2WD or 4WD

[DomesticNoMore]

Hey everyone....long-time lurker, first time poster :)

I plan on purchasing a new 2007 CR-V the end of this month and have two questions:

1) Is the 4WD really worth the extra $2k on the EX model? Where I live, we do get a pretty good covering of snow & ice in the winter and I'm sure the added traction from the 4WD would help...but how much better really than the 2WD? I realize the 4WD is not intended for hard-core off road use.

2) Anyone know the bolt pattern and off-set on the stock 17's? I may be tempted to bolt up my aftermarket 18's (5x114.3mm +38) Tires are 245/45/18. Will these work?

Thanks in advance!!!!

[07CRVOWNR]

I live in the Washington, DC area and travel to Philadelphia multiple times a year. I choose the AWD back in March 2007. I consider the DC area winter lighter than Pennsylvania but do enough travel to warrant, in my mind, the AWD. The AWD is not a full time system, meaning that it uses the 2WD unless it senses conditions that requires it to switch to AWD, thus saving mpg as much as possible. Remember, just as my wife did with my old car, it doesn't really matter what you have once you hit ice (black ice totaled the car my CRV replaced). The AWD, in addition to the CRV's height, will help in the snow.

[DomesticNoMore]

Ya, I'll probably drop the extra coins for the 4WD...just for a little bit of an edge in the winter slop. Resale might be a little better too on the 4WD vs. 2WD.

As for the 18's...looks like the bolt pattern and offset should work. I certainly don't plan on "modding" the CR-V...but since I have some 18's laying around in good condition, I might as well use em if I got em.

Now I just have get myself back to the dealership for a test drive and sign some papers. Can't wait!!!

[2RedV's]

That extra $ amount comes back to you in resale. The extra $ that the all wheel drive costs tends to (On the CR-V) stay as a constant later on. For example, it was $1200 extra back in 99 and the 99's without it are still worth about $1200 less than the ones with it. This stays true through the 2006's, so far too. 2007's are still too new to have many used ones trading hands just yet but I don't doubt that the trend will continue.

[Davecr-v]

Always go for the 4wd if you live in an area that gets snow. If you live in texas where snow isn't a bggie its not so important. I live in NY more specifically Queens which is still urban but AWD is great because the way they plow the streets (or what they call plowing) leaves a huge ridge infront of your parked car so its tough to get a FWD car out without slipping, Honda's AWD system is great at this it sense the 2 wheels slipping and powers the back wheels until they are spinning at the same rate as the front this being said its good at getting going but once you are on the road its a FWD, which in theory is fine because AWD dosen't really help so much with control of a car in the snow its not as though you have to drive a FWD 30 and you can safley drive a AWD at 70 remember the same rules apply with any drive train Four Wheel Drive dosen't mean Four Wheel Stop. PLus 4wd is great in resale which means if you live in an area with no snow and are looking used get a 2wd.