help me find an awd car to sooth my winter driving woes
01-11-2018, 03:46 PM
#1
Oil Producer
Thread Starter
help me find an awd car to sooth my winter driving woes
i cant handle this cold is beating down my fun driving. im not driving my vette in the winter. where i live i get winter for 5 months a year.
help me find something to buy. Here are the rules:
A). it has to be classic and at least a little bit older. It's just who I am, I like buying classic cars that you don't see every day. I'm a child of the 90s having graduated in 1994 so if you can find something from that era even better.
B) it has to be all wheel drive. Here in lies the reason why I'm even bothering to post this. There aren't very many to choose from. Especially ones that look half decent. Maybe I'm missing one and I'm hoping my C4 brothers can help.
C) it would be nice if it was relatively easy for me to wrench on. I enjoy it and it gives me therapy. Not like I'm nuts and need therapy but I mean like for the same reason my wife goes for yoga I like to wrench my car therapy.
D) there is no D. i need a car that i can tinker and improve thats awd and looks good with a nice set of rims and some blizzaks on it.
I considered an awd porsche both the 911 style and the cayanne suv. im told the cayanne drives like a race car.
Anyway, im posting this here because you guys know the itch that I need to scratch. I'm dying to go for a drive in my vette but I can't. I need something else that I can drive. Help a brother out and brainstorm with me.
help me find something to buy. Here are the rules:
A). it has to be classic and at least a little bit older. It's just who I am, I like buying classic cars that you don't see every day. I'm a child of the 90s having graduated in 1994 so if you can find something from that era even better.
B) it has to be all wheel drive. Here in lies the reason why I'm even bothering to post this. There aren't very many to choose from. Especially ones that look half decent. Maybe I'm missing one and I'm hoping my C4 brothers can help.
C) it would be nice if it was relatively easy for me to wrench on. I enjoy it and it gives me therapy. Not like I'm nuts and need therapy but I mean like for the same reason my wife goes for yoga I like to wrench my car therapy.
D) there is no D. i need a car that i can tinker and improve thats awd and looks good with a nice set of rims and some blizzaks on it.
I considered an awd porsche both the 911 style and the cayanne suv. im told the cayanne drives like a race car.
Anyway, im posting this here because you guys know the itch that I need to scratch. I'm dying to go for a drive in my vette but I can't. I need something else that I can drive. Help a brother out and brainstorm with me.
Last edited by VikingTrad3r; 01-11-2018 at 03:48 PM.
01-11-2018, 05:22 PM
#2
Oil Producer
Thread Starter
attention moderators: I meant to put this in the C4 general. I'm not sure how I got it into the tech section. Apologies! If possible would be awesome if it could be moved.
01-11-2018, 07:11 PM
#3
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
Dodge Stealth R/T Twin Turbo. AWD, AWS, DOHC V6TT, 2+2, hatch....it's a snow rocket with 4 good tires you can plow snow 'til it comes up over the hood.
Build quality is the opposite of a C4; body/paint/interior fit/finish/materials, weather stripping, wiring, electrical....A+. Powertrain? You need to be a mechanic to won one.
Build quality is the opposite of a C4; body/paint/interior fit/finish/materials, weather stripping, wiring, electrical....A+. Powertrain? You need to be a mechanic to won one.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; 01-11-2018 at 07:18 PM.
01-11-2018, 11:16 PM
#8
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
01-12-2018, 02:03 AM
#9
Oil Producer
Thread Starter
Dodge Stealth R/T Twin Turbo. AWD, AWS, DOHC V6TT, 2+2, hatch....it's a snow rocket with 4 good tires you can plow snow 'til it comes up over the hood.
Build quality is the opposite of a C4; body/paint/interior fit/finish/materials, weather stripping, wiring, electrical....A+. Powertrain? You need to be a mechanic to won one.
