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Which Would You Pick For A Second Car?


SH8KDWN

Love my T5 but need a 2nd for bad weather...any feedback?  

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I'm moving to Colorado and while my S70 will love the winding switchback mountain roads in good weather........not so much in the snow. I need a car that will handle well in bad conditions, be reliable, and most of all perform (or have the ability to after I mod it).

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I'm moving to Colorado and while my S70 will love the winding switchback mountain roads in good weather........not so much in the snow.  I need a car that will handle well in bad conditions, be reliable, and most of all perform (or have the ability to after I mod it).

go with the R.

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I'm sure the V70R has the same AWD system as the XC 70.

If you took the V70, you could use it instead of your S70 too. Will be as quick, if not quicker. The XC would be the best terrain performer, and you donb't have to worry about taking the front bumper off in deep snow. It also has tuning potential, but 'cause of the increaced ride height, you're not going to enjoy it as much as the S70 in the bends. Would have to keep both.

Audi is overpriced and doesn't outperform. Too much money for too little car imo.

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The AWD system in the R, at least the latest generation, was programmed to be more "fun to drive" and less snow/foul weather capable than in the XC models. If you're talking about the new XC and R models, that is. I think for the original (pre-01s) they were probably identically programmed, but I don't know this for a fact.

Edit: For this poll I chose the Audi, I don't think Haldex LSC is as capable of handling Colorado weather as Audi Quattro. The R, again with the ride height and the older AWD. I think it would be a bad choice.

I wouldn't get the R though. You're living in Colorado, not PA. You're going to need ride height if you are going to be getting out and going places when there's a few feet of fresh powder on the roads.

Seriously, don't make the mistake of getting a shoddy vehicle with AWD. If you want to get somewhere in the winter and you MUST have a Volvo, make it an XC. Honestly, though, I'd consider getting a Jeep. You CAN NOT beat a Jeep in terms of snow and ice handling for less than $70,000.

If I was living in Colorado, Wyoming, etc. or the NY snow belt I would have something serious with AWD or preferrably 4WD (unless I was on a college campus and didn't have to drive in the bad weather).

Concider the Jeep or maybe the Volvo XC90. The Volvo XC70 is alright with snow tires, too but does not even come CLOSE to comparing to a Jeep with true 4WD.

If you insist on something car like get either an Audi with quattro or maybe a Subaru with decent ride height that can take some SUV-style winter tires for the winter, like maybe a Forrester. You might look at Land Rover, but they haven't been as reliable as Jeeps and Subarus from what I have heard, but I've never owned or had a friend with one who had it break down, either, so I might just be hearing rumors there.

Also, whoever said the thing about Audi not outperforming - woah. Audi Quattro is vastly superior to Haldex LSC in general, and Haldex LSC is vastly superior to the older Volvo AWD drivetrain.

Aren't you just a little biased?

I think this is going to be a big problem asking this question on this forum.

Not only is everyone here a Volvo driver, but many are young drivers who have very little if any snow driving experience and a serious thirst for speed and love the letter R.

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Thanks for the honest opinion. I moved to PA from upstate NY so I am no stranger to snow. As for the Jeep I can't say that I am a big fan. Many of the newer Jeeps are made to self destruct after 80,000 miles (somtimes before). I went through 2 engines in my mid-nineties Wrangler.

Subarus are wonderful cars for reliability and performance in the snow. I have had 3 of them (one was a Forester). They are just lacking the creature comforts and performance that I have come a custom to with the S70.

I like the R from a performance standpoint but maybe it is not a practical as I would like. Too bad the XC is so underpowered.

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Disregard everything legend said, he's an idoit. The R is AWESOME in the snow/rain/dry weather. It all depends on what tires you have. Thre comes with performance tires, so pick up a set of cheap OEM wheels and throw some good all seasons on them like the Pzero nero M+S or the Conti extreme sport contacts. I run the contis in the winter and they are great! Oh.. and the new Subby legacy GT is an awesome car, check that out if it is in your price range.

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Thanks for the honest opinion.  I moved to PA from upstate NY so I am no stranger to snow.  As for the Jeep I can't say that I am a big fan.  Many of the newer Jeeps are made to self destruct after 80,000 miles (somtimes before).  I went through 2 engines in my mid-nineties Wrangler. 

Subarus are wonderful cars for reliability and performance in the snow.  I have had 3 of them (one was a Forester).  They are just lacking the creature comforts and performance that I have come a custom to with the S70.

