[04cobra]

So my wife is taking over the explorer sport, once I get the M3 in July. I will need a new car to be capable of driving in the winter. I am pretty set on having another SUV, since I have a family and haul around stuff. I was thinking of either a Jeep SRT8 or a Durango R/T. My budget is around 55-60k. I live in Minnesota so winter is a big concern (i.e. most likely want AWD).

Just trying to get some other ideas. Car must be somewhat performance oriented. Probably would not go for another BMW, I like to have a variety of manufacturers in my garage.

[Matt_B]

S4 is a beast of a winter daily driver and perfectly in your budget. My A4 is unstoppable with winter tires. Will soon be replaced by a new generation, though, which may lead to buyers remorse...

My M (with season appropriate tires) is going to be my DD through winter, though I doubt my winters are as bad as yours.

[GOLFFRR]

This may be outside the box but have you looked into the Mini Cooper all wheel drive SUVs? there pretty sporty and priced really nicely. I drove one for a while as a demo it was fun!

[tallshortguy]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

S4 is a beast of a winter daily driver and perfectly in your budget. My A4 is unstoppable with winter tires. Will soon be replaced by a new generation, though, which may lead to buyers remorse...

My M (with season appropriate tires) is going to be my DD through winter, though I doubt my winters are as bad as yours.

He said he's pretty set on an SUV so unless Audi sells an S4 Avant that's raised about a foot that probably doesn't fit the OP's wants :P

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by tallshortguy

He said he's pretty set on an SUV so unless Audi sells an S4 Avant that's raised about a foot that probably doesn't fit the OP's wants :P

I fail at reading comprehension, doh! The SQ5 is closely related to the S4 and would be a decent Audi option around that price, though.

[AMPowerJ]

Ram 1500

[halfpast3]

Pre-owned Denali/Escalade. Love those beasts in the snow.

[JNoSol]

Maybe I missed this, but what's wrong with an M3 as your daily? It's a very capable car, even in the winter. There are a few Canadian folks on this forum using the M3 as their daily, just throw on a set of Blizzak for the winter and it should roll around like a tank. No need for another car payment.

I had a few RWD BMWs with winter tires, including an E90 330i / F10 535i / F02 750Li. They roll around like a tank on ice/snow, my neighborhood has very steep grades hills. 4yrs ago, we had 6inch of snow in 3hrs. The AWD SUVs in the neighborhood were stuck going up my hill, but my 535i with Blizzak was the only one that made it up the hill.

RWD with Winter Tires > AWD with All-Season Tires

We have to keep in mind that BMW started in Bavaria. The weather there is pretty rough in the winter. xDrive was just a recent addition.

[RowanBuds]

Don't know if a cvt would be a deal breaker but I've been very happy with our new forester xt, excepting it could use better feedback/response from the brakes. Alternatively the sq5 is a great call above. And I'd even say check out the cayenne--most comfortable SUV I've been in.

[M3Fanatics]

Even tho I drove my M3 during the winter here in Ontario and it was really good with winter tires, I would strongly recommend the Audi SQ5 it's a beast and really fun to drive, would much rather have it over my x5 if it wasn't for the size.

[drexplode]

X3!

[wazzza]

Winter wheels and tires + sandbags in the trunk. Invest the rest of the money. Use the returns to add more options the next M3 you get.

Repeat.

[secretariat]

I know you said an SUV, but have you considered an Ford F150 4 door. My wife has one and that thing will go anywhere.

[04cobra]

Originally Posted by secretariat

I know you said an SUV, but have you considered an Ford F150 4 door. My wife has one and that thing will go anywhere.

Yes, I would like the Ford Raptor, but want the new one that isnt out until 2017 MY.

[04cobra]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

S4 is a beast of a winter daily driver and perfectly in your budget. My A4 is unstoppable with winter tires. Will soon be replaced by a new generation, though, which may lead to buyers remorse...

My M (with season appropriate tires) is going to be my DD through winter, though I doubt my winters are as bad as yours.

I am not a huge fan of Audi, I would look to MB or BMW before picking up an audi.

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

This may be outside the box but have you looked into the Mini Cooper all wheel drive SUVs? there pretty sporty and priced really nicely. I drove one for a while as a demo it was fun!

I do like the Mini's, but I just do not see myself driving one.

Originally Posted by halfpast3

Pre-owned Denali/Escalade. Love those beasts in the snow.

GM is off the table for any vehicle. Will never own a GM product again. But I agree they do well in the winter

Originally Posted by JNoSol

Maybe I missed this, but what's wrong with an M3 as your daily? It's a very capable car, even in the winter. There are a few Canadian folks on this forum using the M3 as their daily, just throw on a set of Blizzak for the winter and it should roll around like a tank. No need for another car payment.

I had a few RWD BMWs with winter tires, including an E90 330i / F10 535i / F02 750Li. They roll around like a tank on ice/snow, my neighborhood has very steep grades hills. 4yrs ago, we had 6inch of snow in 3hrs. The AWD SUVs in the neighborhood were stuck going up my hill, but my 535i with Blizzak was the only one that made it up the hill.

RWD with Winter Tires > AWD with All-Season Tires

We have to keep in mind that BMW started in Bavaria. The weather there is pretty rough in the winter. xDrive was just a recent addition.

I just would like to keep my M3 nice, its so difficult to keep cars clean here in Minnesota with all the salt on the roads. It is almost impossible to keep the rust off of it, and I don't have many good options for car washes during the winter.

[CirrusSR22]

New 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum. Twin Turbo V6 and all-wheel drive.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

RWD with Winter Tires > AWD with All-Season Tires

THIS!

I had a highly tuned 135i on winter tires and it was nearly unstopable. I've never felt so confident in the snow. I got a B8 S4 as its replacement and made the mistake of thinking I could get away with all seasons and boy was I dead wrong. It absolutely sucked in the white stuff.

To the OP - We have a Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi and it's a beast. I love that thing. The SRT is obviously a cut above that so I would give that my vote. I also like the SQ5 so you can't go wrong there either.

[overcoil]

So much nice stuff.
Isn't there a SRT-8 recall.
The mercedes GLA is compact but I think looks very good.
Honda has a new Pilot coming out, starting price $46,000, performance - maybe.
2016 Lincoln MKX looks very good.

[JNoSol]

You can always wrap your car for $2,500 to protect it. For the price of another car, you can wrap it once a year even. (Although wraps last 4-5yrs)

My last boss lives in MSP. His daily is a 911S. Blizzak is on the car 5 months out of the year.

You will learn that you have to swap tires on the M3 regardless. PSS will not get you far when it's cold out, way too dangerous.

Sorry man, just helping you enjoy the car all year round and save money. Spend the extra cash on mods and track days. No one on this forum leaves their car stock, that I know of.

[Red Bread]

Not really fair to compare a 911 with so much weight over its drive wheels to an M3. 911's are freakishly good snow cars.

[eleven11]

Range Rover Evoke or LR4

Audi SQ5

[einbruch10]

A close friend i work with on a dailey basis has a 15 jeep srt and loves it fully optioned too. Performs well gets decent mileage and looks great.