Eastern Members - Winter beaters

So living in New England I'm guessing most of you have a winter beater. What are you guys running? I've been debating storing my STi (yes forgive me :hail:) and need to get a beater sooner or later. Yes I know it's an STi, but I'm debating using it for summer conditions only in the near future.

So, post up what you guys got!

we have a new honda and a 99 cherokee that i put through the snow.

06 Impala SS

I have been seriously thinking about getting an STI for a daily and to run this winter. They hold their value well that is for sure...how do you like yours?

Right now I run a 98 4Runner limited for a daily. It does decent on fuel, 4WD in winter and the most reliable vehicle i have ever owned. In 40,000 miles i have replaced one spark plug and two tie rod ends outside of changing fluids. This truck owes me nothing. In my opinion, get something foreign 4WD, cant go wrong

I have a 99 Nissian Maxima SE, its a 5speed. runs like a champ in the snow! it has gotten me where i needed to go so many times.... i would love to have a sti for a winter car and daily driver, but i think they are too nice to drive for a winter beater...

i want an STi too :(

Every year I build a winter beater. Storing both my cars, and ran out of time this year.

Nothing crazy or as good as last years, but I have an old '325ix to cruise.
AWD which is lame, but I payed cheap money and it's mint. Just not as fun as my usual RWD 3series.

I have a feeling this winter is going to be a longg one.

I have my choices this year.... im trying to get either of them up and running so i can finally get my car off the road....my choices are a 99 civic with 200,000k on it 5spd.... or a 99 Bonneville with a 3800 that needs an intake ;) which one you think? hahaha im leaning toward the bonneville but the civic would be fun to beat the hell out of

im rockin a old ugly pos 92 ford tempo but its a beast and i dont get much snow in sj

01 honda accord & 07 Nissan Xterra

I have been seriously thinking about getting an STI for a daily and to run this winter. They hold their value well that is for sure...how do you like yours?

Right now I run a 98 4Runner limited for a daily. It does decent on fuel, 4WD in winter and the most reliable vehicle i have ever owned. In 40,000 miles i have replaced one spark plug and two tie rod ends outside of changing fluids. This truck owes me nothing. In my opinion, get something foreign 4WD, cant go wrong

The STi is AWESOME in the snow. Only down side to it is clerance. I slapped on some Blizzaks and it'll tear through anything under like 10 inches (unplowed of course). It'll actually suprise most people if they aren't used to them. It's just as if I were driving on pavement with the Blizzaks on. I commute at least 120mile a day and in snow it's even more fun. I can do a good 75-80mph and not blink an eye.....unless I see tards driving around me. It's stil the classic "give enough space to break" and you're good to go.

I just can't stand all the salt they use here in MA. It eats away at the undercarrage quickly, not to mention the hood scoop let in everything as well. :( I love it other than those two things.

Yeah I also live in central MA - Ashburnham to be exact. We get a ton of snow and where I live they barely plow. My buddy had an 06 wrx with the brembo brakes and stuff, i took it out in the snow and i was impressed. I travel to framingham so i know where you are coming from with the commute. how are they on fuel?

91 Camry with snow tires atm. Trying to find a nice Jeep to blast through the snow. Seems people are nuts though asking 1500K for a Jeep with 220K miles... Oh well the search continues...

Im sporting a 99 Suburban 4X4 . 3 rows of seats ,remote start and a tv :D Im ready for snow . ( Just dont want it yet )

got a 99 jeep grand cherokee limited, thinking about selling and buying an audi s4

My car is an 06 Cobalt ss/sc with blizzaks. That car will go through just about anything with those tires on it. It's also my dd throughout the rest of the year.

:drive:The STi is AWESOME in the snow. Only down side to it is clerance. I slapped on some Blizzaks and it'll tear through anything under like 10 inches (unplowed of course). It'll actually suprise most people if they aren't used to them. It's just as if I were driving on pavement with the Blizzaks on. I commute at least 120mile a day and in snow it's even more fun. I can do a good 75-80mph and not blink an eye.....unless I see tards driving around me. It's stil the classic "give enough space to break" and you're good to go.

