Snow Belt - Winter Daily Drive Ideas?

[1990C4S]

I have my 996 '8 Month Car', I need something for December to end of March. I am working/living in Michigan, and I drive 'home' every couple of weeks, that's 400 miles once a month through a real snow belt.

I was looking at a Cayenne, but sitting in it, it just feels too big. I'm sure I could get used to it. I'm not terribly worried about fuel cost, but I also don't want a V10 Expedition. If I bought a Cayenne I would be happy (I think) with the V6.

The (maybe) wants:

- AWD would be nice, but not required, I'm quite happy with four snow tires, I don't think I need 4WD
- I do want a quiet highway cruiser, I don't want a droning loud vehicle.
- For work reasons I would prefer not to drive a Japanese car, but it's not a deal-breaker.
- I would prefer a manual transmission, again, not a deal-breaker.
- A wagon would also be 'nice', I carry a lot of crap

My budget is around $10k, I've 'looked' at Audi (Quattro and non), V6 Cayenne's, Buick SUV (I almost fit the Buick age demographic), Subaru (does not excite me). Infiniti/Lexus SUV. Mercedes wagon, Saab, etc.

I do ALL my own repairs, not too worried about maintaining a car, but it does need to be reliable, I don't have a back-up car with me now.

Worst case I spend some money on my VW TDI (ALH). It's boring but reliable, super economical, and very good in snow when equipped with four snow tires. But I've driven a TDI for ten years now, might be time to change.

What have I missed?

[onewhippedpuppy]

As we discussed in your Cayenne thread, if it were me driving through those conditions, I would want some ground clearance and real 4wd in conjunction with the correct tires. I've had plenty of sport sedans and coupes with snow tires, and they are awesome right up until the point that you high center. For me, at a minimum I would be looking at an SUV or at least a tall wagon or crossover. What's your price range?

[nvr2mny]

We have an Audi S4 Quattro Avant wagon. You don't need the S series (V8) but we love it. It's an '08 with @ 70,000 miles. You can find a manual version in the A series. We've had very few issues with ours and nothing major for a 10 year old car. Good luck in your hunt.

[VincentVega]

My first thought was whatever subby you like. My dad is on his second one and its a work horse. I've put tons of miles on civic's, accords, 3ers... in the snow. Winter tires until the snow hits the floor then I dont want to be on the road anyway. I wouldnt think twice about a a car unless you live 'out there' and never see a plow truck.

[ckelly78z]

I think a new set of Bridgestone Blizzak tires will transform any standard commuter car into a snow beast. I like the seating position of having an SUV in the snow/bad weather where you can see around/over traffic in front of you, rather than a low profile sedan that also gets alot of salt spray on the windshield. If you are serious about slogging through inches of snow, look at a Jeep Cherokee/Liberty/Compass/Patriot...all of which can easily be bought for your budget.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

I think a new set of Bridgestone Blizzak tires will transform any standard commuter car into a snow beast.

+1 Enough said.

Alaska, 1989, Plymouth Voyager with new real snow tires all around.

Bring it.

[Rtrorkt]

Originally Posted by NotaBRG

As one data-point based on MN winters:

My old A4 Avant Quattro on snow tires would go through anything that our Sequoia on all seasons would. And it was much more enjoyable to drive.

+1. had a 4000 quatro and a 90 quatro. Both would plow snow. nothing stopped them. drove home through a big DC snow into VA through unplowed neighborhoods. was absolutely unstoppable. Also had a Bronco II that was the same.

[cabmandone]

I'd probably skip the Infinity based not on my own personal experience but that of my brother. He has owned two and hated them both. Lexus would be a good pick. You can't beat a Subaru in the snow and I mean that. I came across a lifted 4x4 truck stuck in snow, I spun a doughnut in the same snow he was stuck in, backed up to him and asked if he needed pulled out. Yeah... the look I got was priceless. A Toyota Rav4 is solid or a 4runner but the Runner's can get pricey.

[Icemaster]

Got an '09 Edge Limited AWD for exactly that price point if you want to talk. PM if you want.

[jpk]

Have a look at the Volvo XC70. They can be had pretty reasonably, Very comfortable highway car, just the right size, wagon utility, ground clearance and OK fuel economy.

[Sarc]

You all are being way to practical with someone else's money.

Buy a set of Blizzaks for this and your all set. It's already got some Midwest winter patina cooked in.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1992-mercedes-benz-500e-5/

[Nickshu]

Volvo XC90

[1990C4S]

I missed Volvo in my (overly) long list. I've had four wagons, they are on my list. Is the Volvo V8 a decent engine? I have only had five cylinder cars from Volvo.

