route vehicle recommendations

[Bill]

Hi there, I'm looking to trade my hunkajunk Century in for something a little more durable, something that can handle the Michigan snowdrifts.  I've heard good things about the Honda CRV; not sure how they handle in the snow though.  Anyone have any other suggestions (or perhaps ones to stay away from).
Thank you much!

[murphy]

hey Billl...I live in Minnesota so I know all about snow (sorry for cussing!) drifts!  I drive a Ford Explorer and it's awesome for the route, just flip a button and you're out of the drift!  I also like the height because I don't have to reach up to the boxes, it's pretty much straight out the window, there are only a few I have to reach down to.  I had to rip the console out of my first explorer to do the mail but I bought a second one that doesn't have a console.  And they aren't all that bad on gas, I'm sure they're not as good as a car but I think the height and four wheel drive are worth paying for the extra gas it uses.  I use about a third of a tank each time I do the route (60 miles).

[middle of nowhere]

      over 13 years as a sub, and now 3 years as a regular, i drove about 5 chevy blazers. a couple of years ago, i got a rhd  jeep grand cherokee (japan), the jeep is so much more suited to the route than any of the blazers i had. on a long route (over 100 miles plus 30 miles round trip commute daily) , i doubt that i ever went more than 2 months without the service engine light coming on with the chevies, or some other problem.  the blazers also have smaller brake rotors and pads, which wear out fast.  i thought they were as good as anything i could get, and were good for the drifts, mud, etc., but  the jeep is almost problem free, and  hope to have it for a very long time.

[murphy]

middle of nowhere-i thought about getting a blazer before i bought my explorer but every one i test drove was a piece of junk. the explorers are much more quality built than the blazers.

[middle of nowhere]

    murphy - i wouldn't say the blazers i had were junk, the last one i used was an 01, that had 13k on it when i started using it on the route.  didn't have any problems with it from when it was new, but the abuse of the route took a toll on it fast.  high heat with the air on is probably the worst.  push button 4wd is something i wouldn't be without, but my jeep is full time 4wd. the gas  mileage is identical to what the blazer was.  i did have an explorer back in the early 90's but never used it on the route, had enough problems with it without route use.

[WV Rural girl]

If only they still made the RHD  Subaru. I drove my 97 until Feb 08 when I broke down and bought a RHD Wrangler. I wish I would have waited and got the 4 door in the 2009. My jeep is a bit tall but mostly okay. It does not have electric windows (what a drag). But I may get an after market type. I like the wrangler, nobody but jeep really "gets it". We used to have Willy's jeeps and they went everywhere. But nothing could ever top the Subaru.

[west of nowhere]

I ran Celebrities until it was too hard to find them.Than an 01 GMC extended cab 2wd 4cyl with studded tires in winter. Now have RHD jeep. The RHD is easier on the back and handles the snow a little better, but the mileage makes sure you spend your EMA. Talked with a carrier that really likes the CRV.

[Bill]

Thanks guys for the tips... I'm thinkin CRV right now, probably have to wait and see if I qualify for some financing for that (esp. as an RCA), but since I posted this, I found a consumer's report listing of best 4x4s out there.  Honda and Toyota were top of the list.  Not sure if the RAV4 is drivable from the right hand side yet.  Any 4x4's gotta be better than the last two winters, doggin the snowdrifts with a 2wd Taurus! I've lost count how many times I got stuck...
Bill

[dixie]

i have a friend who subs in a rav.  i dunno if i would tho.  ive used a crv for years and it was great.  i bought a 08 prius last year, removed the console and have never been happier.  i knowa few ppl up north drive them in the winter, but here in bama we dont get snow.... mch less drifts....  good luck on ur search

[Tlsummers]

2004 Honda CR-V
I have been using a chevy blazer for almost four years and i just decided to go with the Honda-CRV.

I was wondering if anyone has one, and if so, did you take out the plastic on the dash board under the heat controls?

Maybe im just used to how open the blazer was for me to reach my leg over.  If you did take the plastic out, how did you do it? There seems to be metal bars behind mine.  

Thanks for your help :)

[jmarie]

Middle of nowhere..........did you buy one of those 1996,1995 models from Japan?
I see them trying to see them, but buying such an old year scares me...so you've
had good luck?
Whom did you go to ? What did you pay and is the mileage correct when they
say 45,ooo ...........

[middle of nowhere]

   jmarie

      i actually got hooked up with this jeep through ebay. someone had cut through a fiber optic line that ended our computer service for a couple of days, and i missed bidding on the auction, but i emailed the seller asking if he would sell me the truck if the buyer backed out. it is a 98 grand cherokee, not a cherokee, so getting parts can be challenging.
       the cherokee was made for postal delivery in the u.s., but most of the ones sold here, have 200-300k miles or more on them. i guy  living about 30 miles from me, has one with 600k on it.
      being sold here makes getting parts both cheap and easy.  i am very particular in keeping up the maintenance on it as some of the things i might need, can take longer to get. i ordered radiator hoses  last spring, the upper one was the same as the left hand drive ($10) , but the lower was a RHD only part that took 3 weeks to get, and was $75.  you wouldn't have that problem with a cherokee though, as any parts needed could come from your local dealer.
       also the odometer - speedometer was in km. only. oil pressure -klpcm, water -celcius.  all an easy fix by changing the guage cluster.  to buy from overseas, you have to go through a registered importer. i don't know if they have laws about tampering with  the odometer in japan, but i am very happy with what i got.  it wil be a sad day when i have to part with it.

[west of nowhere]

My jeep is a jeep from Japan and I know two other carriers that have them also. We have not had any problems. The mileage seems right. I paid $7900 for mine. It had new tires and brakes.The radio needs to be changed out as it only picks up about five stations due to frequency differences. The jeeps all came from came a place in Michigan.