I use my S on a daily basis all year round. This is fine for about 11 months of the year but last winter I had a number of very close calls on the ice and snow.

I have thought long and hard about it and decided that I need something with 4 wheel drive for the winter months.

I have considered a second (well actually third as we have a people carrier as well for the kids) car but the costs of running another car plus the lack of parking near my house have put me off this. I really just want a single car that will do the lot.

I have come from a Fiat Coupe 20VT followed by a 3.2 TT. The Fiat was a great car in straight line but was not too hot on corners (even after fitting braces). The TT was faster, better on corners etc but was not that much fun to drive. However it was excellent in the ice and snow with the quattro system. The S has been by far the most fun to drive and has always felt the fastest even if it wasn't (I am still not sure).

So looking around, it is quite hard to find sports cars with 4 wheel drive. My ideal at this point I think would be an Audi R8 but that is way beyond budget! I think my only other option really is a 911 Carrera 4 or 4S. I could go the rally car route I guess but there are not drop-top options and the Porsche just seems so much more refined (I am getting on a bit now!)

Budget-wise I think I want to spend about £15k but can go to £20k at a stretch.

So who has gone from an S to 911 or vice versa? I am not adverse to a tiptronic but is a manual the way to go? How does it compare to the S box?

Also not sure whether to go cab or coupe. Anyone have any recommendations there? Is the soft roof a good one? Is it quick to drop?

Any comments at all would be good please! Perhaps even suggestions of cars I have missed?

cheers
Mark

 

I don't think you will be looking at much in the way of a 911 for that money

if it's a deposit, that's different

sorry, I know next to nothing about the 911

 

Well I thought that too when a friend first suggested it. However I put it into Autotrader with filters for Porsche 911 "carrera 4" up to ten years old up to £20k and it gave me 30 results across the country (several at around £15k).

If it extend to up to 12 years (I can't actually do that with the filters) then I get many more. I was pleasantly surprised!

M

 

Seems illogical - winter tyres give grip, not 4WD. 4WD only gives acceleration advantages and there isn't the GC for deep snow.

If you've only 15 large, you cannot afford the running costs of a C4.

You'd be better off buying a PoS CR-V and flogging it again in the spring.

 

EVO X.

 

Nick Graves: I am not sure this is entirely true. I ran the Fiat Coupe on winter tyres in snow ice and excess water and didn't really feel I had much more grip than on the standard ones. That was FWD though so may be a little different.

The TT however was a whole different story. I could go round an icy roundabout giving it all I could get out of the car and I never ever managed to step out the back. The S I have spun twice on wet roundabouts really not giving it very much at all. It feels totally different and does not inspire confidence.

I don't really want a car sitting in the garage depreciating away. Plus I have nowhere to put another car.

I looked at 911s when I was buying the S and decided I couldn't justify the £25-30k that they were up for at the time. I can justify £15-20k. I have a good enough income to run the car I feel and spending £20k would give me a contingency fund of £5k which should be more than enough for the first year.

Soulcrew: I did consider an Evo or Subaru but it is not really my scene. I am mid-30s now and would like something a little more refined. The VXR you had would be firmly on my list if it were 4 wheel drive. Any other suggestions gratefully received though.

cheers
M

 

vxr8 refined

 

Yeah actually true, it is not refined. Can't put my finger on it but it just seems more of a "grown up" car than a Scooby or Evo.

M

 

As you seemed to like the TT, have you thought about an S4 or RS4 cab?

 

it is quite refined in a sort of ausie refined way.