What car for winter?

[Greggyboy]

Hey all!

I am looking for a car to drive for the winter months so that I can garage my daily driver and do any work it needs over the cold months.

I am looking for a cheap winter car and was considering Impreza turbos or 1.8t/1.9tdi audi quattros. Also had a quick glance at light fwd hatches.

What would you have for a cheap, hopefully reliable winter car for less than 2k?

[iva cosworth]

Sub 2K Impreza turbo will be a corker.........

[RocketScience]

A Jaguar X-Type 2.5 or 3.0 has a true permanent AWD system which works well in the snow. The 3.0 V6 in manual form can be had for well under your budget and has the added bonus of 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds!

Beware that the Audi Haldex 4WD system is not all that great. As far as I understand, it is a a FWD layout until the wheels slip and then the rear wheels get some power.

[Greggyboy]

That is what I was thinking! But whenever I look at cars ( which is alot!), I always think what are the alternatives! :P

[Greggyboy]

I have heard about the Audi haldex system, just love the fact there is lots of quattro Audis to be found for under my budget! I have seen a few X-type 2.5's but haven't seen any 3.0's for my budget. I know this is just going to be a winter car but it still needs to have a certain something

Edited by Greggyboy on Monday 26th August 19:50

[nammynake]

It depends where you live but a light fwd with winter tyres is very capable. Unless you live in a remote area that gets heavy snow then 4wd is probably overkill.

My Clio with winter tyres was very capable even on uncleared roads.

[Greggyboy]

No not remote at all, I am from the midlands. I like the idea of 4wd but I think that you are right and that a decent fwd car with winter tyres would be okay!

[Cupramax]

RocketScience said:

Beware that the Audi Haldex 4WD system is not all that great. As far as I understand, it is a a FWD layout until the wheels slip and then the rear wheels get some power.

Do stop repeating this internet based crap, haldex absolutely works fine in snow. A haldex based S3 working perfectly in snow earlier...

http://youtu.be/90B3cyoQHMM

[Greggyboy]

Not bad at all, pretty rare that you hear good things about the haldex system but that video shows that it clearly works! I don't need a WRC car just something that I can get about in no matter the weather!

[paps]

Cupramax said:

RocketScience said:

Beware that the Audi Haldex 4WD system is not all that great. As far as I understand, it is a a FWD layout until the wheels slip and then the rear wheels get some power.

Do stop repeating this internet based crap, haldex absolutely works fine in snow. A haldex based S3 working perfectly in snow earlier...

http://youtu.be/90B3cyoQHMM

+1
So long as your not trying to drive up Ben Nevis it's absolutely fine. As always it's the tyres that make the difference.

[Zad]

I thought we had established that a decent FWD car with winter tyres will beat most/all 4x4 on summer tyres?

[Northernchimp]

Mira Avanzato TR-XX

[sawman]

last winter I ran a merc 190e that cost me £300. by some fluke the week the roads were snowiest I happened to be off work. I needed an estate with a towbar so chopped it in for a merc c280 (part exed the 190 and £300)- it has all season tyres on it, so with a bit of luck will keep going when it snows

[RammyMP]

Cupramax said:

RocketScience said:

Beware that the Audi Haldex 4WD system is not all that great. As far as I understand, it is a a FWD layout until the wheels slip and then the rear wheels get some power.

Do stop repeating this internet based crap, haldex absolutely works fine in snow. A haldex based S3 working perfectly in snow earlier...

http://youtu.be/90B3cyoQHMM

The wife's S3 coped very well in the snow

[10 Pence Short]

Integra Type-R. Really...

Skinny tyres, front wheel drive, light, LSD, low torque, excellent tractability at low revs. Might not be in budget, I don't know.

[Greggyboy]

I wish an integra was in my budget! Don't think I would really want to drive it in the winter though .

[Greggyboy]

Actually quite like that little Mira!

[FD3Si]

10 Pence Short said:

Integra Type-R. Really...

Skinny tyres, front wheel drive, light, LSD, low torque, excellent tractability at low revs. Might not be in budget, I don't know.

Second worse winter car we've ever had. Hair trigger throttle, steering goes super light, fly so light that coupled with diff could lock front wheels on lift off. Very little grip, goes against everything I thought!
Only beaten to the accolade of worst by an e46 330 tourer. Auto.
An open differ mx5 was more capable than both, and that's saying something.

[diddles]

FD3Si said:

10 Pence Short said:

Integra Type-R. Really...

Skinny tyres, front wheel drive, light, LSD, low torque, excellent tractability at low revs. Might not be in budget, I don't know.

Second worse winter car we've ever had. Hair trigger throttle, steering goes super light, fly so light that coupled with diff could lock front wheels on lift off. Very little grip, goes against everything I thought!
Only beaten to the accolade of worst by an e46 330 tourer. Auto.
An open differ mx5 was more capable than both, and that's saying something.

What tyres were you running on the Type R?

If fitted with the correct tyres for the conditons then I would have thought it would be pretty good. Ground clearance would be my only concern.

[10 Pence Short]

FD3Si said:

Second worse winter car we've ever had. Hair trigger throttle, steering goes super light, fly so light that coupled with diff could lock front wheels on lift off. Very little grip, goes against everything I thought!
Only beaten to the accolade of worst by an e46 330 tourer. Auto.
An open differ mx5 was more capable than both, and that's saying something.

Strange. I lived with mine in rural Cumbria and it was always brilliant in the snow.