Which AWD hatchback - £7K budget.

[IanMorewood]

I know you said you don't want an estate but I've just stumbled over a 159 SW 5 door 3.2 Q4, surely no prettier estate has been made and I'm sure the dog would love it.

[VladD]

hora said:

No offence but <7k Audi/VW 4wd cars are dull to drive.

I will give you my suggestion tomorrow... just incase you buy it before me

And the answer is.....?

[VladD]

The Saab 9-3 and 159 are great cars, but too big. The Audi S2 is a great car, I nearly bought one many years ago, but a bit long in the tooth now and of course it's an Audi and so the veto kicks in.

[Raman Kandola]

Leins said:

Forgot how good looking they are, they've aged really well

[VladD]

Poopipe said:

Hawkeye or blobeye subaru wagon? If you dont like the newer shape hatch

I mean none of them are beautiful but you live with it cos rally car - i'd have a bugeye myself for the full ugly.

Theyre not big cars - im assuming youre after a hatch cos you want something smaller than an a4/3series.

I'm after a hatch, because they are generally a shorter wheelbase than a full on estate, but we need to get the dog in, so booted cars are out. We want AWD because we live down a country lane and want to be able to get out in the winter, because the lane does not get gritted. We don't want to go as far as a 4X4 though. If it snows that hard we'll just stay at home.

I like Scooby's though, so I may make an exception for an Impreza estate if I can't find any thing else. I used to have a Type-R, so have a lot of affection for the brand.

[StottyEvo]

Lefty said:

scherzkeks said:

Lefty said:

Just remember that there's 4wd and 4wd. Haldex isn't great (I had an r32 for 3 years) compared to fulltime 4x4 a'la subaru.

I.

Not true. Sport Auto in Germany has tested this several times, and Haldex cars usually do very well in mixed conditions.

Here"s two examples with the old Haldex II system (not the proactive Gen. 4/5) :

http://www.sportauto.de/vergleichstest/allradvergl...
http://www.sportauto.de/vergleichstest/sport-auto-...

The R and S3 took first in both tests on ice and snow.

Edited by scherzkeks on Tuesday 19th August 19:08

Well I'm basing my opinion on personal experience.

I watched a friends old S3 get stuck in snow/ice with one rear wheel on completely dry tarmac.

[telecat]

Skoda do the Octavia and Superb in 4x4 with the 1.8 TSI and diesel motors. Looks like the Superb has the most Hatch back versions. The Octavia seems to have been 4x4 hatch in mark 1 form but mainly Estate and "Scout" versions of late. Volkswagen quality with Skoda pricing.

[VladD]

So with the AWD in the Golf, it's FWD until there is a loss of traction and then it can send power to the rear. With the Subaru it's constant AWD with a default percentage split, but which alters with a loss of traction.

[HonestIago]

VladD said:

I'm after a hatch, because they are generally a shorter wheelbase than a full on estate, but we need to get the dog in, so booted cars are out. We want AWD because we live down a country lane and want to be able to get out in the winter, because the lane does not get gritted. We don't want to go as far as a 4X4 though. If it snows that hard we'll just stay at home.

I like Scooby's though, so I may make an exception for an Impreza estate if I can't find any thing else. I used to have a Type-R, so have a lot of affection for the brand.

Just buy a good set of winter tyres for a FWD car then. Would open up your options considerably and, probably, save you money.

[VladD]

HonestIago said:

VladD said:

I'm after a hatch, because they are generally a shorter wheelbase than a full on estate, but we need to get the dog in, so booted cars are out. We want AWD because we live down a country lane and want to be able to get out in the winter, because the lane does not get gritted. We don't want to go as far as a 4X4 though. If it snows that hard we'll just stay at home.

I like Scooby's though, so I may make an exception for an Impreza estate if I can't find any thing else. I used to have a Type-R, so have a lot of affection for the brand.

Just buy a good set of winter tyres for a FWD car then. Would open up your options considerably and, probably, save you money.

That would be the sensible option, I just don't really want a FWD car.

[HonestIago]

VladD said:

HonestIago said:

VladD said:

I'm after a hatch, because they are generally a shorter wheelbase than a full on estate, but we need to get the dog in, so booted cars are out. We want AWD because we live down a country lane and want to be able to get out in the winter, because the lane does not get gritted. We don't want to go as far as a 4X4 though. If it snows that hard we'll just stay at home.

