New chase vehicle

[Ethan Lang]

I am currently in the market for a new chase vehicle. Preferably under $20,000, would like it to be a mid-size SUV or crossover. Has to be 4wd. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Jayson Kaap]

I am currently in the market for a new chase vehicle. Preferably under $20,000, would like it to be a mid-size SUV or crossover. Has to be 4wd. Anyone have any ideas?

You could get a used Subaru. I have an outback I chase in. A Forrester would be great as well.

Sent from my TB-X704V using Stormtrack mobile app

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

I loved chasing in my 2007 Forester, but the issues became too much once it got up there in miles.

Pros:
Never got stuck.
Never broke down on a chase.
(Turbo) Fast as hell for scooting out of the way of storms (or catching them).
Carried a ton of gear when necessary.

Cons:
Fuel economy (again turbo and older).
Squeaks and rattles.
Subaru windshield glass is fragile at best.
New models: personally I don't think they're very comfortable (bad back).


When I was searching, it came down to 3 options, granted I had a bigger budget than you:
1) 2015+ Outback
2) 2016+ Kia Sorento
3) 2015+ 4Runner

I ended up buying a 2016 Sorento and couldn't be happier. Only one season under it so far, but it performed admirably. Mine is the fully loaded SXL model, but the lower trim levels can be had for much closer to $20k with fairly low miles. I got mine for $28.5k with 43k miles. So far I'm averaging upper 20s MPG which isn't too bad for a near 300hp V6 AWD 7-seater. Especially considering I was lucky to average 18mpg in my 2007 Forester XT Manual.

And yes, it's a soccer mom-mobile, but it's also invisible to cops, comfortable as hell and has nearly every bell and whistle, including all the safety features like lane-keep,, blind spot monitor and adaptive cruise. Also has ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, pano roof (not a fan), a shitload of power outlets and all 4 windows are auto up/down.

Reasons for not buying the others:
Outback: Not very comfortable and unless you get the 6cyl, it's gutless. Pricey even used. No ventilated seats.
4Runner: To much of a truck ride and garbage visibility. Bad MPG. (would have been great for camping, but I chase way more than I camp, and I commute way more than I chase).



This picture reminds me, I should find another skywarn magnet. LOL.

Good luck on the search!

 

[Ethan Lang]

Thanks guys I am thinking of getting a Subaru Crosstrek !

 

[ericjkelly]

Thanks guys I am thinking of getting a Subaru Crosstrek !

Look at the Outback and Forester along with the Crosstrek. They all run about the same price used and the extra size may help. I have a 2011 Outback and absolutely love it.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

Pro-tip for chasing in a Subaru: Bring extra oil. Seriously.

Also, I'm with Eric...drive an Outback too. Drive the whole lineup in fact. Compare the Crosstrek to the Forester specifically if you're looking for smaller. Forester has better visibility and more interior room. Same chassis, IIRC.

 

[Devin Pitts]

Pro-tip for chasing in a Subaru: Bring extra oil. Seriously.

Also, I'm with Eric...drive an Outback too. Drive the whole lineup in fact. Compare the Crosstrek to the Forester specifically if you're looking for smaller. Forester has better visibility and more interior room. Same chassis, IIRC.

Seconding the extra oil advice. I love my 2014 Forester to death, but the thing goes through oil like no other car I've driven which is apparently perfectly normal. As far as space goes, my Forester has the exact amount of space in the back with the seats down to perfectly fit a twin size inflatable mattress. It's worked out great for car camping and saved me quite a bit on hotel costs while on a multi-day chase trip in the plains.

 

[StephenHenry]

Been chasing in a 2014 Crosstrek for 5 seasons and couldn't have had a better experience. It is smaller than the Forester but for a two person chase team with folded down back seats and tons of gear, it's never felt constraining.

I do carry an extra quart of oil on every chase, but only needed to top off once. The biggest upgrade I would definitely suggest are some good all-season touring tires. The first season we just stuck with the new, but factory tires that came with the Crosstrek - roads still seamed glassy slick at times under a supercell FFD. Upgraded tires the next season and the wet road handling was night and day.

 

[Tony Laubach]

Will toss my vote in for Subaru... spent five years chasing in a 2012 Outback and am going on a year in my 2016 Forester. Hands down, the best vehicle I have chased in as the full time All-Wheel-Drive is priceless. I do a lot of work in snow, to which these things are amazing. But it handles mud roads well and does between 24-30mpg on highway depending on the wind. The traction, of course, is significantly aided by the tires you put on, so don't skimp out on your treads just cause of the AWD.

