Above is a picture taken today of my 2013 Jeep Patriot with the alleged oversized tires, according to a Canadian Tire guy (see preceding post). The tires are not touching the fenders or interfering with anything.
I bought the Jeep as a second vehicle in 2016 from the used car lot of my Honda dealer. I also owned a Honda HRV at the time. But I had always wanted to own a Jeep, and the price was right for this one with low mileage. I live in the snowy, mountainous Laurentians, and the four-wheel-drive Jeep has served me well on snow days. I plan to keep it for two or three more years.
I love the drive in the Jeep — so smooth and so much higher from the road than the little Honda Fit I drove for more than 300,000 kilometres. The Honda HRV is a beautiful vehicle as well, an elevated cross between a Fit and a Civic. Mine was all-wheel drive and also quite good in snow. But not as good as the Jeep. I eventually sold the HRV, given that I am working from home most of the time now.
What will I buy next time? Either a Jeep or a Honda HRV. I’m torn between them both, but for now I am loving the Jeep experience.
So, that’s my car talk.
How about you? What are you driving? What would you like to drive if you had the money? (I’ve been longing for a Camaro, but it is not practical in this neck of the woods.)
And where are you taking your car for maintenance?
— Jillian
Jillian Page 
2016 Chevrolet Cruze, replacing a 2008 Pontiac G5, which unfortunately had to be replaced earlier than we planned! For most maintenance I go to Merson Tire. Although I have had some things done at the dealer (Christin GM) and was happy with the results.
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I hear often hear ads for Merson Tire on CHOM. Terry DiMonte speaks well of them. They have a great reputation.
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JP I can understand why you need an SUV all-wheel, not to mention big pick-ups, but I see 3,4,5 of them parked out in the driveways of the suburban bungalows, where I am presently, one for each member of the family I presume. Why the h*ll do you need such a large vehicle for urban-suburban areas beats me?!? Unless you happen to be buying out Costco,etc. So much for caring about global warming. Another bee buzzing away in the bonnet ^%#@&* %\ oh, apparently in this Belle Province we own more SUVs and trucks than all the other, including the Territories and Yukon. wtf %@
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I have a 1994 Suzuki Sidekick. Though I really only keep it around for recreational off-roading, I keep it street legal. I put a two inch lift on it, mainly so I could put 235-15 tires on it instead of the stock 215s. It has been pretty good for me, taking me down trails that I see other people in more expensive rigs backing off.
Long ago, back in the 80s I had the old Suzuki Samurai. That was a really fun vehicle. It was narrow enough to go down the ATV trails we have out here. In 4WD low, this car was about as sure footed as something this cheap can be. I have been astonished at the terrain I’ve traversed. It reminded me of a Willys Jeep in its capabilities. I was run off the road in it in the 90’s and the damage was bad enough there was no point in trying to repair it. Plus my wife hated driving it. Underpowered and she thought it was too difficult to shift.
I currently have a 2009 SX4 and my main drive. It has also been lifted two inches, just for clearance. I take it on the trail as well but I avoid the harsher terrain. It has AWD instead of 4WD which limits its capabilities, No 4WD low range. Plus the suspension is not as sturdy. OTOH it is a 4-door which we needed for kids at the time, it has more power and the tranny shifts much more easily. This pleased my wife. It is getting pretty long in the tooth and will need to be replaced someday.
It replaced a 1999 Honda CRV AWD which was handed on to my my daughter 10 years ago. She’s still driving it at 325,000 miles.
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It sounds like you are having a lot of fun with your vehicles, Fred. The Suzuki Sidekicks looked so cool. I might have bought one, but they stopped making them. I have never tried offroad driving, but I bet it’s a lot of fun. I wouldn’t know where to begin, though.
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2008 Smart ForTwo and a 1999 Crown Victoria. The air conditioners are good and they both drive well in the rain. Which is what matters in a sprawling city in the sub-tropics.
My mechanic is a local guy who has a mannequin that wears a different dress every week. Because a customer thought he needed that. He doesn’t do tires.
My tire place is also a local business. Looks like the garage in ‘Sons of Anacrhy’. Lots of spinners and 24s. The lifts are outside. The mechanics work in the blazing sun or rain. The waiting room is a couple of bar stools in the driveway. Or you can go across the street to an open-air barbeque joint. The owner is one of those intense guys with a calculator. He types furiously in the thing for a while, factoring in, I’m quite sure, some obscure customer assaholism quoiant, and announces “How about 600 bucks?” After which you pay him precsiely $600 with no weird fees or quibbles. They’ve always taken very good care of me and it’s an absolute pleasure to go there. Mildly frightening cosmetics aside.
My wife had the same Honda Civic for 22 years and now loves her Fit. Quite an endorsement. If I ever have to replace the Crown Vic, I would look with favor on a CRV.
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That sounds like quite the tire place! And the mannequin sounds cool, too. Hondas are great cars. Up here, the bodies rust out before the engines die. Love your choice of cars.
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2014 Dodge Journey that I bought at the end of 2014 so to this day the greatest deal I ever had for a car. Not a great car for getting around your type of neck-of-the-woods but I really can’t complain about my bang-for-the-buck SUV.
Of course should I come across the cash needed to invest in a fine automobile I would I would go with my favourite aesthetically-looking BMW X6.
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It’s a good family vehicle, Carlo. You’ll get your Beamer some day,I bet.
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