Hello
I average 5-6 winter trips from the SF bay area to Tahoe a year.
I currently have a 2000 Lexus (Toyota) RX300 AWD. It has close to 280k miles and won't last forever.
I also have a 2012 Toyota Sienna non AWD vehicle with a set of snow chains however I have not yet taken it to Tahoe in the winter. I take 80 to North Shore via 89 or 267.
Since the RX300 is getting up there age and mileage I am considering, if I was to replace it with another used AWD vehicle what would it be? I would like something that is on the fuel efficient side (thinking 4 cylinder) and something that is serviceable. I don't mind driving an older vehicle, I recently sold my 1984 VW GTI and still have a 1987 300E, howver don't want to get something that old. Am thinking something 5-10 years old.
I'm thinking something like a RAV-4 or CR-V maybe a Subaru? I first thought about getting a Nissan Rogue however heard the CVT transmissions in them have issues.
Ideas?
Or should I just use the 2012 Toyota Sienna van and put chains on it as necessary? I must confess the Sienna is my first and only vehicle that I have purchased new and I baby it even to this day. This is one of the reasons I haven't taken it to tahoe in the winter, I am a bit concerned that someone will spinout and hit me, or my kids will trash my fabric interior and carpet with muddy snow. Having the 18 year old Lexus RX300 AWD has been the perfect solution so far but know that it won't last forever.
I average 5-6 winter trips from the SF bay area to Tahoe a year.
I currently have a 2000 Lexus (Toyota) RX300 AWD. It has close to 280k miles and won't last forever.
I also have a 2012 Toyota Sienna non AWD vehicle with a set of snow chains however I have not yet taken it to Tahoe in the winter. I take 80 to North Shore via 89 or 267.
Since the RX300 is getting up there age and mileage I am considering, if I was to replace it with another used AWD vehicle what would it be? I would like something that is on the fuel efficient side (thinking 4 cylinder) and something that is serviceable. I don't mind driving an older vehicle, I recently sold my 1984 VW GTI and still have a 1987 300E, howver don't want to get something that old. Am thinking something 5-10 years old.
I'm thinking something like a RAV-4 or CR-V maybe a Subaru? I first thought about getting a Nissan Rogue however heard the CVT transmissions in them have issues.
Ideas?
Or should I just use the 2012 Toyota Sienna van and put chains on it as necessary? I must confess the Sienna is my first and only vehicle that I have purchased new and I baby it even to this day. This is one of the reasons I haven't taken it to tahoe in the winter, I am a bit concerned that someone will spinout and hit me, or my kids will trash my fabric interior and carpet with muddy snow. Having the 18 year old Lexus RX300 AWD has been the perfect solution so far but know that it won't last forever.