I just can't stand all the salt they use here in MA. It eats away at the undercarrage quickly, not to mention the hood scoop let in everything as well. :( I love it other than those two things.

pfffhh get a real car, my trans am has been threw 10 inches of snow on my blizzaks, after that it turns into a plow.
keep the STi on daily and get a real car, i know you want a C6 z06 :drive:

92 merc sable. THE BEAST

2001 Ford Explorer Sport 4x4 (2-door)
2010 Ford Fusion Sport (wife)

:drive:

pfffhh get a real car, my trans am has been threw 10 inches of snow on my blizzaks, after that it turns into a plow.
keep the STi on daily and get a real car, i know you want a C6 z06 :drive:

Who do you think you are? You think that TA is an auto-x car? :guns: Tell ya what, when you get rid of the TA I'll get a fun car and keep the STi for a DD.......even though I dropped about 4k in it already. LOL.

No really. I'd like to keep the STi and do a bolt on turbo and keep it for summer, then get a BMW_xi, or A4 for DD. If I ever wanted to NOT keep the STi I'd trade it for a RWD, you know that. :)

Hope you enjoyed the auto-x. Next up is the ice racing!!:drive:

Yeah I also live in central MA - Ashburnham to be exact. We get a ton of snow and where I live they barely plow. My buddy had an 06 wrx with the brembo brakes and stuff, i took it out in the snow and i was impressed. I travel to framingham so i know where you are coming from with the commute. how are they on fuel?

Well, I have pretty much all the bolt-ons except the header and I get 23mpg on my commute. I rarely drive in the city so I have no clue there. I can't really complain with that gas milage in an AWD car.

Again the STi is only limited due to clearance. As you know they don't plow before 5AM where we live (Winchendon) and you just push the snow.....especially since I'm lowered now.

I run a 99 Grand Prix GTP Its pretty awesome in the snow because the iron block/head 3800 is so heavy it goes great in the snow. The supercharger makes it a little fun. I have a 3.4 S/C pulley, DHP PCM, Thrasher CAI, ZZP stage 1 TB. It runs pretty good.

2002- Wow, that Z and your GTP sound familiar. Have we meet? I go to the LSX events now and then and you cars seem so familiar, I just can't put a name/face to them, either way the GTP must be interestin gin the snow. Please tell me you're at least running decent snows on the GTP. I don't wanna run into you on the side of the road somewhere. :)

Down in Rehoboth, MA we get destroyed with snow..this corridor for some reason along with Attleboro, etc. just gets pounded every winter.

That being said once the stall was put in...the GTO needs to stay in the garage.

Picked up a '95 Explorer XLT off of Craigslist 2 mo. ago for $600 with 190k on it...mint condition. All it needed was an oil change and a tire. Lucked out. Now don't have to worry about fishtailing or getting up hills with 4WD.

99 chevy malibu. got it from my sister for free for my birthday (wasn't really worth it for her to trade it in) and it only cost me $700 to fix (i3.1 GM intake gasket FTL, this one was its second replacement)

overall not a bad car for $700 (well now $780, i had to buy a battery)

cold AC, hot heat, 103k miles, more power (and better mpg LOL) than the 210k 1995 subaru legacy wagon i had used as a winter beater since the winter of 06/07.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff279/pdennis93/generic%20photos/100_1007.jpg

That's funny....a Subaru tag on a Chevy. :)

That's funny....a Subaru tag on a Chevy. :)

LOL yeah it was bought at a subaru dealer back in 2003 by my parents. they traded in a 91 subaru 4 door on it.

Incidently my dad once said he kept that plate on there so he could find the car in a parking lot because there were so many silver malibu's around. that one was actually a rental car for the first 10 months and 20k miles of its life (they didn't know that when they bought it, i found it on carfax earlier this year)

i fuckin hate those malibu's they r garbage. but i mean free is free

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs138.snc1/5894_110870091526_536181526_2359952_3656466_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs148.snc1/5494_99252856526_536181526_2176331_6318314_n.jpg

oh, aurora are good solid cars. back exactly 1 year before we got the wrx stateside a buddy of mine brought over his from venezula it had 19in wheels front and back and could climb at least 24 in dirt piles no problem but it was setup to run rally in mud and other shit through south america. and in the rain it could out accelerate anything.

i fuckin hate those malibu's they r garbage. but i mean free is free

lol my gf has one, 3 oil changes in 80k miles. the car is a tank, cant kill it.

lol my gf has one, 3 oil changes in 80k miles. the car is a tank, cant kill it.

well the engine might be indestructible but put a little kryptonite (dexcool) in the cooling system and the intake manifold gasket implodes itself. supposedly they are better now but the first one that got replaced only lasted about 30k miles.

my sister had one, thing ate rotors like it was its job.

