What's the AWD Answer?

Around here (PNW) I'd actually say Evo VIII, mostly since Subarus are holy crap locally overpriced.
Plentiful parts, that engine makes more power if you look at it sideways, yeah.
Plus checks more boxes that I associate with the answer (less comfy, more performance oriented)
Disclaimer: Biased as someone who moved from the answer to an Evo X, plus I'm sick of being surrounded by Subarus.

WRX with a good set of snow tires and have a ball. Not a lot of ground clearance and sometimes the front lip ends up acting like a snow plow if you are driving where the plows haven't been, but I've never had as much fun driving a car in the snow.

oldopelguy wrote: I'm pretty sure the grand Cherokee had a full time 4wd transfer case that would probably fit in the XJ. Drop the ride height, stiffen the springs, call it good.

or get a pre-98 bravada and throw a small block in it with s10 swap parts. basically becomes a v8 typhoon

Around here (PNW) I'd actually say Evo VIII, mostly since Subarus are holy crap locally overpriced.

I don't get that. Subarus are only overpriced in certain areas. EVOs are just overpriced everywhere. Just because prices for EVOs are more geographically uniform doesnt make them a better deal.

I do like EVOs more, though.

I'm gonna have to drive a WRX someday and see if I can get behind all the Subaru love. My experience with subis has been my '85 wagon, my mothers' '99 Outback and now her '13 Outback. Underpowered, flabby, uncomfortable, and uninspiring.

OTOH, I'm one of the few around who will recommend the Allroad. Compared with the outback it handled better, made a LOT more power, was more comfortable, had a more serious AWD system, and looked better.

I have a Passat 4motion now and it's less complicated and a bit more reliable but not as fun.

Since ground clearance usually isn't the first priority though, S4 gives you serious hooning potential and ability to go when the roads are slick.

edizzle89 wrote:

oldopelguy wrote: I'm pretty sure the grand Cherokee had a full time 4wd transfer case that would probably fit in the XJ. Drop the ride height, stiffen the springs, call it good.

or get a pre-98 bravada and throw a small block in it with s10 swap parts. basically becomes a v8 typhoon

Saw this on the Facebooks. Much win.

I know it would be underpowered but you can get regular Lancers with awd. Also, what about a Suzuki SX4?

If you are going from a Cherokee, you will miss the commanding view and space if you go to a small sedan. If you stick with the Forester XT, you still get a boxy shape and a hatch, sit a little higher, and you can add a BOV and play rally driver.

The AWD answer should always be Pontiac 6000 STE AWD!

A fly and drive might be worth it for this:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/5441204308.html

If you want LS2 goodness, just get the Trailblazer SS or the Saab clone.

NGTD wrote: The prices they are advertised for are unreal.

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

I have an unreasonable desire for a 9-7x Aero. LS2, awd, that silly pop out cup holder AND the ignition switch in the console? What more could you possibly want?

I read like 2 lines of text on Wikipedia about them once and they said they only built 1000-ish of them though. So if that's true, that could be an issue.

Those Bravada/Jimmy/whatever else they were labeled as just keep looking better and better to me the more I see them futzed with.

Pretty sure the Bravada and Typhoon were the only SUVs with the 35/65 split transfer case with the viscous center diff. the Blazer and Jimmy jut had the standard truck transfer case. I'm convinced the Bravada only exists because they needed to make more money off of the Typhoon/Syclone AWD setup. Either that or I have it backwards and they were working on the Bravada and some guy stood up and said "hey lets slap a turbo on this"

Chadeux wrote: Pretty sure the Bravada and Typhoon were the only SUVs with the 35/65 split transfer case with the viscous center diff. the Blazer and Jimmy jut had the standard truck transfer case. I'm convinced the Bravada only exists because they needed to make more money off of the Typhoon/Syclone AWD setup. Either that or I have it backwards and they were working on the Bravada and some guy stood up and said "hey lets slap a turbo on this"

the awd astro vans were the same drivetrain as well. Also any 4wd s10/blazer/etc. can have the awd transfer case (BW 4472) swapped in place of the 4wd transer case for an easy awd swap.

also what about 5 cylinder audi stuff? the turbo 10v or 20v are good engines with a solid drivetrain.

RAV4 with a 3SGTE.

If you are going to Philly, get something fun! http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/5424358010.html

mazdaspeed 6 doesn't seem to carry near the fanatic devotion price penalty of subi's

Saab 9-2x, affectionately known as the "Saabaru". WRX powertrai, can be had cheaper than same year WRX. Difficulty: not many made!

porschenut wrote: If you are going to Philly, get something fun! http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/5424358010.html

I like this idea!

KyAllroad wrote: I'm gonna have to drive a WRX someday and see if I can get behind all the Subaru love. My experience with subis has been my '85 wagon, my mothers' '99 Outback and now her '13 Outback. Underpowered, flabby, uncomfortable, and uninspiring. OTOH, I'm one of the few around who will recommend the Allroad.

This has been my experience with the WRX as well. I've driven a 2014. It felt too isolated. The boost is fun, but that can't make for the lack of feel through the wheel.

I'm not brave enough to take on used Audi ownership. The AWD answer should be pretty darn reliable. I don't think the Allroad qualifies

Volvo S60R/V70R?

oldopelguy wrote: I'm pretty sure the grand Cherokee had a full time 4wd transfer case that would probably fit in the XJ. Drop the ride height, stiffen the springs, call it good.

You could get the NP242 in the regular ol' Cherokee as well.

Clearly, the answer is Audi quattro. Many models to choose from.