Brutal Winter Car

[The Hoon]

My buddy has a Bronco manual. It was way more fun than I expected driving around town.

 

[beamon]

B7 RS4 with snow tires is a beast.

 

[Roadhawk]

The old B5 S4 Audi (with Vredstein Wintracs) was unstoppable in snow/ice. I frequently just motored up snowy/icy hills past numerous stuck or struggling SUVs with all grip - no traction control even engaging.

 

[Deneed4spd]

All you guys and these Audis. I like to semi wrench but I fear for these Audis.

 

[Throat Yogurt]

All you guys and these Audis. I like to semi wrench but I fear for these Audis.

 

[ngoni]

All you guys and these Audis. I like to semi wrench but I fear for these Audis.

My experience with one BMW has soured me on the entire brand. So many parts just start falling apart after the warranty and many are because of boneheaded cost-cutting measures. I've been through three water pumps. Why? Because they made the inlet and outlet out of plastic.

From what I've heard the entire VW group is similar. I'm done with the lot.

 

[Roadhawk]

My experience with one BMW has soured me on the entire brand. So many parts just start falling apart after the warranty and many are because of boneheaded cost-cutting measures. I've been through three water pumps. Why? Because they made the inlet and outlet out of plastic.

From what I've heard the entire VW group is similar. I'm done with the lot.

I get it - my Audi was a nightmare - J was always wondering what was going to go next and I frequently got stranded and needed a tow for one thing or another. Our 2004 BMW with about 120K miles has been practically maintenance free (aside from a very occasional problem like a window regulator never leaving us stranded or such). Our 2012 VW GTI (also with around 120K+ miles) has also been extremely reliable other then the battery and a boost problem very early on (and its been Stage 3+ for 100K+ miles...and driven quite hard. Still my wife would need some convincing if I were to suggest purchasing another Audi...

 

[Exia]

I used to always have a fun car for winter for the same reason. Boring cars are, well, boring. The last two winters I've driven a Camaro SS 1LE and a C8 Stingray in winter and I bought them specifically to drive in winter. I owned an M3 Competition xDrive before that, a KIA Stinger etc.

I've now bought a normal vehicle, a Buick Envista as a winter vehicle and I don't have any complaints.

I don't drive a lot and I couldn't justify the cost of these second fun cars that I was barely driving.

The C8 Stingray was the only one I justified because it was my only car but all the others just didn't make sense. I like V8 noises and a fun car as much as the next guy but I was only putting 1500 miles a year on the cars. It wasn't worth it.

Sure if I come into a ton of money I will buy them again but I think this time I'd just buy another Wrangler 392 as a winter vehicle and stop right there.

I'm fine with my cheap car for winter and fun car for summer. Sometimes you just need a cheap car so you aren't worried about anything happening to it. Bad drivers, accidents, parking lot door dings etc. its nice not to give a shit at the worst time of year.

 

[Deneed4spd]

I used to always have a fun car for winter for the same reason. Boring cars are, well, boring. The last two winters I've driven a Camaro SS 1LE and a C8 Stingray in winter and I bought them specifically to drive in winter. I owned an M3 Competition xDrive before that, a KIA Stinger etc.

I've now bought a normal vehicle, a Buick Envista as a winter vehicle and I don't have any complaints.

I don't drive a lot and I couldn't justify the cost of these second fun cars that I was barely driving.

The C8 Stingray was the only one I justified because it was my only car but all the others just didn't make sense. I like V8 noises and a fun car as much as the next guy but I was only putting 1500 miles a year on the cars. It wasn't worth it.

Sure if I come into a ton of money I will buy them again but I think this time I'd just buy another Wrangler 392 as a winter vehicle and stop right there.

I'm fine with my cheap car for winter and fun car for summer. Sometimes you just need a cheap car so you aren't worried about anything happening to it. Bad drivers, accidents, parking lot door dings etc. its nice not to give a shit at the worst time of year.

I drive a Honda ridgeline. It’s paid off, as boring as you can get. Seems like global warming is going to keep MN spring start early. Hopefully last snow tomorrow and then 50s next week. Time to call the ins company and put back the ins!

 

[KatyTxCT5V]

I feel for you guys that have to deal with these brutal winters and cold temps. I was in Pittsburgh about a month ago when the temperature was negative zero night/mornings and single digits days with snow. It sucked for this Southern person and I couldn’t wait to leave and get back to warmer temps.

On an occasion here in the South we get more ice than snow when it’s gets cold. It’s fun to watch people that think they know how to drive. It usually only lasts a few days or week at most before it melts and starts warming. It’s crazy here as the following week it could be in the 80’s after a freezing week.