Build quality is the opposite of a C4; body/paint/interior fit/finish/materials, weather stripping, wiring, electrical....A+. Powertrain? You need to be a mechanic to won one.
lol.
thnx never seen that model before.
i have an 06 tacoma i could put some beefier rims etc on but id like to get a snow rocket. my tacoma has become the worktruck and id like to stick with something more sporty.
trying to keep it less than 15k. i wanted a gsx for a loooong time. thnx for suggesting this id forgotten it. what about a TT? the audi
trying to keep it less than 15k. i wanted a gsx for a loooong time. thnx for suggesting this id forgotten it. what about a TT? the audi
Last edited by VikingTrad3r; 01-12-2018 at 02:04 AM.
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SurfnSun (01-12-2018)
01-12-2018, 04:37 AM
#11
Don't know what is the availability in the US but my vote goes to Audi S2, RS2, S4 or S6 from before '97. Either 2.2 turbo or 4.2 V8. Also 97-> S4/RS4's are nice but much more complex.
Note that the old S4 (ie. UrS4) and S6 are based on the bigger 100/A6 platform as later (97-) S4 and RS4 are based on A4. S2 (coupe) and RS2 (Avant ie. st. wagon) are the smallest of the bunch (based on Audi 80).
All fun cars.
Note that the old S4 (ie. UrS4) and S6 are based on the bigger 100/A6 platform as later (97-) S4 and RS4 are based on A4. S2 (coupe) and RS2 (Avant ie. st. wagon) are the smallest of the bunch (based on Audi 80).
All fun cars.
01-12-2018, 08:18 AM
#13
Originally Posted by PatternDayTrader
Lots and lots of problems come with all wheel drive.
Well, I don't have experience with US made 4 wheel drives so maybe that is different story?
Last edited by ToniH; 01-12-2018 at 08:19 AM.
01-12-2018, 09:02 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
There are a lot of Audi's with all wheel drive all the way from TT's to A8's. The prices on used ones have come down a lot.
There are a lot of BMW's. I've driven 3's, 5's, and 7's. All pretty nice. The prices on used ones have come down a lot too.
I think all Subaru's. The WRX STI is a really fun car.
I have driven the Eclipse, Talon, and Laser cars with a turbo and all wheel drive. They are pretty good too.
The Stealth/300GT all wheel drives are fun too. (I worked for a short time in the plant in Japan when they were being built.)
There are a lot of choices. Take your time and find a good one.
Good luck.
There are a lot of BMW's. I've driven 3's, 5's, and 7's. All pretty nice. The prices on used ones have come down a lot too.
I think all Subaru's. The WRX STI is a really fun car.
I have driven the Eclipse, Talon, and Laser cars with a turbo and all wheel drive. They are pretty good too.
The Stealth/300GT all wheel drives are fun too. (I worked for a short time in the plant in Japan when they were being built.)
There are a lot of choices. Take your time and find a good one.
Good luck.
Last edited by QCVette; 01-12-2018 at 03:19 PM.
01-12-2018, 09:05 AM
#15
Oil Producer
Thread Starter
lol!
never considered a sedan type car. ive seen mods (headlights, taillights, rims) to the mk1 TT that help it look more masculine. here in western canada vw and other euro cars are very popular because of awd and our mountain driving.
Don't know what is the availability in the US but my vote goes to Audi S2, RS2, S4 or S6 from before '97. Either 2.2 turbo or 4.2 V8. Also 97-> S4/RS4's are nice but much more complex.
Note that the old S4 (ie. UrS4) and S6 are based on the bigger 100/A6 platform as later (97-) S4 and RS4 are based on A4. S2 (coupe) and RS2 (Avant ie. st. wagon) are the smallest of the bunch (based on Audi 80).
All fun cars.
Note that the old S4 (ie. UrS4) and S6 are based on the bigger 100/A6 platform as later (97-) S4 and RS4 are based on A4. S2 (coupe) and RS2 (Avant ie. st. wagon) are the smallest of the bunch (based on Audi 80).
All fun cars.
