Snowboard / Ski trip vehicle?

So, the son-in-law unit is interested in a car, cuv, suv for snowboard trips to Tahoe.  They get a lot of snow up there so need AWD or 4WD.  The question becomes, which cheap car, cuv or suv that will do well in snow driving and doesn't suck to maintain and work on.  Budget maybe $5-7k so I don't have to get full coverage insurance - or up to about $15k if we decide to insure under the wife's name.

Subaru comes to mind but I don't want to change head gaskets and don't want to pay anyone to change them either because I'm cheap.  Is there a year where they actually fixed that problem?  Without introducing a new problem like a failure prone CVT?  How bad is the CVT?

I've seen a couple of Mazda CX5s listed on FB and they seem to have a good AWD system according to Keith's posts on here.

4Runner also comes to mind.  Seen a few listed that fit in the budget.

He likes the way the Jeeps look but I've never heard of them being particularly good in the snow - or on the highway.

Learn me?  Recommendations?

Barely related but passing this on for others: If you put your ski poles on the roof rack, make sure to tie off the wrist straps so they can't contact the roof. I didn't and the webbing fluttered in the wind for hundreds of miles, wearing completely through the car paint right down to shiny metal :(

By Jeeps, I assume you mean Wranglers?  They are plenty good in snow.  Highway manners are *fine*,  but certainly do not ride like a Cadillac.  

I'd take a look at XJ Jeep Cherokees and find the nicest one in that budget.  

4wd Xterra + Blizzaks.

They're cheap, parts are cheap, with the Blizzaks it goes through damn near anything.

Based on the US Ski Team, I would recommend a Pontiac Station Wagon. 

But seriously, SX4

Way outside of your budget, but a guy went by my house with a 996 on snow tires with a roof rack loaded with snowboards. 

We had a 996 Carrera 4 for a while when we lived in that area, they tend to work fine in the snow.

Pretty much any AWD vehicle with decent snow tires will do the job. If you would need the additional ground clearance a Jeep like an XJ would provide, you might be better off the roads. Not that I took my own advice very often.

An actual Chevy Tahoe seems theme appropriate and meets the requirements, although you may want something with better mileage.

Mercedes 4matic wagon - W210 - can find them used for 5-7K, usually dealer serviced - the miata of the ski hill 

The0retical said:

4wd Xterra + Blizzaks.

They're cheap, parts are cheap, with the Blizzaks it goes through damn near anything.

Xterra or R50 pathfinder are the value choices in this segment.

Honestly, in tahoe(or snow driving in general), good snow tires mean more than everything else. A car without electronic nannies is nice when the snow is really deep, but you can live with them too. But CA requires awd/4x4 so you kinda have to. What's the nicest awd Mazda you can get for the price in the area?

I drove my XJ to work every day for 6 years in Tahoe. Loved it. Honestly the best car I've ever owned, and it's just a great car. But for somebody who's not into fixing their cars, don't.

I'd take a solid 2wd car with a proper studded snow any day.

All good SUV suggestions so far.  A budget choice might be an AWD sedan.  There are many, even options like a Ford Fusion

The WK/WK2 grand cherokees are in that price range and with good tires should be able to make the trips. 

We used to drive to Big Sky, Montana in a 74 VW bus. It was amazing in the snow and we lived in it with temps dropping down to -10 F.

Another vote for "get good tires". AWD only gets you moving.

Gratuitous photo. And yes, I have taken a Miata to go skiing.

AWD Ford Flex, available with or without ecoBOOST

and yes, proper winter tires will git 'er done

The original ultimate ski machine:

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/market/3025643

But, if that's too old, then yeah, the Ford Flex AWD Ecoboost is the modern winner.

Driving to Tahoe is different than driving in Tahoe. The CHP doesn't care how good your snow tires are, you are often not driving your 2WD to Tahoe during ski season unless you want to put chains on. And most people who make occasional trips to Tahoe are not buying dedicated snow tires to drive on for a few hundred miles a year. So AWD/ 4WD with decent all season tires will work just fine. Just realize that on pavement in the snow AWD works much better than 4WD, unless it's a newer 4WD with a center diff that can also be AWD. In that price range, I'd probably look at AWD Highlanders, Siennas, or Venzas. Sienna because it is reliable and comfortable with lots of space for gear and people, without the SUV tax. Highlander if you want a less practical Sienna that looks like an SUV. The Venzas look to be the bargain Toyota because they were not too popular.

Boost_Crazy said:

Driving to Tahoe is different than driving in Tahoe. The CHP doesn't care how good your snow tires are, you are often not driving your 2WD to Tahoe during ski season unless you want to put chains on. And most people who make occasional trips to Tahoe are not buying dedicated snow tires to drive on for a few hundred miles a year. So AWD/ 4WD with decent all season tires will work just fine. Just realize that on pavement in the snow AWD works much better than 4WD, unless it's a newer 4WD with a center diff that can also be AWD. In that price range, I'd probably look at AWD Highlanders, Siennas, or Venzas. Sienna because it is reliable and comfortable with lots of space for gear and people, without the SUV tax. Highlander if you want a less practical Sienna that looks like an SUV. The Venzas look to be the bargain Toyota because they were not too popular.

Echoing these sentiments, I'd like to throw in the fact that "All Weather" tires are probably the greatest invention I've ever experienced. It doesn't frequently snow hard up here in the Northeast these days and 3 peak rated/All Weather tires have made it through some of the rare snowstorms we've experienced, far better than All Seasons ever have. I figure if they're certified for Quebec winters, they're good enough for just about anywhere else. Just throwing in my 2 cents: Get some Vredestein Quatracs or Nokians.

not helping, but

In reply to j_tso :

Those wheels are SO sick.

awd matrix? good fuel economy rear seats fold down, still a toyota