Best Colorado Mountain snow car

My suggestions aren't going to satisfy, I don't think. Living in the mountains, though, I get a pretty good sense of what people are driving to and fro.

My own garage has Audis and Range Rovers, an ML-class, a BMW X5, and more than a few Escalades. If these don't work (and they probably won't, because they don't fit your price and model year criteria), consider a Jeep. Or, perhaps a Yukon. Or, if you want more of a car as opposed to a truck, you could look more at the Subarus. Too bad Audi doesn't offer the Allroad any longer. At least I don't think they do. An Audi (wagon) avant might work, but it won't have the ground clearance. And, at the price point you're looking at, I'd think you're in the A4 model, which might be a little under-powered and cramped, depending on passengers and load.

Service should also be a consideration. Remember that cars that sit, deteriorate. And, you may need regular access to a dealer. Everyone's on the front range in the Denver area, but there are fewer options in the mountains.

CW

 

My buddy here in Denver drives an Acura MDX and loves it. It seems comfortable and capable, though I would really only recommend it for 2 people. I don't think a family of 4 could fit all their gear in the trunk and be comfortable in the back seats.

Your seat requirement is what brought it to mind. It has very nice seats with more side bolstering than the competition, so you won't do a ton of sliding around on I-70 headed to Breck.

Good luck.

 

I'm a big Subaru fan so I would recommend the Tribeca, Forrester, or STi Hatch

 

FJ Cruiser.

 

I'm buying an Impreza on Saturday, I believe.

 

+1

I'd go the Subaru route first, but the Audi All Road may be a bit more refined and have a tad more ground clearance than the Impreza.

My vote goes for a Subaru though

 

Love my 2005 Audi Allroad, I wish they still made them. I have over 110,000 miles on it and no real trouble. Comfortable, reasonable pace (even at altitude with the turbos) and never get stuck in the snow. It is fun going around the stuck SUVs in our neighborhood in the foothills above Denver.

 

I have three family 4wd/awd vehicles....a Toyota Sequoia, Lexus RX300 and an Audi A6. The Audi has the least clearance but i would drive that just about anytime. It is really good on mountain switchbacks etc. It is probably the most expensive of the lot to maintain but worth it in my opinion.

 

We have had great luck with a Chrysler Pacifica (crossover type). AWD, and you could definitely find one 2007 - 2008 UNDER your price range. I offered my Pacifica to a UK colleague for the same purpose when he comes over to ski Breck. Have left it at DIA for him when he flies in.

If new, I would try to find a DEMO 2011 Grand Cherokee. They are awesome.

 

We live in the mountains and have a 4runner and a Tundra (for pulling trailers mainly). But given your specifics, I'd look at a Subaru. We have had them in the past and there are a zillion of them running around the Colorado mountains for good reason.

Dave

 

A Subaru would be a great choice; Alaska is overflowing with them. Without opening a can of worms, get the appropriate tires for the conditions, a good ice scraper, prepare the car for the winter, and you should be happy.

 

+1 on the tires. We put good snows on the Audi and Range Rover. I don't feel a need to go to studs, but there are days when they would be useful.

CW

 

How often are you here? I would rent a Tahoe from Enterprise before I considered paying for the upkeep of a car sitting in an airport parking lot for 95% of its life.

 

What about a Volvo? Maybe a XC70 Cross Country? I would think the Swedes would know a thing or two about cars in snow.


Just bought an S60R myself so I haven't experienced snow with it. I'm banking it might not be the best compared to their other models.

 

We have two Subarus. A Forrester and an Outback. Both turbos. Both stick (my wife won't drive an automatic).

We love em.

 

Your wife sounds like mine. We had a 98 Outback with a stick. She still misses it. Sadly, 4runners no longer come with sticks. She still talks about getting another Outback though it does not currently fit our needs. She has to get her stick fix with the Cayman S.

Dave

 

Our old

Forrester is a stick. The new Forrester turbo only has a slush box but the Outback has a stick so we got the outback. It corners better than the Forrester IMVHO. My wife is happy.

She will bend your ear about how you don't really have control of your car with an automatic. Driving an automatic is not driving she says. You are a passenger not a DRIVER. I love this woman.

 

Are you guys really talking about your wives "stick fixes"? Uhm...

CW

 

LOL.

Dave

 

Where are you parking.... the garage is $18 a day at DIA.

 

My wife has one of those... loves driving her Jeep Wrangler (topless sometimes!)

 

I got a used outback, a 2005 XT. Feel more secure in it with snow tires than my X5 with snow tires. 5 speed manual and pretty darn quick so fun to drive. New Outbacks dont come with the hot turbo four any longer but the foresters do. Subaru outback, used xt would be my recommendation.

Btw, not for Santa Barbara but for my vacation home in Deer Valley