I have a 535 X-drive that serves as my winter car. It performs great in snow, even with just all season tires. It doesn't perform as well as a 3 series, but its size makes it a bit more practical for the family. On the other hand, if the Panamera had been available, I would have gotten it in all wheel drive instead.

 

What is ONR
So today I'm out washing my car (its black, and was covered in salt) with ONR. 35F in the garage, 18 outside so thank God for ONR. Its coming up on 50k miles, has some paint wear and a lot of chipping on the front hood etc, and the windshield is pitted. I wasn't super satisfied with the wash as I couldn't really get it dry (several MF towels were enlisted to no avail) which I think is because the temp was so low that any moisture just condenses on the metal right away.

 

Optimum No Rinse. Its a car wash solution that doesn't require a hose rinse. Mix it with water (warm this time of year), use either a grout sponge or microfiber towel to wash, then dry with microfiber towels.

There are some videos on Youtube showing how to use it, and its available on-line and in some stores. Got mine thru Amazon.

Best thing is you can wash in the garage with it closed so out of the freezing weather.

The first time use scared me - how can this possibly not scratch the surface given that my car is covered with dirt and salt residue? But it does work and doesn't seem to harm the finish in any way.

http://www.optimumcarcare.com/onrwns.htm?li=2

 

Porsche has an answer for you these days - get AWD Panamera.

 

Recently had the same issue, plus needed to start taking a 3 year old to school and while he fits in the Porsche, I don't like to do it on icy roads. I went with a 2005 S4. Happy with it, putting all season tires on this week to replace the summer extremes.

d

 

We have an Audi RS4 for the DD and it's great. Slapped a set of 18's with winter tires on for the winter and have the stock (beautiful) 19's for summer DD duties.

 

Audi A-3 quattro is my suggestion

 

You don't even need AWD with the A3 - we've got a FWD 2.0T and it's a champ in the snow. AWD is nice to have, but not a reqmt with that car!

 

As much as I'd love to get snow shoes for my new P car, I had this already & drive it in the bad winter weather.


Two other buddies in town w/ 911's have the same winter beaters.

 

With all the complaints about 996 and 997 Porsches and holding their value, perhaps they are low enough now to be relegated to "winter beater" status...

 

That's what I've decided to do. Its into its third winter as a daily driver, fairly well chipped on the hood and pitted on the windshield and just shy of 50k miles, so I think I'd do well to get anywhere near $50k for it. While that isn't really a beater price, it is less than some of the vehicles suggested in this thread. And I don't want to give up driving something nice and enjoying the Porsche.

I may do something different for summer - but don't have to decide that for a few months.