get an Audi A4s are cheap enough and you can get all wheel drive

My daughter is about to sell her 01-02(?)328(?)Xi buts its automatic.

And you'll pay the purchase price in repair bills in the first 24 months of ownership.

If you want something sporty get a WRX. If you want something more utilitarian and comfortable get a Legacy or an Outback. I own one of each...

We recently bought a 92 Miata with only 13,000 miles. Had a hardtop and limited slip for less than $5k. Cheap and fun.

I disagree with the last post, I owned a 2001.5 Audi S4 for years that was pushing out close to 450 HP and never had to put a dime in it, it was one of the most capable and robustly built cars I have even owned. However, an audi down around 7k might have a few more issues than mine did. I would have to vote 100% for an STI or WRX, I have 2007 Impreza SE and it is a blast, my good friend bought the 07 WRX at the same time and they are both very impressive cars and probably the best winter vehicles on the road. Even my SE has never been stuck, and any that live in Calgary know they don't really believe in plowing roads here!

What's the torque like on the WRX? I enjoy driving my 2.5 outback sport but it doesn't come alive until about 4k. It has no power below that. Makes it a drag in traffic.

I drive a 2001 E39 530iA with the Sport package...and am very happy with it...So I vote for a BMW...

Eric,

The single turbo on the WRX does lead to her being a bit of a dog below say 3800. It certainly has adequate torque for city driving below that, but she definitely does not come alive for real until 3800-3900.

Although I'm a bit partial, get a Nissan Z car (280, 300, 350). Can't beat the bang for the buck. The '96 and earlier cars are available as 2+2 (seating).

You're free to disagree. People seriously interested in a car should research them a bit before buying. There's horror stories and perfect experiences. I just know my BIL makes a pretty good living repairing A4s. In fact, they pay the bills so that he can play around with swapping Subaru engines into Vanagons, which doesn't make him a whole lot.
2004 Audi A4 Consumer Reviews

A Cobb Accessport will knock 500rpm off that spool time.

Well I currently have a 02 A4 1.8T as my daily and few things have gone wrong with it. Biggest thing is timing belt change at the 125000 km mark which will put me back 1.3k CAD. So if you are buying one, make sure that's been done if the mileage is ard that. Can get all the codes scanned at an audi tech as well to see whether there are any underlying issues but it drives really nicely.

I've also had an RX8. Awesome handling car for track duties, actually quite comfortable as a daily driver(even had cusco zero 2 E coilovers in mine and was still more comfortable than my stock evo 9 suspension) Only thing is that you have to keep topping up the oil which can be annoying in a DD and like someone else said mileage sucks in them.

If back seats aren't an issue, my vote would be a 350z. That was my favourite out of all the cars i've had as a DD.

This fall I'm retiring my '86 Targa from DD duties (five years slogging on LA freeways is enough; plus baby on the way).

I am seriously thinking of a new or late model GTI (200HP turbo four). I may even get it with the paddle shifters as I spend a lot of time in traffic and the wife can't drive stick.

I test drove one in the summer and the speed of the upshifts was stunning.

I recently bought a Mini Cooper S for daily drive duties, and I am really enjoying it. Very economical on the highway, plenty of power and lots of fun on mountain roads with sport mode on and traction control off.

+1 on the Mini Cooper S. A blast to drive!!

I had an Audi RS4 and it sucked. It was heavy, unresponsive and a pig. Although I have not had one, I want a WRX at some point. Nice and clean, good (single color) seats, tuned and subtle. I will never buy another Audi as long as I live. To think they put that same motor in the R8....buyer beware.

only one choice. Saab 95 Aero 2002 to 2007. 250hp 25-30 mpg great air, great audio, great handling and $3000 to 9000.

I may be biased.....I have 2 of them!!

I'll weigh in on the Audi argument - Ordered a 2001.5 S4 Avant from the factory, drove it for 9 years - Drove it through a Minnesota winter, several Florida summers. Longest I ever owned/drove one car.

The goods: Fast. Beautiful and comfortable interior. Real world practicality, carries kids, bikes, etc through rain sleet snow. AWD. Tuneable.

The bads: Eventually something breaks, and it breaks $$$. Little stuff breaks, big stuff breaks. Difficult DYI car. I eventually got tired of the mounting maint. costs and sold it - the Avants are pretty rare- it took exactly 24 hours to sell, sight unseen. Hard to find one that hasn't been tuned, mucked with.

WRX is a good choice.

boxster or bmw 3

My daily driver is a 2010 BMW M5. Of course at winter, the car is put away. Sometimes I will drive my wife's Cayenne GTS (very, very infrequent - its her baby). Mostly I drive one of my company's 4 wheel drive GMC trucks in the winter. Gets some time getting use to the truck though. On nice winter days I will break out the M5 - but not when the city feels like it needs sand and gravel roads everywhere.

I would like to try a all wheel drive bimmer with snow tires. Maybe a 330 IX or 535 IX. I test drove a X5 - not for me. I feel that the truck rides better - the X5 is pretty choppy.