Who do you think you are? You think that TA is an auto-x car? :guns: Tell ya what, when you get rid of the TA I'll get a fun car and keep the STi for a DD.......even though I dropped about 4k in it already. LOL.

No really. I'd like to keep the STi and do a bolt on turbo and keep it for summer, then get a BMW_xi, or A4 for DD. If I ever wanted to NOT keep the STi I'd trade it for a RWD, you know that. :)

Hope you enjoyed the auto-x. Next up is the ice racing!!:drive:

wait til you see me drag the legacy, it'll get you all types of messed up :cool:
lol if i get rid of the TA im going to do a LS1-powered miata, nothing like 350rwhp in a 2300lbs car

my sister had one, thing ate rotors like it was its job.

its a GM, its supposed to do that...

96 accord 5 speed with VTEC ! yes thats right, VTEC baby.

wait til you see me drag the legacy, it'll get you all types of messed up :cool:
lol if i get rid of the TA im going to do a LS1-powered miata, nothing like 350rwhp in a 2300lbs car

So basically everyone is saying I DO need a 2nd car huh.? The debate is still on as what to get. "Fun" car and a whole new debt, or beater which is....another debt. LOL.

I'd love to keep the STi DD before I do a bolt on turbo or meth. I'm still itching to install the meth kit. I haven't done it since I can't get anyone to do that 8hr commute to drop my car off for install and tune. ;)

I may hold off for now and decide in the spring with what I'm doing with the STi. If I can bank a chunk of change I may grab a toy and not upgrade the STi. So as it sits now that's the plan. I just gotta decide what to buy......

My favorites (used of course):

1) vette (C6 vs C5 Z06)
2) Porsche 911
3) M3

my winter beaters were always taurus' and my chevette and the 80's k cars...why? Because we owned a salvage yard and they were always available...now that i'm in va, my car, the monte, is my daily til i get something else...

Porsche 911
end of discussion

What! The whole point of an STI is to drive it in the snow and bad weather, because its unstoppable in those conditions. That IS your winter beater. Put on a car bra for winter and call it a day if your really concerned about your paint. Somehow I just see you having more fun drifting down a snow covered street then driving it just in the summer.

Hey D, keep the STi for bombing around and smashing into cones. Then buy a nice summer car (Vette, Noble, whatever, etc). The End. :)

Being a home owner though I still don't know how your getting by without a truck or SUV. That's next on my list. I guess you got the Forrester for that though.

I really don't see you driving around a winter beater back and forth to work for as long as you do, you'll get bored. Plus when you are in a car for 3+hrs a day get something comfy or atleast fun and realiable. You've been driving the STI for a while, just keep driving that and get a man's car for the summer with RWD and a V8 :). Just take it easy around those jersy barriers when you get back into rwd, the awd softens you up and is more forgiving :)

Rockin the 2000 Buick Century, Only 56,000 on it and got it for 1,500$ from an Estate of my wife's family. Only issue was our idiot cousin got ahold of it and messed some stuff up prior to me getting it but I fixed it all up nice and good.

.......a 2007 Suzuki GSX-R 600

.......a 2007 Suzuki GSX-R 600

With studded tires and heated grips :) maybe a bag of sand on the back.

Down in Rehoboth, MA we get destroyed with snow..this corridor for some reason along with Attleboro, etc. just gets pounded every winter.

That being said once the stall was put in...the GTO needs to stay in the garage.

Picked up a '95 Explorer XLT off of Craigslist 2 mo. ago for $600 with 190k on it...mint condition. All it needed was an oil change and a tire. Lucked out. Now don't have to worry about fishtailing or getting up hills with 4WD.

its funny you say that about the GTO...we have a customer we built a solstice for and he puts that away and uses his GTO as his winter car....at least until this winter as we have an LS3 block in the shop for it now. He's looking to buy one of those Saab Subaru mixes...the 9-2X i believe it is??? pretty much an impreza

its funny you say that about the GTO...we have a customer we built a solstice for and he puts that away and uses his GTO as his winter car....at least until this winter as we have an LS3 block in the shop for it now. He's looking to buy one of those Saab Subaru mixes...the 9-2X i believe it is??? pretty much an impreza

LOL. The Saabaru. It's basically the WRX with Saab badges. Exact power, and body, only difference is front facia and badges.

