help with purchase
I have been driving a CVPI in the winter and it sucks. So, for next winter I will have something with AWD. It will be something American.
I have gone back and forth on this 10 different ways and I'm looking for some opinions from truck/crossover owners.
I have been on the Big 3 websites to browse around. Right now I am thinking small pickup, but I have also looked at crossovers like the Edge or even the Taurus X.
My family numbers three, so our requirements are as follows:
1. Enough seating for the three of us (our daughter is only 4 so she is fine in a smaller rear seat for the next few years) - which kinda eliminates the Ford Ranger since the rear seats are pretty nonexistent. The Chevy Colorado, on the other hand, has nice rear seats. The Dodge Dakota is between the two.
2. Enough room that it can haul a bunch of stuff - either a removable seat cargo area or pickup bed
3. Aforementioned AWD. I want a winter beast that laughs at snow. I like snow and won't be living in Florida anytime soon - but I want to be able to drive on snow better. I like the clearance height of trucks but I'm assuming the handling of the crossovers is better, so help is needed here.
4. Mileage must be at least 20+ highway. Gas *will* go up again - it's only a matter of when.
"Used F 150" would be perfect, except I don't need a full size truck for towing and mileage is too low. I don't think I will be towing a Marauder, but some of the light duty trucks could do it in a pinch for short trips. The 09 F150 is really nice but I don't want to be spending ~40K. (list)
Handling in the snow -- the last time I drove a pickup with any regularity was in high school and the smaller trucks were terrible on snow due to no weight in the back. Have truck makers been able to compensate for this, or should I be looking at crossovers?
Any insight here would be appreciated.
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