Best Driving Buys:
Winter Beaters

November 17, 2006 - By John LeBlanc

“Spring has sprung the grass has ris’, I wonder where the birdies is,” just doesn’t sound right for this time of year, does it?

How about, “The grass is brown, the sun is down, I need to move my precious sports car underground.”

That’s much better, especially if you’re one of those car enthsusuasts who insist on putting away their precious summer car for the winter. However, if this sceneario leaves you wondering what to drive while the weather sucks, you, my friend, are in need of a Winter Beater.

To help you out, here are a half dozen WB’s for your consideration. But first, remember the three rules in hunting for WBs: 1) You’ll want a car that’s roadworthy; yet not prevent you from taking that week on the Mayan Riviera you promised yourself. $5,000 to $10,000 should do it; 2) No exotica. When/if something mechanical/electrical/spiritual goes wrong with your WB, you’ll want cheap, easy-to-get parts.; 3) It should still be fun to drive. Just because your Sexybeast SX 2000 is stored while the snow flies doesn’t mean have stop having fun behind the wheel.

1994-1999 Acura Integra The front-drive, Honda Civic-based Integra came as a two-door hatch and four-door sedan. Cooking RS and LS models were powered by a 142 h.p., 127 lb.-ft. of torque 1.8-litre four banger and either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic; the sportier GS-R gained an additional 28 h.p. A driver-oriented cockpit with typically excellent Honda ergonomics and instrumentation is combined with notably balanced, understeer-free handling. The one to get: Five-speed GS-R sedan WB Rating: 4/6 - The 1.8 mill needs to driven like you stole it—avoid the slushbox. Unfortunately, $10k won’t buy you a coveted ’97-‘98 Type-R Integra…

1995-1998 BMW 318Ti Like its sedan counterpart, the rear-wheel-drive, two-door 318Ti loves to carve up twisty roads with its inherently precise steering and handling. The ride is typically German—ja, firm—but the quality betters most compact hatches. As in the Acura, skip the optional four-speed autobox, as the 134 h.p., 127 lb.-ft. of torque 1.8-litre four-banger needs to be near its redline for any kind of forward thrust. A larger 1.9 unit arrived mid-’96, with modest power gains. The one to get: Five–speed 1.9/sports package WB Rating: 5/6 - If you don’t mind the “where’s the effing trunk” styling and high resale prices, the 318Ti is a Bimmer for the winter.

1997-2001 Honda Prelude Find the Integra too intense? Try the more mature Prelude with its larger, 195-200 h.p., 156 lb.-ft. of torque 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine and longer wheelbase. Acceleration is good with either the slick five-speed stick or four-speed manumatic. The front-drive Honda does a good job quelling torque steer with a first-rate ride versus handling setup. The one to get: Five-speed SH WB Rating: 6/6 – Sleeper looks aside; this is one of the best handling front-drivers ever. A more grown-up alternative to the more intensely flavoured Integra

1999-2002 Infiniti G20 Infiniti’s version of Nissan’s Euro, front-drive Primera. The 140-145 h.p., 132-136 lb.-ft. of torque 2.0-litre four lacks off-the-line punch, with either the five-speed manual gearbox or optional four-speed slushbox. Extremely nimble and agile in the twisties, responsive handling—especially on the upgraded Touring model—is the G’s forté. Even the firm yet supple ride will remind you of its Euro upbringing. The one to get: Five-speed Touring WB Rating: 2/6 – Sharper to drive than an Accord or Camry, the Infiniti handles like a Euro sedan but with a mainstream price.

1994-1999 Toyota Celica Competing directly with the Integra, the base ST Celica came with a 105-110 h.p., 117 lb.-ft. of torque 1.8-litre four, and the sportier GT sports a 130-135 h.p., 145 lb.-ft. of torque 2.2 unit. Like the others listed here, a five-speed manual tranny or a four-speed auto could be had. If less precise in its handling than the Acura, the Toyota still possesses excellent grip and with little body roll. The one to get: Five–speed GT WB Rating: 3/6 – The Toyota badge always commands higher pre-owned prices, but as winter wheels, the Celica is a good blend of fun-to-drive and reliability.
 
1995-1998 Volkswagen GTI/Jetta GLX VR6 In a herd of four-banger compacts, the GTI/GLX reminds you, “Crap, I cudda hadda VR6!” The VW’s relatively low revving (it pumps out 172 h.p. at 5,400 r.p.m. and 173 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 r.p.m.) six contrasts heavily with the others’ screaming mimi fours. Well-suited to the less hyper winter driving, the VR6 Vee Dubs are more luxury than sports in their suspension setups. The one to get: Five-speed Jetta GLX WB Rating: 4/6 – Demerits for historically questionable reliability and high residuals, but a well taken care of model will see you through to spring when your baby comes out of hibernation.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, www.straight-six.com

© National Post 2006. This article originally appeared in The National Post's Driving.