corvettesforevor

I am looking to get a winter car, a car I will also drive on bad weather days in the summer. I don't really want a truck or an SUV. I want somthing preferably fwd, because they tend to handle better in snow.
What is a fairly sporty car with a little style that is good in winter? All the winter cars seem to be just plain. I want somthing with a little style and sport. I might also consider a luxury car. Was looking at caddy's but don't want the trouble of the northstar engine. Prefer to stay away from imports but I might consider one. I want to spend no more than 3500$ on a used car off craigslist. What would you recommend?
thanks

MVR 155

Not going to be much in that price range that is going to be sporty, perform well and not have a ton of miles on it. I would personally look at something from Honda/Acura like a late 90's/early 2000's CL, TL or Integra/RSX. These cars will offer some sport/class, be good in the snow providing you have the right tires on it....... a car that is good in the snow has more to do with the tires on it and less to do with the car in many cases.... My S4 with the summer tires is an absolute death trap in the snow...... with the Blizzaks it's an absolute rock star.

Crabbers

Well, the budget constraints are the issue here. Just reading the title I would have recommended a Subaru WRX or a Mitsubishi Lancer, but you'll be slightly out of your price range for a slightly older car as well. Good luck with the search though

Dave68

2002 Mazda Protégé EX

....not super-fast, but among the best-handling (stock sedan) cars I've driven. Steering is lightning-quick and there is very little sway when cornering. The turbo-charged Mazdaspeed version is faster but at $3500, it may be difficult to find a good one with lower miles.

corvettesforevor

Any other opinions?

1993C4LT1

What gen S4 do you have? Been wanting to get a B5 S4 myself.

MVR 155

It's a 2013 so it's the B8.5 since they facelifted the car in 2013. I could not be happier with the car

Sunset-C6

Ford Focus ST

Tom400CFI

Your budget is pretty limiting, but a Diamond star car is a good option. AWD, turbo power, good handling, etc.

I bought my wife a Stealth RT/TT about 5 years ago. We both loved it; fast, good handling, and a rocket ship in snow. Full boost, AWD, 2nd gear drifts were so fun! I even did a few track days w/the car too. We'd probably still have it but she was rear ended and the car was totaled.

Another option would be a late '80's Celica all track; another AWD, turbo sporty car.

IMBoring25

I think your criteria are internally inconsistent. A key consideration (for me, at least) in a winter vehicle is ground clearance, because it's uncommon that there isn't some kind of drift or plow remnant between lanes or across the edges of intersections that has to be punched through. What most people would typically regard as "sporty" is inherently at odds with that.

I also don't see "better handling" of FWD in the winter. Give me a RWD manual any day.

What I wound up with for this usage was an older C1500. An F-150, Ranger, or S10/Colorado could also work.

Tom400CFI

IDK....that Stealth we had never got stuck. We get 400"+ a year here at my house (7050' elevation). W/AWD and good snows, you have to TRY to get a car like that stuck. Thing would literally plow snow w/the front bumper...and keep on going.

ThumperNC24

With that budget, maybe you could find an older civic si.

Even some of the other small FWD cards with a manual can be alright. Fun costs money, so at that level it's going to be limited.

Never-Enough

If he wants reliable, a DSM is not the way to go.

Tom400CFI

That part is true. They are maintenance intensive, for sure.

oicw

For $3500!? Better PM me the link...

Kidding aside, an old Focus SVT might fit the bill. They were the "Si" for Focuses, with a high-strung high revving 2 liter. Not easy to find though.

An Contour SVT is another option. They had one of the sweetest sounding V6s for a "family sedan":

http://blog.bluespringsfordparts.com...d-svt-contour/

Another option is a 300M Special. Very different from the regular 300Ms / Intrepids. That thing is sprung almost as stiff as my Vette. Hit .92 on the skidpad, no joke.

If you're willing to go RWD, how about a Crown Vic P71? People underestimate the handling of police cars, but they'll surprise most sporty (not true sports) cars in the twisties.

Dave68

Fords and Chrysler vehicles would be no less maintenance-intensive than the Mitsubishi or VWs that were mentioned.

The GTis and Focuses were nightmares to many folks, but they are light, unlike the 300s and Crown Vics, which are like tanks in comparison.

corvettesforevor

I am not a fan of focuses or Gti's. I looked into stealths but all the awd turbo ones are $5k or more.

oicw

Never implied they're reliable; just trying to work with the OP's $3500, non-import criteria, which is not easy...

300Ms are 3500 lbs, so if you consider that a tank then so is a C7Z. Crown Vics are heavy, but the P71 handle well for its price (dirt cheap). I've driven both in autoX.

QKSLVRZ

I too had a rt/tt and with snows it was a blast, but working on it was a nightmare, stuff stuffed everywhere under the hood. But it still was one of my favorite car. Tires are everything, I almost smashed one on a test drive in my buddies driveway on the stock Gatorbacks.

Dave68

I designed stainless steel brake rotors for Police Crown Vics and Chargers + had plenty of experience behind the wheels of two CVs that our company owned. The 2600 lb 2002 Mazda Protégé ES would run circles around the Crown Vic Interceptor and no doubt the 300M, as well.