D6lc

So a bit off porsche topic, but my winter DD and airport car got totaled last week after I rear ended a Suburban at 5 mph. And I need to replace it.

I live in the Midwest so we get a fair amount of snow.

Originally I had a 2001 A6 4.2, which other than being old and parts breaking was a great car that I now wish I had kept, traded it in November last year for a Lexus GS450h, that I really liked, very quiet, fast and with winter tires was ok in the snow but not great. This car just got totaled so looking for another.

I don't really want to spend more than $15k, but tempted to spend more for a newer car.

I was thinking:
1. Buy another A6 beater for under $7k drive it and take the risk it breaks down or has issues' 4.2, heated steering wheel...nice
2. Buy a 2007-08 newer shape A6 for around $15k, but I don't really love the shape. Like the heated steering wheel though
3. Buy a 2005 S4 cabriolet, good fun in the summer with the kids and still great in the winter
4. Spend $25k on a B7 S4 cab as I think they look better
5. Buy a $10k 2.0T a4 saloon and save the gas!
6. E500 4 matic for around $15k, lots of luxury, but again potential for big bills

As you can see I'm leaning towards Audi's as the Quattro in winter is a no brianer, after the GS450 I want to go with 4WD.

As mentioned for 5-6 months of the year this will be my winter DD, driving through the salt and crap we have on roads here, I also will be leaving it at the airport once a month as I don't like leaving the 911 so it doesn't get the doors dinked. And finally I need to cart 2 kids around at various times for sports (I say this as I was tempted to get an old boxter! at one stage).

Any insight would be appreciated, I am genuinely looking for input

sfv_rider

Any cheap FWD car with an awesome set of winter tires. And a good deal of caution.

Or, you can go for a domestic 4WD SUV with a good set of snows. But that will take a toll on your self-esteem.

Winter cars are, by design, disposable. Either through accidents or corrosion. I wouldn't invest too much in them.

D6lc

Meant to add that it needs to be a saloon as an SUV won't fit under my lift!
I agree a domestic SUV would be perfect if it were not for the above

PasPar2

lets back up to this: how does a GS450 get totaled from a 5mph collision? was the suburban lifted?

We have a mb 4matic and just went through a winter with more snow than I have ever experienced and it behaved flawlessly... but for 15k, and if you are into it, find a e30 325xi and have fun with it + money left over for repairs (I am an e30 fan)

XR4Tim

'04-'07 Volvo S60R?

KoB

Infiniti M35x. Wish I'd never sold mine.

chsu74

Plenty of choices out there nowadays for a $15K throwaway solid used car.

Japanese AWDs with lower maintenance costs.
Acura RL
Infiniti M35X
Lexus GS
Subarus

German -
Audi A6
MB
BMW
VW R32s

In another 5 years, the German diesel AWD sedans will come into play.

M3BimmerBilly

2001-2006 E46 325/328/330ix is way better than any VW/Audi piece of crap from the mid-2000's.

onewhippedpuppy

You forgot the best Audi in that price range - D2 S8. All aluminum, 360 HP V8, Quattro, Tiptronic, Recaros, Brembos, incredible build quality inside and out. They were Audi's flagship of the era and it shows. Many of the annoying issues suffered by lesser Audis are not found in the S8 because they don't share the parts, cluster pixel fade is one good example. I sold mine because I no longer needed a sedan and still miss it, I wish I had garage space for another one. Just one data point, mine was a 2002 with 95k, 2nd owner, service records since new, nearly mint condition, and it sold for $12,500.

If you don't mind taking a step down in interior quality, a WRX, Legacy GT, or Forester XT would give you AWD and flat-four turbo goodness.

onewhippedpuppy

After three BMWs and two Minis, you couldn't give me another BMW product. Great to drive, but appalling quality inside and out when you consider the price point. I don't know how anyone that works on their own car can stand owning one. Both of my E36s were quite literally falling apart inside with just over 100k.

alpine003

All my BMW's have been great and some up to 240k without burning a drop of oil. Like any German car though, the higher you get in miles, the more attention it needs. I do like the more sophisticated awd and interior of Audi's but if you want a "driver's car", its hard to beat the sporting driving dynamics of the BMW.

I will say the thing I like about used higher mileage BMW's is that their reliability is the most predictable out of the European cars. You can expect the water pump, cab, rsm, disa, fuel pump, etc. to go out at predictable predetermined timeframes with a good level of consistency. Unlike other European cars where things just go out for no rhyme or reason all over the place.

I personally like wagons but regardless, many consider the e46 chassis the last generation before it got really bloated and too comfy. For around $15k, I'd get a beat up(engine wise) e46 sedan or wagon, do an lsx swap, budget for some snow tires and call it a day. That way you'll have a backup ls motor if your m96 motor ever fails. Lol. J/k

CJWessing

I had a 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT that I had since new, great car with a bit more grown up interior than the other Subaru's. Only issue I ever had with it was a clutch throw out bearing. Sold it a few months ago for $13,500 with 80k miles.

halik

I had a 2.7T C5 A6, put 40something K miles on it and sold it at 140K. Fantastic cars!

halik

subframe

steve g

I was in the same exact situation last year and had to replace my Jetta TDI. I scoured the internet for a few weeks and got very lucky. I found a 1989 BMW 4 door 325ix sedan (all wheel drive) with less than 50k miles. It needed some deferred maintenance but nothing catastrophic budget wise. I do not have to bring it to the dealer, ever, which will be a huge ongoing maintenance plus. If the auto matic transmission ever breaks, I can swap in a manual trans and the car would be even more fun. Needless to say, my budget for my P-cars upgrades will be enhanced with this astute decision.