Pre-owned: FTD AWD Cars

[svgallery name="Preowned_FTD_AWD_Cars"] Story by John LeBlanc Winter's coming, and the awful (snow, sleet, ice, wind) driving conditions that go along with that. So like most Canadians, a vehicle with all-wheel-drive (AWD) makes a lot of sense for your next pre-owned purchase. Once, that requirement would have limited buyers to SUVs or pickups. But thankfully, automakers have discovered that AWD adds an element of driving fun as well as on-the-road safety. These picks are purely based on the driver's perspective. So here, in ascending order of preference, is our choice of the top half-dozen, up-to-10-year-old, $20,000 pre-owned AWD cars: 6: 2002—2006 JAGUAR X-TYPE SEDAN Severe depreciation, old-school styling and rarity are three of the reasons to look at a Jag X-Type. But the compact sedan and wagon can also be a fun-to-drive car for the winter. To distinguish it from the front-drive Ford platform it was based on, all X-Types came with AWD. Early base models had a 194 hp 2.5 L V6 engine backed by a five-speed manual transmission; a five-speed automatic was optional. The top-of-the-line powerplant is a 230 hp 3.0 L version of the same engine. While inside, it's all leather and wood in the best Jaguar tradition. Enthusiasts will want the Sport Package. Its suspension is tuned for better body control and quicker steering. Pricing: '04 X-Types with 120,000 km can go for as little as $7,000 to $8,000, while '07 models with 60,000 km can be had for under $20,000. 5: 2005-2007 CHRYSLER 300C/DODGE MAGNUM R/T AWD One of the few hits from Chrysler in the past decade was the Ontario-made full-size Chrysler 300C sedan and Dodge Magnum wagon. And the automaker's recent financial woes mean recent, low-mileage examples – even with AWD and V8s – are readily available and cheap to buy. Chrysler's 5.7-litre V8 with 340 hp and 365 lb.-ft. makes these big cars hustle (0-to-100 km in 6 seconds flat), complementing the Mercedes-sourced rear-suspension, five-speed automatic gearbox and 4MATIC AWD that permanently splits torque 38/62 per cent front/rear. And, as top-of-the-line models, the roomy 300C and Magnum R/T can come well equipped. Modern luxury car accoutrements like navigation, upgraded audio and plenty of safety kit were on hand. Pricing: '05 Magnums with 100,000 km can start around $13,500, while '07 300Cs with 40,000 km can be had for less than $19,000. 4: 2004-2005 AUDI S4 With a V8 stuffed into its compact sedan or wagon body, the Audi S4 is a German hot-rod. Throw in Audi's legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive (something contemporary BMW M3s and 'Benz C 32 AMGs didn't offer), and you have one of the most fun-to-drive used winter cars you can find. Borrowed from the full-size A8 luxobarge, the S4's 4.2-litre V8, with 340 hp and 302 lb.-ft. of torque (either hooked up to a six-speed manual or Tiptronic autobox), replaced the previous model's 2.7-litre turbo V6. Think NASCAR and you have a pretty good idea what this engine sounds like. A zero-to-100 km/h run in less than six seconds and a top speed electronically limited 250 km/h means the S4 is no paper lion. Beyond the thumping V8, the conservatively styled S4 also came with driver-oriented details like Recaro seats and a thick leather-wrapped wheel in a well-crafted cockpit. Pricing: With 120,000 to 100,000 km, examples can be found between $15,000 and $20,000. 3: 2004-2006 INFINITI G35X As an Asian alternative to the German auto brands, the compact G35x is a smart choice. For the price of the Audi or BMW, you can get a newer Infiniti sedan with less mileage. The G35 came only with a 260 hp version of the Nissan 350Z's V6. Rear-drive models offered a manual, but AWD G35x's only came with an automatic transmission. Infiniti used the sophisticated ATTESA-ETS system from the Japanese-market Skyline GT-R. At first, it splits torque 25/75 per cent front/rear. When needed, though, it can send 100 per cent of the power to the rear of the car. When starting on snow and ice, drivers can activate a centre-console-mounted switch that permanently splits torque 50/50 at low speeds. Pricing: With 120,000 to 80,000 km, examples can be found between $14,000 and $20,000. 2: 2001 -2005 BMW 330xi BMW toyed with AWD in a 3-series with its mid-1980s 325xi. But it took two more generations to see all-season traction return to its compact lineup in 2001. BMW's "x" AWD (a system that had engine power divided 38/62 front/rear, using the ABS system to distribute power to the wheel or wheels with the most grip) was made available in the 193 hp 325xi sedan and wagon. But the one model drivers want is the 330xi sedan. Its velvety-smooth 3.0-litre six produced 32 more horsepower than the 325xi's 2.8 L unit. Transmission choices were either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. (Stick with the stick.) With its large 17-inch tires, the 330xi offers typical BMW driving traits: communicative steering, balanced handling and lots of cornering grip. You can also add outstanding ergonomics, clear reading instrumentation, and top-notch build quality. Pricing: With 180,000 to 100,000 km, examples can be found between $11,000 and $20,000. 1: 2002 - 2006 SUBARU WRX If you approach winter driving like a rally stage, then the last-generation Subaru WRX is your next winter used car. After years being sold abroad, Subaru finally cashed in on its multiple World Rally Championships with the 2002 WRX compact sedan and wagon. Its "bug eye" headlights and engine hood scoop clearly indicated the WRX's racy intentions. But the car then backs it up with a turbocharged 2.0 L flat-four-cylinder engine rated at up to 230 hp, good for zero-to-100 km in 5.5s. Although the WRX gets Subaru's impressive AWD system (that applies power to the individual wheels when needed), it's also a blast on twisty roads. And a big bonus: the quick Subaru's suspension doesn't beat you up on rough pavement. Sports car performance, all-season traction, in a practical package: the WRX is our top AWD used car. Pricing: '02 WRXs with 160,000 km can go for as little as $7,000, while '07 models with 60,000 km can be had for less than $16,000.

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