Choices

[Tave]

[FoMoJo]

[68_427]

Yuh Huh

It's a Jeep thing you wouldn't understand

[CALL_911]

All these choices look quite sensible for all weather capability

[MX793]

Lol, well then denial isn't just a river in Egypt. I didn't mean to imply that your streets were perpetually snow-locked. Obviously they plow the city. Just saying, if the kid is worried about getting to the hospital in an emergency situation, that's the kind of storms y'all get, no bueno?

I don't deny that we can get 1+ feet dropped in a day.  Only that big snow drops aren't the primary means by which so much snow accumulates in CNY.  The region gets roughly 60 days with snowfall from December through March on average (about 66 annually if widen the net to include November and April).  If the majority, or even a significant portion, of those were 1+ ft snowfall events, the average annual snowfall would be way higher than the 10-11 ft that it gets.  Last winter season was pretty average (slightly above, actually) in terms of snowfall and there were only three days that saw >6" of snowfall.  Only one of those cracked the foot mark.  Such snowfall events are "common" in the sense that you almost always see one or two a year; they aren't a once or twice in a decade kind of weather event.  But when you're talking 60+ snowy days a year, that kind of daily accumulation is relatively rare.

What's more common is a multi-day storm that drops 4-8 inches a day over a couple of consecutive days.  We had one a few years back, in the first week of December, where it snowed continuously for 4 days, stopped for a few hours, and then continued snowing for another day.  Total accumulation was over 3.5ft.  The worst day of it I think we got 9 inches in the day.  That kind of sustained snowfall, without a pause for snow to melt/sublimate away, results in snowbanks getting really big really quickly as plows keep pushing it all to the sides of the road.  But the rate at which it was falling was slow enough that crews could keep up and keep the roads passable.  They were completely covered in a layer of snow through most of the week, but it wasn't deep, need-4x4-ground-clearance snow.  More like 1-2 inches (less in the tire tracks).

[Rupert]

Nuh uh

Speaking of denial...



Those things are great at anything under 10 mph.

[CALL_911]

So we're back to this discussion. I'm back to considering a GTI replacement. My parents are encouraging me to replace it with something with AWD, which means I don't have a lot of options. I'm gonna drive a WRX this weekend, and see how I feel about it. Ideally I'd go for an STI, but I'd have to try one out.

I've been looking at used S4s, but I think it's just too much car for me.

[Laconian]

GT-R.

[CALL_911]

I'd be down

[MexicoCityM3]

So we're back to this discussion. I'm back to considering a GTI replacement. My parents are encouraging me to replace it with something with AWD, which means I don't have a lot of options. I'm gonna drive a WRX this weekend, and see how I feel about it. Ideally I'd go for an STI, but I'd have to try one out.

I've been looking at used S4s, but I think it's just too much car for me.

Golf R.

[CALL_911]

Sounds stupid, but the reason I don't want one is because I don't want another Golf. I really like my GTI and the Golf as a whole, but I'd like something different.

[MexicoCityM3]

Sounds stupid, but the reason I don't want one is because I don't want another Golf. I really like my GTI and the Golf as a whole, but I'd like something different.

X1 xDrive (either 28i or 35i)
328xi
228xi

[CALL_911]

X1 xDrive (either 28i or 35i)
328xi
228xi

Dad's pushing the 328xi, I don't want any of the above

[MexicoCityM3]

Dad's pushing the 328xi, I don't want any of the above

Dad is wise. I'd take the 328xi over anything else in the class. A step above, I think the S4 is better than a 335xi. Is the S4 within your budget?

S3? But that is a Golf R in drag after all.

The Golf R has been praised everywhere. You should go test drive it - it probably feels a solid step above about your GTI. Too bad there is no M135i over there.

[CALL_911]

Dad is wise. I'd take the 328xi over anything else in the class. A step above, I think the S4 is better than a 335xi. Is the S4 within your budget?

S3? But that is a Golf R in drag after all.

The Golf R has been praised everywhere. You should go test drive it - it probably feels a solid step above about your GTI. Too bad there is no M135i over there.

I couldn't get a 6MT 328xi, and I'm not too impressed by the F30. Golf R>S3, and the only reason I'm down for an S4 over the Golf R is because of that V6.

I also see the '16 WRX/STI does away with the head unit that looks like the one in my '92 Legacy. If I can, I'll try out a Golf R. You're right, I have nothing to lose.

[MexicoCityM3]

I couldn't get a 6MT 328xi, and I'm not too impressed by the F30. Golf R>S3, and the only reason I'm down for an S4 over the Golf R is because of that V6.

I also see the '16 WRX/STI does away with the head unit that looks like the one in my '92 Legacy. If I can, I'll try out a Golf R. You're right, I have nothing to lose.

F30 is getting its facelift in 3 months. Steering feel is among the expected improvements FWIW.

[CALL_911]

F30 is getting its facelift in 3 months. Steering feel is among the expected improvements FWIW.

I got to drive an F30 335xi with a manual pretty extensively recently, that was one of its biggest faults. The thing is also plain big, and it feels it. Engine and transmission were flawless however

[68_427]

2016 WRX/STi are getting the new infotainment system from the Outback/Legacy

[MrH]

2016 WRX/STi are getting the new infotainment system from the Outback/Legacy

You can get a lip spoiler on the STI now instead of the park bench too

Also, good thing they got rid of that old infotainment. That's what I have in the brz. Probably the worst system out there. I haven't come across a worse oem navigation system.

[12,000 RPM]

Golf R.

EverydayCars (I think that's the channel's name) just said it was not worth getting over the GTI. U would do better getting a GTI with snow tires

STI needs that new engine period.

WRX with 18" wheels is prob the best choice at the moment. E90 335xi is a dark horse, especially with JB4 chip. Just has to be one of the later ones

[Cookie Monster]

I would definitely go with the STI over any of the other choices mentioned.

[CALL_911]

I would definitely go with the STI over any of the other choices mentioned.

It's the most appealing to me

Also, fuck AWD BMWs. I've driven enough of them to know they don't do it for me. The only "lux" option I would consider is the S4, and even that isn't such a strong contender

[hotrodalex]

AWD 996

[Raza]

WRX and be done with it. 

[Laconian]

Looks like the MazdaSpeed 3 might be AWD?
http://blog.caranddriver.com/threes-insanity-next-mazdaspeed-3-to-debut-this-fall-as-a-concept/

[12,000 RPM]

C&D has been on a string of missed "scoops" IIRC. We will see about this MS3. If its what they say I would love one for the next ride, AWD and all

[MX793]

A production Speed3, if there ever is one, will be a 2017 model at the earliest.