Lookin into a new SUV....

[4u2nv]

you damn hillbillies and your 4 wheel drives...lol.. jk.. I only like 2wd cuz I like to lower my stuff. But I would like to have a 4 wheel drive also for ice fishing, and pulling the sleds on the trailor in the winter. Plus Mn. roads in the winter are pretty nasty.n Redneck I find it VERY hard to believe that you havent used your 4wd often in michigan. I've gone snowmobiling many times in Michigan and I have used my 4wd in michigan almost every occasion (Not the whole time of course but in spots). Plus I think you guys have the longest Snow season in the U.s. if I'm not mistaken. 4wd's with abs breaks on the ice is one of your best setups. My truck (2wd Gmc sierra reg cab shortbox) could get hung up on a wet fart in the winter. Once I actually get a goin, it isnt so bad, but starting and stopping sucks. I loaded the back with some sandbags and that helps alot but still not even close to my moms 2000 Chevy 2500 4x4.

Are you looking for a bigger style SUV? If not Id look into the Nissan Exterra's. Them have gotten awesome reviews, they hold there value well and are pretty sharp to look at.

 

[Revo Rancher]

OK, I'm a hillbilly...

 

[redneckracer1979]

Well I guess I am a hillbilly also because the only time I ever engage the lever on the road is when the snow is so deep that I am pushing it with the bumper. 4wd is a conveince and not a necessity. If 4wd is so important to getting through winter then how did people get anywhere 40-50 years ago in winter. I am 26 and I was taught how to drive in the winter with a rwd vehicle and have never had a problem with getting stuck or anything like that. If you use your head when you are driving in the winter you will be perfectly fine no matter what you drive.

 

[jetmechG550]

Here's how I look at 4wd, if I use it once a year over the 2-4 years I own a vehicle it's paid for itself. When I look for a new vehicle it has to have, why??? Because I can afford and that one instance it saves your ass and your not stuck somewhere in your 2wd vehicle scratching your balls wishing you popped the $1800 extra bucks.

 

[4u2nv]

Well I guess I am a hillbilly also because the only time I ever engage the lever on the road is when the snow is so deep that I am pushing it with the bumper. 4wd is a conveince and not a necessity. If 4wd is so important to getting through winter then how did people get anywhere 40-50 years ago in winter. I am 26 and I was taught how to drive in the winter with a rwd vehicle and have never had a problem with getting stuck or anything like that. If you use your head when you are driving in the winter you will be perfectly fine no matter what you drive.

were not saying a person can't drive a 2wd in the snow, (I still do) but I'm saying Id rather have a 4wd. If the 4wd is there, why NOT run it in 4wd in crappy weather? Why risk it? Kinda a bonehead thing to argue I think. I also am 26 (well on fri) and got my lisence on Dec. 23rd 1996 right in the dead of winter and already had my car. A 5.0 Cougar rwd.. That was a fun one..lol. That winter season 4wd WAS necassary for my parents. To pull my ass out of the ditch.

Kinda blows my mind your in Michigan where ya get a shitload of snow and arguing 4wd.. :shrug: dont take it personal, I dont have a prob with ya, but its kinda like a dude in Arizona arguing that Airconditioning or sunscreen isnt necassary.. :shrug:

As soon as they make a 4wd adjustable lowering kit, Ill invest in a 4wd as my daily driver..lol

 

[retarded pilot]

i live in michigan now as well , till 5 years ago i lived near la california.
inlaws have a 2000 awd minivan, 93 buick park ave, & a hooptie 93 gmc jimmy 4wd

at first they (inlaws) only let me drive the jimmy in the winter. thing is a mountain goat almost have to try to goof up in it ......now that I'm used to it any car is fine most of the winter. like has been said you dont NEED a 4wd ....but it helps to keep the sack from crawling up your a$$ LOL

 

[CorradoPsi]

Next we visited another Jeep dealer, and test drove the Commander. The ride was as good, if not better than my Tahoe. Very smooth, responsive, and plenty of room in the cab. I wasn't impressed with this particular salesman/dealership, as he was determined to sell me the demo (Only Commander on the lot) for what he thought was a fair price. NOT.. I will keep doing some research, but I think the wife really liked the Jeep. She drove it first, and loved it.
The price tags on these trucks are just out of control... I almost feel like givin the Tahoe an overhaul & sayin screw it..

if your serious, call me. my dad is the buyer for a local and rather large dealership chain, which includes jeeps. in fact he's driving a sweet cherokee with a hemi in it right now for his demo, I've driven it a few times, and even i like it. and i hate trucks. he's been getting trucks for 1-2k under what the other dealers are paying at auction because hes buying from around the country and getting stuff shipped in. even if he doesn't have what you want (which i doubt) he can get it for you.

 

[ImBroken]

if your serious, call me. my dad is the buyer for a local and rather large dealership chain, which includes jeeps. in fact he's driving a sweet cherokee with a hemi in it right now for his demo, I've driven it a few times, and even i like it. and i hate trucks. he's been getting trucks for 1-2k under what the other dealers are paying at auction because hes buying from around the country and getting stuff shipped in. even if he doesn't have what you want (which i doubt) he can get it for you.

Damn, I forgot all about your post Corrado... I just signed the lease papers last night, on an '06 Commander Limited... YeeHaa... I'm stoked..
I'll be picking it up today around 5...

 

[nitroking]

Well I guess I am a hillbilly also because the only time I ever engage the lever on the road is when the snow is so deep that I am pushing it with the bumper. 4wd is a conveince and not a necessity. If 4wd is so important to getting through winter then how did people get anywhere 40-50 years ago in winter. I am 26 and I was taught how to drive in the winter with a rwd vehicle and have never had a problem with getting stuck or anything like that. If you use your head when you are driving in the winter you will be perfectly fine no matter what you drive.

