Car For Skiers

MWG

MWG

Member
I have a few cars in mind of what would be ideal for skiers, but you can dumb it down to a Hatchback with a ski rack, could live out of it and a good set of winter tires on it. Thoughts? What do you drive?

The Dream Car

:
audi-a4-1357558_67870160.jpg


Affordable Dream Car

18248d1293559225-yakima-thule-roof-cargo-box-thread-img00133-20090818-0819.jpg


Reality

autobus-Transit-Cornwall1.jpg
 
My '06 subaru outback is the ultimate skier's ride. Ski rack, heated seats, plenty of room, and it doesn't smell when you hotbox
 
2011 frontier crew cab. Ski rack on top and tonneau cover on the bed to keep everything dry. Have plenty of room for 5 people and full gear for week long trip

106602d1414189531-trip-up-pikes-peak-blue.jpg
 
why do so many skiers drive subaru. They are not that great of cars. I like more trucks and cars like the F150 with over for the bed would be ideal
 
I drive an 05 impreza wagon because it's an awesome car and a beast in the snow. My buddy has a honda element, which I think is the perfect whip for getting to the hill.
 
13223398:Am_park said:
why do so many skiers drive subaru. They are not that great of cars. I like more trucks and cars like the F150 with over for the bed would be ideal
Click to expand...

It's hard to justify the cost of ownership of a truck unless you do things that actually require you to own one. I can borrow a company truck for personal business as long as I reimburse them for mileage, so I don't really need to own one myself. I like my Subarus because they are fun to drive, safe, and reliable.
 
I've got a 2011 GMC Sierra Denali, fits 5 people, tonneau cover so all the gear stays dry. Couldn't ask for anything better
 
13223491:Dlud said:
Volvo xc 70 wagon, the transmission is fucked
Click to expand...

I swear every XC70 on the road has a messed up transmission. It's sad because they're dope cars otherwise.

I'd say something on the VW B5 platform with awd (I own one) Audi A4q, S4, Vw Passat 4motion. The "unreliability" is greatly overstated but that works to buyer's advantage because you can get them super cheap.

IMO Subarus get way too rusty way too fast, habitually burn oil and blow head gaskets, and are exorbitantly expensive on the used market in ski towns.

Source: Either owned or worked on all of these a lot.
 
13223655:grifrowl said:
I used to use Interco LTBs in a 34*10.5 with a bit of success. They were terrible on wet road though.
Click to expand...

in deep or loosely packed snow i could see them preforming ok but anything else like hard packed snow/ice, you got a good chance of ending up in the ditch.
 
13223670:*TACO-DOG* said:
in deep or loosely packed snow i could see them preforming ok but anything else like hard packed snow/ice, you got a good chance of ending up in the ditch.
Click to expand...

Pretty true. I think trucks struggle more because usually they lack the trick abs systems or fancy differentials that other awd cars have.
 
13223324:chodo said:
2011 frontier crew cab. Ski rack on top and tonneau cover on the bed to keep everything dry. Have plenty of room for 5 people and full gear for week long trip

106602d1414189531-trip-up-pikes-peak-blue.jpg
Click to expand...

You ever thought of painting that black?
 
2004 Cadillac deville with some bomb ass snow tires

middle seat in back folds down to the trunk perfect for skis also the thing whips with 305 HP and does good in the snow with it being front wheel drive and having a big V8 all in the front

not to mention the heated steering wheel :)))))
 
Just Picked Up A Honda Pilot . Should he bomb proof, plenty of room for gear and the crew, gets 20 mpg, and awd. Doesn't get much better than that
 
13223607:grifrowl said:
I swear every XC70 on the road has a messed up transmission. It's sad because they're dope cars otherwise.

I'd say something on the VW B5 platform with awd (I own one) Audi A4q, S4, Vw Passat 4motion. The "unreliability" is greatly overstated but that works to buyer's advantage because you can get them super cheap.

IMO Subarus get way too rusty way too fast, habitually burn oil and blow head gaskets, and are exorbitantly expensive on the used market in ski towns.

Source: Either owned or worked on all of these a lot.
Click to expand...

