Need Advice about Subaru, Escape, Liberty - Which to Buy?

I need some advice.



My wife and I are in our early 50s. We live in Colorado and do a lot of snowshoeing and mountain hiking, (Check out the report of our first 14er we climbed here. http://brauker.com/mtsherman.htm ) We need to get a four wheel drive vehicle to get us into the mountains better than our Volkswagen Jetta can.



We don't want a great big SUV, so we have been considering used Subaru Outbacks or Forresters, (Seems like every other person in Colorado has one.) Ford Escapes and Jeep Libertys and perhaps, Grand Cherokees.



We also could lease a new 2004 Jeep Liberty for approximately $1300 down and $249 a month. We would be driving the vehicle less than 10,000 miles a year.



We are concerned about the roll over factor with the Escape, Cherokee and Liberty.



Are any of the Subarus made in the US?



Any advice on the reliability, safety factors, etc. on the vehicles mentioned above, would be appreciated.



Cheers,



Bill Brauker

http://mountainhiking.org

I'm sure others will chime in on this, but I would stay away from the
All-Wheel Drive vehicles like the outback. If you're needing to go places
that traction is a problem, get a 4 wheel drive.

The difference is that the 4x4 (4 wheel drive) does not have a center
differential like all wheel drive does. With AWD, one wheel on ice can
still spin, and no torque will go to the other wheels. 4x4 will split
torque between the front and rear so that if one axle can get traction,
you'll be able to keep moving.

AWD is great for handling in dry conditions, but as soon as ice/snow/mud is
considered, go 4x4. AWD with traction control is a nice idea, but 4x4 is
better.

-NW




"Bill Brauker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:69Yjb.160389$%h1.155365@sccrnsc02...
I need some advice.



My wife and I are in our early 50s. We live in Colorado and do a lot of
snowshoeing and mountain hiking, (Check out the report of our first 14er we
climbed here. http://brauker.com/mtsherman.htm ) We need to get a four
wheel drive vehicle to get us into the mountains better than our Volkswagen
Jetta can.



We don't want a great big SUV, so we have been considering used Subaru
Outbacks or Forresters, (Seems like every other person in Colorado has one.)
Ford Escapes and Jeep Libertys and perhaps, Grand Cherokees.



We also could lease a new 2004 Jeep Liberty for approximately $1300 down and
$249 a month. We would be driving the vehicle less than 10,000 miles a
year.



We are concerned about the roll over factor with the Escape, Cherokee and
Liberty.



Are any of the Subarus made in the US?



Any advice on the reliability, safety factors, etc. on the vehicles
mentioned above, would be appreciated.



Cheers,



Bill Brauker

http://mountainhiking.org

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 21:19:29 GMT, "NetWeasel" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I'm sure others will chime in on this, but I would stay away from the
>All-Wheel Drive vehicles like the outback. If you're needing to go places
>that traction is a problem, get a 4 wheel drive.
>
>The difference is that the 4x4 (4 wheel drive) does not have a center
>differential like all wheel drive does. With AWD, one wheel on ice can
>still spin, and no torque will go to the other wheels. 4x4 will split
>torque between the front and rear so that if one axle can get traction,
>you'll be able to keep moving.
>
>AWD is great for handling in dry conditions, but as soon as ice/snow/mud is
>considered, go 4x4. AWD with traction control is a nice idea, but 4x4 is
>better.

Sorry but that is just not true. I have Subaru and I have no problems
in the snow or mud or anything that is light and meant for a car. If
you really need the x4 of a Jeep or Truck fine. But the AWD on the
Subaru is world class and is meant for light off road, trails and
such. When one wheel spins on the Subie more power goes to the other
wheels. You claim otherwise, but you are wrong. 4x4 is also not the
world of greatness you suggest. When on the road and you hit snow or
ice you instantly have the stability of AWD versus a x4 which is
basically in 2WD until you lock up the fronts. Traction Control
modulates the brakes for you and My Subaru (WRX) does not have it.
The AWD vehicles certainly have limitations with their ground
clearance and lack of travel in the suspension so driving into 4 feet
of mud or climbing over 15 ft high boulders is right out. But for most
peoples needs they do quite well. Plus the gas mileage is quite a bit
better.

Wrong there, go Google and search for Torsen Center Diffs. they work
different to open diffs and are what are used in the Subarus and Range
Rovers. I'd personally go for a Trooper LWB, but thats my personal Bias, due
to my Driving a Trooper LWB.
For just popping up into the mountains an Outback with snow tyres would do
fine. If you want to get fancy, look around for Finnish snow tyres with
spikes.


"NetWeasel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:B1Zjb.2275$P%[email protected]...
> I'm sure others will chime in on this, but I would stay away from the
> All-Wheel Drive vehicles like the outback. If you're needing to go places
> that traction is a problem, get a 4 wheel drive.
>
> The difference is that the 4x4 (4 wheel drive) does not have a center
> differential like all wheel drive does. With AWD, one wheel on ice can
> still spin, and no torque will go to the other wheels. 4x4 will split
> torque between the front and rear so that if one axle can get traction,
> you'll be able to keep moving.
>
> AWD is great for handling in dry conditions, but as soon as ice/snow/mud
is
> considered, go 4x4. AWD with traction control is a nice idea, but 4x4 is
> better.
>
> -NW
>
>
>
>
> "Bill Brauker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:69Yjb.160389$%h1.155365@sccrnsc02...
> I need some advice.
>
>
>
> My wife and I are in our early 50s. We live in Colorado and do a lot of
> snowshoeing and mountain hiking, (Check out the report of our first 14er
we
> climbed here. http://brauker.com/mtsherman.htm ) We need to get a four
> wheel drive vehicle to get us into the mountains better than our
Volkswagen
> Jetta can.
>
>
>
> We don't want a great big SUV, so we have been considering used Subaru
> Outbacks or Forresters, (Seems like every other person in Colorado has
one.)
> Ford Escapes and Jeep Libertys and perhaps, Grand Cherokees.
>
>
>
> We also could lease a new 2004 Jeep Liberty for approximately $1300 down
and
> $249 a month. We would be driving the vehicle less than 10,000 miles a
> year.
>
>
>
> We are concerned about the roll over factor with the Escape, Cherokee and
> Liberty.
>
>
>
> Are any of the Subarus made in the US?
>
>
>
> Any advice on the reliability, safety factors, etc. on the vehicles
> mentioned above, would be appreciated.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> Bill Brauker
>
> http://mountainhiking.org
>
>
>
>