BUDGET CARS | The 3 Best Winter Resources Under €10,000

29 January 2020 Redazione Budget Cars, News

WINTER IS JUST A MATTER OF STYLE

Written by Marco Mancino

One of my favorite parts of the winter season is the unmistakable combination of hot chocolate + soft cover + burning fireplace (if possible) and my eyes bouncing between a good movie on DVD and the snow that falls copiously outside the window. But after spending a few days of just doing nothing on the sofa, the desire to drive prevails and we often find ourselves banging our heads on the wall because our Lotus doesn’t have the right tires. There are quintals of sports cars that can be driven throughout the entire year without problems, but this time we will not talk ‘bout them – save it for a next episode – but on what I consider the three best cars when it comes to tackling a harsher weather than usual.

It takes a proper four-wheel drive, a practical vehicle capable of carrying jackets and equipment to reach the mountain chalet without any kind of renounce, but at the same time we have spent everything to finally give ourselves that 5-star resort we have long promised to our family. No problem, these three are cheap and allow you to look good even parked next to the various Bentayga, Cayenne and the freshly introduced DBX.

RANGE ROVER VOGUE

There is no list, article or mountain location without a Range Rover. Born in 1970, it has represented from the very beginning the perfect meeting point between an off-road vehicle with a strong identity and the comfort of a luxury car. In this way it managed to make its way in a segment that in one way or another born 30 years later and that still sees it today among the absolute protagonists. The first series, produced from 1970 to 1996, has undergone various upgrades, both aesthetic and mechanical, and during the last decade, shortly before welcoming the more modern look of the second series, the Range Rover introduces important updates such as a dashboard made from softer materials and greater attention to overall interior finishing, as in the case of the richer Vogue version, also available with generous engines such as the 3.9 with 182 hp or the 4.3 with 202 horses.

Strengthened by an excellent visibility, great traction on impervious surfaces and a cabin enriched with leather and wood, the Range Rover Vogue soon becomes a point of reference, a true symbol of a wealthy class that does not know any sort of compromises. Now you can take one home with just € 10,000, but it is important to make sure that it is a mechanically healthy specimen and that has not suffered excessive modifications, an aspect that often touches another Land Rover model, even more adept for off-roading, but definitely more raw: I’m talking about the legendary Defender.

SUBARU LEGACY GT WAGON

Practicality and performance, a combination that goes hand in hand with the Japanese brand that many identify for its glorious rally legend, the Impreza WRX STI. But Subaru has always produced interesting models able to stand out for how they were able to devour any type of road without blinking, thanks to the symmetrical all-wheel drive and boxer engines that would have satisfied the driver even in the simplest journey to the office, once the children were left at school. The Legacy GT Wagon is undoubtedly the model that most embodies this spirit. Not as excessive as the Impreza and without the extra ground clearance of the Forester, the one that in 2014 will later become today’s Levorg was always ready to give us a smile on our face, thanks to its 6 cylinder 3-liter boxer grounding 245 horsepower and almost 300 Nm of torque (297, ed). Certainly not your best friend in terms of fuel consumption, the Legacy GT is however the ultimate answer if you need to step on snow, mud or dirt, maybe with the large trunk full and in a hurry to get to the hotel before the end of the cocktail party. Keep in mind that it still has a modern look that is absolutely unaffected by the 15 years passed since it came out of the dealership and all for less than € 10,000. Suddenly you will want to put one in the garage, even if you don’t really know how to ski.

LEXUS GX 470

You may not even seen one, at least not in the old continent. The GX (Grand Crossover) is essentially the enriched version of the Toyota Land Cruiser, of which Lexus represents its most exclusive branch, initially just for the American and Asian markets. The 470 version is the last step in the evolutionary scale of a vehicle with innate off-road capabilities, but which intends to exacerbate every concept it brings with it and therefore comfort, thanks to its gigantic size. It measures 4,7 meters in length, 1.8 m in width and almost 1.9 m in height, for a total of 8 seats and infinite space on board for people and things. Putting your look inside the windows and it can still be seen today that Lexus had left nothing to chance when introduced the first generation in 2002, with deep care for materials and an on-board system extremely complete even for contemporary customers. Pushing this 2,210 kg giant there’s an equally mammoth 4.7cc V8 (hence the name) with 270 hp. Skilled on treacherous terrain thanks to its ground clearance and the excellent overhangs, both front and rear, the GX 470 has been one of the greatest expressions of how SUVs can be at ease even on paved roads, thanks to an adjustable chassis able to offer comfort suitable for a sheik. It will be difficult to find one here, which is why I did not underline how the LX 450 model, produced from 1995 to 1997 with a 6-cylinder, 4.5cc and 215 hp, would be even better as your next car ready to face the winter in full style.