Best Performance winter car under $5k

[randomhero439]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Neon SRT?

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

Only if your veerrry easy on the throttle

 

[Chrisfromalbany]

Originally Posted By: 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.


I have safe and practical now with 06' Saturn ion. So this more a move out of boredom. I didn't have a 02 WRX, so I like to get into one of those. They do tend hold there value better then others mentioned so harder come by.

 

[GenSan]

You want ground clearance and snow tires in a winter car with AWD as a plus.
Add early 2000 Subaru Outback Sedan's to your list. Also look at German sedans with AWD like a late model BMW 325 IX.

 

[Chrisfromalbany]

Originally Posted By: GenSan
You want ground clearance and snow tires in a winter car with AWD as a plus.
Add early 2000 Subaru Outback Sedan's to your list. Also look at German sedans with AWD like a late model BMW 325 IX.


Thing that scares me about BMW is, yea any car over 100K, which all of the ones I mentioned would be will cost money. Just I'm am guessing the parts and labor costs on a BMW are much higher. Why tried stick with Japanese or American cars for list. Without caring about cost BMW are really nice to drive and pretty good all season car when all wheel drive.

 

[threeputtpar]

1999 or 2000 Audi A6 2.7t with the 6-speed manual. KBB is around $5000 right now, so the market price would be in the $4300 to $4600 range. I assumed around 140k miles.

They came with 16" tires as standard, so cheap snow tires can be fitted in size 215/55/16 unlike the 2002 and later.

250hp and AWD in the snow with a manual, that's a no-brainer. Plus for $300 the engine can be tuned to 16psi to put down 310hp.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-Eagle...e#ht_682wt_1165



I want!

 

[rjundi]

Whatever you can get your hands on with AWD and have funds leftover for a set of performance winter tires.

FWD with winters does not equal winter performance. AWD is best but RWD comes close for performance winter driving. On dry stuff FWD choices are fine. Wet the overpowered fall apart.

My favorite winter beater driven was a 190k 2000ish BMW 540i with Blizzacks and manual transmission. Hoot! Something is up though with the water pump I think in these cars though.

 

[Cujet]

I drive a 2003 Jaguar X-Type with AWD and a 2.5L V6, manual transmission. I see them for sale under $3000. It's actually a nice driving car. Mine's been reliable, fun to drive and 27MPG efficient.

They have some known "issues" and a smart owner can deal with these without significant expense. The engines are very long lived, with many owners seeing 250K without issues.

The early ones like mine have the viscous center differential, and are better in the snow.

I'm not here to say it's as good as a "repair free" Toyota, it's not. But, my lifetime repair expense over 9 years and 130,000 miles is just now pushing $500. Yes, my labor is free, but the fact remains, it's been an inexpensive car to own.

 

[Doog]

2000 Jeep

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/00-4WD-4X...=item3ccd58353e

 

[default]

The best winter cars on a budget are FWD with an iron block engine. Anything fitting that description, even with all season rubber, will go through snow till it gets deep enough the snow picks the car up by the floor pans and the wheels can't reach the ground.

 

[Clevy]

I've had 3 dodge caravans over the years. With a decent set of front tires I could get those vans to plow thru snowdrifts pretty well
I remember as a teenager I had a hockey game in stayner Ontario,I lived in collingwood. Highway 26 got closed but I had to be there because I'm the only goalie on the team,so I backroaded it. I was hitting 3" drifts until the van would come to a dead stop,so I'd back out on the trail I cut and I'd hit them again until I got through. A usual 15 minute drive took over an hour,but I made it.
I was really impressed with how capable those vans are in deep snow,with decent tires.
Op. I'd look for an explorer or an older Jimmy. The older jimmy's had the 4.3 which had enough power to get those things just about anywhere and the old explorers can be found with a 5.0 which is legendary.
I bought a 97 explorer with a 5.0 when I was in Detroit. Got it dirt cheap because the owner said it didn't run,so I got it for 500 bucks. I was going to take the heads and intake and scrap it until I noticed the coil wire wasn't attached. I plugged it in and it started first crank. It had a sun roof,leather interior,completely loaded. I beat the heck out of it for a couple of years then gave it to my sister who beat on it who then gave it to my younger brother who ended up getting t boned in Edmonton. Great vehicle.
For 5k you've got alot of options. I'd definitely aim for a 4x4 though.
Good luck in your search

 

[meep]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
I've had 3 dodge caravans over the years. With a decent set of front tires I could get those vans to plow thru snowdrifts pretty well


I'll second this. Ours was quite good at getting around, and when it got really bad I could air down the front tires and push through drifts that kept most traffic at bay. Only catch was keeping the rear end in check... it's a long vehicle, and I did have a couple of experiences where the tail tried to catch the front making for some stylish turns (knock on wood, nothing unmanageable).

