Most fuel efficient AWD vehicles under ~$10K

[Duck Vader]

Might be looking at unloading the Forester Wilderness. Danielle has been given a job opportunity that she has to decide on ASAP, but if she takes it, it is a pay raise, promotion, helps to secure her position amid cut backs, etc. However she would go from driving 4 miles one way to work to 50 miles 1 way until we can relocate. With my current job I can live anywhere in central Washington. Her new position, the office she would have to work at 2-3 days a week (will work from home 1-2, she gets to work 4 10s and what days she chooses), is literally right next door to another WDFW office I could set as my home base. This new position is about a $10k a year raise.

However, in light of all the shit that has happened, all the money we had to put into this house with the pipe burst and everything, our DTI is too high for us to qualify for the type of house we would want to move into. We have been spending hundreds a month helping her mother with no end in sight either. The houses we are looking at are on land and either have 2 living spaces or room to build a 2nd house. Her mother is not going to be able to live alone much longer but we also don't want her living in the same house as us. So we are looking at things that are a bit on the expensive side. We are thinking if we can cut expenses even more, I pick up a 2nd job, we can move in 2027 or 2028. Our DTI should be low enough by then and our pay high enough.

So that is why we are thinking of unloading the Forester. Still owe about $26k or so on it, but trade in is that much. Figure we would then buy something for about $10k for her to drive to/from the job, so needs to be fuel efficient (she currently gets about 23 mpg average I think), AWD a major plus since they don't do a good job on roads here with the passes being closed a lot (she would need to cross one to/from the job), and relatively safe.

I am not really sure if anything fits that? Older subarus, Hondas, toyotas, etc that are also AWD tend to not have good MPG. Unless I am missing something?

[Chris GTO TT]

15-19 outback is capable of 30+mpg if you keep it below 70. Similar era Crosstrek would get even better mpg, and the Impreza hatch would do even better. The Impreza sits a lot lower than the Crosstrek or outback, if ground clearance is a concern get the Crosstrek or outback.

[DCIV]

Crv. Fuel efficient. Reliable. Boring.


Coop

[aaronatstate]

If you go from 23mpg to 30mpg, you’ll save $550/year if gas is $3.50/gallon. Thats based on 100 miles per day, 3 days a week driving. You’re talking $10.50/week savings….

Just keep the car you have and figure out how to save $10.50/week instead of getting something that’s gonna be significantly older and higher mileage just to have better mpg.

[Duck Vader]

Lose the car payment is the bigger part. Go from something we are paying $560/month for to something far cheaper.

So far we plan on keeping the forester. Just everything is moving forward faster than originally budgetted so looking at ways to get the dti down sooner than later. Want to keep options open.

[aaronatstate]

Using the same criteria as I used above, you can get a vehicle that gets 18.5mpg and it will cost you $550 more per year. So that’s only 1 of your current monthly payments over a full year. You don’t need to necessarily get something that’s super fuel efficient. You’d still save over $6k/year if you got something that’s less fuel efficient then what you have now (at 18.5mpg vs 23mpg).

[vr4]

im getting about 130MPGe on the solterra. youll have to plug in every night with a level 2 charger driving 100 miles/day though.

[ChargerX3]

They make AWD corrola's that are hybrids. I have my eye on them.

[Duck Vader]

I actually looked at the Solterra. Lease deal right now is $250/month on a 2024. Would save $ for sure. But range might be an issue like you said. We have a 220 outlet in the garage, but not sure what all would be needed for a level 2.

[Chris GTO TT]

If you already have 220 in the garage then all you need is a charger and plug it into the 220 outlet

[tabasco122]

level 2 needs a 50 amp outlet generally for max speed charging. You could plug it into a lower rated outlet and just set the max charge on the charger i believe. Also PSE is giving 50% off of a decent level 2 charger if you have them for your power/gas.

[vr4]

level 2 needs a 50 amp outlet generally for max speed charging. You could plug it into a lower rated outlet and just set the max charge on the charger i believe. Also PSE is giving 50% off of a decent level 2 charger if you have them for your power/gas.

Completely car dependent. Mine can only take 32. 6Ga THHN copper on a 10' run hardwired. 40A breaker and a hard set in the charger of 32A. Charger will do 50. i also STRONGLY recommend hard-wire install. Many instances of the receptacles melting due to not being up to the task of handling sustained high current.

[tabasco122]

level 2 needs a 50 amp outlet generally for max speed charging. You could plug it into a lower rated outlet and just set the max charge on the charger i believe. Also PSE is giving 50% off of a decent level 2 charger if you have them for your power/gas.

Completely car dependent. Mine can only take 32. 6Ga THHN copper on a 10' run hardwired. 40A breaker and a hard set in the charger of 32A. Charger will do 50. i also STRONGLY recommend hard-wire install. Many instances of the receptacles melting due to not being up to the task of handling sustained high current.

i meant for the charger not the car. Youll likely change your car before youll rewire your house, so it would make sense to wire the charger for the max youll ever likely need. In the initial browsing i did looking up rivian shit i didnt see any level 2 home chargers higher than 50A

[Chris GTO TT]

Speak for yourself I plan on installing a Level 3 fast charger at my house

[aaronatstate]

Speak for yourself I plan on installing a Level 3 fast charger at my house

Yeah but your a hippie Californian so....

[vr4]

level 2 needs a 50 amp outlet generally for max speed charging. You could plug it into a lower rated outlet and just set the max charge on the charger i believe. Also PSE is giving 50% off of a decent level 2 charger if you have them for your power/gas.

Completely car dependent. Mine can only take 32. 6Ga THHN copper on a 10' run hardwired. 40A breaker and a hard set in the charger of 32A. Charger will do 50. i also STRONGLY recommend hard-wire install. Many instances of the receptacles melting due to not being up to the task of handling sustained high current.

i meant for the charger not the car. Youll likely change your car before youll rewire your house, so it would make sense to wire the charger for the max youll ever likely need. In the initial browsing i did looking up rivian shit i didnt see any level 2 home chargers higher than 50A

autel has one thatll do 70 IIRC. GM oe charger will do 80. probably need it for that tank of a hummer EV.

Speak for yourself I plan on installing a Level 3 fast charger at my house

jealous. also terrible for battery life

[Duck Vader]

If we would ignore the cheap aspect.

Decent mpg, preferably awd, but maybe I can convince her on fwd depending on the vehicle.

But good in high cross winds and bumpy roads?

The pass between yakima and Ellensburg is really rough, lots of big trucks, and crazy high winds.

She complains with the forester saying it's way too bumpy and feels like it's going to rattle apart on the road and the winds push her out of the lane. Constant battle there and back 50 miles each way.

I'm trying to think what would offer a smoother ride, be less blown about, and feel safe. I'm thinking outback? Anything else?

[vr4]

subaru. more specifically a car. not wagon or crossover.

if we wanna ignore the cheap aspect there are many germans thatll fill the bill nicely. bmw, audi, MB all make AWD sedans thatll feel more than planted in the winds and get decent highway MPG. or a VR4.

[alienviking]

I mean - like Steve said any wagon or SUV will have the crosswind issue. You can't get away from the basics of physics. Lower and less profile is what you need.

As for the AWD.. didn't you mention you could work out of an office close by? Would it be possible to avoid RWD to save money (both vehicle and gas) and ride together in the truck on the bad days?

[Duck Vader]

I work from home and don't need to work out of the office except for maybe 1-2x a month, if that. My work rig is stationed 2 miles from my house right now.