If we have to get out to go anywhere during those cold/freezing times, we use our other 6.2 vehicle and 4wd if needed or stay home and enjoy comfort. The 5BW stays protected in a climate control garage until warm weather and clear skies. I’m fortunate with a work from home job unless I’m traveling.

 

[Deneed4spd]

Dropped my wife’s x5 for service and dealer had two used M2 on showroom. First time sitting in one. Two things I noticed when I sat in the manual one.
1. The manual is not rubbery but it was very light. The clutch was a lot lighter than BW. Couldn’t find a distinct bite point.
2. I’m 5’6 and I didn’t fit in back seats. Head was smashed onto roof. I had to slouch down a decent amt.

I sold my F87 m2 DCT to get ready for new M2. Hated the exterior on M2 so cancelled order. Glad I got the BW instead. But I should have kept the old m2 and made it my winter daily with snow tires.

 

[minn19]

Dropped my wife’s x5 for service and dealer had two used M2 on showroom. First time sitting in one. Two things I noticed when I sat in the manual one.
1. The manual is not rubbery but it was very light. The clutch was a lot lighter than BW. Couldn’t find a distinct bite point.
2. I’m 5’6 and I didn’t fit in back seats. Head was smashed onto roof. I had to slouch down a decent amt.

I sold my F87 m2 DCT to get ready for new M2. Hated the exterior on M2 so cancelled order. Glad I got the BW instead. But I should have kept the old m2 and made it my winter daily with snow tires.

Was one of them Black Sapphire Metallic at Minnetonka? If so that is my “old M2.” I felt the manual to be very rubbery and one of the worst MT experiences I’ve ever had in a car. GMs 6 speed is a much much better gearbox in every way. It’s pretty clear BMW hasn’t invested in their 6MTs in decades.

 

[Deneed4spd]

Was one of them Black Sapphire Metallic at Minnetonka? If so that is my “old M2.” I felt the manual to be very rubbery and one of the worst MT experiences I’ve ever had in a car. GMs 6 speed is a much much better gearbox in every way. It’s pretty clear BMW hasn’t invested in their 6MTs in decades.

Ha! It was the black one. The car was off so maybe the manual isn’t quite how it is when car is on. But yes, overall clutch and manual didn’t feel so good. I was in a type r in showroom and could tell manual and clutch were pretty nice. m2 nice so much.

 

[TruckeeTaurus]

This is all terrible fucking news for a new BW owner that lives in the mountains! From October through May I may have to have the BW on the bench. There has to be some decent winter tires or all seasons I can use. The Alpin PA4s and Sottozeros seem to be extinct, and the only thing that seems to come in the right sizes are the Zeon RS3-G1.

 

[AC2024]

B7 RS4 with snow tires is a beast.View attachment 29418

Wow. Thats about as awesome of a snow sport car as you can have. But also kind of sad to drive such a special car through the salt and crud!

 

[beamon]

Wow. Thats about as awesome of a snow sport car as you can have. But also kind of sad to drive such a special car through the salt and crud!

Yesh unfortunately in Chicago you need an AWD car for those days with heavier snow (not as bad past few years though) and the RS4 with a manual transmission and V8 with 8250 rpm rev limit makes the winter commute enjoyable. It’s 17 years old but has held up pretty well despite many winters. In fairness, it has needed a new oil cooler due to corroded lines and also had a burst coolant tube at rear of engine which was a difficult repair but I really like the car and find it difficult to replace. Very different than the blackwing which is more refined with gobs of torque and modern tech, bigger back seat, and a lot more exterior carbon fiber that I don’t want to put through snow and crud.

 

[Ergoc5]

Yesh unfortunately in Chicago you need an AWD car for those days with heavier snow (not as bad past few years though) and the RS4 with a manual transmission and V8 with 8250 rpm rev limit makes the winter commute enjoyable. It’s 17 years old but has held up pretty well despite many winters. In fairness, it has needed a new oil cooler due to corroded lines and also had a burst coolant tube at rear of engine which was a difficult repair but I really like the car and find it difficult to replace. Very different than the blackwing which is more refined with gobs of torque and modern tech, bigger back seat, and a lot more exterior carbon fiber that I don’t want to put through snow and crud.

My last favorite Audi was the B7 RS4...didn't really like anything after that ...the RS6 wagon looks cool but is overall not interesting to me. I used to own a C5 RS6

 

[Roadhawk]

My last favorite Audi was the B7 RS4...didn't really like anything after that ...the RS6 wagon looks cool but is overall not interesting to me. I used to own a C5 RS6

I kind of agree....though still a bit of an Audi fanboy. Unfortunately, no MT also means that they are kind of dead to me....at least for wanting to own and drive one. I do miss my quatro though....what can I say...