Originally Posted By: GenSan
You want ground clearance and snow tires in a winter car with AWD as a plus.
Add early 2000 Subaru Outback Sedan's to your list. Also look at German sedans with AWD like a late model BMW 325 IX.


Legacy, absolutely. A ///hoot/// to drive in the snow too. 4 wheel slides are easily modulated with that car, it's very confident in snow... fun!

The 325ix I'd shy away from. Buddy of mine has owned several beamers, including this one. I help him wrench on them from time to time. The ix was ///plagued/// with suspension problems that none of the rwd sedans ever put out there.

 

[jeepman3071]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find one for under $5k that isn't abused or neglected, especially this close to winter. I just don't think you will find a sporty AWD car for under $5k. Heck, even non "sporty" vehicles like Jeeps and 4x4 trucks are going for above 5,000. Subarus and other AWD cars that get better mpg are even higher.

I think your best bet would be to find a cheap 4x4 like an older explorer or jeep and drive it until the wheels fall off, while keeping your current vehicle for nice weather.

My friend bought a Legacy GT for around 6500. It was neglected and abused. She had it for a total of 4 months. After the first 2,000 miles, the oil light started flickering. I checked the oil, and it had burned it all. The turbo was starting to go according to her mechanic. She sold it a month later. It only had about 100k on it.

Any BMW, Audi, or M-Benz will be a money pit past 100k miles.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: 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.


Funny you say that. My dad has a 2009 M-Benz GL450 4-matic. It is one HEAVY SUV. The tires are way too wide for the snow though. He even admits that his Grand Cherokee was much better in the snow. In rain or light snow, the Benz is great. Any accumulation of snow on the road and it turns into a sled. He has had 4 different sets of tires on it (its at 90k miles now, the tires only last 25k) and each has been about the same. The best so far has been the Bridgestones.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

What about a Jeep Cherokee

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: default
The best winter cars on a budget are FWD with an iron block engine. Anything fitting that description, even with all season rubber, will go through snow till it gets deep enough the snow picks the car up by the floor pans and the wheels can't reach the ground.


You just described the cutlass ciera.

I think OP wants a little style and performance though. Says he already has a saturn ION which covers the bland-sedan job in his fleet.

 

[rationull]

On topic: I know nothing about this "winter" you're talking about (no snow here, and "cold" is 25-30 degrees F) but another vote for a WRX or Legacy GT if you can find one in decent shape.


Originally Posted By: Shaman
The RSX and SI might be okay because they are gutless until DFIB kicks in.
(emphasis mine)

Off topic now: I love that reference!

 

[NYSteve]

Originally Posted By: rationull
On topic: I know nothing about this "winter" you're talking about (no snow here, and "cold" is 25-30 degrees F) but another vote for a WRX or Legacy GT if you can find one in decent shape.


Originally Posted By: Shaman
The RSX and SI might be okay because they are gutless until DFIB kicks in.
(emphasis mine)

Off topic now: I love that reference!


What is DFIB?

 

[zzyzzx]

IMO, 5K is too much for a winter beater.

 

[Norm Olt]

Couldn't believe my eyes yesterday on I-5 Southbound approaching the Columbia River: two pickups trailering a total of four 1st (one could have been 2nd) Generation Subaru's.

Called the LEONE (or, LOYALE later in the US) Series, they are about the equivalent of a VW Bug as far as simplicity and durability was concerned. These are highly prized in the backwoods of Idaho, Eastern WA, etc. as they are almost unstoppable in the snow ( 1,700 lbs. curb weight may have something to do with it). Even the 2WD versions do very well.

These were very, very rough examples, a couple of them looked like they had been wrecked and parked for 20 years, or so.

But, underneath, a veritable treasuretrove of mechanical parts, presumeably driveline-related, for the right enthusiast. They got great gas mileage, too!

Cheers!

p.s. re: the OP - I'd look for a good running $3K Subaru and keep $2K for parts, etc. They all are really good in the winter. As for the "performance" part, either up the $ or drop your expectations to performing well in the snow.