Hello all,
I recently accepted a new line of work where it requires me to travel to field construction sites. Not necessarily driving around gravel 100% but it is nice when you have the ability to. I am looking into a vehicle, preferably AWD and a budget of $5,000. If it's a really nice deal I can move up to the $9,000 range.
I am in the recession money-saving period so I'd rather not spend too much in the meantime until the economy is back on track, but I do need a reliable commuter to get me in and around.
My typical daily work is driving 25km to Chestermere, then construction sites around Olds, Alberta (~100km). I bill $48 cents per kilometre, a great mpg will offset that quite a bit. Thanks
Criteria
$5K, max $9K
Good mpg (Looked at FX35 and they are quite a gas hog)
Non-boring (like WRX handling ability)
AWD (electronic, locking diff is a plus)
4-passenger (hatchback is a plus)
Reliable
~200,000 km if it keeps the cost down
So far I looked at CRV, RDX, WRX non-STI, Tacoma TRD, FJ, and FX35's.
THX!