Question Used vehicle advice for very snowy conditions

[emntheboys]

I finally got to try my new (to me) Honda Pilot in the snow today (yay for Iowa blizzards-not). Anyway, it was fabulous!! I was worried about bottoming out on drifts, but didn't have a problem. Mine is a 2008 SE with 40k miles. We paid $20,500 from a one owner private party who had every service record from the day he took it off the lot. You may be able to find one cheaper than that- it's just that Pilots are really rare in my area and go for big $$.

 

[akcowgirl]

I think our plan is to drive to Anchorage before our second arrives and do a bunch of test driving. Then we will have all our stuff and dd1.

 

[KandFsMomma]

Forester made after 09 is great. Very roomy. Tribeca is nice too. One f our members here has one. Screename is Suzabanana. You could always pm her for opinions on it. She has two kids in hers. We briefly considered one because its a rare gem with tether anchors in the 3rd row (on models with a 3rd row) and I liked that it wasn't monstrous in size. Ultimately, with three kids, I got real I realized I needed something at least semi monstrous. So Pilot. But I still oogle Tribecas when I see them.

Don't buy an 09 forester!! The back seat is NOT roomy, it's nightmare. The front to back room is horrible too, I'm only 5'6" and I can hardly drive my car with DS rear facing behind my seat. (He's in a MA70)

the 09-12 is the same body style. The new outbacks have nice big backseats and are great in the snow but they are no where near the same price, they are much more!

I hear the 2013 forester is supposed to have a better backseat, but that'll come with a price.

 

[akcowgirl]

Thanks for that info on the '09-'12 foresters. I just looked at the post about the '14 foresters but that will not be in our price range for a while. I got my dd advocate to install passenger side with enough room for me to sit so now the question is finding out if my sisters keyfit that will be passed down to new baby will work behind the driver. I am guessing no and will still be in the search for an upgrade.