4WD smaller vehicle choices

(Henry) wrote:
> What is a smaller 4wd SUV that can be driven in 4wd / awd mode on dry
> pavement ?

That depends... do you want 4WD with low-range gearing for the steep/messy
bits? Or can you settle for AWD without low-range gearing?

If you want low-range, I think you're stuck with a Jeep Liberty and the
optional "Select-Trac" or whatever they call it. If you just want "AWD"
with no low-range, it looks like the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute,
Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Land Rover Freelander, Saturn Vue, and
Toyota RAV-4 are viable options.

Look at the chart at the bottom of this page:
http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/e...?act=feature06

-Dan

--
Dan Birchall, Hilo HI - http://dan.birchalls.net/ - images, words, technology

) wrote:
> This post appears to be a response to a thread which ended last
> November, unless my newsreader if hosing up.

Threads _end_, now, do they? That's a new feature.

> I have been a Mainer for 56 years, most of which have been "11 months
> of winter & 30 days of bad sledding"<grin>, and no real Mainer owns
> a 4WD except for use in the woods or true off-roading.

Conditions, like mileage, may vary. I've got another thread floating
around here somewhere in which I describe those involved in my "commute"

> - IMHO & that of others, the downsized Cherokee/variants *stock* are
> only fit for mother to go to the store for groceries in country style,
> and tend to have high life-cycle operating costs. I was pulled out of
> the woods twice in mine (stock) by (stock) fullsize 2WD trucks, and
> while its unibody construction is very flexible for nice results over
> rocks & logs, I've seen 2 cracked right up their sides at the pillars
> from flexing in daily off-road use (not "driving on bad dirt roads").
> If someone gave me another vehicle of similar design, I'd sell it.

Excellent advice.


--
Dan Birchall, Hilo HI - http://dan.birchalls.net/ - images, words, technology

Bret Chase > wrote in message >.

> -who is glad he moved back out of that expensive ass state last month.

We agree! In real value/price terms, almost everything except rent is
cheaper even in Manhattan than Maine - & the women look like women &
speak English. ;-)