have traction problems.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

Not sure what the Z rating has to do with traction... Unless you're driving the car at speeds in excess of your rating, you shouldn't have traction problems.

I'm less puzzled by the relationship between a Z rated tire and traction under varied road conditions. It's tread design, depth and tire / rubber compounds.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Cars

The tire speed rating doesn't have anything to do with traction. It has to do with the speed at which a tire can safely carry a given weight... And it has to do with performance at maximum speed rather than performance at low speeds...

 

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

The tire speed rating doesn't have anything to do with traction. It has to do with the speed at which a tire can safely carry a given weight... And it has to do with performance at maximum speed rather than performance at low speeds...

The tread design, patterns and depth on typical Z speed rated tires as well as compounds used have a profound affect on traction, depending on road surface conditions. The rating isn't the point. The tire design to achieve the rating sure as hell does affect traction under conditions the tire wasn't designed for.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Cars

You can have a Z-rated tire outperform an M-rated tire in bad conditions and vice versa.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Cars

Twitch mentioned the Mustang. I can vouch for that. Z rated tires meant specifically for dry pavement only...

I question the "meant for dry pavement only" part. Good track tires give at least passable performance on wet pavement unless they're slicks.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Cars

I question the "meant for dry pavement only" part. Good track tires give at least passable performance on wet pavement unless they're slicks.

This is what I'm getting at. In a not-so-concise manner.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

I question the "meant for dry pavement only" part. Good track tires give at least passable performance on wet pavement unless they're slicks.

Passable...yeah.

In my opinion, the performance of several different brands of ZR tires I had on Mustangs performed poorly on wet pavement. Doesn't mean you can't, or I didn't drive them on wet roads. Doesn't mean you'll constantly lose traction. None of the various tires I had had what I would characterize as good grip on wet roads. The "dry pavement only" assessment is my personal opinion for good traction performance, not a manufacturer spec. Some ZR tires were better than others for channeling water out. I'm talking about Mustangs per the reference of Twitch. Very light in the rear. You could / would fishtail without even trying on wet pavement. Most of the Stangs I owned were massaged to 400-500 HP. That can have an adverse affect in wet conditions.