Topic: Flinter's Winter Beater Experiment

[Mike]

I feel your pain Flinter, but in a different way.  I have always driven my cars all year round.  Cars I liked and bought for my enjoyment.  Even the RX-8 was driven through snow squalls.  Recently I moved in with the gf and we work close to each other so we logically commute in together.  Being even more logical we use her SX4 Sport Sedan to commute since the WRX is a lease, takes premium and is way more of a pig on gas.

It isn't that bad of a car, but man do I miss my WRX most days (but I do love the HOV lane!).  So I am praying for snow as we will be 'forced' to take the WRX....you know.....for the safety of its AWD and snow tires (even though the Suzuki has amazing snow tires and is fully capable in the snow). 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

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

 

It's an interesting experiment. That Crayolla looks to be in fantastic condition, my goodness!

I can't imagine doing such a thing for Winter, but on the up side it'll feel like you got a new car again come spring when you drive the 1er again and it'll be in immaculate shape for a looooooooooooong time if you opt to keep it.

I know the garage is a terrible place to park the car if driven regularly with the salt and cold-cool/melt-cold temperatures, and this year is the first time I'm doing it. But with the amount of mileage I'm putting on this car will be gone in well under 5 years, and don't expect any rust or anything in that time. Plus, I have the stone guard and happen to really like looking at a super dirty car in Winter... the salty/dirty streaks and grit patterns that form 

[mmret]

I could be the only crazy person who thinks this way, but I like the concept of a winter beater simply because......  I'm car crazy and it would be an excuse to shop for and buy another (el cheapo) car!   

That said I've never bought a winter beater per say because I can't stand to not drive my car for 4-5 months per year.  For the cars I've kept several years, I've been told that they look very well maintained (difficult to tell from new), and they've all been driven without a break through winter. 

It's an inexpensive experiment.  A fun car like initial_D's old BMW, I think you need to have owned it for a while, or else it might be a little money pit.

If one felt quite flush, you could get a mildly used WRX as a winter beater.

Of course you'd need something quite exciting for the summer months to justify not using the WRX year round...

That would be a nice car, but nah, I'm not that flushed with cash.  There is a car on my bucket list that I may not (for the first time) take out for winter, but then I'll probably still have the TSX.....  as it will have depreciated enough not to be worth much on a trade (ETA: compared to the price of said bucket car)... but not depreciated enough to get rid of.  Damn those cars that depreciate $100 a month, eh mmret? 

Oh come on I know you are a radiologist!

But yeah, $100 a month depreciation makes me smile but its going to be a loooong time before I can rationally justify ditching it.

I've gotten myself into a strange situation where I can't think of too much that would be significantly more practical / "nicer" (enough to justify the costs) than the TSX, nor can I think of anything that would be significantly more fun / grin inducing (again, enough to justify the costs) than the Z4. Its like I have nowhere to go.

[Julie]

Oh come on I know you are a radiologist!

But yeah, $100 a month depreciation makes me smile but its going to be a loooong time before I can rationally justify ditching it.

I've gotten myself into a strange situation where I can't think of too much that would be significantly more practical / "nicer" (enough to justify the costs) than the TSX, nor can I think of anything that would be significantly more fun / grin inducing (again, enough to justify the costs) than the Z4. Its like I have nowhere to go.

I used to be in radiology....  and had I stayed in that speciality, I'd be driving a Ferrari.  But I wouldn't have job satisfaction.  Or maybe a Ferrari would have made me forgot about job satisfaction...
Seriously though, as for 'no where to go'.....  you need to go........  down to the Porsche dealer.  And drive a CPO Cayman S.  Ta da!

[mmret]

Oh come on I know you are a radiologist!

But yeah, $100 a month depreciation makes me smile but its going to be a loooong time before I can rationally justify ditching it.

I've gotten myself into a strange situation where I can't think of too much that would be significantly more practical / "nicer" (enough to justify the costs) than the TSX, nor can I think of anything that would be significantly more fun / grin inducing (again, enough to justify the costs) than the Z4. Its like I have nowhere to go.

I used to be in radiology....  and had I stayed in that speciality, I'd be driving a Ferrari.  But I wouldn't have job satisfaction.  Or maybe a Ferrari would have made me forgot about job satisfaction...
Seriously though, as for 'no where to go'.....  you need to go........  down to the Porsche dealer.  And drive a CPO Cayman S.  Ta da!

I'd have to park that Porsche deep in the bowels of the garage to avoid being seen it in by the higher ups, HR people, etc. Sadly it is not a good career move.

[Leviathan]

Seriously though, as for 'no where to go'.....  you need to go........  down to the Porsche dealer.  And drive a CPO Cayman S.  Ta da!

[Flinter]

If one felt quite flush, you could get a mildly used WRX as a winter beater.

Of course you'd need something quite exciting for the summer months to justify not using the WRX year round...

