Hey all,

I'm going to be working at a mountain resort through the winter and summer and have to sell my Lightning. I'd like to get a car in the 20-25k range with AWD and room for friends and boards on top. I'm a snowboarder and tend to always be the driver... Anyway, I'm not sure which is the best choice of car for me between the Subarus and Evo. There are several official rally events in the area that I'd like to take part in, and several unofficial events on some of the closed areas near the ski part.

The car will be my daily driver. I'm not sure if I should try and find a brand new WRX and just mod it for what I'll be doing, or a used WRX and save even more money. Or a used STi, starting with a better platform. And the Evos are in the same price range. I'm just not sure which would be the best platform to build from. I've heard the STi is actually a little expensive to get "rally ready" compared to the WRX, and I have no idea where the Evo stands. I know on the mountain that you see mostly WRXs and Audis driving around.

So any input is appreciated. Being a daily driver I want a newer car, but I'm still a performance junkie and will be attending events (when I can), but mostly just driving in a ton of snow and tearing through some cones in icy parking lots. Thanks for the advice!

Oh, I also sat in a beautiful blue '04 WRX at the dealership, they were asking 21k and I was really pretty surprised at how throaty the exhaust sounded. Didn't have time for a test drive though.

Thanks for any help,

Thomas

 

used you can find them alot cheaper
02-03 15-16k

 

Don't get an evo for the snow, you'll hate yourself for it.

a WRX, Legacy Turbo or Forester XT would be your best bets... Probably in that order.

 

yea, for snow, Audi and Subaru have the best AWD systems. I would say either a WRX or Forester XT

 

I'm not trying to bash the Evo here (in fact, its a compliment IMO), but its AWD capabilities seem more geared for dry pavement performance. Yes, they have the differenct AYC adjustments for gravel, tarmac and snow, but the snow setting still feels a little inferior to me.

Subaru's have had their AWD geared towards the snow-belt as well as for dry pavement performance (esp. in the WRX and other turbo models). Subaru makes the compromise between multiple types of surfaces and I think really excels at that, whereas the Evo seems more impressive on dry tarmac.

 

Get a WRX wagon. Comes with roof racks...perfect for attaching snow boards...or a Forester. Legacy Wagon is good too

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. It's a hard choice when used Evos and STi's are the same price (some of 'em, anyway) as a new or slightly used WRX. Too bad they're not doing that bug-eye style anymore, or two doors... I just need room on the roof for boards, haha!

I've also been looking at Minis, although I'm not sure how they handle icy/snowy conditions or rallying events.

Thanks for the input everyone. I just want to make the right choice here.

 

A Mini will fare little better than other front-wheel drive cars in the snow. If you wanted to ferry friends around, the car will be a little cramped compared with the Lancer or Impreza. Luggage space is minimal. Mini handling on dry pavement is quite good, though. Power is only adequate, even with the optional supercharger.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

If you dont mind all the wear and tear that snow, slush or ice can cause on an STi(like scratches, dirty, muddy, ect..) I would go STi.

A more practical (and cheaper) decision would be a wrx wagon or forester xt. I have an 02 wrx wagon with yakima rack and its perfect for me. I can drive up to Tahoe with 4 in the car and 4 boards up top.

 

I'm trying hard to be practical here, haha, by going with a used WRX. The problem is with used STIs/Evos right around the price range I was already thinking about spending...20-25k, they're soooo tempting. I *would* mind getting the car scratched and messed up from spirited driving in the snow and offroad...but it wouldn't keep me up at night pissed off because I crumpled/scratched something RALLYING. Battle scars, haha.

I really think I'm slowly ruling out the WRX, even the brand new one. Level of performance with a STi and Evo is just too great... I'm just going to have to test drive a couple back to back and go for a used '03/'04 model of either car. Try and find out which is an easier car to prepare for off road and crap condition.

Thanks again everyone... This place has been very helpful.

 

I'd get an old beater Subaru. Cheap, easy to work on and you aren't going to cry when some tool skids into you or a little kid bangs his skis into your car.

 

I would say get the wrx or sti. I own an 02 wrx and drive it in the snow. They are really well planted on the snow/ice. The only problem i found with it is clearance. If snow is more than 4-5 inches deep the bottom of the car will be pushing some snow around.

 

I spent all last winter season at Mt High Ski resort, living in Wrightwood CA. I bought an 05 STI used and couldn't believe how well it handled the snow/slick conditions it drove on day to day. The Potenza tires it drive on suck in the snow but I replace them with Bridgestone Blizacks for the winter and the thing was a vertible snowmobile. I would cruse past countless 4x4s on the way up and down the mountain with no need for chains - ever. I would put this car against any on snow. That said, I don't think its right to put a rack on a STI... just me and the inside space doesn't work for boards and skis (no pass through for skis into the back seat). If I were going to go just for utility, I would get an 04 WRX (maybe 05 now) and replace the wheels with an 05 STI BBS rims and get Bridgestone blizacks for tires - you will never get stuck. You may even find a new 05 WRX still out there selling for super cheep!