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So after renting a place in Taos NM sight unseen that is on a narrow dirt road at 8,000 feet after the landlord told me I didn't necessarily need a 4WD -- I have a 1992 Accord that I love although I can afford more -- guess what, there was 20" of snow when I arrived, and things were looking bleak indeed for 2WD!
A week later, after cruising my 4WD and AWD options like RAV4s and Subarus (I don't really want a truck cause mileage is meaningful to me), it's hard for me to get fired up about what's out there. I should mention that I have had about 3 late 80s and early 90s Accords and two Legends from the same years.
So while I kept seeing vehicles I really didn't want around the $7500 range, it occurred to me that used RLs from 2006 or so cost about the same, they would be way better on the highway (I have to make a lot of trips from Taos to LA), and it comes with an awesome stereo which is also important to me.
But back to that dirt road. It's icy, it's muddy, there is some opportunity for bottoming out, and sometimes there are 20" of snow although I have been getting around the last five days or so in the Accord (though hesitant to stay out late at night!).
Obviously the RL wasn't intended for this sort of duty, but really, even if I beat on it, it's already lost almost all its value, so what's the big loss?
Back to the title: am I insane to consider a RL with its SH-AWD in this situation ... or am I crazy like a fox?
That statement is too sensible for me to argue with.
It's just that an MDX in similar condition is going to cost a minimum of twice or even three times the reverse-silly money the RL goes for.
I'm somewhat attracted to the form and fun of RDX ... but IMHO at some point the Honda/Acura corporation lost its way which resulted in dubious decisions (Acura design in particular) like making a vehicle with gas mileage that rotten.
I am familiar with this millenium's Acuras cause I sold them for a while in 2007. The MDX is great, I just don't like operating a vehicle that big even though it handles great.
I know I'm not being easy, it's just that RAV4/CRV seem to be about 90% female owned while on the other end trucks are more macho that I am. Which is why I'm entertaining out-of-the-box thoughts like the RL.
That's not to say your response isn't entirely sensible cause it is!
As mentioned above, for the $$ the RL is a good choice, but ground clearance may be an issue. If you like the RL, maybe an AWD Avalon?? How much ground clearance do you need?
You mentioned you looked at Subies - nothing there you liked? Legacy? Cross-Trek? Forrester?
You may be right about both! However, I'm not insane enough to not opt for mud n snow should I go the insane route.
As for Subarus ... it's the head gasket across the board thing.
I test drove a 2002 RAV4 which I have to say was a champ at tackling the mountain. But I shudder to think about being in that vanilla box when it's any other season.
Strangely enough, the only car I've felt any lust over besides my affinity for early 90s Accords is the new RAV4 Hybrid Limited which could be my destiny in a few years but aint gonna offer salvation right now.
Take that $7500, buy a clean body 4.0 XJ Cherokee for $4k, another $600 for some nice all terrain tires, $500 stereo and enjoy low gas prices for awhile. You'll never get stuck and that engine lasts forever. Girls won't laugh at you when u stop to pull their prius out of 2 inches of snow either. I still have an RL and a Cherokee and the jeep just loves to be driven hard...The RL does great with snow tires, but 20 inches?...come on.
Take that $7500, buy a clean body 4.0 XJ Cherokee for $4k, another $600 for some nice all terrain tires, $500 stereo and enjoy low gas prices for awhile. You'll never get stuck and that engine lasts forever. Girls won't laugh at you when u stop to pull their prius out of 2 inches of snow either. I still have an RL and a Cherokee and the jeep just loves to be driven hard...The RL does great with snow tires, but 20 inches?...come on.
You're another guy too sensible to argue with ... although the first time someone else who already pulled some chick's Prius out of 2 inches of snow with his 4.0 XJ Cherokee stamps down the 20 inches of snow, it's no longer 20 inches of snow.
Interesting that the same folks irked about the Washington Redskins name don't find it a little out there to name a 4WD SUV after eradicated native Americans. Why not just call it the Wounded Knee?
btw Priuses actually aren't bad in the snow, I sold more of them than anyone being a tree hugger from Boulder; ironically even though I'm personally a Honda/Acura guy I was way better at selling Toyotas than Hondas and Acuras, probably because selling the Hybrids was easy back when gas prices were up and for some strange reason I was good at selling big Tundras even though I could never see myself driving one.
also btw I put 277,000 miles on my Dad's '92 Legend ... he thought at 90k it was time to get rid of it.
