4WD cars / estates

[jardinec]

Is there a list somewhere of 4wd cars / estates. This might help with the 'What winter car' type threads for people that dont want a big chunky off-roader.

The ones the popped into my head:

Audi A3/A4/A6 quattros
Honda HRV (some)
Subaru (all of them?)
Skoda Yeti
Mitsubishi VR4


aside from searching '4wd' or '4x4' is there an easy way to list them on autotrader?

[illmonkey]

The Z3 was fine last winter. Why do people thing they need a 'winter car'?

[Caulkhead]

The Skoda Octavia Scout Estate is worthy all-rounder now you get 4x4, DSG and a CR diesel all in the one package.

[jardinec]

illmonkey said:

The Z3 was fine last winter. Why do people thing they need a 'winter car'?

Wan't suggesting anyone / eveyone should go and buy one, just curious to see a list of common / avalable 4wd cars.

Adding to the list:

VW Golf / Passat (4motion)
Fiat Panda
Saab 9-3
Seat Altea
Porsche 911
Alfa 159
Volvo v50/v70/xc70
Jaguar xtype

Edited by jardinec on Wednesday 7th September 12:25

[illmonkey]

jardinec said:

Wan't suggesting anyone / eveyone should go and buy one, just curious to see a list of common / avalable 4wd cars.

Adding to the list:

VW 4motion Golf / Passat

Fair enough.

[jhfozzy]

VW Golf / Passat (4motion)
Fiat Panda
Saab 9-3
Seat Altea
Porsche 911
Alfa 159
Volvo v50/v70/xc70
Jaguar xtype
Subaru Impreza
Mitsubishi Evo
Insignia VXR
BMW 5, [5GT & 7 due apparently]
Mazda 6 MPS
Mini Countryman
Infiniti G37x

Edited by jhfozzy on Wednesday 7th September 12:52

[FreeLitres]

For X-Types, note that all 2.5 or 3.0 petrols will be AWD, but the earlier cars (pre 2003) has a more basic system which is better in the snow.

Permanent AWD (unlike many of the VAG/Haldex systems) with a 60% RWD bias.

[raf_gti]

jardinec said:

Is there a list somewhere of 4wd cars / estates. This might help with the 'What winter car' type threads for people that dont want a big chunky off-roader.

The ones the popped into my head:

Audi A3/A4/A6 quattros
Honda HRV (some)
Subaru (all of them?)
Skoda Yeti
Mitsubishi VR4


aside from searching '4wd' or '4x4' is there an easy way to list them on autotrader?

When I as bored and playing with AT about a month ago I came across an Octavia 1.8T AWD for £1600, it struck me at the time as being a very good choice for a winter/skip hack.

[jardinec]

Current List:

Alfa 159
Audi TT/A3/A4/A6/R8 (quattros)
Bentley continental supersports
BMW 5, [5GT & 7 due apparently]
Fiat Panda
Honda HRV
Jaguar x-type
Lexus LS600h
Mazda 6 MPS
Mitsubishi VR4/Evo
Porsche 911
Saab 9-3
Seat Altea
Skoda Yeti/Octavia/Octavia Scout
Subaru (all of them?)
Vauxhall Insignia VXR
Volvo v50/v70/xc70/s60
VW Golf / Passat (4motion)

Edited by jardinec on Wednesday 7th September 13:09

[illmonkey]

doogz said:

illmonkey said:

The Z3 was fine last winter. Why do people thing they need a 'winter car'?

Because some people do.

My point was you don't need one, a Z3 RWD 231bhp car managed fine, if you drove it sensibly, so why do you need 4wd and 12bhp?

[jhfozzy]

Lexus LS600h
Volvo S60 T6 AWD
Bentley continental supersports
Audi R8 5.2 V10 quattro

[cptsideways]

For almost shed money there is a BMW 525ix on the jumble, rare as but quite a handy towcar & 4x4 all in one type car.

ETA

Rarity in the UK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-BMW-525-IX-SE-4-WHE...


Blimey this is a new one for me!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-325ix-1988-AUTO-4-WH...

Edited by cptsideways on Wednesday 7th September 12:58

[KB_S1]

illmonkey said:

doogz said:

illmonkey said:

The Z3 was fine last winter. Why do people thing they need a 'winter car'?

Because some people do.

My point was you don't need one, a Z3 RWD 231bhp car managed fine, if you drove it sensibly, so why do you need 4wd and 12bhp?

You would have been welcome to try my average commute in a Z3 over the last couple of winters.
Between early December to late february you would have possibly managed about 10 miles.
With good winter tyres you would have got going most days but, the depth of snow would have left you stranded at some point.

[Vytalis]

illmonkey said:

My point was you don't need one, a Z3 RWD 231bhp car managed fine, if you drove it sensibly, so why do you need 4wd and 12bhp?

But you also don't need a 231bhp Z3. Personally, I like having a 4wd, it annoys tree huggers and the enormous carrying capacity is a very nice side effect.

[A S P]

How good are Haldex cars in snow? I've always rightly/wrongly thought of them as FWD cars 90% of the time and not as effective as having a permanant 4WD system.

It's complete ignorance on my part as there hasn't been one I'd want to own, but it's interesting to see people perceive them to be the same.

[JFReturns]

jardinec said:

Current List:

Alfa 159
Audi TT/A3/A4/A6 (quattros)
BMW 5, [5GT & 7 due apparently]
Fiat Panda
Honda HRV
Jaguar x-type
Mazda 6 MPS
Mitsubishi VR4/Evo
Porsche 911
Saab 9-3
Seat Altea
Skoda Yeti/Octavia/Octavia Scout
Subaru (all of them?)
Vauxhall Insignia VXR
Volvo v50/v70/xc70
VW Golf / Passat (4motion)
Isuzu Trooper?
Suzuki Jimny?
Suzuki Vitara
Mitsubishi Shogun

Added some cheapy shed ones...

[Snowboy]

I mentioned it in the other thread,
But for a winter car it's worth considering something a bit older and pre-battered.

The grit and salt we use over here can cause a lot of stone chips, if you use spray to de-ice the windows it can effect paintwork, if it's parked near the road then gritting lorries can batter it.
Getting into a car with snowy, icy, grit covered shoes can knacker carpets and mats too.
It depends on where you live and how much heavy weather use it's going to get of course.

You can get a 10+ year old Shogun, Hilux or even Frontera for a couple of hundred to a couple of grand depending on your pocket depth and so long as you don't mind a few blown panel lights or old upholstery they can do the job admirably.

[nickythesaint]

Dig a little deeper and get one of these:

http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/Cur...

[mercfunder]

illmonkey said:

The Z3 was fine last winter. Why do people thing they need a 'winter car'?

To go with the powerfully built 6' plus physique and goatee of course......this is PistonHeads.

[Moog72]

illmonkey said:

My point was you don't need one, a Z3 RWD 231bhp car managed fine, if you drove it sensibly, so why do you need 4wd and 12bhp?

Try telling that to my XKR - totally and utterly hopeless in snow / icy weather - could barely get it back in the garage when I reversed it out to check traction one time.

Bought an A4 quattro in the end to get about and it was great, no winter tyres necessary. You could just about move about in the Jag, but why risk crashing it if you didn't have to?