Which car is cheaper to maintain? Poll!
I'm talking to two dealers. Here're my options. Both costs around similar price range +/- $500 difference. Dealerships said they don't make much on selling cars but they mainly make money on service & maintenance. That got me worried which one is cheaper to maintain & yet safe for snow driving during winters. #cars
Snow driving where? Both would be fine or shit, depending on location. The difference between the two is negligible.
Subaru, obviously
get the EX-L
Get good tires, either snow tires if you get a long snowy season. Or get all weather or all-terrain with the 3 peak symbol
The only thing that will really matter is getting a getting a dedicated set of winter tires before you go driving in the snow. My wife’s mommy mobile with a basic front-wheel-biased AWD system and open diffs completely trounced a friend’s TRD offroad Tacoma that has lockers and crawl control. Why? Wife’s car has winter contacts and the Tacoma was running all-terrains (mud compound, not meant for snow despite the big knobs). Tacoma got stuck, mommy mobile had no trouble in the same conditions. In order of priority, 1) winter tires 2) having chains / snow socks 3) basic AWD system 4) having recovery gear and knowing how to use it 5) an advanced off road car (diff lockers, crawl control, etc)
I’ve owned both, and live in the mountains. If you really need a snow car, Subaru handling is far superior. That, and as others have said, get good snow tires.
Why only those two choices? Where in the world are you? You didn’t even post TC. $500 usd difference on a new car is nothing, maybe think about better alternatives? What are your other requirements? MPG? Clearance? Approach angles? Something that doesn’t vibrate your SO to a point of making you jealous on a 200 mile trip? We need the deets!
Are you talking about Calgary level snow or Chicago level snow or Phillly level snow? For Chicago level or Philly level, either car will work. For Calgary level, neither car will work.
Good tires on a Crosstrek got me through muds, floods, ice, light snow, sand and rocky hills
Snow tires > else.
100%👆🏻