Hey D, keep the STi for bombing around and smashing into cones. Then buy a nice summer car (Vette, Noble, whatever, etc). The End. :)

Being a home owner though I still don't know how your getting by without a truck or SUV. That's next on my list. I guess you got the Forrester for that though.

I really don't see you driving around a winter beater back and forth to work for as long as you do, you'll get bored. Plus when you are in a car for 3+hrs a day get something comfy or atleast fun and realiable. You've been driving the STI for a while, just keep driving that and get a man's car for the summer with RWD and a V8 :). Just take it easy around those jersy barriers when you get back into rwd, the awd softens you up and is more forgiving :)



Yeah. You know I've been debating what to do. I'm still torn until I build the garage as well. Right now it's STi for the winter and build garage in winter or spring...still deciding. After that it's up in the air. It smart to keep the STi due to value as well as DD drivability, then get the toy. I'm really leaning to the 911 since I love them.

As far as the SUV, you gotta remember I got the Forester as well as a truck anytime when I need to borrow it for something (gotta love the in laws).

911 is big bucks, ZR1 territory. I like em' but they are pretty expensive, which leaves you with lots of options.

Plus a guy asked me the other day, "Hey, have you seen the new 911" I was like Yeah, looks just like the one from 12 years ago :)

It's still a nice well rounded drivers car with class, new ones makes about 500bhp too. I'd have to assume cost of ownership isn't too cheap either compared to say a c6.

911 is big bucks, ZR1 territory. I like em' but they are pretty expensive, which leaves you with lots of options.

Plus a guy asked me the other day, "Hey, have you seen the new 911" I was like Yeah, looks just like the one from 12 years ago :)

It's still a nice well rounded drivers car with class, new ones makes about 500bhp too. I'd have to assume cost of ownership isn't too cheap either compared to say a c6.

Yeah, but I wouldn't be buying new if I went that route. LOL

911 is big bucks, ZR1 territory. I like em' but they are pretty expensive, which leaves you with lots of options.

Plus a guy asked me the other day, "Hey, have you seen the new 911" I was like Yeah, looks just like the one from 12 years ago :)

It's still a nice well rounded drivers car with class, new ones makes about 500bhp too. I'd have to assume cost of ownership isn't too cheap either compared to say a c6.

if you can comfortably afford a 911, then cost of ownership isnt a huge deal but those $2k brake jobs add up :cry:. personally especially if i wanted a summer driven track type car like your going after id go with a miata, or a vette. id rather the miata....seriously.

I have a 2004 Grand Cherokee limited for winter... once i bought my first jeep ill never go without one.

I have a 2004 Grand Cherokee limited for winter... once i bought my first jeep ill never go without one.

I'm waiting for the 2011's to come out next year and maybe pick up a low mileage one soon, trade in the Bonneville.

=if you can comfortably afford a 911, then cost of ownership isnt a huge deal but those $2k brake jobs add up :cry:. personally especially if i wanted a summer driven track type car like your going after id go with a miata, or a vette. id rather the miata....seriously.

I'm sure car insurance and Porsche parts are pretty expensive. Dealers charge $200 for an oil change.

Haha yeah Derek, you should get a Miata, Do it! :gay:F it. Just get a Fn' C6 Z already so I can show you how to drive it :)

2002- Wow, that Z and your GTP sound familiar. Have we meet? I go to the LSX events now and then and you cars seem so familiar, I just can't put a name/face to them, either way the GTP must be interestin gin the snow. Please tell me you're at least running decent snows on the GTP. I don't wanna run into you on the side of the road somewhere. :)

I have talked to a couple people with STI's so we might have met before. I talked to a guy with a grey STI with ground effects/decals and alot of boost a few summers ago. Where are you from?
Not to worry the GTP just got brand new BFG Traction T/A's last weekend. The car is as good as FWD can be in the snow. Here is a pic if anyone wants to see it.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z40/dano01534/0331080925.jpg

I have talked to a couple people with STI's so we might have met before. I talked to a guy with a grey STI with ground effects/decals and alot of boost a few summers ago. Where are you from?
Not to worry the GTP just got brand new BFG Traction T/A's last weekend. The car is as good as FWD can be in the snow. Here is a pic if anyone wants to see it.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z40/dano01534/0331080925.jpg

I live in Winchendon, but go to a feew meet here and there. I've been to pretty much most meets and track events even though I don't own an LSX. LOL.

