brrgrr

I'm looking at getting a new D.D. want to spend around 7-8k

It has to be fun - preferrably a manual trans.
4 door preferred with some trunk room
4 wheel drive would be ok - otherwise I'd just buy winter wheels/tires

I'm thinking:

2000 BMW 540i with the six speed
1995- 1999 E36 BMW M3 - sedan with 5 speed
2002 Subaru WRX
Audi A4 1.8T

Thoughts ? My top two are the BMW's.

elargentino

I was going to say the Audi before I read your choices. I am slightly familiar with them.
The A4 is a nice car.

running_cold924

get an audi with the 3.0 or s4/a6 with the 2.7tt, fun cars....the 1.8t is sorta crappy in my opinion, but then again, I work on them every day.

just make sure the PO had the 1.8t's oil changed regularly and is up to date on t-belt work...and has the updated water pump (not the plastic impeller one)

alxdgr8

Audi's make great DD's. Once you have AWD for a winter you will never want to go back (so long as where you live gets snow).

chrenan

Snow + AWD = entertainment.

Our daily family-mobile is an impreza.

My winter vehicle is a ford truck, 4x4, really love power to all 4 wheels in winter as you can tell.

blade7

I was considering an A4 2.7tt Avant but talking to some owners it seems once they get up on miles they can swallow a lot of cash.

Voith

e39 540. RWD is more fun than awd on any terrain. The only thing AWD does better on snow is uphill driving.

Audis are inferior in build quality to bmws too.

roman944

pick up a E36 but go for OBD I car

if I could, I would! there is a BUNCH now in GREAT condition in $8k range

jerome951

I still miss my M3 4-door. It had an auto box but was still a great daily driver.

toddk911

Would def go with AWD.

Actually a local 951 owner to me and a RL member has 951 and WRX as his dd and loves it and it was perfect during the winter as we had a lot of snow.

And being in Lincoln, NE you will need it.

Oh, sorry to hear about the cornhuskers fall down the BCS. lol. Sorry, my in laws are born and raised in NE and HUGE husker fans. I've actually been to a game in Lincoln and it was great stadium. And the looooonnnnggggg straight rouds out there are nice! Although I never had the 951 out there.

brrgrr

The Huskers hadn't played anyone until Saturday - they might be over-rated. We'll see - the straight roads in NE are good for checking your AFR's - that's about it ! - I'd much rather have the curves and hills of PA to drive on for fun.

onspeed

e36 interior is complete crap and it's small compared to a 540. so if you wanted something german from the list, my vote is on the 540i. but of the list, I think wrx would be most logical.

and i'm not sorry to hear about the cornhuskers cause we're ranked again

Bob_in_Chicago

Think about a Subaru 06 Legacy GT. It's got AWD, turbo, 60/40 fold down rear seats, big trunk, plus plenty of fellow users & vendors on www.legacygt.com which is just like rennlist.

DrZ1

I can't be happier w/ a 2003 BMW 330ci. I bought it w/ 82K when my 951 had engine problems. I was currently setting up another 951 for a dedicated treack car. So I decided to just have one 951 for both steet and track. I must say, to have a cruise that works on my HWY comutes is really nice.

I had to do some basic housekeeping, since the PO really had done nothing but change the oil.

I think the e46 seems to be pretty reliable, to save some $$$ the e36 would be a good choice as well.

Steve

Oh, BTW I was suprised for a 6 cylinder, I am getting close to 30mpg at 80mph hwy when not to hilly.

toddk911

Is there a 4 door Gti?