Going from an SUV to a car

[Kappamd]

Two points:

My mom and dad both drove SUV's for the longest time (we've had an Expedition, Explorer, and an Aviator that I can remember). A while ago, they both decided to get cars because of the fuel efficiency. It didn't last long. Neither one of them liked being so low to the ground, or the way they handled in the snow as compared to what they were used to. My mom traded back up to a Sienna, and my dad to a Rav4.

When my bf was car shopping this past summer, he test-drove the Fusion. Like you, one of his main concerns was how it handled in the snow (he goes back and forth from central PA and NE Ohio). I don't think he was too impressed by the ride to begin with, but he ultimately nixed it because the salesman couldn't give him a straight answer about how it would be in the snow. He ended up with a Corolla that he LOVES, even despite the recalls.

It's the dang snow that makes shopping for a new vehicle so hard.

[ree-Xi]

I drive a Jeep Liberty, and find being in smaller cars (like a Saturn) a really freaky experience. I feel nervous on highways and next to tractor trailers. However, my husband has a Ford 500 and I feel pretty good in it as a passenger. I am really short so seeing over the wheel and dash is hard for me in all sedans.

If you are really into a particular model, try renting one for a day to see how you like it. You'll only be out $30 versus buying a car you end up hating. Sometimes, a test drive isn't long enough.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I drive a Jeep Liberty, and find being in smaller cars (like a Saturn) a really freaky experience. I feel nervous on highways and next to tractor trailers. However, my husband has a Ford 500 and I feel pretty good in it as a passenger. I am really short so seeing over the wheel and dash is hard for me in all sedans.

If you are really into a particular model, try renting one for a day to see how you like it. You'll only be out $30 versus buying a car you end up hating. Sometimes, a test drive isn't long enough.

I think what the Ford 500 was, is now the Fusion. My friend's mom had the 500 and now a Fusion and said it's basically the same? I didn't think about renting a car. That's a great idea!

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I drive a Jeep Liberty, and find being in smaller cars (like a Saturn) a really freaky experience. I feel nervous on highways and next to tractor trailers. However, my husband has a Ford 500 and I feel pretty good in it as a passenger. I am really short so seeing over the wheel and dash is hard for me in all sedans.

If you are really into a particular model, try renting one for a day to see how you like it. You'll only be out $30 versus buying a car you end up hating. Sometimes, a test drive isn't long enough.

I'm about to make the jump since my SUV is on its last leg and I can't justify having it for fun when it's cheaper to drive a car...renting for a day never occurred to me and it's a great idea. I'll definitely be doing that before I buy.

[VandalSquirrel]

I've never been scared in a car in horrible winter weather. It is lower to the ground and less likely to flip over in the wind, and if you do get stuck it is a hell of a lot easier to get out. If people feel unsafe driving definitely check into a defensive driving course, AAA usually offers them and sometimes it lowers your insurance.

In the grand scheme of things if you're afraid on the road there isn't that big of a difference if a semi hits you in a car or an SUV. It is a semi, honestly. I've got a car with SUV qualities (Subaru Legacy Wagon) and I feel completely safe, in control, have good features for snow and rain, and the gas and insurance are quite reasonable. The cost of a new one is ridiculous, but they last forever and there are many certified re-owned ones available.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I've never been scared in a car in horrible winter weather. It is lower to the ground and less likely to flip over in the wind, and if you do get stuck it is a hell of a lot easier to get out. If people feel unsafe driving definitely check into a defensive driving course, AAA usually offers them and sometimes it lowers your insurance.

In the grand scheme of things if you're afraid on the road there isn't that big of a difference if a semi hits you in a car or an SUV. It is a semi, honestly. I've got a car with SUV qualities (Subaru Legacy Wagon) and I feel completely safe, in control, have good features for snow and rain, and the gas and insurance are quite reasonable. The cost of a new one is ridiculous, but they last forever and there are many certified re-owned ones available.

What scares me in winter weather are other people at the extremes. Either they are driving too fast for conditions and cause accidents due to losing control, or they drive too slow and cause backups so bad that cars trying to merge onto the highway have problems.

I feel unsafe as a passenger in small cars that super low to the ground because I am very used to being up higher. The last issue is that I cannot see over the wheel or dashboard in almost every sedan I have tried. Not only am I short, but my legs are stumpy too. I literally have to sit on something (yes, I sat on phone books for drivers' ed), and sit so close to the wheel that my knees touch it.

Thanks for letting me know about the defensive driving course. I will check into it!

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I've never been scared in a car in horrible winter weather. It is lower to the ground and less likely to flip over in the wind, and if you do get stuck it is a hell of a lot easier to get out. If people feel unsafe driving definitely check into a defensive driving course, AAA usually offers them and sometimes it lowers your insurance.

In the grand scheme of things if you're afraid on the road there isn't that big of a difference if a semi hits you in a car or an SUV. It is a semi, honestly. I've got a car with SUV qualities (Subaru Legacy Wagon) and I feel completely safe, in control, have good features for snow and rain, and the gas and insurance are quite reasonable. The cost of a new one is ridiculous, but they last forever and there are many certified re-owned ones available.

I think my biggest fear about driving a car is that an irresponsible SUVer or truckdriver won't see me. It's purely mental but other than that- and drunk drivers- I'm not really afraid of the road. I do hate one thing though, and that's when I'm driving behind a truck and I can't see the traffic light. I blew a red light one time because the truck in front of me blew the yellow.