I like Scooby's though, so I may make an exception for an Impreza estate if I can't find any thing else. I used to have a Type-R, so have a lot of affection for the brand.

Just buy a good set of winter tyres for a FWD car then. Would open up your options considerably and, probably, save you money.

That would be the sensible option, I just don't really want a FWD car.

Get a 130i with winter tyres then!

[VladD]

HonestIago said:

VladD said:

HonestIago said:

VladD said:

I'm after a hatch, because they are generally a shorter wheelbase than a full on estate, but we need to get the dog in, so booted cars are out. We want AWD because we live down a country lane and want to be able to get out in the winter, because the lane does not get gritted. We don't want to go as far as a 4X4 though. If it snows that hard we'll just stay at home.

I like Scooby's though, so I may make an exception for an Impreza estate if I can't find any thing else. I used to have a Type-R, so have a lot of affection for the brand.

Just buy a good set of winter tyres for a FWD car then. Would open up your options considerably and, probably, save you money.

That would be the sensible option, I just don't really want a FWD car.

Get a 130i with winter tyres then!

I already have a RWD car that could be put on winter tyres, so that becomes a bit redundant. Would rather stick with looking at AWD options.

[scarble]

Celica GT4? Dog lie down.
Correct answer is Subaru.
They look fine, also it's not about looks.
PH, looks don't matter
(or so I tell myself)

eta: Calibra Turbo? Much brave pill, so bork factor.
Could fit several dogs in boot.

Edited by scarble on Wednesday 20th August 09:45

[deltashad]

Think you have to go older, possibly pre- Evo integrale, Nissan Pulsar GTir, there is the Insignia 2.8v6 4x4, Jaguar x-type estate??

Manufacturers seemed to have moved away from small performance 4x4's.

[tomjol]

VladD said:

So with the AWD in the Golf, it's FWD until there is a loss of traction and then it can send power to the rear. With the Subaru it's constant AWD with a default percentage split, but which alters with a loss of traction.

At the risk of being branded "the new scherzkeks", it's really a lot more complicated than "FWD until wheel slip", taking account of engine speed, throttle and pedal positions, braking etc.

Admittedly, the default split is much more front-axle biased than other AWD systems (think 95:5), so if you drive like Doris it feels and acts very FWD.

[Murray1986]

I run an S3 8l now and actually quite like it. I think the best way to sum it up is jack of all trades.

it will do anything you ask really well, its just never special or great. The handling isn't as bad as people make out, although mine might be modified.

Only thing I don't like is the brake pedal has such long travel and wooden feel its like having no brakes but they do work well once the pedals down enough.

Interior is rattle free 14 years on and surprisingly good on fuel. About half what I used in the fto before it.

They are pretty well forgotten now so great fun having a laugh reeling in tdi's, or pootling along off the radar for mpg.

Fantastic dailies! Boot ain't big though..

Oddball choice: Mazda 323 GTX or GTR?

[scarble]

Murray1986 said:

I run an S3 8l

The 8L A3/S3 quattros are nice and stealthy, less brash than the Golfs and newer A3s/S3s. They might not be the most engaging drive but as Q cars go, so long as they're not yellow..

I must be going dotty though because I was sure there was a 3.2 V6 quattro badged as an A3, but Wiki says the biggest engine was a 1.8T even in the S? Wiki only lists V6s in the 8Ps.

Edited by scarble on Wednesday 20th August 11:29

[aka_kerrly]

scarble said:

The 8L A3/S3 quattros are nice and stealthy, less brash than the Golfs and newer A3s/S3s. They might not be the most engaging drive but as Q cars go, so long as they're not yellow..

I must be going dotty though because I was sure there was a 3.2 V6 quattro badged as an A3, but Wiki says the biggest engine was a 1.8T even in the S? Wiki only lists V6s in the 8Ps.

Edited by scarble on Wednesday 20th August 11:29

mk1 A3 (8l) didn't get the VR6, It's 2003> 8P that does -bloody lovely engine, a few tweaks can help release some extra ponies and get them feeling even more lively.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2006-audi-a3-3...

Edited by aka_kerrly on Wednesday 20th August 12:13

[tomjol]

aka_kerrly said:

mk1 A3 (8l) didn't get the VR6, It's 2003> 8P that does -bloody lovely engine, a few tweaks can help release some extra ponies and get them feeling even more lively.

Correct - perhaps confusingly, it did appear in the 8N TT.

[mr_fibuli]

Maybe not this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...