Topic: Flinter's Winter Beater Experiment

[Flinter]

With the 30C+ weather here in Ottawa today it's tough to think about winter. Nonetheless, I've noticed some posts appearing about winter tires choices. I was considering getting rims and tires for the 128 while also keeping an eye out for a winter beater. An opportunity to buy this beast popped up from a co-worker who was heading out west to kinda semi-retire.

I've always felt that those 2-3 bad winter months here in Canada probably causes 90% of the wear and tear on your car so I decided to bite. Ladies and Gentleman I introduce you to my 1996 Toyota Corolla Sedan (aka. The Green Machine).







1996 Toyota Corolla Sedan DX
217,000 Km
1.6L 4 cylinder, ~ 100hp, 100 ft-lbs of torque.

So far, the car has set me back:

$1000 (purchase price)
$1200 (basic winter tires + brake work + safety inspection + e-test)
~$300 (taxes, registration costs)

Hoping to get 2 years of winter duty (plus the odd summer chore) out of this and then sell or give away what's left. I'm going to try and use this thread to track the costs associated with these 2 years of ownership and get an estimate of what it will really costs to have a basic winter beater.

Let the games begin. 

[bridgecity]

You're 1 series ain't got nothin' on that 'Rolla!   

Congrats and enjoy the winter beater!  Looks to be in decent shape for $2500 on the road including winters.

[ovr50]

Hate to rain on your beater parade, Flinter, but I did that last winter to save on the M3. The only problem was that I hated driving the beater so much, I would take the M3 lots anyway. It cost me about $1100 in repairs (plus registration and insurance) for the 6 months I had it, and sold it in April for what I paid (but a better car due to the repairs). I do not plan to repeat that experiment because: 1. the M3 is actually a decent winter driver with the 4 18" oem wheels and winter tires I have for it, 2. I will be away from Jan 2 to Mar 7 so no car needed then, and 3. I have enough flexibility in what I do that if it is a really ugly day, I can elect not to go into work.

Other than the messing up a good car aspect, only deep snow will stop the M3 in winter. So, I'm driving her. 

[Flinter]

Hate to rain on your beater parade, Flinter, but I did that last winter to save on the M3. The only problem was that I hated driving the beater so much, I would take the M3 lots anyway. It cost me about $1100 in repairs (plus registration and insurance) for the 6 months I had it, and sold it in April for what I paid (but a better car due to the repairs). I do not plan to repeat that experiment because: 1. the M3 is actually a decent winter driver with the 4 18" oem wheels and winter tires I have for it, 2. I will be away from Jan 2 to Mar 7 so no car needed then, and 3. I have enough flexibility in what I do that if it is a really ugly day, I can elect not to go into work.

Other than the messing up a good car aspect, only deep snow will stop the M3 in winter. So, I'm driving her. 

I also fear a similar result. 

That said, winters can be kind of brutal here in Ottawa (cold with loads of salt, shush,and sand) I always cringe when I look at any new car in those worst months of winter. I figure I'll use this to get be to and from work and since Ms.Flinter has the SX4 AWD that we can use that on any longer excusions.

Oh well.. had to try it.. 

[ovr50]

Flinter, I should have added we also have a '05 Highlander that goes when it gets super snowy. Plus, we do not have the salt problem you ppl have in central Canada. That said, there is no way I would take the M3 over the high mountain passes here in the winter as there is way too much gravel-sized sand on the roads - paint and windshield damage is common.

[Flinter]

You're 1 series ain't got nothin' on that 'Rolla!   

Congrats and enjoy the winter beater!  Looks to be in decent shape for $2500 on the road including winters.

It will be fun to ram into that snow pile at the end of the driveway without much regards to the consequences.... Which will probably be hours of digging the car out of the snow pile.

It's actually not in too bad a shape. Some rust bubbles behind the rear wheels and one spot on the drivers door. A little surface rust lower on the rocker panels. Around town at speeds less than 80km/hr it's not to bad. However, at highway speeds it's not much fun at all. It probably still has the original dampers all around so it feels kinda loose.

