Looking for a new winter driver

I don't think you could do much better than a 964 C4 (although I think it is a stretch to say it seats 4. Are you sure you need the 4wd though? I have driven a couple regular rwd 911s in snow without much problem. They have excellent traction climbing hills and on a flat. An S6 Avant is a cool car as is an Audi Allroad (avoid the turbo charged ones).

 

WRX
Mazdaspeed 6

 

Have you considered a Subaru? If you're looking for power and fun for the winter I would say WRX, you could go STi but that has a little more electronics (DCCD-- driver controlled center differential). Subaru's have a mechanical AWD system that is full time AWD (not the electronic switchable systems on Volvo's). The Subaru will be a whole lot less expensive to maintain and repair than the Porsche and Audi but of course you won't get those levels of refinement on the interior. The WRX after 2008 has 265hp and of course comes with a 5 speed and is super practical especially if you get the hatch. Subaru's can be beaten on all day long and will take it no problem and they are especially safe and fun. Every Subaru model for at least the last 5 years has been an IIHS top safety pick with 5 stars all around. The only real electronics on the WRX is the traction control (which can be fully disabled, I'm not sure about the Volvo system).

I will always speak highly of my Subaru as I think it is one of the only cars below $45k that gives you that intangible connection between driver and machine, and mine is a non turbo!

 

Just to be different...

Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4
Mitsubishi Exclipse GSX
Volvo S60R (I know it is a sedan)

 

+1 for Subaru but..

2008 Golf R32, not sold in Canada when new due to bumper rules (since changed) and later a few have been imported, so very rare.

Will hold value in Canada well, you could probably import for low 20's. (a good clean example)

250-horse V6, all-wheel drive with DSG

They were allowed in when the bumper rules were harmonized, You could probably sell it for what you paid for it after a few years..

 

I wouldn't drive a Lancia in the salt, they are rare enough! Plus I think it would rust on it's own

Check out the 2007 WRX Limited, those look ace and are slightly more rare. I don't think you'll ever find a Subaru that is ultra rare unless you find a GC series chassis. I know in the states that series never got the turbo but Canada could be different

 

I will obviously say Subaru since as you can see in my avatar, I drive one. I would recommend a Subaru Forester XT which is the turbo version, basically an STI engine in a suv. (I know you said no SUV's )I have an STI with aftermarket fun stuff so I know and it plows through snow like nothing. If I had to choose I would get a WRX or a Legacy GT, both great in snow and actually look decent.

 

The Forester has just a 4 speed auto tranny, correct? I drove one in the mountains, and found 4 speeds to be unacceptably incompetent.........

 

if you test drive a 09+ WRX, you'll buy a 09+ WRX.

 

I really think the Subaru fits all of these categories... except the last one. All you have to do is turn off traction control and you have no nannies and they will take literal abuse, not just hard driving but abuse.

I wish North America would have gotten the RS series in turbo form, but you can definitely find RS' with WRX or STi conversions... If you are willing to look of course.

I would say Audi Allroad but I really think it would be in the shop 70% of the time, and it's not really a pure experience.

 

Audi RS4 - not sure how reliable they are
Saab 9-2X (basically a Subaru WRX wagon)

I like the R32 idea a lot.

 

Great car! I own one But if he's calling his Mini "long in the tooth," I don't think there is any way he is going to want a 20 year old P-car as a replacement. I'd call the "seats 4" more than a stretch too.

 

Hmm....unmentioned by others....

New/Rare

Suzuki Kizashi

Rare, wagons preferred or coupes, reliable

Jaguar X type Wagon 3.0
Saab 9-3 Aero Turbo X Wagon (280 HP)

Older

MB E300/320 4Matic Wagon

Really weird/rare.....

VW Passat Wagon W8 4motion
VW Phaeton
Mercury Milan AWD (hey, in Canada....)

I hate winter driving and loathe the melody of salt granules bouncing against (hopefully existent) inner liners.
On a crappy, frozen morning with the snow plow arriving ten minutes before I leave, kindly dumping a second accumulation to elevate the blockade at the end of my driveway with yet another foot of ice detritus, give me a Saab. The doors never freeze, the seats warm quickly and damn if it doesn't blast through everything.

 

Another interesting car would be the late 80s Toyota Celica All Trac

 

Mitsubishi EvoIV.

Another vintage rare AWD car that there are a few of in Canada but not so reliable that no one has mentioned is Ford Cosworth Escort.

Or Mazda GTX or GTR.

 

Subaru SVX.

 

I know you said not an SUV, but what about the MINI Countryman? It's a pretty small SUV and still has the MINI cuteness that the kids will love.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

I'm a big fan of the Countryman.

 

If you are in Toronto and get a Audi S2, the best place to service it is Four Star Motorsports run by the Sprongl brothers who campaigned a very trick S2 to multiple Canadian rally championships and hillclimb records. And if you choose Subaru, check out CanJam Motorsports who were the Subaru Canada factory rally team and still campaign them in both rally and roadracing. Performance-wise and for availability of parts, the Subaru trumps the Audi.

Besides the AWD platforms, both shops can set up your car for winter driving (proper tires, suspension, diff and swaybar settings). Proper winter tires are a bigger asset than AWD in snow/ice. Frank Sprongl is the master winter rally driver in all N America and would with a lesser car beat WRC drivers on snow/ice the times they've visited.

 

man, a ferrari forum, and no body has said suggested the first 4-wheel drive ferrari yet!?
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It's a Ferrari forum where a lot of Ferrari fans dislike a Ferrari Mindblown

Oh...and technically aren't all Ferrari's 4-wheel drive?