The interior is certainly not the last word in luxury but that is why anything else that comes close to its performance costs 10s of thousands of $ more. Subaru in my opinion takes a very honest approach to providing the straight goods in a performance package that offers a lot of bang for the buck.

 

I'm also in Calgary and have dd'd several 911s over the years including a 996 C4S and Turbo. As everyone else has said, traction isn't a problem and the only problems I ever had with clearance was in the aero-kitted C4S (that large chin spoiler made the difference). Calgary's "snow route" program seems to make a difference now, but maybe that's just because the side streets I use tend to be on those routes...

I say go for it! Financially it seems to make more sense from a couple angles - for one, the depreciation will be virtually nil. Secondly, you're a lot more likely to take the 996 out year round, even with a 993 in the garage. I doubt the same would be true about an STI.

 

Find me one guy who would not trade his Subaru for a 911 Turbo.....

 

Audi S4. Clean low mileage can be had for under $30k

 

Find me one guy who would not trade his Audi S4 for a 911 Turbo.....

 

I'm looking around for a 996tt winter/DE/rally/autocross beater but it's pretty warm and snow free in TO relative to Calgary. Cold and permanant snow cover might be a drawback.......I know. Froze my butt off for 5 months a year for 14 years before moving east. They don't know what bumper riding is here!

 

i would take a 335xi instead

 

Every car is a compromise..... every car .... no exceptions. That is why it is best to have more than one. :-)

 

Going into my 3rd winter of driving the 996 turbo. Best winter car I ve ever had including several SUV's. As long as snow not too deep, it keeps on trucking. Traction is fabulous as you would expect. Running costs not too bad as long as you change the oil very regularly. I'm keeping this one until I have to shoot it.

 

Jut remember that all cars have four wheel brakes, an where do most drivers get into trouble ? Under braking. The first five years living here in Tahoe, I drove my 73 RS with just rear snows.
My wife loves her B7 S4, and with the Alpina 3 sonw&ice tire has never failed getting up the hill & our step drive way.
Would I drive an all wheel drive P car as a DD? Yea!!! In fact the plan is to order a new 4S just for my DD.

Mark

 

I'm new to the TT but it's certainly nice to hear that so many of you find it to be great in the winter. I will be storing mine for sure, just hoping for some nice days left before I give in. I think I would bring it out on the days when the sun is out and no snow on the roads, just to keep the dream alive. Otherwise for my DD I'll be using my SRT8 Jeep. Still has much of the same attributes but can take a lot of winter storm punishment without any drama. Just throw on the snows and its a great winter beast.

 

My DD is a Subie(Outback) , cant' beat those as far as reliability goes. I think previous generation Foresters (box-shaped) had rear LSD's..drove one for years and had most fun where most everybody was stranded. I wouldn't discard a LSD'ed 964 though