Good Winter Driver while the Scion is parked

[Faulkner]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Why go all the way to a WRX/GTi/ST for a winter car? Not like you need that level of performance. Everybody here likes to focus on the performance cars when there is nothing wrong with a base Impreza, Golf, or Fiesta when looking at a winter able vehicle. You can pick any of those up used for a very reasonable price.

You’re exactly right, I suppose I’m dreaming a bit. Anything with an H-box that doesn’t feel like driving a boat will be an improvement. I guess I started looking at STs for 10k and snowballed from there...

[Faulkner]

Originally Posted by bfrank1972

I think he wants cheap, reliable and fun for the winter, emphasis on fun. I'd vote for an old WRX bugeye wagon, although may not have all the modern creature comforts. Or maybe an old R32?

R32 would be great but most of them seem to be pushing $12k already. I can do without creature comforts, so that does leave options

[bfrank1972]

Originally Posted by Faulkner

R32 would be great but most of them seem to be pushing $12k already. I can do without creature comforts, so that does leave options

Yeah they're a little on the more expensive end of things - love that VR6 though. Maybe a plain old MK4 GTI VR6, FWD with good snow tires is just about as good as AWD in inclement weather.

[Lynxis]

Just bought a 2008 Subaru Forester 5MT with ~120k miles for a winter beater this year and it's a nice contrast to the BRZ with AWD, high off the ground and ultra practical and only cost me $3500CAD all said and done to get it on the road, even came with cheap winter tires. I also lucked out because it is a loaded base model so it's got a moon roof, heated seats and mirrors, adjustable everything and even hill start assist which my BRZ doesn't have. Only complaints are the driving position is less than stellar and like all older, high mileage Subarus, it has some issues but nothing serious.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by Lynxis

Just bought a 2008 Subaru Forester 5MT with ~120k miles for a winter beater this year and it's a nice contrast to the BRZ with AWD, high off the ground and ultra practical and only cost me $3500CAD all said and done to get it on the road, even came with cheap winter tires. I also lucked out because it is a loaded base model so it's got a moon roof, heated seats and mirrors, adjustable everything and even hill start assist which my BRZ doesn't have. Only complaints are the driving position is less than stellar and like all older, high mileage Subarus, it has some issues but nothing serious.

I had an 09 Forester manual for a long time. It was one of the best, most useful vehicles I have ever owned. In snow, with snow tires, it was hysterically capable.


I lean towards a forester as a DD almost every time now, I've had two and they were a great combination of practicality, fun, reliability, and decent gas mileage.

[bfrank1972]

Also, while not sports car fun, you could also have fun driving through brick walls with a well maintained 100 series land cruiser

[Sasquachulator]

A big lifted truck.

Its all the rage in my neck of the woods......

[RToyo86]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Why go all the way to a WRX/GTi/ST for a winter car? Not like you need that level of performance. Everybody here likes to focus on the performance cars when there is nothing wrong with a base Impreza, Golf, or Fiesta when looking at a winter able vehicle. You can pick any of those up used for a very reasonable price.

^^^
A base RS non-turbo impreza would be my pick. Less reliability issues, AWD to pull you through the nasty stuff. A guy in my neighborhood has one. Never has problems with it. Older foresters are nice too[early 00's]

Otherwise a civic or something for a grand I can beat on and dump in the summer for the same price.

[Somerandom18]

Another twin for winter... No other choice.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

^^^
A base RS non-turbo impreza would be my pick. Less reliability issues, AWD to pull you through the nasty stuff. A guy in my neighborhood has one. Never has problems with it. Older foresters are nice too[early 00's]

Otherwise a civic or something for a grand I can beat on and dump in the summer for the same price.

Don't want to get too old though or then you start to run into old car issues.

[mrg666]

You only need snow tires for your FR-S. That is what I do. Drive it!