what's a good car year round?

[Rocky]

Parents want me to get rid of the FC (:() since I'll probably be up in deadmonton for university, away from home + a garage. I wouldn't mind moving onto something a little newer either to be honest.

I need something that's 1. fun to drive, 2. reliable enough, and 3. good all year round! I'm thinking Integra, Prelude, Talon, or Impreza.

Suggestions? Advice? Is FF really all that different in winter?

[Stephen81]

If I had to choose between those four I'd probably pick the Impreza if only for the AWD. I'd be sketchy about the Talon being reliable enough year round but they certainly are fun to drive. How much are you looking to spend?

[DC2]

impreza for awd or talon tsi awd.

i would really invest in winter tires. this is my 1st winter with them and they are greattt

[max_boost]

Chalk another one up for Subaru Impreza. Fantastic year round car. :thumbsup:

[googe]

+1 impreza

[Pee_Sack]

another for the prez

[Aleks]

I dont know how much different weather is in EDM but this winter in calgary AWD would have made absolutelly no difference other than much bigger fun factor.

[Xtrema]

Edmonton winter is usually has more snow on road since they don't have chinooks to melt them. So a impreza is a good bet.

[jcrules99]

imprezza or lude

[JAYMEZ]

Impreza

[lastprodigy]

El prezidente

[Foz]

+1 Scooby

[heavyD]

The Imprezza is a good car but fuck are they ever ugly & I mean all of the 2000+ versions. There isn't one nice line or view on any of them from the bug-eye to the Alfa Romeo knockoff's. Everytime I pull up next to one my SRT-4 goes up +5 on the hotness scale. Once the Imprezza is out of the picture I own an ugly Neon again.:(

[DelSoln]

Originally posted by Aleks
I dont know how much different weather is in EDM but this winter in calgary AWD would have made absolutelly no difference other than much bigger fun factor.

This winter would have made no difference with AWD but yes on the average we get more snow.

[Rocky]

Yeah, I should mention, I need to keep it under 10g... more realistically 4-8 ish.

[mac_82]

+5 for Impreza. Try looking in the 98-01 model range.

[Weapon_R]

Personally i'd stick with a Japanese 4 cyl import of some kind. I went through most of my university years with my Integra and it was extremely reliable, and so was the civic I had.

Imprezzas are a good choice. Another good bet would be a civic or corolla. The imprezza is by far the most exciting car, and AWD is a good bet in any case. Hondas/Toyotas can't be beat for reliability however, they will not let you down.

FF is fine for our roads. You won't have any trouble - millions of cars are FF and they are perfectly fine.

[Speed_Dreams]

+1 For WRX

[alloroc]

Older normally aspirated Subbies with the 2.5 have a known problem with BHG's, ( as with the talon)

If not the Imprezza or Prelude consider an higher milage Echo or Focus

[Rocky]

...Would a GSR be a bad bet for something reliable + year-round? :D

Impreza's aren't bad looking cars, but they seem slow (like 135hp?) -- I guess I shouldn't be concerned with that though, haha.

[FatboyTheHungry]

Under 10K... You can get a late 90s Imprezza RS for 7K and still have room for some toys. Another option for 4-8K is the dependable ol EK Civic...

[googe]

Originally posted by heavyD
The Imprezza is a good car but fuck are they ever ugly & I mean all of the 2000+ versions. There isn't one nice line or view on any of them from the bug-eye to the Alfa Romeo knockoff's. Everytime I pull up next to one my SRT-4 goes up +5 on the hotness scale. Once the Imprezza is out of the picture I own an ugly Neon again.:(

the 04 - 05 generation was pretty well received. i know its not everyones taste, but talk to any owner and theyll tell you they get compliments every day. beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say :D

i dont really like the 06s though.

[heavyD]

Originally posted by googe
beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say :D

I'll say. Some days I actually like the looks of my Neon.:rofl:

[CIVIC_MAN]

honestly winters in calgary arent that bad at all. We may get a dump once in a while but it melts really quick or atleast the roads are cleared really quick. I wouldn't worry about the weather. Obviously i wouldnt buy a mustang or 300zx if you want something good all year around but any FWD with some winter tires will do you just fine. Go for an ITR.

[Zephyr]

Impreza! I would of said Integra, but they have high theift rates.

[GTS Jeff]

Why not keep the FC and buy a set of nice winter tires?

[Rocky]

I find the FC slides around like crazy even on winter tires with like 65% tread left.

honestly winters in calgary arent that bad at all.
I know, I live here :D Edmonton ones are worse though I hear, hence the thread =P

Sounds like the choices are now:
-Impreza (2.5RS)
-Integra (GSR/not-GSR)
-EK Civic (I guess I could always engine swap later :D)

[3G]

buy a 91 prelude :D its fun with the 4ws

[zain123]

celica alltrac
love the awd

[Z24_3.1.]

imprezzzzzzaaaaa AWD :drool: AWD thats it :D

[Z24_3.1.]

sorry also to add the talon TSI AWD would be also good and fun to drive just make sure tranny was re done already lol im stuck with that prob right now....also talon would be in ur price range

[asp integra]

my integra is great driving in the snow, not only that its for sale!

[ga16i]

Oh hell yes FF makes a huge difference in winter when compared to FR like the FC. Much less fish tailing. I drive a 240sx and a sentra. Aside from the fish tailing, on slippery turns instead of giving it more gas and spinning around in a FR, the FF will more likely make you understeer into the outer wall. :rofl: Go get an early 90's Turbo Legacy or early 90's Celica All trac or not, maybe even an early 90's Maxima.

[That.Guy.S30]

2.5 rs with a wrx swap!!! ahha thats if you can find one for that price. the imprezas are expensive.

[95EagleAWD]

Talon... been drivin' mine for 3 straight years now, no huge maintenance probs..

You have a PM, sir! ;)

[GC84ever]

Impreza but I'm biased.

Any car will be good with a good set of winter tires and a smart driver.

This is the second time I read something to say Subaru's aren't reliable. They are very reliable cars.

If you mean Blown Head Gaskets (bhg), that was basically only for the 1998 DOHC EJ25 Impreza 2.5RS. From 99+ they switched to the phase 2+ EJ25 with a SOHC, so that's not really an issue.

Sure the 2.5RS isn't that fast (165hp and 166lbsft atthe crank) compared to some other cars. But they do have pretty good handling, a bigger RSB make a difference to get rid of understeer in imprezas

[That.Guy.S30]

^^ plus the HG issue is a recalled issue so shoudl be warrantied(sp)

[QuasarCav]

Originally posted by Zephyr
Impreza! I would of said Integra, but they have high theift rates.


Compare the amount of imprezas on the road to Integras and you will see why.