I like the R from a performance standpoint but maybe it is not a practical as I would like.  Too bad the XC is so underpowered.

Get an XC and upgrade the power ;)

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The XC ECU upgrade gets me from 190 up to 230 hp. Maybe I'm greedy but I want to push some more ponies if I can.

The Suby is nice but out of my price range. I'm looking to save a couple dollars and buy off a lease turn in.

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Thanks for the honest opinion.  I moved to PA from upstate NY so I am no stranger to snow.  As for the Jeep I can't say that I am a big fan.  Many of the newer Jeeps are made to self destruct after 80,000 miles (somtimes before).  I went through 2 engines in my mid-nineties Wrangler. 

Subarus are wonderful cars for reliability and performance in the snow.  I have had 3 of them (one was a Forester).  They are just lacking the creature comforts and performance that I have come a custom to with the S70.

I like the R from a performance standpoint but maybe it is not a practical as I would like.  Too bad the XC is so underpowered.

This is why I just went with the T-5R for the spring/summer and settled with the XC for the fall. I couldn't deal with Jeep and Subaru because of the creature comforts they BOTH lacked and the cheap feel of the Subaru especially.

I think maybe with GOOD winter tires the XC might manage, and honestly the XC isn't as slow as I expected. It's not the slightest bit quick like a Grand Cherokee Overland I test drove but it doesn't leave me waiting for it to move like my I6 Jeep or the Outback I test drove did.

I guess I was going with utility over luxury despite the fact I don't buy that way myself...

I think that Audi is the way to go, honestly. The only reason I went with the XC over an Allroad was because it was getting late and I couldn't find a used allroad for sale nearby. I took the first acceptable XC I could find and I must say I'm pretty happy with it. It is really enjoyable and relaxing to drive, though I would prefer an R engine under the hood none the less. :)

so pick up a set of cheap OEM wheels and throw some good all seasons on them

The fact that you suggest all seasons for Colorado winter driving on a vehicle with shoddy at best AWD pretty much tells everyone who knows what...

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voted for R, i drove a xc70, didn't like it, was almost as my 850 N/A. And since people here say that v70R and xc70 have same AWD systems, my vote belongs to R

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It is a common fallacy that AWD/4WD will help you stop better in the snow. I don't care what car you have if you have the wrong tires you will not be driving very well in the snow. I have personally seen 4WD Jeeps spinning out of control in the snow, why because they have the wrong tires. If you have 4 good snow tires (I mean tires designed strictly for snow, such as Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q) not 4 season tires, then you will do better in the snow than people with 4WD/AWD with their big wide tires. A snow tire needs to be narrow, so it can cut through the snow..this is another area where people make mistakes....if you have the option of putting a smaller narrower tire on your car (850s/70s). The tires I use in the winter are 185/65/15s (this is the recommended winter tire size for an 850. The 850 handles fine in the snow with snow tires. Now, there are certainly cars that handle much better without using snow tires, but snow tires will make a vast improvement even in those cars.

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Um... AWD helps you severely in turning and getting moving in snow and when there is ice. But yeah, once the wheels lock up it doesn't do crap.

Then you go into how thinner snow tires are better... yes, thinner tires cut through the snow better, but they give you less lateral traction and aren't better for stopping. You might find a huge difference in what you would want to be driving on snow covered mountain roads and snow covered country roads.

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Um... AWD helps you severely in turning and getting moving in snow and when there is ice.  But yeah, once the wheels lock up it doesn't do crap.

Then you go into how thinner snow tires are better... yes, thinner tires cut through the snow better, but they give you less lateral traction and aren't better for stopping.  You might find a huge difference in what you would want to be driving on snow covered mountain roads and snow covered country roads.

I had a rwd volvo 142 with studded snow tires for a winter in mammoth lakes califironia and it was the most fun i have ever had in my life driving. i was a ski bum and had a gig as a baker at the main lodge and got to make the 6 mile driver up to the main lodge alone at midnight sideways looking out the driverside or passenger side window on all the corners. so much fun. they were 165 15", and i drove circles around anything 4x4 or otherwise that did not have at least snows on it. skinny snows are better at stopping and turning within sensible limits. if it dumps and the county has not plowed yet, only 4x4 trucks with at leat one closed diff and 4 wheel chains can get out and really go where they want anyway so the whole audi volvo subie mini macho 2" lift is silly anyway because if you live where it really snows and the snow piles up (colorado at 6000+) you are not going where they dont plow anyway. the r with skinny (ish...195-205) snows/chip/exhaust/ hands down imo.

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