In my '01.5 Dodge ram Cummins dually,if their is any snow or ice on the ground in have to slip it into 4wd just to get going,that is without any ballast.They truck is a beast once you put the plow on and 1500lb salter on the back of it,it will go anywhere in 2wd and more in 4wd.If their is snow on the road or if it feels like it is icy it stays in 4wd,it is easier to stop a 8,000 pound truck in 4wd on ice or snow then in 2wd.If it is a day or two after the storm i slip it back in to 2wd after i get going again.

ImBroken nice choice,i heard some good things about them.Be sure to post pictures of you new ride when you get it.

Jeff

 

[ImBroken]

In my '01.5 Dodge ram Cummins dually,if their is any snow or ice on the ground in have to slip it into 4wd just to get going,that is without any ballast.They truck is a beast once you put the plow on and 1500lb salter on the back of it,it will go anywhere in 2wd and more in 4wd.If their is snow on the road or if it feels like it is icy it stays in 4wd,it is easier to stop a 8,000 pound truck in 4wd on ice or snow then in 2wd.If it is a day or two after the storm i slip it back in to 2wd after i get going again.

ImBroken nice choice,i heard some good things about them.Be sure to post pictures of you new ride when you get it.

Jeff

I'll have pics up soon... Got the truck on Saturday evening, and love it..
So much room in this thing.. After looking at the "Limited" again, I changed my mind. The sales guy nearly poop... lol I just didn't like all the loud chrome trim on everything.. When they brought the truck out front for us to look at on Friday, they parked it next to one that just came off the truck. The only differences between the 2, was no chrome accents, & no navigation. I could really care less about the Navigation, so I asked if I could switch.. lol In the process, my payments dropped about $20 a month, and I got the look I was after..
The color is called "Dark Khaki Pearl" I dont know where they got the Khaki from. The truck is like a dark metallic charcoal. In fact, Jeep used to call this exact color, Graphite. I'm very happy so far...

 

[redneckracer1979]

I have heard from so many people that it is easier to stop in 4wd then 2wd but I have never had that experiance. Whenever I am in icy conditions and I need to stop I just hit the brakes and if it is really icy then I just slip it into nuetral and I never have a problem. Form my experiance the only thing 4 wd helps with is getting started and nothing else.

 

[nitroking]

I have heard from so many people that it is easier to stop in 4wd then 2wd but I have never had that experiance. Whenever I am in icy conditions and I need to stop I just hit the brakes and if it is really icy then I just slip it into nuetral and I never have a problem. Form my experiance the only thing 4 wd helps with is getting started and nothing else.

What do you drive? DRW or SRW? Diesel or Gasser?.
Its all depends on weight and size of said vech. DRW trucks have less traction in the rear which equals harder to stop,with my truck if it is in 2wd and their is snow on the road if i tap the break w/ the clutch in the ass end with come around on me.With the rear spring pack on the 3500 they are stiff without weight so the back 4 tires basically just float on ice. With a diesel that is alot of weight on the front end so when in 4wd it helps pulling out and stopping since the weight of the cummins is some where around 1200-1300 pounds iirc.

ImBroken,
Thats good,atleast your saving some money.Who needs chrome or navigation anyway?

 

[redneckracer1979]

I drive a 2003 2500 HD Chevy with a Duramax. SRW my truck also has 6 inches lift and 35x12.50BFGoodrich All Terrains and I love taht setup for the street and winter driving. Also I have my tires siped which makes a huge difference.

 

[nitroking]

Well their you,its a chevy it has a softer suspension in the rear of it,you get more traction with a SRW.The 4wd drive still helps alot on the CTD since the weight of the Cummins the D-Max is lighter.I could get more traction with a leveling kit and a lift kit,but the would defeat the purpose of my truck.I would drive in 2wd if i could trust the other idiot drivers out their in their SUV that can go anywhere and the rice burners t6hat just have to pass you but end up in the ditch a few miles ahead.

 

[redneckracer1979]

But to make up for my SRW I an running a 12.5 wide tire. But I am extremly impressed with the siped tires on it now. I had the tires siped this past summer on the recomendation of a friend of mine and it makes a 100 percent difference in traction in the winter.

 

[4u2nv]

a 12.5 inch tire in the snow can't be fun.. where you at?

 

[redneckracer1979]

Right now I live in southern Wisconsin but I grew up in Northern Michigan right on the edge of Lake Superior. The tires actualy work really well in the snow.

 

[msly]

So where is the pics of the beast???

 

[nitroking]

But to make up for my SRW I an running a 12.5 wide tire. But I am extremly impressed with the siped tires on it now. I had the tires siped this past summer on the recomendation of a friend of mine and it makes a 100 percent difference in traction in the winter.

That is a single tire,much better for traction then two seperate tires with about 2" of space between them.Up here i asked about siped they told me they wont inspect my truck if they see that the tires are siped.Your suspension is still alot softer then mine,it takes my rear suspension to have atleast 1,400-1,500 lbs before it starts to squat,we had 50 80lb bags of cement(4000lbs)in the bed the truck squated maybe 1.5" which leveled it out.Those bags weighed 2 tons which put the truck over its weight limit of 1 ton,but we had it alot more over weighted then that and we drove through 5 states with 16ft equipment trailer with a CGVWR of 30,000-32,000 lbs,the truck was still prolly 1.75 before the helpers would hit...

Jeff

 

[redneckracer1979]

I have never heard of siped tires being a problem. One thing I noticed also with siped tires is that my tires actualy are wearing better. I mean I am getting more miles out of them now then without the siping. From what I have heard about siping it is supposed to let your tires run cooler. I would talk to a few more people maybe someone is misinformed.