We are looking at an 08 Tribute. My husband really, really wants a 5 speed and they are only available in Front WD. We livein Ohio so we get lots of bad weather. How do the Front wheel drives handle in the snow? I can't believe Mazda won't make an AWD or 4x4 in a 5 speed! Also, is the 5 speed 4 cyl pretty snappy? I have a 00 Cavalier Z24 now that has great power. I am just not sure about the tribute. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

Unless you go off-road or regularly drive in deep snow or ice, FWD should serve you fine. I have an AWD Tribute and the system only kicks in when driving in deep snow with a soft base (I live in an area of NY where 200 inches of snow per year is average). As for peppyness, the Tribute does weigh ~3500 lbs, so that's a lot of weight for about 150 hp. It will not be nearly as quick as your Cavalier which has about the same horsepower, but weighs 1000 lbs. less. I suggest you take one on a test drive that includes all the types of driving you and your husband do on a regular basis to see if you are happy with it. The 4 cylinder should get 2-3 mpg better than the V6 in all types of driving, which, at $3/gallon, makes quite a bit of difference over a month and over the year.