Winter Car Suggestion for Okanagan Winter
 

Hey guys,

So just relocated to the Okanagan for work, and will likely be here for a few years. This means I will need a solid winter car.

Was hoping to get some suggestions, my criteria are as follows:

Budget: 10K
Must be reliable/reliatively Low maintenance
Able to handle the coq during the winter (with snow tires ofcourse)
Able to pass/hold speed on the coq during summer month
Practical with decent cargo space (summer car is a 2 seater roadster, so this will also serve as the grocery getter)
Fun to Drive
Heated Seats
Leather would be prefered.

Some of the cars I've been looking at include the Legacy Wagon, Forester, and Outback 3.0 H6....but they are all close to the 15K+ price range.

Not sure what else to look at at around the 10K price point.

Any suggestions?

Mazda3 hatch? They definitely come under the $10k requirement, and will be able to haul lots of stuff. The 2.3L will handle the Coquihalla without revving its lungs out, but gas mileage is gonna suck a bit.

If you don't need a hatch, I'd just pick up a 04-05 beater Civic. Those don't have rear quarter panel rust issues, and are very good on gas. Handling is quite decent too, even though they're on front struts.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Are FWD vehicles good enough to handle the Coquihalla during winter? Or would I need awd?

fwd is fine for coquihalla. Impreza Wagon would be suggestion - perhaps an earlier bug eye model?

I'll sell you my 2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS wagon for dirt cheap :D
It comes complete with a set of snow tires (used for one season only)

For what it's worth, I drove over 150,000+kms between Kelowna and Vancouver 3 years straight with a FWD Mazda 6. FWD is fine if you have good snow tires and you don't do crazy stuff on the hwy (i.e. only do one of the following at a time: accelerate, decelerate, and steering).

How cheap is dirt cheap?
PM me details :)

For what its worth I am/was a richmond driver, so I'll need all the help I can get on the snow

Id recommend a Jeep Cherokee (XJ) Pre-2000 (1996-1999)

or a 3rd generation Toyota 4 Runner (1996-2001)

Nissan Pulsar GTi-R

If you don't mind it being kinda ugly, I'm sure you can get a 2007-2008 Suzuki SX-4 hatchback for around your price range.

no car, you are going to be in redneck territory, lol. jk.

that said, get a pickup! put on snowies, and don't drive like you are baws and you will be fine!

jeep grand cherokee laredo with the 4.0L engine. Pretty much rock solid and avoids every single reliability problem a grand cherokee limited with the 4.7L engine might run into.

1) Limited models have a different HVAC system, they're prone to failure (google blend doors)
2) 4.7L is apparently less reliable than the 4.0L (I will admit the 4.0L is a tank of an engine but the 4.7L I have has given me no problems, plus tons of power and same gas mileage)
3) 4wd system requires less maintenance on the laredo models compared to the limited.


All the jeep grand cherokee limited models come fully loaded with heated seats/AWD/v8 or i6/sunroof etc.

You may be lucky enough to find a laredo with leather if you look hard enough. Good luck!

And Also, I may be a bit biased because I drive a JGC ;)

+1 for an impreza there are a few on craiglist for sale, all under 10k...
this one has winter tires thrown in as well and not too many clicks
2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Sedan **GREAT CONDITION WELL MAINTAINED**

I realize they aren't always the cheapest to maintain, but an Audi would be pretty sweet. Maybe an 03 - 05 A4 might fall into your price range.

Here's one. Looks fairly clean. **Audi A4 1.8T 2003 Silver 111,000km, Local, No accidents**

Leather seats, heated seats, good stereo, AWD, and xenons. Everything you could possibly need for driving up and down the Coq.

If you can afford $12,500

2003 Audi A4 1.8T Avant (Wagon) AWD

Good car, but make sure it's a manual. The auto transmission SX4 feels way too slow. Also, might as well get the AWD version. AWD + Manual is kinda rare. The SX4 is the only car that I know of with a toggle switch for 2WD - AWD - AWD lock (50:50)

Ugly? I suppose the looks is an acquired taste. I love my SX4.

Subaru's are definately a good choice to meet all of your requirements. AWD will be handy as hell in those winter conditions. Have you considered a truck or SUV?

Not necessarily quattro as it doesn't state it is.

Very tempting, but I dont know if I want to take on the maintenance cost of another euro in my stable.

From experience, you don't need awd for the Coq during winter. I've done the drive many times in a lowered FWD (with good snowies and the occasional chainup) and haven't had an issue with getting stuck. In fact my dad has been doing that drive every couple weeks during the winter for probably a decade now in nothing more than a minivan and, with a good set of winter tires, he's only had one issue from hitting a patch of ice (which, frankly, not even an awd vehicle would have been anymore capable of dealing with).

01-05 rav4. Good on gas 4cyl, 4wd, good cargo space, option for leather or cloth, good get around vehicle for daily use, car sits higher so better visibility when needed, park and go car not needing to worry like our modded cars and reliability from toyota, service isnt expensive.
Have one myself for daily use beater...

FYI, 06-07 had the brake issue so lets not get into toyota reliability etc etc...

Skiipi: did you use to have a silver civic coupe?

just say no....

If you live in the hills, anything AWD or FWD with winter tires.
If you live on the flat, and only drive around on the valley bottom, you can get by in just about anything. (I know, because I have).

But you've already answered your own question, you obviously have some cash so just buy the best Subaru you can afford.

I'm going out on a limb here and saying that it's not all that expensive repairing a n Audi A4 of those years. The water pump and timing belt has already been done, which is the biggest service that you'll probably go through. The rest is making sure the seals and gaskets are in good condition.

We have a 2003 A4 1.8T and it's been pretty reliable all things considered. It hasn't left me stranded and other than regular scheduled maintenance, I only needed to replace the front lower control arms.

Parts are easy to find online and for much cheaper than the dealership.

Haha, no I don't find it ugly per se, but just that the common perception of it isn't that it's beautiful. It's a very capable and under-rate car.