Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy

The Honda CR-V is probably my top choice right now. But I've been hearing good things about the Subaru Forester. I know Consumer Reports gave them both good reviews

Canthetuna, any thoughts on the Toyota SUVs? I know that's your area of expertise.
Missed this before my last post. I had a CRV and am planning on buying a new one soon. I have test driven the Forrester and just didn't like it nearly as much. The one thing about the CRV that is killer though: road noise. It is a loud car on the highways. The Forrester really is a SUW (sports utility wagon). You can't go wrong with the CRV. The others in this class are really down a level in terms of value for durability, safety, efficiency and overall ammenity.

Seriously though. find a BMW dealer and test a 3 series. You will love it. especially if it is a 325 or 8. Probably more than you want to spend but you'll get a good return on it when you get rid of it later on. It wont cost much more in the long run than an Accord.

For you CR-V guys, I am not sure if you are aware of this or not, but Honda is going to release an Accord version of the CR-V. Currently where I work we are making the bearing caps for the motor. It is going to have a 6 cyl. that will be pumping out like 270 horsepower. Also, we make a transmission carrier that will go in this all new Accord CR-V. I am not sure when it will come out yet, I think 2007. It also has some kind of new drive system where the car will read the terrain that you are driving on and apply different amount of pressure on each indiviual tire to avoid spin outs and what not. It sounds pretty sweet...

Could you guys explain to me the difference between 4WD and AWD. And the advantages of each?

AWD - All wheel drive, meaning that all 4 wheels have power distributed to each one all the time in theory. For example if you were to lift an AWD in the air and press the gas pedal all 4 tires should spin. But you have to be carefull because newer cars that claim to be AWD are in fact not. The motor industry uses this term to market a car that will switch from two wheel drive to AWD automaticly as needed to prevent spinouts and what not.

4WD or 4x4 - Four wheel drive, is where power is distributed to the tires at your command. The driver can select when to put the vehicle into 4WD. In side the car there will be a button or another shifter which the driver will push or pull to put the car in 4WD. Also, 4WD does not automaticly mean that once the car is in 4WD that all tires will have power to them individually. Usually it is only the 2 opposite tires that get power to them. For example, if you have a Ford f-150 that is 4WD, when you put the truck into 4wd the driver side front tire and the passenger side rear tire are the only tires that would get power to them, thus not making it a true 4 wheel drive vehicle.

I hope this helps...

Where I work about 60% to 70% of the parts we make go inside a transfer case. All 4wd or newer awd cars have transfer cases. The transfer case is what "transfers" power to the wheels. The transfer case is needed to to engage the front or rear tires for the the awd or 4wd system to work.

As for advantages AWD means that the driver pretty much doenst need to do anything the car adjusts to the enviroment. You never have to put the car in or out of 4wd. You just press on the gas and if one tire slips then the system will be engaged. Most newer vehicles are set up this way. But just remember not all AWD cars are true All Wheel Drive.

4wd you can go from a 2wd car to a 4wd car and back at your liking.

doesnt anyone drive american anymore?tafkas,i have a 2003 tahoe thats loaded,and has everything you talked about.i got it last year with 17,000 miles on it for 25,000.this car is the mac daddy.great in bad weather and very comfortable to ride in.buy american people,invest in THIS country.tafkas have you started yet?and how is it going?

Are you aware that most honda's, toyota's and hyundai's are made here in america?

Also, I have no problem with american cars once they can offer the same quality for the same price. Why would someone spend $25,000 to $30,000 for a vehicle that will be junk in 5 years? You should be able to get atleast 10 years out of a car not 5 if your lucky...

How often do you see toyota or honda offer cash back or 0% apr on there cars? Ever think that there is a reason for that? They dont have to unlike the american motor companies, toyota and honda know that they have a good product and they dont need to give consumers incentive to buy them...

there's no such thing as an american car anymore. a lot of parts for EVERY car are shipped over from asia. deal with it.