The 500e does pique my interest.

To what ckelly said, four good snow tires on a fwd car are as good as 4WD or AWD, as long as you stay on the road.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Seeing how you are definitely leaning car, I'll skip my recommendation of a 4th generation 4Runner, one of the best SUVs ever made. I had a 2003 V6 Sport with hydraulic cross-lined shocks (like a McLaren), drove to 65k and sold it to Seahawk, it's now at about 250k with minimal maintenance.

Here's what I would look at for cars:

Saab 9-5 Aero, Saab 9-3 Viggen - fun, cheap, fast, great in the snow with good tires, excellent MPG, unique, comes with a stick, super comfy seats
Audi Quattro - already covered, I'm a huge sucker for the D2 S8 and C5 S6 Avant, or you could look a little older to the UrS4 or UrS6 with the legendary 5-cylinder turbo
Subaru - hard to go wrong with, I had a Legacy GT wagon that was basically an STi for grown-ups with a much nicer interior than your average WRX. Also don't forget about the Forester XT, which combines the practical Forester wagon with the WRX drivetrain.
Infiniti G35/37 - available with a stick and AWD
BMW 3/5 - RWD and I don't like the build quality, but you have options for AWD and a stick
Cadillac SRX - an outlier, but hear me out. DOHC V8 with something like 340 HP, AWD, lots of cargo space, a comfy interior, and surprisingly fun to drive. I had one and loved it, only sold because we outgrew it. Reminded me of a tall 5-series that wouldn't fall apart.
Mazda3/6/Mazdaspeed3/Mazdaspeed6 - you can get a stick, various levels of power, hatchback or wagon practicality, and AWD in the Mazdaspeed6.
Ford Focus ST - fun little cars if you can find a good one, available in 4 door hatch guise
Ford Focus/Fiesta ST - even more fun, and I think the used ones are getting cheap now. I had a Focus ST that I daily drove for close to a year, lots of fun and over 30 MPG on the highway.
Mercedes ML55 AMG - big V8 in a little SUV, enough said
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution - probably pushing the price range, but might be the most fun on this list
VW R32/GTi/GLI - various levels of fun available here, and the R32 is AWD and cool as hell
Volvo V70R/S60R - stick, AWD, 300 HP, comfy seats
Volvo 850R - old school BTCC cool, extra points for the wagon, no stick available

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

The 500e does pique my interest.

^ I was gonna say "Benz"

I have Blizzaks for my W210 and it does very well in winter conditions. I know the W210 doesn't get a lot of love, but you can find them (and W211s) in very nice condition. I bought a 1 owner '98 E300 Turbodiesel with 67k miles for well under your budget. Best highway cruiser I've ever owned. I didn't expect to love it as much as I do.

[island911]

Touareg with air (adjustable) suspension.

[1990C4S]

Thanks for the suggestions and the effort to add to my list.

I have to say, a Saab 9-3 ARC, a 9-5, or a Mercedes wagon interest me the most.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Stay away from the 2003+ 9-3 coupe, they are a crap rebadged Opel. Stick with the 900SE/9-3 hatchback, which was still mostly Saab engineered. The 9-5 was mostly an Opel underneath but still pretty heavily modified by Saab. In the 9-3/900SE you can either find the HOT (high output turbo) or Viggen, both of which provide really nice performance. The Viggen was Saab's M3. In the 9-5 go for the Aero models. In either case avoid the automatic transmission and they are really solid cars. You can fit a massive amount of stuff into the relatively small 900SE/9-3 four door hatchback, and the 9-5 Aero is available in a wagon with the stick.

If you don't mind going older, the 9000 Aero is a simply fantastic car. If you can find one that isn't rusty, the old school 900 SPG is also awesome.

I had both a 9000 Aero and 900SE four door hatch with the HOT. Both were really great cars and would scream with a boost controller. Saab used to advertise that the 9000 Aero was faster than a Testarossa from 50-75, they are absolute rockets on the highway with excellent MPG if you stay out of the boost. Also robustly made and simple to wrench on. I would love to find a mint 9000 Aero to drive.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Thanks for the suggestions and the effort to add to my list.

I have to say, a Saab 9-3 ARC, a 9-5, or a Mercedes wagon interest me the most.

I thought you said you wanted something you "could" work on... not that you had to.

[1990C4S]

No votes for the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4.

Aside from winter ground clearance...