Car question for the group mind

[jhetley]

We are, as previously noted, prospecting for a replacement for my '95 Subaru.  Preferably something that will last us ten years or so -- we (as indicated by '95 Subaru) tend to keep cars until they die the real death.  Which, in Maine, can be rapid.

Does anyone have experience with either the Toyota Matrix (AWD version) or Toyota RAV4?  And in Subarus, experience with the Imprezza model wagon, as we have only done Legacy/Outback types?

We are considering a possible brand change because we feel that the local Subaru dealership has deteriorated in the last ten years or so.  Maine geography being what it is, going to another Subaru dealer would involve a 30-40 mile drive, each way.

Comments

[quilzas.livejournal.com]

I can't speak from personal experience, but....

I know two people with Imprezza wagon Subarus. Both have had nothing but awesome things to say about them, and they seem quite durable. One lasted flawlessly for 5 years until it was in an accident. The other I think he's had for 10ish years or so, put it through a TON of use, and it's still going strong (though he's put a fair bit of work into it too recently). Both have been stupidly happy with them, and are not light on their car use or driving styles. Also, the WRX I know seems to be able to hold a stupid amount of stuff for its size. Impressed me, I must say, when he helped me move.

I'm interested to see what others have to say to your post, though. There's a decent chance I'll be buying a car this summer (as the current is a) not mine and b) developing transmissions issues that don't seem worth fixing for a 14 year old car). I'm leaning towards Subaru based on experiences friends of mine have had with them, but we'll see what happens. Eek.. first car buying experience! O.o

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

I've been quite happy with my 2000 Honda CR-V, which is currently at 115k miles and counting. Granted, it generally only deals with southern New England winters. When I compared the CR-V to the RAV-4, I found that the CR-V had better front legroom, which was of significant importance to me.

Some redesigned Toyota models have been having quality issues lately; Consumers Reports magazine no longer considers the Toyota brand enough for an automatic recommendation. Also, I've heard that Toyota dealers have a reputation for treating customers poorly.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I hae me doots about the local Toyota dealership, from back a ways. Didn't know that CR had downgraded them, but have a flinch reflex from the fact that the Matrix is a new model... (Never buy version 1.0 of anything.)

What AWD models does Honda offer? We do have a local dealership for them.

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

I believe they're up to four models with AWD available: the Element, the CR-V, the Pilot (SUVs) and the Ridgeline (pickup truck). I wouldn't take my CR-V on any sort of off-road expedition, but it does fine with snow, mud, ice, etc., along with potholes and washboard-style gravel.

(I presume the others also have decent ground clearance, but here I write from ignorance.)

[ziactrice.livejournal.com]

I have a Toyota Matrix, although not the AWD version. Pros: maintenance over the first four years off owning it has been tires and fixing one small power steering leak that was corrupting a rubber engine mount isolation - which the dealership fixed under my Extended Warranty, no fuss.

Cons: the tires are low profile, very expensive, and due to the car's design, do not last as long as they're rated to. Also, this car has EXTREMELY LOW CLEARANCE. Given what you've said about potholes, it may not be the best choice. I've ripped up the front plastic fenders just on city-size curbs and humps.

Ground clearance!

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that warning. Ground clearance ranks very high on our list -- to hell with the roads (they're heading that way anyway, with or without benefit of hand-basket...), we have a 5" frost heave down the middle of our driveway.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

I've heard/read good things about a RAV4 and we were in one, quite comfortably a couple conventions back when we were transported 120 or do miles in one .. .but we weren't driving ...

About Toyota dealers ... just before we bought the beater Sharon's driving now I dropped into a local Toyota dealers ... they could hardly bestir themselves to talk with me: yep -- I'm starting to look like an old-guy hard-dealing kind of guy and they had some young couples to try to sell high-end stuff to... but still, the dealer left a bad taste in my mouth and I'd likely go elsewhere if I were in the market right now.

I've rented a RAV4

[romsfuulynn.livejournal.com]

a couple of times in Kentucky when we were going to be driving back into muddy areas, and I liked it very well. And I love my Prius.

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

I'm biased. Mercedes and Volvo would be what I'd buy. They'll last bloody forever.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

We owned a Mercedes once -- 12 or 14 years old and 160,000 miles, rusting apart. They don't last forever. The only Volvo we've owned, 1974, we bought new and it survived maybe 10 or 12 years and 110,000 miles. Lot of design problems, like a floor-shift that unscrewed and came off in your hand as you drove along...

I'm afraid we got better value out of the 1969 Plymouth Valiant -- 15 years and 120,000 miles.