I definatly have seen you around. Both car are VERY familiar. I think I've seen you at one of the Dez meets, and possibly a meet in Sterling (forget the name of the shop), possibly a meet down in Grafton as well. I know alot of people run both the LSX and GTPs, so I'me sure I've seen you at one of those places.

I had a blue 04 STi, and now have a black 07 STi. Both were/are lowered amd on black rims.

2002 ta

Just pick up a non-Sti for a winter beater and mod the crap out of that Sti to make up for your slow a$$ driving skills at the auto-x events.:guns:

....or get a Procharged C6 and keep driving your Sti. :cool:

Whelp....I just put on the Blizzaks and cancelled the meth install, so I'll be driving the STi this winter. :) I'll have to look into a fun car I guess.

booo, no meth? those pussy subaru guys talk you out of it? your from winchendon, im sure youll have no trouble finding meth...

god im glad i live in FL i spend 20 years in the north east dealing with that shitty weather.

god im glad i live in FL i spend 20 years in the north east dealing with that shitty weather.

I'm starting to wonder why i'm still up here. i moved to FL in 03 and while i didn't enojoy the traffic and terrible jobs i had, i loved the weather. i should move back to FL or maybe SC but to a cheaper less congested area than fort lauderdale. i got tired of paying almost $1k/mo in rent and utilities on a $12-$14/hr salary. My Trans Am is one of the only things i have left from my excursion down to FL since most of the stuff i have either A. came from before i moved down there or B was bought after i moved to AZ since i sold most of my larger items when i moved from FL to AZ. I've now been back in indiana for almost 3 years which is almost as long as i lived in FL and AZ combined :eek:

If the pay where I was now wasn't good, I'd be living in AZ right now. I friggn' love Tucson, I go there every year for a week. :) I'd also have a REALLY nice car if I lived where in never snowed. Instead I've got the STi and in search of a summer toy.

It's just too bad New England and LA pay the best in my field. :(

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/97/l_56d04bb0bb094471b910ecacfe229b8b.jpg

my winter beater

I got better then a sti. 99 subby 2.5 rs coupe 5 speed. Awsome in snow nd if it gets out of control its not a big loss at all lol.

you can STi motor swap those pretty easily and they run strong as hell

you can STi motor swap those pretty easily and they run strong as hell

yes sir, ask me how i know, well half way there at least :)

awesome. my buddy had one with the reg wrx swap and it ran really good

i could. a friend of mine is pushing me. I may do just a wrx swap because everything bolts up to the trans. the sti swap would require new trans/tcas ect and then the wiring job..

it has a blown headgasket but still refuses to oveheat or just give in. I DD it now since I sold the civic and she runs great! I was shocked bc i bought it under the impression it would just overheat right away so it was cheap.. ive put 3500 miles on it and havent had a issue yet. :) knock on wood!!

I'd go STi since the WRX tranny is weaker. :P

I'd go STi since the WRX tranny is weaker. :P

bah, you just dont know how to drive :guns: yea the 5 speed is a glass box in the hands of a power shifting maniac but if you dont launch like you mean it then it will live. i give mine a few weeks til i need a PPG gearset.

on the 2.5RS, just swap a 2.5 STi or rex block in. its like 1700 for the short block, and itll take a lot of abuse if your tuned for it. i believe most of the sensors and stuff are already there on your 2.5RS. ive been told this is the easiest route to take on that car since i was looking at them awhile back.

Speaking of moving... man I'd love to get my finances in order and move to a warmer state. A place where I can afford a decent (yet modest) house, nice garage and weather that is car detailer friendly.

Then again if I get a house up here with a garage I could just keep it inside. I cant wait for the day when I can detail a car 5 days straight indoors before it goes outside. Man....

1989 Toyota pickup Small block 400 700R4..8" lift. I do the "beater" thing with style! :)

If you're really considering a "toy" car and DD the STi definitely go with Porsche 911... That's one of my dream cars. I'm hoping to park a GT-2 in my Garage in the future.

My winter beater is a 2004 GMC Sierra SLT Crew cab with the Duramax/Allison combo. Luxury, comfort and power that has a ton more uses then just daily driving. It's Awesome Fun having Boost year round!!

The beater:

http://www.fquick.com/images/vehicles/full/31126291219.jpg (http://www.fquick.com/garages/viewgallery.php?action=viewimg&id=291219)