If you had $2K to spend on a winter beater

[DaveE]

Originally posted by therotman
Subaru! You'll pass all the SUV's stuck on the side of the road

Not to mention the ones that have rolled................

[wludavid]

I take back what I said about snow tires. Get something like this:

[thrown_hammer]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
Old Beetle. I've relied on them for a long, long time as cheap transportation. I'm not sure if there are any left in your neck of the woods due to the affects of road salting and what not, but they really are great little cars. You can get a great "driver" around here for $2k-ish.

+1

[adamred]

Hmmm, I like the subie idea...need to drop by my local crap car dealer and see what they've got on the lot...

[island911]

I'll second the snow tires (kinda). The MBz likely has traction control, as well as fly by wire throttle -- it won't allow you to put 300+HP to the snow.

That said, during our last snow here, our MBz (S320) stayed parked. I certainly wouldn't want to take a nice car out into the sanded salted slop, with out of control drivers everywhere.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by craigster59
These are good running winter cars. 4WD Toyota Tercel

I had one, what a GREAT LITTLE CAR

Great on fuel, well built and will go ANYWHERE. The 4wd even had a low range 1st for climbing trees and pulling other cars out of ditches. Hard to find a rust free one.

This is one of those cars that should have been in production for a generation... like the Beetle, Mini & 2CV.

[adamred]

Island, I think you pegged it...when it snowed the last couple of weeks I spent more time with a pit in my stomach that the knuckle head behind me was talking on the phone or changing his CD and would slam into me...
I can handle the weather, grew up in Wisconsin and learned to drive in the snow in a 1982 Mazda Rx7...

That tercel is just too damn ugly, no offense...

[tcar]

Subie is great.

If you're going to be hauling your kids around on icy roads, do not get a Wrangler. Can think of few less save vehicles. Slide into a curb at 5 mph and over it goes. Bumped by another car; over it goes. No airbags.

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

i use a black 87 chevy 2wd shortbed stepside with limited slip rear end, 6 cyl inline , 4 speed granny low. and 2 snow tires, goes everywhere.

[adamred]

I just found several pathfinders within 20 miles of my house for less then $3K on autotrader.

Tcar excellent point about the wrangler, leaning away from them....

[Jims5543]

There is a Honda Civic hatch for sale on the corner for $1500 it looks really clean. Want me to take a pic of it? If its still there because at that price it will be gone in days.

Change the timing belt every 60K miles and change the oil and they go forever.

[adamred]

Thanks Jim, I'm gonna stay local with this buy, if it is any more then 20 miles from my front door it isn't worth the trip...with my benz it will cost more in gas to get there then its worth...

[berettafan]

Avoid wranglers. Short wheelbase/high COG is a GREAT way to find trees in bad conditions. No way i'd cart my boy around in one of those, or a bug.

Have you looked at Volvo 850's for around $3,500 or so?

[adamred]

sold an 850 about 2 years ago, shoulda kept it around, oh well...

I'm steering clear of the wranglers, perhaps a cherokee though...

[ChemMan]

I had a YJ for several year and yes they do have lap belts in the back. I had a soft top for many winters and finally go together enough money for a hard top and the doors that went with them. Still after awhile, The jeep was no fun in the winter. I was always getting past on the expressway.
What kind of benz do you have? I like the idea of spending the money on winter tires instead of getting another car.

Mike

[AFC-911]

I'll 2nd the Subie idea, though I think they'll be harder to find than the Honda.

one more thing. Can someone explain this statement? I just don't get it...

The 4wd even had a low range 1st for climbing trees

[fumanchu]

Early 80's diesel mercedes. 300 class come as a E body sedan or wagon, and S body sedan in standard or long wheelbase. I had one with 300,000 miles and it would not die. Built like a brick sh$thouse and fantastic in the snow. No smog check and they come factory with a block heater.

If you have a pretty driveway watch out for the oil stains as they all piss oil out of the seals. The turbo models are good fun as some guys crank up the boost for a great sleeper.

Always sell them for what you buy them for too.

check out the mercedes forums:

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php

my $.02

I would get one again but can't handle the oil drips.

Shawn

[gprsh924]

you say even driving conservatively the tail wants to step out, but putting on a dedicated snow tire will be worlds different than you current (probably performance minded) all-season. Plus with traction control and the fact that it weighs over 2tons, you should be fine.

If you do decide to go with an suv, be aware that it will likely still be pretty bad in the snow unless you put it in 4wd and go really slow. My Xterra is really light in the back end, and coupled with the terrible tires that are currently on it, i can throw the back end out like a drift car if i want.

[FrayAdjacent911]

Buying a 'winter' vehicle is a foreign concept to me.

I drive my (new to me) Boxster all year around (or I will) on summer tires, no less!


I feel for you guys up north that can't drive your fun cars all year round, or have to fear salt on the roads that could destroy those cars...

[DaveE]

It DOES suck. Instead of driving my SC right now I'm driving a somewhat clapped out Audi 90Q 20V. It does VERY well in the snow, however, and I love the heated seats.