Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » My new winter beater...the anwer is... 1 2

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  Oct. 16, 2009 2:42 p.m. mw Reader

  

  It's a definate 50/50 car as it has along the rockers and fenders, but it should be way more fun than the automatic camry that I was planning on driving through the winter. I'm pretty excited.

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  Oct. 16, 2009 4:22 p.m. Dorsai New Reader

  The answer is always Miata!

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  Oct. 16, 2009 4:35 p.m. Yavuz New Reader

  Awesome!

  I recently bought a Miata that is going to serve as my primary winter car. It came with a hardtop and a new set of snow tires - so we'll see how it goes. I've driven the Neon for the last five winters and it does pretty well in the snow, but I really want to try to keep it in the garage this year.

  I've never actually driven a RWD car in the snow... this should be fun.

  

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  Oct. 16, 2009 4:53 p.m. Andy Reid Auction Editor

  Wow, I love the choice. Being in Chicago, our Alfa GTV6 is not going to do it so I am getting a Saab 900/9-3. I wish my wife was not 6 feet tall so she could fit in a Miata.

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  Oct. 16, 2009 5:16 p.m. White_and_Nerdy New Reader

  I'm 6 feet tall and I fit in a Miata. I, too, will be driving one through this winter. With studded snows, a VLSD, and a clue I should be OK, unless it's deep snow, in which case I'll borrow my girlfriend's Highlander.

  - Justin

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  Oct. 16, 2009 5:17 p.m. Gearheadotaku Reader

  lol

  Old enough to know better, too young too care!

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  Oct. 16, 2009 5:38 p.m. daytonaer Reader

  Congrats.

  I was THIS >< close to buying a miata for a winter beater. Found one in my beater price range.

  Bought this instead:

  I tried justifying it because the jeep has less rust and already has good tires. I do live in real mountains..... . . I'm still regretting my decision a little. Hope it will get better the first time I need 4Low to get home.

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  Oct. 16, 2009 7:54 p.m. tuna55 Reader

  I participated in a "driving in the snow" thread a while back, and I have a good bit of experience from Central New York winters. All that I can tell you is that you'll love it. Just buy really good skinny snow tires.

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  Oct. 16, 2009 8:44 p.m. plance1 HalfDork

  Wimps.

  This is a real winter beater...

  
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  Oct. 16, 2009 8:47 p.m. maroon92 SuperDork

  good snow tires make anything a great winter tool.

  "there is no horrible way to win, there is only winning" -Jean Pierre Sarti

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  Oct. 16, 2009 9:07 p.m. Woody SuperDork

  I've always wanted to raise one up a bit, add some aluminum skid plates and some tall narrow snow tires.

  Never approach a friend's girlfriend or wife with mischief as your goal. There are just too many women in the world to justify that sort of dishonorable behavior. Unless she's really attractive.

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  Oct. 16, 2009 10:54 p.m. Run_Away New Reader

  Last winter I had the greatest winter beater:

  $600 for the truck, $550 for a new motor, $1200 in wheels and 31" snow tires, $80 remote start. Power everything, heated leather seating.

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  Oct. 16, 2009 11:24 p.m. pigeon HalfDork

  I've repeated this many times here. I ran a Miata through 3 Buffalo winters - with good snows you can run one through a snowbank with impunity.

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  Oct. 17, 2009 6:59 a.m. Twin_Cam Dork

  maroon92 wrote: good snow tires make anything a great winter tool.

  Truth. I had a lowered '97 SC2 on Dunlop snows that passed SUVs and trucks stuck in ditches during snowstorms.

  I would love a winter beater that wasn't FWD though...I almost bought a Corolla 4Trac wagon a couple years back, that thing would've been a blast.

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  Oct. 17, 2009 7:32 a.m. Feedyurhed HalfDork

  I drove a Miata through last winter and it was a blast. Good snow tires are a must as previously mentioned. Currently looking for a winter beater though for the really bad days (ie: deep snow). The Miata is too nice to be plowing through that hard icy build up that the plows leave. Plus it is now lowered an inch or so......so even less clearance!!

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  Oct. 17, 2009 2:36 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

  Awesome. My winter car is also a Miata.

  Yes, we now have signatures

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  Oct. 17, 2009 3:01 p.m. ww SuperDork

  My fall beater:

  My winter beater:

  My spring beater:

  My summer beater:

  Oh, yeah, I live in California...

  Lots and LOTS of Datsuns...

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  Oct. 17, 2009 5:01 p.m. Feedyurhed HalfDork

  You are smart. We are not. Rub it in. Still love that Z car.

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  Oct. 17, 2009 6:01 p.m. friedgreencorrado Dork

  David S. Wallens wrote: Awesome. My winter car is also a Miata.

  Thought you were gonna sneak that one by us, eh?

  http://tinyurl.com/yf3ptc3

  I'm only jealous `cuz I didn't think of it first.

  How can it be a midlife crisis, when I've driven sportscars my entire life?

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  Oct. 17, 2009 11:31 p.m. DoctorBlade New Reader

  In reply to ww:

  Nice Car. It do well in the snow? :)

  Power Corrupts. Absolute Power is really nifty.

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  Oct. 18, 2009 1:49 a.m. ww SuperDork

  It does in the San Francisco snow...

  Lots and LOTS of Datsuns...

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  Oct. 18, 2009 11:07 a.m. Buzz Killington Reader

  another vote for the miotter as a good winter car w/ snow tires. i just sold mine to someone looking for a winter car.

  the hardtop will be a nice thing to have as well.

  which reminds me...i should get shopping for winter shoes for the RX-8.

  96ES - www.GreyhoundAngelsAdoption.com

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  Oct. 18, 2009 2:20 p.m. Nitroracer Dork

  My miata was great last winter with some snow shoes, but I really wish it had a hardtop. One day i was driving into work watching ice fly off the roof of a lazy suv owner and realized how little I have protecting my noggin if it hit the roof.

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  Oct. 18, 2009 3:30 p.m. confuZion3 SuperDork

  Yavuz wrote: I've never actually driven a RWD car in the snow... this should be fun.

  Easy peesy lemon squeezy. It's nothing at all. I had the great misfortune of having to drive my 1992 Mustang GT in an inch of snow once, but 300 ft-lbs of giddy-up is hard to control in the rain too. Get snowies and go have fun. (Do some doughnuts too!)

  I wish I had lasers in my fingertips. Then I could shoot lasers from my fingers.

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  Oct. 18, 2009 4:59 p.m. Kia_racer New Reader

  What is this stuff you call snow? Living in the Dallas area all we ever see is ice for about one night and then it is gone. lol

  too bad the summers are 100 degrees and last for 10 months.

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