I was able to do some custom installs in my Forester of various pieces of gear, including a RAM Mount laptop desk, HAM radio, inverter, and some other small additions pretty easily and relatively inexpensively. The backseats fit people well, and you can store enough gear into the back without much issue. It is a smooth ride, pretty much drives itself, and other than being a little squirrely in stronger cross winds, handles like a champ.

I will probably never venture away from Subaru in future chasing vehicles, and should I ever get into a situation where I have a ride for chasing AND a personal ride, I'd probably go Subaru on both.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

Been chasing in a 2014 Crosstrek for 5 seasons and couldn't have had a better experience. It is smaller than the Forester but for a two person chase team with folded down back seats and tons of gear, it's never felt constraining.

I do carry an extra quart of oil on every chase, but only needed to top off once. The biggest upgrade I would definitely suggest are some good all-season touring tires. The first season we just stuck with the new, but factory tires that came with the Crosstrek - roads still seamed glassy slick at times under a supercell FFD. Upgraded tires the next season and the wet road handling was night and day.

Factory tires that Subaru offer are traditionally garbage. Aftermarket is the way to go. I chased on UHP All Seasons, not really ideal for muddy roads, but I was never worried because of the spectacular AWD system Subaru has. I was always confident when the road turned sketchy, but I also had non-OEM tires the whole time.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

Will toss my vote in for Subaru... spent five years chasing in a 2012 Outback and am going on a year in my 2016 Forester. Hands down, the best vehicle I have chased in as the full time All-Wheel-Drive is priceless. I do a lot of work in snow, to which these things are amazing. But it handles mud roads well and does between 24-30mpg on highway depending on the wind. The traction, of course, is significantly aided by the tires you put on, so don't skimp out on your treads just cause of the AWD.

I was able to do some custom installs in my Forester of various pieces of gear, including a RAM Mount laptop desk, HAM radio, inverter, and some other small additions pretty easily and relatively inexpensively. The backseats fit people well, and you can store enough gear into the back without much issue. It is a smooth ride, pretty much drives itself, and other than being a little squirrely in stronger cross winds, handles like a champ.

I will probably never venture away from Subaru in future chasing vehicles, and should I ever get into a situation where I have a ride for chasing AND a personal ride, I'd probably go Subaru on both.

I said the same thing, having had a total of 4 Subarus through the household. I switched due to comfort primarily, and antiquated engine options second. So far my KIA is handling everything my Subaru(s) did, but in luxury. Honestly, the build quality is akin to a German car and doesn't feel like it's still designed for a Japanese anthropometric.

-Tall guy with bad back.

 

[Ethan Lang]

I am also fairly large, I am liking the ideas of the Subaru. I have a Mobotron laptop mount, gripper mount from filmtools, an inverter and a cell signal booster, so do the subarus have at least 12v plug ins?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Unless this is a second chasing-only vehicle, I'd consider something more practical that works better for you in your day-to-day life. Remember, you can really chase in anything. Ability to drive on muddy roads doesn't give you as much of an advantage as you'd think. If it's too muddy for a 2wd, it's probably really risky for a 4wd too and you'll probably be inching along at 15mph while the Prius on the 2-lane highway ends up 20 miles ahead of you. Most chasers who get stuck are driving 4wd and AWD vehicles in places where that overconfidence gets you into trouble. Consider that if you're driving more than 10 miles to work every day, the fuel costs of that sweet chasing SUV really add up. If this is primarily a chase vehicle with another car as your daily driver, I agree with any of the suggestions in this thread. I'm partial to Toyotas simply because their reliability has been hard to beat, that's both from personal experience and from chaser friends.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

I am also fairly large, I am liking the ideas of the Subaru. I have a Mobotron laptop mount, gripper mount from filmtools, an inverter and a cell signal booster, so do the subarus have at least 12v plug ins?

Crosstrek should have at least one in the lower dash and one in the center console. Odds are there will be another in the rear cargo area. I believe some are optioned with a 115v plug as well.

FWIW, my KIA has the following:
Front:
1x USB
2x 12V

Center Console Interior
1x USB

Center Console Rear:
1x 12V
1x USB
1x 115V Invert

Rear:
1x 12V

 

[Ethan Lang]

One thing that I consider also is the fact that I hunt a lot and so having AWD for hunting is a must. Not to mention I help my dad farm, so with this being said 2wd will never be considered .