If I'm lucky I won't get hit with any major repairs. Fingers are crossed.

[safristi]

..hey Flinter ..........Beat the heck out of it.........(experementailly speakin')............and the car too............ ..........Winter OR SUMMER................fall not so much.......and it may break off in a cold Spring snap.........

[wing]

BC is slightly different than Ottawa you'll have fun with it not caring about it.

The difference between never winter driven and always is massive.  My S2000 is 10 years old, it is still like a new car, working on it there isn't a spec of rust and everything just works like it did from the factory.  The paint is much nicer as well than if it had lasted through 10 winters.

[Arthur Dent]

Hell of nice beater! 

[TopGun]

I really like to drive the P5...and it's so different from the RX-8 that it's neat to go back and forth.

[articsteve]

So far, the car has set me back:

$1000 (purchase price)
$1200 (basic winter tires + brake work + safety inspection + e-test)
~$300 (taxes, registration costs)

Good price!  Buy it on the market or thru a relative?

In 2 years you will get all your money out of it.  The only down side is that it's a death trap.  Avoid 2 lane highways. 

[Julie]

I looooooooooooove Corolla's!!!       (It's sentimental.  Loved mine.)

Nice price!  Not much difference with a nice set of wheels &winter tires...

[Flinter]

So far, the car has set me back:

$1000 (purchase price)
$1200 (basic winter tires + brake work + safety inspection + e-test)
~$300 (taxes, registration costs)

Good price!  Buy it on the market or thru a relative?

In 2 years you will get all your money out of it.  The only down side is that it's a death trap.  Avoid 2 lane highways. 

I got it from a former co-worker who was heading out west into semi-retirement. Hopefully I won't loose too much on it when it comes time to sell in a couple of years.

As you indicated, I don't think I'd want to get hit by a semi in this car. The plan is to just use it to get to/from work during the worst of winter and my commute is ~10km on your typical city street.

[articsteve]

Krown that Bimmer despite not winter driving it.  Then every other year thereafter. On a car like that it's a must do.

[Flinter]

I looooooooooooove Corolla's!!!       (It's sentimental.  Loved mine.)

Nice price!  Not much difference with a nice set of wheels &winter tires...

That's what started me down this path. I was thinking new rims and winter tires for the 128 would be pricey. When this Corolla came along at $1K I thought... why not.

Of course it will be the maintenance costs that decide if this was a stupid idea.

[Flinter]

Krown that Bimmer despite not winter driving it.  Then every other year thereafter. On a car like that it's a must do.

Good advice that I think I'll act on. I am also a believer in the Krown treatment. I did it every year on my old 99 Integra and the results were quite amazing. My sister has that car now and she tells me that no one believes that the car is 10-11 years old.

[dr_spock]

Congrats on the new ride.  Happy slush motoring. 

[articsteve]

Of course it will be the maintenance costs that decide if this was a stupid idea.

For the money you have into it you cannot lose.  In comparison to servicing a Bimmer, it will be insignificant.  Rad, alternator, starter .... perhaps over the course of a few years if you're unlucky.  Still dirt cheap.  

 Good advice that I think I'll act on. I am also a believer in the Krown treatment. I did it every year on my old 99 Integra and the results were quite amazing. My sister has that car now and she tells me that no one believes that the car is 10-11 years old.

I only Krown my summer car every other year.

You need a bumper sticker that reads; "My other car is a BMW, REALLY ".      

[initial_D]

Good choice for an alternate.

[Julie]

I also fear a similar result. 

That said, winters can be kind of brutal here in Ottawa (cold with loads of salt, shush,and sand) I always cringe when I look at any new car in those worst months of winter. I figure I'll use this to get be to and from work and since Ms.Flinter has the SX4 AWD that we can use that on any longer excusions.

Oh well.. had to try it.. 

KW is probably the same as Ottawa.  

We originally thought about keeping our Camry for winters, and not driving the BMW.  But scrapped that idea, as I wanted to drive her all year long.

At any rate, it's not a bad experiment.