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Nov. 20, 2009 1:34 p.m. scardeal Reader
Okay, I'm looking at 3 cars this weekend. Hopefully, one will follow me home as the "Winter Snow Goat Beater."

Priorities (not necessarily in that order):
- Winter snowy-clime capacity (not much in terms of hills, but decent amount of snow.
- Daily Drivability
- some measurement of fun to drive
Here's the three I'm looking at. Let me know what you think.
1. 1998 Jetta Wolfburg Edition $2700 150k miles good condition
2. 1995 Dodge Neon Highline $1000 160k miles drivable condition
3. 1994 Ford Taurus SHO $1500 140k miles unknown condition. Does the Taurus come with a limited slip diff?
I know the Neon would be the best autox car, but this is covered by my 350Z. Any one would be outfitted with snow tires once it's appropriate.
Nov. 20, 2009 1:40 p.m. jrw1621 Dork

A beater with a heater?

Look into a Saturn. They came in either single cam (best MPG) or twin cam (quicker with still good mpg) The single cams had the number 1 designation (SL1, SC1, SW1.) The twin cams had a number 2 designation.
Nov. 20, 2009 1:44 p.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork

Escorts, Celicas
Nov. 20, 2009 1:45 p.m. scardeal Reader

I've kept my eye out for a twin-cam saturn, but haven't run across any yet.

Heater is definitely going to be tested...

I'd like some help on putting together a checklist too...
Nov. 20, 2009 1:46 p.m. scardeal Reader

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

Missed out on a restored 92 Celica GTS -- already sold. Haven't seen any escorts that i'd want yet.
Nov. 20, 2009 1:47 p.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork

scardeal wrote:

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

Missed out on a restored 92 Celica GTS -- already sold. Haven't seen any escorts that i'd want yet.

Doooooood!!!!! that would have made an awesome winter car. They're tanks with snow tires, the heat will sear your eyeballs out, and the interior is a very nice place to spend a few hours stuck in a blizzard. Bonus points if it had the nifty "System 10" stereo.

I"d say you're looking for a 91-96 Escort GT if you're looking Escort. A little light, but with snow tires shouldn't be a problem.
Nov. 20, 2009 1:54 p.m. scardeal Reader

Neon is now sold
Nov. 20, 2009 1:54 p.m. 16vCorey SuperDork

If you're worried about the heater, I can say that if you crank up the heat in the Jetta, you'll swear the berkeleying sun is riding shotgun.
Nov. 20, 2009 1:54 p.m. mad_machine PowerDork

best winter beater I ever had was a first generation Hyundai Excel. With it's tiny all seasons, I could pass SUVs in the snow with it and NEVER got stuck
Nov. 20, 2009 1:57 p.m. 16vCorey SuperDork

93celicaGT2 wrote:

scardeal wrote:

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

Missed out on a restored 92 Celica GTS -- already sold. Haven't seen any escorts that i'd want yet.

Doooooood!!!!! that would have made an awesome winter car. They're tanks with snow tires, the heat will sear your eyeballs out, and the interior is a very nice place to spend a few hours stuck in a blizzard. Bonus points if it had the nifty "System 10" stereo.

I"d say you're looking for a 91-96 Escort GT if you're looking Escort. A little light, but with snow tires shouldn't be a problem.

If you do end up with one of these, the heater cores collect sediment like it's their job. If the heat sucks, flush the heater core.
Nov. 20, 2009 1:58 p.m. petegossett Dork

Of those-3, the Neon is probably more reliable than the rest, shame it sold already.

My sister-in-law has a Neon that is absomutherberkeleyinglutely trashed - to the point it scares me to move it out of the way in our driveway - yet it just won't die. Seriously, she's had it in a ditch, hit 2-deer, probably hasn't had the oil changed in 2-years, had a fuel leak on the top of the engine, sounds like an exorcism whenever you start it, and has had a light on the dask saying "Please kill me" for I don't know how long...yet it still gets her around fine.
Nov. 20, 2009 2:00 p.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork

16vCorey wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote:

scardeal wrote:

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

Missed out on a restored 92 Celica GTS -- already sold. Haven't seen any escorts that i'd want yet.

Doooooood!!!!! that would have made an awesome winter car. They're tanks with snow tires, the heat will sear your eyeballs out, and the interior is a very nice place to spend a few hours stuck in a blizzard. Bonus points if it had the nifty "System 10" stereo.

I"d say you're looking for a 91-96 Escort GT if you're looking Escort. A little light, but with snow tires shouldn't be a problem.

If you do end up with one of these, the heater cores collect sediment like it's their job. If the heat sucks, flush the heater core.

Yep. And if the heater core is bad? Don't even bother buying it. Just wait for another. So not worth it.
Nov. 20, 2009 2:06 p.m. knb13 New Reader

out of that list, the Jetta is my choice.... coilovers so you can crank it up for snow tires, or lower her down for non-snow weather.

Out of that list.....Impreza RS would be my choice. Although not as cheap as the others... but close.
Nov. 20, 2009 2:08 p.m. jrw1621 Dork

scardeal wrote:

I've kept my eye out for a twin-cam saturn, but haven't run across any yet.

My guess is that you want a stick shift. Correct?

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/1459616559.html

Escort GT http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/1454612196.html
Nov. 20, 2009 2:11 p.m. scardeal Reader

In reply to jrw1621:

I might check that one out...
Nov. 20, 2009 2:33 p.m. jrw1621 Dork

Different with new clutch:
http://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/1471711577.html

Another:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/1457860153.html
Nov. 20, 2009 2:57 p.m. Tom Heath Marketing / Club Coordinator

Project Neon- still for sale.

Come and watch the Rolex 24 and drive this sweet piece of GRM history home. Since you're taking it back to the snowy north, I'll also make you a sweetheart deal on nearly-new Michelin rally tires mounted to stock ACR wheels.

Click here...
Nov. 20, 2009 3:02 p.m. EvanB HalfDork

Miata?
Nov. 20, 2009 3:04 p.m. scardeal Reader

Emailed the contour guy. That's a lot closer anyway.
Nov. 20, 2009 3:06 p.m. alfadriver Dork
EvanB wrote:

Miata?
- snow tires = win.
I've been driving a Miata for well over a decades worth of winters. Great car. And fun to boot.

Stunningly, the Miata is one of the best snow cars I've ever had.

Eric
Nov. 20, 2009 3:24 p.m. scardeal Reader

In reply to Tom Heath:

PM sent.

Unfortunately, Miata is not an option. I've got the two seater sports car already, and the wife wants to make sure that anything I get can haul a baby or two.

I haven't run across an e36 BMW yet; and that'd be very tempting too... (I don't know about how its condition would be, either.)
Nov. 20, 2009 4:37 p.m. scardeal Reader

Dangit, right when I gave up on an e36, they show up with a manual 318i on Craigslist...
Nov. 20, 2009 6:59 p.m. gamby UberDork

scardeal wrote:

Missed out on a restored 92 Celica GTS -- already sold. Haven't seen any escorts that i'd want yet.

I wasn't aware that people restored these. 'Twould seem like a shame to let it get beaten into the ground during winter abuse, IMHO.
Nov. 20, 2009 7:12 p.m. plance1 HalfDork

heaters are for wimps.
Nov. 20, 2009 7:16 p.m. fornetti14 Reader

^^^ LOL

If you go with the Escort, make sure you score some front seats from a ZX2.

Contour's weren't worth crap in the snow IMO unless they have really good tires. I had my SVT almost kill me on several occasions.

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