Get yourself a used Honda Fit and snow tires for the winter.
Focus or Impreza -
Impreza is AWD and larger inside than a Focus. Interior materials and luxury features goes to Focus. Focus is also quicker as it has a 160HP 2.0L engine.
2015 is the model year refresh - new exterior styling and some changes to the interior. They are offering $6K off all the 2014 Titanium models at my local dealers.
I think I'd go with the Impreza hatch if I had your winter through!
Subaru is a little better than Saab for reliability.
If you do get a Prius, replace the tires. The energy saving tires are crap for any type of real snow. You'd want to replace most stock tires with winter tires is possible, though, regardless of what you get. The Prius is decent for snow considering, but if you can get a decent AWD car I would go for it.
Does your friend know how to replace his blinker fluid?I was starting to really dig Subaru but then a friend was telling me he tried to change the headlight on his outback and could not figure it out and ended up taking it to the dealership to get it replaced. I do not want a car i have to take to the dealership for simple things like light bulbs.
Does your friend know how to replace his blinker fluid?
I know, he could not believe he could not figure it out. He heard it was hard but said to himself i can do it. But lo and behold he gave up.
Some cars you have to remove the headlight to put in the bulb. One of my buddies has one light that. Just stupid, but its more time consuming than hard.