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Chrysler hasn’t had a lot of positive press lately. Between bankruptcy, being taken over by the Italians, and not having a lot of new product to tout, it’s been an easy target for auto writers (myself included).
While I’m sure good times are on the horizon for Chrysler, let’s not forget about some of the great cars the company has produced throughout its long history. Keep reading for the 10 best vehicles I think Chrysler has ever built, and be sure to chime in with your favorites, too.
I’ve driven a lot of cars in the snow and am surprised at how much difference I’ve seen even in vehicles that otherwise are comparable to each other.
As winter begins to set in across the country, we figure it’s a good time to create a list of the best cars, trucks and SUVs for plowing through deep snow and easing over slippery ice. Here are my top ten, but feel free to drop a comment and let us know what you drive in the snow and how it does.
Throw any weather situation at either of these Toyotas and you’ll make it through just fine.
Audi A6 Quattro
I had a boss once who loved his A6 so much he’d take me out on snowy mornings and speed through the twisties, trying to make his car come unstuck. He succeeded only once, and broke an axle for the effort.
I chose this over the Pilot because it’s lighter. The Pilot gets a little top-heavy, which makes going down icy hills a heart-racing experience, while the smaller CR-V crawls easily to the bottom.
A low center of gravity and all-wheel drive combine to make the Forester a winner in the snow and cold.
If you’ve got a hard top and doors on your Wrangler, nothing should stop you from reaching the top of the mountain.
Lots of ground clearance, lots of weight, but a low center of gravity make the AWD version of the XC90 a great winter car.
Being a 2,500-pound small car, this thing stays planted. And with the ability to choose AWD or lock it into 4WD, the SX4 is a great commuter car for snowy highways. Just don’t take it on the trails.
As long as you’re not running low-profile 18-inch summer tires, this little Lexus will serve you well through any winter storm.
This is for those who want a little extra flashiness in the their snowy commutes, plus the added benefit of the residual heating function, which will keep the Cayenne heated for up to 20 minutes after shutting the engine off.
BMW 328i xDrive
With dynamic stability control and intelligent all-wheel drive, what else do you need in a winter car? Oh… headlamp washers? Okay, you get those, too.
What do you drive in the snow?
-tgriffith
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I’ve been thinking a lot about Buick today.
I know that’s not a phrase most 32-year-olds are caught uttering, but I’m conflicted about where the brand seems to be headed.
Naturally, the word “Buick” still conjures images of Florida retirees driving with their left turn signals flashing on the way to a 3 p.m. dinner at the buffet. It’s such a common scene that I sometimes wonder if 1990s-era Buicks were even equipped with right-turn signals.
So when I think of people who drive a Buick, I see old people with blue hair and a pair of knuckles poking up over the steering wheel.
But then I’ll drive past a blinged-out Buick Enclave and remember that, oh yeah, Buick does have some sweet-looking rides now. But even though the Enclave looks good, I’ve still not seen anyone younger than 60 driving one. I’d never buy a Buick for the simple reason that I’m not old enough to own one yet.
I do have to give the Lacrosse credit, because it’s following in the Enclave’s footsteps of looking more Lexus-like than traditional Buick. But until I drive one and am convinced that it’s not just another 2-ton floating cruiser, I think anyone who still works for a living will pass it over.
While Buick has always gone down the “bigger is better” path, I’m hearing rumblings of a possible new crossover based off the (get ready for this) Chevy Aveo platform.
My first instinct is to trash-talk that decision, too, but after thinking about it, it might actually be a good idea. If Buick can put together a vehicle that rivals the MINI Crossman crossover, and not just rebadge an Aveo, the brand might be on the right track to finally getting younger people behind the wheel of a Buick.
Would you consider buying a Buick before retirement age?
-tgriffith
Critics have panned the new Transformers movie, but box-office receipts already total over $200 million, which is proof that folks love the giant transforming Chevrolets.
Here’s a list of the GM Transformers and their availability (just in case you want to park an autobot in your garage!):
Chevy Volt: Jolt
Prototypes of the electric Volt are starting to turn up, and it looks like we could see a 2011 release. By the time it’s available, though, hype generated from the movie will be long gone.
Chevy Camaro: Bumblebee
Put your order in now! Chevy has already received 10,000 orders in front of yours, but the Camaro was the best selling American muscle car last month. Order one, and you will get it.
Chevy Stingray Concept: Sideswipe
It’s doubtful anyone will ever get their right foot onto the accelerator pedal of this hot concept… it was built just for the movie. This split-window hottie is one of the coolest concepts to ever carry the Chevy name, but it’ll remain a fantasy.
Chevy Trax: Mudflap
In the movie, Mudflap and Skidz are horribly unfortunate stereotypes. In the real world, the Trax is a concept that made the auto show rounds along with the Beat and the Groove. The closest America will get anytime soon is a 2011 Chevy Spark.
Chevy Beat: Skidz
This Beat is the second half of the putrid and offensive robot twins. Again, you’ll have to settle for the Spark if you want to buy one. Let’s hope the production version isn’t as offensive as the movie twins….
GMC Topkick: Ironhide
Ironhide is perhaps the toughest of the autobots, but the Topkick and Chevy’s Kodiak will cease production at the end of this month. The good news is that you can find used ones all over the Internet!
What about the real star of the show? Well, Megan Fox isn’t available for purchase. Ok, okay… the real star….
Optimus Prime
He’s been a Transformers fixture since I was a kid, and lucky for us he’s remained the same through the years: Optimus is none other than a mid-’80s Peterbilt.
Have you seen the new Transformers movie? Which car would you want parked in your garage?
-tgriffith
I think car manufacturers and tire makers have a deal with each other. Here’s why:
I bought a 2007 Suzuki SX4 two years ago to serve as a commuter car. Today it has 22,000 miles on it, and last week I had to replace all four tires, because the front ones were nearly bald.
I figured I just had a case of bad luck and partly blamed myself, since I failed to rotate the tires on a regular basis. But the guy at the tire shop said he’s noticing a common trend: People are coming in for new tires with about 20,000 miles on the odometer.
I got home and started searching online, and sure enough I found forums where people complain that their new cars need new tires after only 14,000 to 20,000 miles. A guy here made it 18,000 miles with a 2007 Lexus ES 350. Same thing here on a Mercedes GL450.
What’s the deal? Are car companies cutting costs by putting inferior OEM tires on their vehicles?
While I don’t doubt that could be a possibility, I think the bigger picture is a lack of proper tire maintenance. The guy who sold me the new tires for my Suzuki recommended having them rotated every 5,000 to 6,000 miles; maybe if I had done that in the first place the originals would’ve gone another 10K or so.
Also, please keep an eye on your tire pressure. As temperatures rise, tires that were properly inflated in cold weather could suddenly be overinflated. Measure your tire pressure “cold.” If possible, park the car in your garage overnight, and check the pressure in the morning.
Even with proper maintenance, tire life is another thing to consider when buying a new car. Check to see if the tires come with a warranty, and if not, use it as a negotiation tool to inch your price down.
When selling a car, consider doing what the guy who traded in the car my wife bought did: He felt bad getting rid of a car with used tires, so he put on brand-new 18″ Yokohamas before getting rid of it. Sweet!
If you want to learn more about tires, please read our Beginner’s Guide to Car Tires.
Has anyone else noticed a short life for tires on new cars? How many miles do you typically get out of a set of tires?
-tgriffith
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Shopping for a new vehicle?
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