Hello all,
I've been gone a looong time, but I'm back for a question and I hope to stick around again and participate like I used to years ago.

My fiance and I have a slight dilemma, she just landed a job a good distance away (whereas now she is used to walking from her apartment to the train station) and it will require her to drive down a notoriously evil highway. Normally I wouldn't worry, but winter is only about 3 or 4 months away and I wouldn't trust her current car as far as I could throw it (a 1998 Jetta GL, very beat up, with 130,000 miles on it).

Also, we're practically broke saving up for our wedding next summer. I was hoping to get her into a lease on a brand new car with the following:

• 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive
• 4 cylinder
• $200 per month maximum, less would be great

I'm not thinking as extravagent as a base model Wrangler for instance, but more along the lines of a Suzuki Aerio (AWD) or a magically affordable Impreza (base). The problem is, I've google searched for a list of all current small cars that are 4WD/AWD, but my search isn't going so well. I feel like I'm not viewing the entire range of cars that might fall into my above list of needs.

I'm asking your for your opinions/information on all small cars that are 4WD/AWD, and then, which cars I should avoid. I expect the Suzuki might be one to avoid, but you must understand that it is 100x more safe than what she is driving now.

Thanks all!

Toyota Matrix AWD, and Suzuki's SX4 is on the way, and it should be fairly cheap. Suzuki's are good cars. I've probably had more exposure to them than most people, since I go to Pakistan a lot. They're reliable, but not the best built cars, and are usually pretty dull. The lastest ones seem decently screwed together, and pretty fun though. Just avoid the Aerio sedan...it's rather awkward looking, and the hatch is more practical anyway.

Subaru has special leasing going on for the Impreza till Sept 5th. I think the 2.5i is like $169/ mo or something so thats a definate option for you.

Yeh, of all of the AWD systems available on cars in your price range, the 2.5i is the best. I'd go for that...

/bias

ditto.

Thanks for your replies everyone. I just now got back from the scooby dealership to look at that '06 Impreza. It's quite nice and a kick arse deal. I'm going to do a little insurance research and make 'our' decision soon. Thanks for the advice!

Impreza 2.5i FTW!

http://www.suzukiauto.com/sr_06/aerio/
1) Cheap
2) available AWD
3) good gas mileage

Isn't Suzuki one of the worst manufacturers in terms of reliability?

^ no way... everybody I know who has owned a Suzuki in the past has only experienced rock-solid reliability.

impreza gets my vote. very reliable

I've never heard anything but good about their recent (aka: last 6 years or so) vehicles. Obviously though he would want to look into that.