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Soon we are transferring from Denton, Texas up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania, and I need to buy a winter vehicle for my wife since she is not keen on driving her Miata on salted roads. Her winter car will also need to haul my 6/4 Holton and euph.

I have been looking at all-wheel drives like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Impreza wagon. We were both disappointed in the tippy, rubbery handling of the CR-V, so much so that the wife won't even try the similar looking RAV4. So currently I am left with the Impreza for a candidate. Any experience out there with the handling and liveability of the regular Impreza wagon or the Impreza Outback Sport? She is not interested in the larger Legacy Outback.

Thanks,
Michael

Being from the western mountains, I highly endorse the Subaru. However, the best tuba hauler I have had was my Toyota Matrix. Its little, but spacious inside. We got rid of it because we needed the back seat when we had kids.

Don't know much about the impreza's, but I absolutely love my Legacy Wagon. My bosses love it too, as a pizza driver, we can sometimes be the last place open on snowy nights thanks to the AWD (this is ithaca, similar weather to Scranton) Subaru 100%

Gorilla Tuba wrote:However, the best tuba hauler I have had was my Toyota Matrix.

Yeah, what he said. I have a Pontiac Vibe (the sister to the Matrix). If you can, find an AWD version.

My wife and I are in a similar situation, albeit southwest Missouri, though rolling, is not quite so steep overall. We found a great solution in a Ford Escape. 4-wheel on dash on demand, V-6 with auto tranny, rear seats fold down and out when necessary, good mileage for the type vehicle, durable (we have been rearended -- our vehicle needed a little polishing out of a scuffed bumper, and a replacement resonator at the tailpipe. The car that hit us was totalled.) You can get 15 inch rims for the lesser expensive tires as well.

When she's not driving it for her errands and volunteer work, and I'm not driving it loaded to the gills with tubas, souzys, or bass guitars and larger amplifiers, we go camping with my son, whether by ourselves, or on scout related campouts or by ourselves on scout leader retreats and campouts.

I believe it is less expensive than some of the others mentioned as well.

And if you are "green," there is now a hybrid version that we would really like to get.

Too bad she doesn't like the Outback. I can drive up hills in snow that leave everyone else at the bottom. Also, it has a ground clearance as high as many SUV's, without looking or feeling like an SUV or crossover.

Speaking of which, my wife has a Lexus RX-330. My Subaru has more space in the back, both in length and width. My Holton in a large Pro-Tec gig bag will fit laterally between the rear wheel wells, and I can carry that tuba plus either the B&S, Yamaha, or Miraphone, without having to fold down the rear seat. That is not possible in the Lexus or in most crossover SUV's. (But the rear seats have more leg room in the Lexus compare to the Subaru.)

Rick "who drove through Scranton and Wilkes-Barre during snowfall just three weeks ago, driving home from Syracuse" Denney

Nissan Xterra. Simply unstoppable.

Biggs wrote:Nissan Xterra. Simply unstoppable.

Only been inside of one a few times, but I thought the inside was surprisingly small. It sure looks cool though!

I live just outside of Buffalo, NY and drive a Mazda CX-7 which I absloutely love. Not only is a sharp looking car, the safety features in addition to everything else are top notch. I have had no trouble whatsoever driving in 8-10"+ of snow or ice. My car insurance premium even dropped significantly after I purchased it. When I carry my two tubas I have no problem carry them and some more stuff. However, if you need even more room check out the Mazda CX-9. It is basically the same vehicle just slightly larger.

TMB

Nobody mentioned the Subaru Forester yet; I highly recommend it. It is shorter than the Legacy or Outback, has a large cargo area, AWD that clings to the road, and a turning radius that, for me, makes it seem to almost spin in place. I can see out of it, I can reach the pedals. It's just fab. Recently we went primitive camping in the Chiricahua mountains, where I had previously driven my Toyota pickup on the gravel roads, and the difference in traction was astonishing. I got places with the Forester that would have had the truck wheel-spinning and skidding all over the place. And the Forester has SUV ground clearance, too.

MA

Test drive! Just like buying a tuba!

The Forester has an impressive back seat....I drove to lunch with a bunch of large engineers in the car (not tuba players, though, just "lifters") and the three in the back seat commented on the leg room. Of course....part of that was having a shrimp in the driver's seat.

MA

MaryAnn wrote:Test drive! Just like buying a tuba!

The Forester has an impressive back seat....I drove to lunch with a bunch of large engineers in the car (not tuba players, though, just "lifters") and the three in the back seat commented on the leg room. Of course....part of that was having a shrimp in the driver's seat.

MA

jhedrick wrote:

MaryAnn wrote:Test drive! Just like buying a tuba!

The Forester has an impressive back seat....I drove to lunch with a bunch of large engineers in the car (not tuba players, though, just "lifters") and the three in the back seat commented on the leg room. Of course....part of that was having a shrimp in the driver's seat.

MA

Hahaha
Actually did do this when I bought my first car, a Saturn Wagon, I lived like 2 miles from the dealership so on the test drive I drove it home and made sure my Corps contra could fit, in case, in the back!