01-12-2018, 09:12 AM
#16
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jan 2014
Location: Downers Grove Illinois
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Are you looking or one with a manual or automatic? That can make a big difference in complexity of the AWD system. The AWD for Subarus of the era you are looking at the manual AWD system is pretty straight forward with 3 viscous coupled differentials. As soon as you go with an automatic the transaxle is electronically controlled and quite a bit more complex. The Torsen Gleason differentials in the Audi is simple and effective.
01-12-2018, 10:41 AM
#17
Oil Producer
Thread Starter
id prefer manual
01-12-2018, 10:58 AM
#18
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
If you have questions, fire away. I bought one for my wife a few years ago. After I did a minor brake upgrade, struts, trans/clutch home made shifter, winter/summer wheels...we both loved the car, and it ripped in the snow. Only reason why we got rid of it was b/c she got rear ended by a dumbass in a full sized Blazer towing a trailer. Car held up well, but was totaled due to the repair cost/value.
01-12-2018, 11:09 AM
#19
Race Director
What problems? 4 wheels drives are quite common where I live (+long winter) and I've never seen (or heard of) any more problems than with 2 wheel drives. Sure they have more driveshafts etc but its not like you need to renew those every 100K miles, unless you drive it like a rallye car.
Well, I don't have experience with US made 4 wheel drives so maybe that is different story?
Well, I don't have experience with US made 4 wheel drives so maybe that is different story?
I am talking about all wheel drive. The biggest problem is they suffer from tire diameter related issues. Plus all the additional moving parts that wear out, just like a 4wd. Very few circumstances exist where an all wheel drive car, can pass through a roadway, but a front wheel drive car could not. Ultimately they end up not being worth the additional expenses for maintenance and fuel mileage.
01-12-2018, 11:23 AM
#20
Oil Producer
Thread Starter
If you have questions, fire away. I bought one for my wife a few years ago. After I did a minor brake upgrade, struts, trans/clutch home made shifter, winter/summer wheels...we both loved the car, and it ripped in the snow. Only reason why we got rid of it was b/c she got rear ended by a dumbass in a full sized Blazer towing a trailer. Car held up well, but was totaled due to the repair cost/value.
Very cool Tom. My wife is a busy gal with 3 kids and she spends most of her time in a yukon xl. But for her squash and girls nights she has always loved taking the vette. When i met her she was tearing around in a tiburon manual gearbox with upgraded rims that actually made that car look good. only tiburon (of the gen 1) i ever saw that i thought looked good. maybe it was the girl driving it. anyway she would LOVE to get out of her yukon xl and into a sporty winter awd car for her winter nights out. this is going to sound bad. but the only reason im hesitating on the stealth is the stupid (imo) fin on the back. you mentioned needing to be a mechanic to maintain the driveline. Im not a mechanic but i have pulled apart my fromt diff on the yukon xl. im willing to try!there is a 91 for sale near me. ill go have a look. what color did u get Tom?
well mileage is a non issue. dont care. as for the functionality your comment does surprise me. do you live in mountainous snowy icy conditions? its been bery bad this winter driving condition wise in alberta canada and ive seen countless 2wd vehicles (front or rear) stuck up an icy incline with 50 cars behind it or stuck in deep 2ft of snow. The awd vehicles around here put on blizzacks or similar and drive almost as if there were no adverse conditions.
First, there is a distinction between 4wd and all wheel drive.
I am talking about all wheel drive. The biggest problem is they suffer from tire diameter related issues. Plus all the additional moving parts that wear out, just like a 4wd. Very few circumstances exist where an all wheel drive car, can pass through a roadway, but a front wheel drive car could not. Ultimately they end up not being worth the additional expenses for maintenance and fuel mileage.
I am talking about all wheel drive. The biggest problem is they suffer from tire diameter related issues. Plus all the additional moving parts that wear out, just like a 4wd. Very few circumstances exist where an all wheel drive car, can pass through a roadway, but a front wheel drive car could not. Ultimately they end up not being worth the additional expenses for maintenance and fuel mileage.