The XC70 blows. awesome concept, but totally ruined by a shit AWD system. 4motion is nothing great either, similar to the XC70's awd system thats FWD till the wheels slip, uses braking to redirect power, etc.. ive driven 2WD cars in snow that perform better.

Its very important to get an AWD car with a legitimate AWD system, it makes such a big difference having something like quattro vs a haldex style excuse for AWD.
 
13223607:grifrowl said:
I swear every XC70 on the road has a messed up transmission. It's sad because they're dope cars otherwise.

I'd say something on the VW B5 platform with awd (I own one) Audi A4q, S4, Vw Passat 4motion. The "unreliability" is greatly overstated but that works to buyer's advantage because you can get them super cheap.

IMO Subarus get way too rusty way too fast, habitually burn oil and blow head gaskets, and are exorbitantly expensive on the used market in ski towns.

Source: Either owned or worked on all of these a lot.
Click to expand...

I have a 3b5 passat variant and it's very good winter car! Reliable, steady in high speeds, good touch to road, well equipped, etc. Mine has 1.8 liter turbo engine which gives enough power for daily drive, but low/mediocre fuel consumption. Too bad it's fwd.. ou and the frame is galvanized so no rust issues either.
 
I have a 02 Toyota Celica Hatchback that I love to death. Its only a 4 seater coupe, but with a ski rack on top I have more than enough room for stuff in the trunk. I went on a camping trip to Jasper, Alberta this summer with my girlfriend, my friend and his girlfriend, and had enough room for 4 people, 2 tents and a whole lot a camping gear. Hatchbacks all the way!
 
Subaru legacy with a thule box, some may say boxes look bad on sedans but it holds all the skis poles and boards while everything else goes in the trunk and it seats 5 very comfortably. Its also a beast in the snow but that goes for any Subaru minus the brz
 
13223777:XtRemE11 said:
The XC70 blows. awesome concept, but totally ruined by a shit AWD system. 4motion is nothing great either, similar to the XC70's awd system thats FWD till the wheels slip, uses braking to redirect power, etc.. ive driven 2WD cars in snow that perform better.

Its very important to get an AWD car with a legitimate AWD system, it makes such a big difference having something like quattro vs a haldex style excuse for AWD.
Click to expand...

B5 passats have the same awd system (center torsen differential) as "quattro" it's just named 4motion. Also the newer iterations of Haldex ain't that bad in the snow.

Have you driven a haldex car in the snow much?
 
13223807:Ekis said:
Mine has 1.8 liter turbo engine which gives enough power for daily drive, but low/mediocre fuel consumption. Too bad it's fwd..
Click to expand...

You might want to look into the low fuel economy. 1.8t don't exactly sip fuel in my experience, but I regularly get 25mpg combined and you should get around that or higher in a FWD version.
 
13223929:grifrowl said:
You might want to look into the low fuel economy. 1.8t don't exactly sip fuel in my experience, but I regularly get 25mpg combined and you should get around that or higher in a FWD version.
Click to expand...

Oh, just saw you're in Europe. Yeah 1.8t gets shit mileage compared to what's on the market over there haha.
 
A pick up is prime, it can hold a ton of ski gear in back and also a ton of friends. They're also dope for urban because you can carry around basically everything you need in the bed and you can even sleep there.
 
13223953:Danal. said:
3D3B0101-2E53-438F-960E-CF9AAB4A4B04-2322-00000152EF3CFEB6.jpg
VW r32
Click to expand...

Got the sedan version. I have the 5 speed manual and while yea its not as good as AWD...thing is a fucking beast in the snow still. With some winters I have taken her through snow well over the bumper and tanked through places SUV's couldnt get through at the time. Though the uphills is where I struggle...gotta keep momentum for real slippery uphills
 
1998 outback with rack is perf. to bad my ski rack is fucked. thats what you get for buying a full thule set off craigslist for $40
 
My jeep cherokee with aired down mudders used to be a beast in the winter.... Horrid fuel economy, but an absolute beast in the snow. Never even had to pull her outta 2wd. And held everything and everyone that I could have wanted.
 
most likely a lifted 4wd prius due to increased effiecncy. it should be able to go anywhere, you want. to ski anything you want.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top