[DBtoo]

Hey! That Pontiac Aztec looks like the type of vehicle I'm looking for. I'm not a lesbian, but I'm looking for a used small car that can handle rugged roads and a very cold climate with lots of snow. I am starting to look around now. That looks like the sort of car I would be interested in. I need to do some research and find something small, hardy with good gas milelage. Where I live now we all have to live a bit poorly as things are so very expensive here. I bet that Aztec is out of my price range anyway. I don't want to spend over $10,000. If any Freepers are experts on small but durable cars for rural Alaska please let me know if you have any ideas. Thanks.

[Petronski]

Jeep Cherokee Sport (the cherokee that is not the souped-up 'Grand Cherokee') might be a good candidate. You can get parts at any Dodge dealer, it's 4-wheel-drive, and there's gotta be hundreds of thousands of used models out there to pick from, because they've been making them for decades. Just make sure you get the bigger engine (4.0 liters, or later on, 3.7) and not the little bitty 2.8 or so engine.

The Aztec, on the other hand, is NOT durable, no matter how suited to your needs it might be. It is a laughingstock in the GM servicebays. I wish someone would post that story about the Aztec, about how it was designed by a team headed up by an affirmative-action nincompoop and only went into production to prove she could do it.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Get a subaru. I owned one and it was great. Over 200k miles and ran like a top, good in snow, too. Don't waste money on the outback, get the twin model, costs less and just as good. Also Audi's are great in snow. For a small SUV, I had a Daihatsu Rocky for awhile. That was one great truck in the snow! But not much power with a load. I hope to have a Tahoe by years end, Lord willing!

[applemac_g4]

If any Freepers are experts on small but durable cars for rural Alaska please let me know if you have any ideas...

...Hunt around for a couple of year old Subaru Forester.

[singletrack]

I've got a 2002 Aztec and so far love it. With rebates and etc you can get one for about 18K.Its NOT a real off road machine but has the room of a mini van, with taller wheels.I'll drive an ugly truck before ANY mini vans.Pussy wagons, every one. V6, auto, air, abs,cd all standard (and ALL options on the Saturn VUE, my other choice).Just the most truck out there for the money.GM has hacked the price just to get people to LOOK at them.I did place a nice large laser cut NASA logo on the back.Martian firetruck is the family nickname so far..