Help me pick my winter "beater"
 

The Z is a couple months from being paid off and the mods are coming Fast & Furious... ;)

So it is time that it goes in the garage in the winter, but I still want to have fun.

So if you would, please help me pick my second vehicle with spirited arguments, so here is my shortlist:

1) Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
2) Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged
3) BMW 335i or 435i XDrive
5) Wait to see if the BMW M2 will be offered in XDrive
6) Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
7) Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

I do live in Colorado, so take that in consideration. Any other suggestions are welcome!

Note: I am not a fan of a Subaru, but if there is a good argument for a STI, I would like to hear it!

I know you said you dont like Subaru, but seeing you listed some other recreational vehicles that dont have the same fun factor IMO, thought I'd mention this one.

2015 Subaru Forester XT is a pretty fun vehicle, turbo charged engine with 3 driving modes like the STI with "i" and "S" and "S+" has some good power and great handling. Its my current daily as I await the Z35. XT Touring package offers leather seats, Harmon Karden sound system and approach lighting, Large sunroof and can be had a very good price, Sticker was around 35k...but can be had for under invoice at some dealers.

Subaru's hold their value well and offer better or considerably the same power, fun factor as other choices listed.

I love that you put quotes around beater, because DAMN that is a nice list to pick from for a DD to put next to a Z!

Range Rovers are turds that need a warranty to keep the stress levels down. Beautiful, but I don't see myself ever making real Land Rover money - meaning, the money it would take to not care how often it ended up in the shop. That's a lot of money to me.

The Tundra is a massive vehicle. My Dad has a limited... I drove it and felt like I was in a yacht. The 4Runner is a little better for some reason, but that may be due to its lesser length. It's not that much narrower.

The Tacoma is straight up too damned expensive for a midsize - I'd get a Frontier Pro4X instead of a Tacoma TRD Pro. The Taco in that configuration is almost $10k more than the Frontier, and it's not $10k more truck. Plenty of leftover 2014 Pro4Xs around with some nice discounts too.

The BMW... meh. That sounds more like just wanting a BMW. If you're looking at tackling Colorado snow... I don't see how the BMW gives you anything you can't already have with the Z and a good set of snow tires. Besides maybe back seats, of course.

Lastly, the 4Runner TRD Pro. I looked at one the other day... it is just SICK. They're expensive as **** though... the one I saw was $48k! However, it's pretty much a median in your list. If it were me in your shoes, I'd go with the 4Runner. You get a damn versatile vehicle with some serious offroad capability, solid reliability and dependability, year round use, and just a tough sonofabitchin lookin vehicle. Good luck in the hunt!

I've got over 200,000 miles on my '07 Frontier and have had very few problems with it, Some may or may not have been my fault, lol. Broken Leaf spring...LOL but the new Canyon/ Colorado Pair is very interesting, just depends on your budget.

+1 I'm looking into the Forester XT when my current lease winter driver is up.

What's your budget?

Why not grab a hyundai or kia suv. Cost coffee change to run/insure and you won't feel guilty beating the everliving crap out of it. More mod money for you're z too

Thanks for all the responses so far; all the suggestions and opinions have been useful in one way or the other.

For the sake of full disclosure, I have owned 3 Toyota Tacomas before my Z, so I am biased toward that brand.

Here are my thoughts for each after reading and considering the comments (along with my opinion) so far:

1) Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro

Pros - Dependable, can take to the mountains in the winter and to Moab in the spring/fall, can add supercharger without voiding warranty, looks good

Cons - A bit of a boring choice, needs more power for the Colorado altitude

2) Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged

Pros - Looks great, legendary off-road capabilities, can take to the mountains in the winter and to Moab in the spring/fall, fast

Cons - Legendary lack of dependability, expensive

3) BMW 335i or 435i XDrive

Pros - Looks good, fun to drive, nice DCT, all wheel drive, legendary German engineering

Cons - Legendary German engineering, less capable in winter and for recreation

4) Wait to see if the BMW M2 will be offered in XDrive

Pros - see above, cheaper than above

Cons - see above, May look weird

5) Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

Pros - see 4Runner pros, large pickup versatility, looks great

Cons - Big, gas

6) Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

Pros - see 4Runner pros, medium pickup versatility, looks great

Cons - Still big, gas

7) Subaru

Pros - Dependable, very practical car, good price

Cons - very practical car

8) Nissan Frontier/Titan

Pros - Dependable, look good, less expensive than Toyota

Cons - Already own a Nissan and I miss Toyota

I think those a both good vehicle brands, but I don't mind spending a little. It pains me to even think about driving another car besides my Z, so it has to have a little pizazz for me to get into it. Thanks!