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

It's worth mentioning that many small cars have better safety/crash test ratings than big cars. Honda has an all-five-star safety fleet. If you want a car that handles well in the snow, get a front wheel drive, or an all-wheel drive. But you probably know that. I feel perfectly safe in my Honda Civic, though I'll admit that the driver sits a little low which bugs me sometimes next to SUVs. And I get around in it in the snow better than many people with bigger cars and SUVs. People have a tendency to drive too cocky when they drive an SUV.

However, many cars these days position the driver up almost as high as in a crossover. I rented a new Ford Taurus the other day and I felt like I was driving a crossover - I was sitting pretty high up.

If you're looking for a compromise between a car and a four wheel drive, have you looked at Subaru? My fiance is a tall guy and wanted more room than a regular car, wanted a 4 wheel drive, but didn't want the gas hog of a truck. He is considering a Subaru Forrester.

I will never stray away from Ford, GM (not my fave though) or Chrysler, mainly Ford. Besides I get the A-Plan so it'd be stupid for me to go anywhere else. I leased a Jeep which completely sucked and I wasn't happy with Chrysler's return policy. I'm definitely a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury girl.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I think my biggest fear about driving a car is that an irresponsible SUVer or truckdriver won't see me. It's purely mental but other than that- and drunk drivers- I'm not really afraid of the road. I do hate one thing though, and that's when I'm driving behind a truck and I can't see the traffic light. I blew a red light one time because the truck in front of me blew the yellow.

That's exactly why I bought an SUV. When I moved to Georgia, I decided on my Honda CRV because practically everyone here owns a truck or an SUV. I wanted to make sure that other drivers could see me. I love my CRV. It drives like a car and it's a roomy. My husband and I have done a lot of road trips in it and it fits all our suitcases plus a very jumpy, hyper dog. My husband has a Mercedes C240. Whenever I've borrowed his car, I feel so...little. I can't quite explain it but it just feels so strange to be so close to the ground. I don't know if I could go back to a regular sedan after driving an SUV.

[Scully]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I will never stray away from Ford, GM (not my fave though) or Chrysler, mainly Ford. Besides I get the A-Plan so it'd be stupid for me to go anywhere else. I leased a Jeep which completely sucked and I wasn't happy with Chrysler's return policy. I'm definitely a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury girl.

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

I can't do cars...just as all others said...too low to the ground. Fusions are cool perhaps and you may have other options at cars that are sedans that could pass as SUVs. What about the Ford Escape?

I am a Ford girl until the day I die. I’ve only owned Cougars, Thunderbirds and Contours and my parents only drive a Taurus. The only reason my daily-driver is a Celica now, is because it’s my husband’s (he bought it before we met) and my beloved Cougar with 170,000 miles died this summer. We have a 2009 Escape and it’s the new love of my life. V6, 4WD, leather, sunroof, Sirius, SYNC package, everything. It handles much more car-like than I originally thought it would and it’s a monster in the snow and ice in the NY. The Edge is beautiful as well, but we got the Escape fully loaded for what the base model of the Edge would cost.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I think my biggest fear about driving a car is that an irresponsible SUVer or truckdriver won't see me. It's purely mental but other than that- and drunk drivers- I'm not really afraid of the road. I do hate one thing though, and that's when I'm driving behind a truck and I can't see the traffic light. I blew a red light one time because the truck in front of me blew the yellow.

Stupid/wreckless drivers will still be that way regardless of what kind of car you have. Some cars, like Subaru, are much better if you were to get in a car accident, but just because an SUV sits higher or is bigger doesn't make it any safer.

The reason people don't see is because they don't look, that is something you won't be able to avoid, you can only control your driving. My dad has had more car accidents with his Ford F-150 than I have had in my Hyundai Sonata.

As for going through a red light, I've done that a few times too. Now what I do is I wait until the truck clears the light, at least enough so I can see what color the light is. The people behind me probably hate it cause I'll either go really slow or i'll stop for a second or two, but I'm not getting a ticket or getting hit just because they are impatient.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Kappamd

Two points:

My mom and dad both drove SUV's for the longest time (we've had an Expedition, Explorer, and an Aviator that I can remember). A while ago, they both decided to get cars because of the fuel efficiency. It didn't last long. Neither one of them liked being so low to the ground, or the way they handled in the snow as compared to what they were used to. My mom traded back up to a Sienna, and my dad to a Rav4.

This is my mom! She and my stepdad have both always had SUVs (snow).

One year they decided that it was best to trade down to cars because of the fuel.

We live on a back road that doesn't get plowed as quickly as the main streets do.

Each of them got stuck at least 3 times that winter.

At the next opportunity, they got SUVs again.

[PM_Mama00]

Welp, I went with the Escape. I picked it up today. It's an ok car but comparing it to my Edge.... in the words of Lil Kim "I go from first class to coach". I feel like it drives like a truck (which I guess it is). It has NO pick up. It's a 4 cyllander as was my Edge. The steering wheel isn't as tough as my Edge which I like. It'll probably be easier to park. It doesn't have the extra cup holders on the bottom of the front doors like the Edge. I guess we'll have to see.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Welp, I went with the Escape. I picked it up today. It's an ok car but comparing it to my Edge.... in the words of Lil Kim "I go from first class to coach". I feel like it drives like a truck (which I guess it is). It has NO pick up. It's a 4 cyllander as was my Edge. The steering wheel isn't as tough as my Edge which I like. It'll probably be easier to park. It doesn't have the extra cup holders on the bottom of the front doors like the Edge. I guess we'll have to see.

V4 SUV = WEAK, they should only put smaller engines in cars, not trucks or SUVs. I take it you don't plan on hauling a trailer around, do you? My Escape was a V6, my Land Rover is a V8 and still has slow pick-up.