Best Performance winter car under $5k

[Chrisfromalbany]

Think options I came up with are

WRX (02-04 still hard find for price)
Saturn redline ion (Pre 06 )
Cobalt SS (Pre 06)
RSX 'S' version (02-04)
Civic Si (02-04)
VW GTi (maybe?)

Don't want car be too old and want car be at least drivable in winter, which my mind means front wheel drive or all wheel drive.

 

[randomhero439]

WRX, Legacy, Audi... really anything with a manual transmission and AWD could be classified as sporty and winter friendly.

 

[Kuato]

From your list, WRX.

I like random's thought about Audi also, but that will likely be over 5k.

 

[Shaman]

Roots SC plus manual does not equal winter beater. The RSX and SI might be okay because they are gutless until DFIB kicks in. Go with the Subaru, or try to find a Saabaru 9-2X

 

[daves87rs]

I vote for the saabaru as well...

 

[SZR48207]

Aren't you looking at REALLY high mileage for any of those cars in that price range? I'd love to find any of those around these parts for that cheap and not a total maintenance wreck.

 

[VicVinegar]

I'm not sure how one of those cars for under $5k would look. I've checked out RSX Type-S listings to see if there is a "steal" for use for a fun commuter, and they are not exactly value priced, even north of 100k on the odo. The dealers know people still want them. Even finding an Integra GS-R worth buying for less than $5k would be a feat.

Obviously the Subaru is probably the best choice. After that, I'd go with the lesser powered front drivers like the RSX, Civic, and GTI in that order. The Cobalt and the Ion might have too much power to the front wheels to be a good choice for snow and ice. For me, winter driving is about finesse, although I suppose you may be OK if you just never use 1st gear. I'm assuming you'd be getting snow tires as well.

 

[01rangerxl]

A $5K WRX or RSX sounds like a ragged out nightmare. There will probably be an accident history, or just years of abuse and neglect. The ones in good shape will be owned by people who know what they have, and will price it accordingly. They are probably the best cars on your list, but not for $5K.

 

[eljefino]

Neon SRT?

I'd find something that fits 15 or 16 inch steel rims over the brakes so you could run adequate snows.

 

[SLCraig]

Allow me to be the first to ask. If it's just a winter car why not just get something safe and practical?

You could get a Civic SI but you have way better odds of finding a clean regular Civic that has not been modded or beat up. Same goes for all the other models as well.

 

[meep]

for that price it needs to have good bones and be easy to work on. I'm gonna say legacy, and if you can find it in a sedan that will help with the sportiness.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Any midsize FWD sedan with good snow tires.

Less complicated than the AWD cars, nearly as capable.

 

[KD0AXS]

It's not so much the car, it's the tires. Pick whatever car you like and get a good set of dedicated winter tires. Obviously AWD is ideal for winter, but FWD and even RWD are just fine as long as you have the right tires.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
It's not so much the car, it's the tires. Pick whatever car you like and get a good set of dedicated winter tires. Obviously AWD is ideal for winter, but FWD and even RWD are just fine as long as you have the right tires.


My Taurus got me through a lot of snow! Always had to laugh when there were people stuck either IN the road or slid off in the ditch and my rotbox Taurus just kept going!

I used to work the 4am shift at Target. In winter, due to the [censored] economy, the plows wouldn't come out until 630 for the busses. There were a lot of mornings I drove through a foot of lake effect snow (very heavy, wet) with 2-3' drifts. The drifts did scare me, but I had some shovels with me. Had to keep momentum up to get through the drifts.

Only time I ever had the car stuck enough to require shovels was pulling into the mall parking lot. They plowed the right lane into the left lane leaving a huge snow bank in the left lane. I hit the snow bank and that was it. I high centered myself. Only took a few minutes and I was good to go.

 

[fxrider]

How about a SUV ? much better in the deep snow, Montero - Trooper - 4 runner - pathfinder - escape ???

 

[Spazdog]

Saabaru!!!!!!:!

But seriously, for $5,000? Take a trip down south, buy a refurbished Jeep Cherokee 4X4 from a place like Just Jeeps, and on your way back north get it undercoated, rustproofed and put a decent set of winter tires on.

Voila! You'll be passing 4-Matic Mercedes Benzes in heavy snow.

 

[JHZR2]

Performance plus winter in Albany snow just seems like a dumb mix to me.

Get something cheap that can rot out, keep a set of snow tires on it, and run it until it rots.

Use salt away in a garden sprayer as often as possible.

 

[bourne]

What about a 4th or 5th gen Nissan Maxima or an 2002+ Altima V6. Plenty of power to put a grin on your face. My 1997 Maxima never got stuck in snow in the Midwest. I drove it all over IN, OH and IL. Never once left me stranded in snow. Tires I used on it were BFGoodrich Traction T/A , Goodyear Eagle RS-A and Bridgestone Grid G019. Drove that car to work and in the field after a two day snow storm in Indianapolis. Saw 4wd trucks skid and slip on the intersection, but the Maxima kept plowing through. Same when there was an ice/snow storm in the South and they werent prepared for it. Drove through 9 hours of rutted iced roads before I got to OH without being stuck.

 

[HerrStig]

4WD Toyota pickup. Throw some wood in the back.

 

[GMBoy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-Eagle...e#ht_682wt_1165