I am living in Taos, NM, a pretty short drive from Albuquerque.
What car made famous in a TV series shot in Albuquerque that was voted the ugliest and worst car of all time -- even though actual user reviews praise the heck out of it -- just happens to be pretty darned rugged in the snow, have decent ground clearance, and costs like nothing?
Something to note since you said you don't like truck mileage...
The 2nd gen RL doesn't really get very good mileage either. I think I averaged 16-19 mpg depending on conditions. That's about the same kind of mileage I got from my Nissan Frontier 4x4 (before I lifted it and bolted 600 lbs of gear to it.)
The RL will handle the cruising more comfortably than a truck, but the mileage is going to be closer than you think. And the RL takes premium.
I own a 07 RL, 98 Jeep Cherokee, and 01 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ever consider a 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited edition? The limited is AWD all the time. Even though you said you aren't interested in an SUV, the Grand Cherokee Limitied edition would be great in snow and comfortable enough for traveling long distance.
I own a 07 RL, 98 Jeep Cherokee, and 01 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ever consider a 2000-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited edition? The limited is AWD all the time. Even though you said you aren't interested in an SUV, the Grand Cherokee Limitied edition would be great in snow and comfortable enough for traveling long distance.
Thank you for the tip -- as it looks like an easy 10" of white matter descending as we speak, with more on the way the next few days, you better believe I wish I had one right now!
And of course I have a cat emergency and am really scrambling.
In the past, I've avoided buying vehicles that I'd only need for a limited amount of days a year ... but if I'm gonna live here, I think I'm gonna join the ranks of RL and real snow car owners.
Unfortunately, the selection isn't great around here. LA should be a happy hunting ground as there's a million vehicles and the market seems pretty competitive as in better prices than around here and also no rust.
btw I also wish to apologize to the previous Jeep poster for ragging on the name of his rig. Forgive me, I'm usually a lot mellower. Those are definitely good cars. I mean trucks!
I present a motion to edit the post above and delete the Aztec photo. All in favor, say, "aye."
In the course of obsessing about my mountain living vehicle I have researched the absolute hell out of like every car out there and I have to say Aztek user reviews are more positive than just about anything out there.
Which isn't to suggest that it isn't lunacy to actually purchase one .
Every 2.5L engine fries, that's what. Though it's nice that they can run on alternative fuels like granola. Thank you for noting the wagon form factor dilemma.
If you want to issue me a no-head-gaskets replacement guarantee, I'll buy one tomorrow.
btw one would expect to find lots of happy Subaru customer reviews on places like Edmunds.com, but in reality such a high percentage of them want to march on Subaru headquarters brandishing lanterns and pitchforks over the gaskets that going to the ... ahem ... Aztek forums is like a breath of fresh air.
On the positive side, in between Hondas and Acuras I once owned a lowly Loyale ... and I have to say it didn't even notice ice and snow.
Something to note since you said you don't like truck mileage...
The 2nd gen RL doesn't really get very good mileage either. I think I averaged 16-19 mpg depending on conditions. That's about the same kind of mileage I got from my Nissan Frontier 4x4 (before I lifted it and bolted 600 lbs of gear to it.)
The RL will handle the cruising more comfortably than a truck, but the mileage is going to be closer than you think. And the RL takes premium.
True about the premium, that is a consideration. Are talking city, highway, or combined? I know a Legend isn't an RL but I got 25-26 cruising consistently at medium speeds.
City driving will yield 16-18. 50/50 will get you 20-22. You have to be going 70 non-stop for 300 miles to get 27 out of an RL tank. The car is heavy, powerful, and AWD. It just doesn't add up to efficiency.
The Bose stereo is efficient and IMHO the equal of the ELS system. So at least that lessons the pain at the pump.
27 MPG aint bad on the highway, though -- as previously noted, I have to drive to LA every few months. But seriously an RL's just gonna bottom out on this road. Some awesome RL deals on LA craigslist if anyone's looking. No rust, they've never seen a winter.
01-26-2016, 09:56 AM
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Insane...
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