response 12 of 66:

Jun 19 19:05 UTC 2004

I've been thinking about the Outback wagon for a while.  The AWD is
attractive when you live on roads that don't get plowed and that turn to
ice frequently.  Mainly the problem I've had with a 2WD truck is getting
started at icy intersections (especially those on hills).  It really
doesn't take much to get stuck with 2WD if you aren't careful.  So,
the idea of a little more traction to get going in those circumstances
sounds good, as does much better gas mileage.  

We, too, would not want to give up the ability to haul stuff (groceries,
bags of mulch, lumber, golf clubs, furniture, etc.) and carry a
passenger (spouse), but would like to get better MPG.  I live 25 miles
from work, 5 miles from the grocery store & pharmacy, and 10 miles from
the doctor's office. Biking is not an option, especially on the roads I
drive (narrow) and very especially with the kind of auto drivers I see
on the road every day.

I've owned two Subaru wagons in my lifetime.  Both of those had
shiftable 4WD (full time front wheel drive) and were excellent for
getting around in the winter. Both had a decent amount of space for
hauling. A luggage rack helps, too. Ground clearance was fine, though
nothing like a truck.  Gas mileage was excellent for a 4WD vehicle.

I've never had an AWD vehicle.  It seems they are getting more
sophisticated about applying power differentially to the wheels.  Our
neighbor has an AWD Audi and got stuck on the icy hill near our house
this past winter.  We were finally able to get the car up the hill by
taking a slightly faster run at at (there's a corner at the bottom of
the hill that makes gaining speed on the ice difficult unless you want
to slide into the big trees near the bridge).

So, I'd be curious how they fare in the icy SE MI winters.  

(The night my neighbor got stuck with her AWD, I took the back way into
my house, which avoided taking the hill with my truck (I've been stuck
on the icy hill before, too, and that was also a result of not being
able to take a good enough run, but due to gawkers looking at the car in
the creek beside the bridge). Note that I put 600# of sand in the back
of the truck in winter and that helps a lot with maintaining control and
getting started (but puts a dent your mileage). You definitely can't
make jack rabbit starts, though.  And if you're going too fast and try
to stop quickly, you'll slide real nice.)