From: Ray O on

<mrv(a)kluge.net> wrote in message
news:1185834439.342036.44020(a)l70g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 30, 4:06 pm, Moon Goddess <M...(a)no-spam.www> wrote:
>> If I wanted a reasonably priced 4WD, what's the most reliable one that
>> gets the most MPG?
>>
>> Is it a Toyota or another brand?
>
> For US 2007 models, getting a combined EPA MPG of greater than 25 and
> which are 4WD or AWD:
>
> Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD version:
> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22997.shtml
> or the Mercury Mariner Hybrid:
> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23019.shtml
> 28MPG city/27MPG highway/27MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG).
>
> Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD version:
> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23835.shtml
> or the Lexus RX400h 4WD version:
> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23820.shtml
> 27MPG city/25MPG highway/26MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG).
>
> for pricing, I'd probably stay with the Ford/Toyota rather than the
> upscale Mercury/Lexus versions.
>
> For the unplowed snow driving that you are asking about, you'd
> probably do better with a high ground clearance vehicle with good snow
> tires, than to just look for 4WD/AWD, though. (A FWD Prius with good
> snow tires can get you most anywhere (without snow tires you can get
> stuck) provided you have less than 4" or so of its ground clearance.)
>

The Highlander and RX400h are larger than the Escape Hybrid yet the fuel
penalty appears to only be 1 MPG.

For a lower cost, look at the Rav4, Non-hybrid Escape, and Honda Element.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)


From: Moon Goddess on
Jeff <kidsdoc2000(a)hotmail.com> wrote :

> Moon Goddess wrote:
>> Jeff <kidsdoc2000(a)hotmail.com> wrote :
>>
>>> Moon Goddess wrote:
>>>> If I wanted a reasonably priced 4WD, what's the most reliable one
>>>> that gets the most MPG?
>>>>
>>>> Is it a Toyota or another brand?
>>> Probably a Ford Escape Hybrid.
>>>
>>> jeff
>>>
>>
>> Ford is reliable? :) I remember the old saying about them.
>
> I have a '97 Ford Contour with 145k mi on it. I have had to do some
> suspension work (rear struts), oil, two wheel bearings and one axle
> (one side). Not great, but not bad for a car with 145k on it.
>
> I haven't about the reliability of Escapes, but the Contour is a
> pretty reliable car, with many going to 250 to 300k or more.
>
> Escapes are now use as taxis in NYC.
>
> Jeff
>
>

Sounds like they may have worked on their reliability issues.

FORD used to stand for fix or repair daily, remember? :)

From: Moon Goddess on
Jeff <kidsdoc2000(a)hotmail.com> wrote :

> Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
>> In article <xKmdndRcKdOSxzPbnZ2dnUVZ_uLinZ2d(a)forethought.net>,
>> Moon Goddess <MG(a)no-spam.www> wrote:
>>
>>>> What kind of driving do you expect to do that you need a 4WD?
>>>> snow, mountain climbing, dirt roads, are you going to tow
>>>> anything, do you need a small 4wd or large 4wd.
>>>>
>>> Mostly city snow driving. I need something as fuel efficient as
>>> possible, I do a lot of business driving.
>>
>> Then you do NOT want a vehicle that is able to drive all four
>> wheels. Those mechanisms all weigh something, which costs gas to
>> haul around all the time. It's like having another person in the
>> car at all times. That extra gas costs $$$. It's a MPG penalty.
>
> That's not quite true. It is worse than a person in the truck. There
> are a whole bunch of extra gears and such that have to turn in the
> second axle. So the penalty is more than just a big fatso next to
> you.
>
>> Plus, all those systems require maintenance of their own, above and
>> beyond what their 2wd brothers need. That also costs $$$.
>>
>> City driving? You'll be fine with front wheel drive and good tires.
>> I heavily recommend Nokian WR. Absolute worst case, you buy snow
>> tires with a more aggressive tread as well as a winter rating, and
>> you run those during winter. But city driving? Paved roads that
>> get plowed? You don't need 4wd or awd at all.
>
> That's true. That's an arguement for a Prius or other hybrid.
>
> Jeff

If only the Prius designers would expand that rear window view and offer
it in deep purple. <sigh>
:)

From: Moon Goddess on
"mrv(a)kluge.net" <mrv(a)kluge.net> wrote :

> On Jul 30, 4:06 pm, Moon Goddess <M...(a)no-spam.www> wrote:
>> If I wanted a reasonably priced 4WD, what's the most reliable one
>> that gets the most MPG?
>>
>> Is it a Toyota or another brand?
>
> For US 2007 models, getting a combined EPA MPG of greater than 25 and
> which are 4WD or AWD:
>
> Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD version:
> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22997.shtml or the Mercury
> Mariner Hybrid: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23019.shtml
> 28MPG city/27MPG highway/27MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG).
>
> Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD version:
> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23835.shtml or the Lexus
> RX400h 4WD version:
> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23820.shtml 27MPG city/25MPG
> highway/26MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG).
>
> for pricing, I'd probably stay with the Ford/Toyota rather than the
> upscale Mercury/Lexus versions.
>
> For the unplowed snow driving that you are asking about, you'd
> probably do better with a high ground clearance vehicle with good
> snow tires, than to just look for 4WD/AWD, though. (A FWD Prius with
> good snow tires can get you most anywhere (without snow tires you can
> get stuck) provided you have less than 4" or so of its ground
> clearance.)
>
>

So tempting. <sigh>

From: Moon Goddess on
"Cathy F." <clfrclfr(a)adelphia.net> wrote :

>
><mrv(a)kluge.net> wrote in message
> news:1185834439.342036.44020(a)l70g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>> On Jul 30, 4:06 pm, Moon Goddess <M...(a)no-spam.www> wrote:
>>> If I wanted a reasonably priced 4WD, what's the most reliable one
>>> that gets the most MPG?
>>>
>>> Is it a Toyota or another brand?
>>
>> For US 2007 models, getting a combined EPA MPG of greater than 25
>> and which are 4WD or AWD:
>>
>> Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD version:
>> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22997.shtml
>> or the Mercury Mariner Hybrid:
>> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23019.shtml
>> 28MPG city/27MPG highway/27MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG).
>>
>> Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD version:
>> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23835.shtml
>> or the Lexus RX400h 4WD version:
>> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23820.shtml
>> 27MPG city/25MPG highway/26MPG combined (2008 estimated EPA MPG).
>>
>> for pricing, I'd probably stay with the Ford/Toyota rather than the
>> upscale Mercury/Lexus versions.
>
> She was considering a Prius to be too pricey - my guess is that no
> way is she going to want/be able to fork out the $$ for these - esp.
> the Highlander or Lexus. Then factor in their lower (than a Prius)
> mpg, and...
>
> Cathy
>
>

You're right. I'd be hard put to afford the Prius right now, MAYBE in 6
months when I can make more money. But there's an old saying that "the
devil you know is better than the devil you don't know", or "a bird in
the hand is worth 3 in the bush"?

My 93 Corolla wagon gets half the MPG of the Prius but it's PAID FOR.

$23k will buy a LOT of gas.