I looked, but couldn't find any under 300,000 or under $5,000 that would qualify it as a "beater".  Trust me, I've been looking, as I think this might be the last winter for the trusty Echo.    Cancer.

If I was going to drop $5K, I'd rather have a JDM Skyline for a beater.....

Winter is just starting though Flinter, keep your eyes open for something more interesting and deal the Corolla.  You find the best deals when you don't need them.  

If I had the coin I'm thinking an older Forestor XT (manual) would make an awesome beater/2nd car. All the fun of the WRX in the winter but some utility too. Unfortunately they are also fairly rare and pricey on the used market.

In the summer it would be a real sleeper. 

[rrocket]

The older Impreza 2.5RS is cool too..but they hold their $$$$$


What about an SVX??

[Flinter]

The older Impreza 2.5RS is cool too..but they hold their $$$$$


What about an SVX??

SVX would be kinda neat... Not sure if I could get to those windows. 

Do you know how have they have fared on the reliability front?

[rrocket]

The older Impreza 2.5RS is cool too..but they hold their $$$$$


What about an SVX??

SVX would be kinda neat... Not sure if I could get to those windows. 

Do you know how have they have fared on the reliability front?

So-so from what I hear.  Need to keep them maintained.

Check this one out  http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1994-Subaru-SVX-Coupe-W0QQAdIdZ227217909

[5 Wheel Drive]

The older Impreza 2.5RS is cool too..but they hold their $$$$$


What about an SVX??

SVX would be kinda neat... Not sure if I could get to those windows. 

Do you know how have they have fared on the reliability front?

So-so from what I hear.  Need to keep them maintained.

Check this one out  http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1994-Subaru-SVX-Coupe-W0QQAdIdZ227217909

A guy up the street from my parents had a black one.  I always liked them.  Too bad Subaru never made a manual to with the flat 6.

[SeaBlueS4]

I'm going through a similar thought process, being just about to replace my 10 year old Saab 9-3. I aim to keep the new car for ~ 10yrs too. Do I trade in the 9-3 and drive the new one year round, or keep the 9-3 for winter use.

I think I'll trade it, based on:
- hassle of insuring a 3rd car / switching insurance
- likely repair costs on an old Saab
- space to store a 3rd car
- the Saab was never rust proofed and has no visible rust anywhere after 10 Ontario winters. Interior has also survived salt / mud etc with no stains
- joy & safety of driving a new car, especially in bad conditions (it'll be AWD, plus all the extra gizmos you now get)
- handy to have the hatchback space / don't care about the interior for carting stuff around ... my Saab pick-up truck

In the "pro-Winter beater column, I can really only think of
 - trade in value is only approx 3 x monthly payment on the new car
 - plus the obvious "keep the new car in good condition"

Cheers....

[blur911]

To me, a winter beater has to actually be a better winter car than the alternative.  AWD > FWD > RWD  in winter.   

Of course since FWD kind of still sucks, you really should just skip right over to AWD.

[Shnak]

To me, a winter beater has to actually be a better winter car than the alternative.  AWD > FWD > RWD  in winter.   

Of course since FWD kind of still sucks, you really should just skip right over to AWD.

Usually, it's more a "beater used in winter" than a "winter beater"...

[Mike]

To me, a winter beater has to actually be a better winter car than the alternative.  AWD > FWD > RWD  in winter.   

Of course since FWD kind of still sucks, you really should just skip right over to AWD.

This is a smart man

[Shnak]

To me, a winter beater has to actually be a better winter car than the alternative.  AWD > FWD > RWD  in winter.   

Of course since FWD kind of still sucks, you really should just skip right over to AWD.

This is a smart man

The problem is finding an AWD vehicle in great condition for less than like $5000... 

[blur911]

To me, a winter beater has to actually be a better winter car than the alternative.  AWD > FWD > RWD  in winter.   

Of course since FWD kind of still sucks, you really should just skip right over to AWD.

Usually, it's more a "beater used in winter" than a "winter beater"...

Don't you remember, that's how they say it on the north-shore.

[carcrazy]

To me, a winter beater has to actually be a better winter car than the alternative.  AWD > FWD > RWD  in winter.   

Of course since FWD kind of still sucks, you really should just skip right over to AWD.

This is a smart man

The problem is finding an AWD vehicle in great condition for less than like $5000... 

My in-low has a 1999 Forester with around 250K on the clock (I think) for sale for under $5K (not sure what he wants for it). It's in pretty good condition too. E-tested and most likely safety certified too. It needs winter tires though.

[wing]

I paid $4k for my Impreza back in 2003 it lasted me 3 years before I sold it for $2500, not bad!  Just have to look carefully.

[rrocket]

To me, a winter beater has to actually be a better winter car than the alternative.  AWD > FWD > RWD  in winter.   

Of course since FWD kind of still sucks, you really should just skip right over to AWD.

My Echo shod with top shelf winters is stupendous in the snow.  So much so that I've been in such deep snow, I was dragging the underside of the car.  And it went right along, no problems.