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

[adamred]

what would you buy?

The wife is not pleased so the budget is low... but my benz just really is going to be a problem in the winter, and I'm just not really ready to wrap it around a tree.

Anyway need to get a short distance to work and one of my kids to school safely. I've always wanted a Jeep wrangler type car, are they any good? Does anyone know if that rear bench seat has seat belts/shoulder belts?

Any other recommendations, any of you NJ/PA/NY guys know of a decent cheap SUV to get me through the winters?

Thanks for the advice.
Adam

[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.

[VincentVega]

Winter beater in our area? Any older Honda w/ decent all season tires, I used one for years.

[gchappel]

Oh, you mean a car.
I would go for a mid 90's explorer. They can be found at or just above that pricerange. Like most suv's most of these never saw anything but drives to the supermarket.
Gary

[javadog]

Skip the winter beater and buy snow tires for the Benz. You'll have enough money left in your budget to also buy snows for the wife's car.


Note that I don't mean M+S tires, or all-season tires.

Wife will be happier not to have a beater hanging around, making the house look bad.

JR

[adamred]

Thanks for the suggestions, beetles are really tough to come by here, anything in the lower price range is beyond a basket case from what I've seen. I don't need luxury, but I don't need to fall through the floor either!

Cheap Honda is always an option, I'm intrigued by the older jeeps though, any thoughts?

[adamred]

I've done some research on the snows...I have the CLS Benz with offset rims, between rims, tires and mounting I'd be in it for almost as much as a beater and frankly with almost 350 horse going down on the rear wheels a good lugie on the ground makes for a slippery ride...

[alf]

I have a 91 Pathfinder with 185k that will not quit. Good examples could be had for under $3k. Very competent off road/snow rig.

[Rot 911]

You are not really going to find a decent Jeep for less that $3k-4K. If I only had $2K to spend I would get a Ford Tarus. Yes they are bland and ugly, but they made hundreds of thousands of them, they are front wheel drive, seat 5 comfortably, and good ones can be had for $2K. I would advocate a Honda, but not sure you can get a good one for $2K.

[David in VA]

Jeeps are great, I've abused mine for many years and it has never let me down. TJ's (97-'06) do have rear seatbelts, I don't remember if YJ's (previous generation - square headlights) have them but I think they do. It is one of the most fun and reliable cars I've ever had, the 4.0 engine has a reputation for going forever. It gets no points for a civilized ride or luxury but as long as you don't expect that it will pretty much go anywhere.

[javadog]

Originally posted by adamred
I've done some research on the snows...I have the CLS Benz with offset rims, between rims, tires and mounting I'd be in it for almost as much as a beater and frankly with almost 350 horse going down on the rear wheels a good lugie on the ground makes for a slippery ride...

I don't know what year CLS you have but the Tire Rack shows a 17' wheel and tire package (mounted and balanced, ready to bolt on) starting at about $1232. $6-700 bucks would buy a set of snows for the wife's car. Less than two grand, all in.

I think $2,000 for a winter beater with good winter tires and no mechanical issues is going to be tough. If you bump it to $3-4000, you have more choices. You'll still be out the insurance money for a third car. When I got rid of my snow car ('87 Audi 4000 quattro, with snows) insurance was costing me $5-600 every six months.

The 350 horses is pretty dependent on the position of the right foot. The newer car will be much safer, if you do hit something.

Cheers,
JR

[wludavid]

Originally posted by javadog
I don't know what year CLS you have but the Tire Rack shows a 17' wheel and tire package (mounted and balanced, ready to bolt on) starting at about $1232. $6-700 bucks would buy a set of snows for the wife's car. Less than two grand, all in.

Plus, wheels are tires don't require registration, insurance, maintenance, (much) storage space.

Plus, you're in Jersey. I know you get snow, but it's not like you're in upstate New York...

[id10t]

Don't live in a snow zone, but what about a old used pickup with maybe a few bags of sand (or similar heavy stuff) in the bed?

[Rich76_911s]

There is a pelican screen name is, Alan Goettel, who is selling an SUV in New York. I have no idea how much he is asking, or the condition of the car. He is near Poughkipsee, and I think it is a pathfinder, but I am not even sure about that.

Rich

[adamred]

Thanks guys...just to be clear the wife has a Honda Pilot so no snows needed for her ride...

I'll do more research on the snow packages for the Benz, it is a 2006. Jersey has been spared major snow so far this season and most of last season, but we are squarely in the "noreaster" zone and if the jet stream is right we can get repeatedly hammered on short notice...

I try to drive the car conservatively in the slippery stuff, but it just wants to hang its tail out there...

Thanks for the feedback so far...
Adam

[Type911]

$2000 is your budget ?

Find a 92-97 Subaru Legacy/Legacy Wagon. It will have some miles, but so what. Reliable, great in snow, decent fuel economy,
boxer engine

[pookie]

You probably won't find much in the Wrangler dept for that budget. You will find Wranglers but it will be the square headlight version, most likely 4 cyl and will need work. Rear seats on the Wrangler with the square lights if they have them are most likely lap belts. 97 up have 3 point belts for the back seat.

You might want to look at a Jeep Cherokee, same engine and mechanicals not as high a resale.

Check these for Jeep forums and used Jeep sections, always have tons of stuff.

www.jeepforum.com

www.jeepsunlimted.com

They can be addictive too.

[Joeaksa]

Honda Accord. Drives forever and you can find them everywhere.

[craigster59]

These are good running winter cars. 4WD Toyota Tercel

[therotman]

Subaru! You'll pass all the SUV's stuck on the side of the road