A 2nd or winter car

[mlomker]

It wouldn't be terribly affordable for me at the moment, but I'm thinking about getting a second car to drive in the winter. Once the coilovers are on the Evo I'm doubtful that it's going to be all that useful in the winter (ground clearance).

I'd like some opinions on what you'd consider to be a good car for the winter (probably FWD) but that is still unique/cool.

I could either look for something with higher mileage for $8-9k or something pretty nice for $15-17k. It looks like my best bet in the lower price range may be a Mitsu...used Eclipse GS with decent mileage goes for a pretty reasonable price. On the higher end I've thought about looking for a bone stock Evo 8 or a Mini Cooper S.

The downside with a used Evo is that it is tough to find one that hasn't had a tough life. 100% reliable is what I'd be looking for in my winter car...almost removes a used Evo from the running. I think I'm going to go look at a Mini Cooper this week.

[123abc]

You can buy my Stratus Coupe. :)

[HiImBrian]

my 98 impreza 2.5rs handles like a dream in the winter :) It's not out of the ordinary to see em last close to 200k miles either. You can pick up a 2001 rs for under $7000 easy

[mlomker]

my 98 impreza 2.5rs handles like a dream in the winter :) It's not out of the ordinary to see em last close to 200k miles either. You can pick up a 2001 rs for under $7000 easy

There's an idea and I was thinking about that. I had a 96 Impreza...was a 2.2 motor. Not a bad car at all but the valves went out at 130k miles. I keep hearing about people getting 200k out of their Subarus but it didn't work for me. Bluebook was $1500 at the time so I basically gave it to the dealer as a trade in.

Here's one (http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=29622416&listingRecNum=40&criteria=sf1Dir%3DASC%26alMdId%3D21295%26mkId%3D20 041%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21295%26rd%3D50%26crSrtF lds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId%26zc%3D55101%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DDESC%26sf1Nm%3Dmil es%26sf2Nm%3Dprice%26alMkId%3D20041%26rpp%3D50%26f eedSegId%3D28705&aff=national) with tolerable mileage.

[Kracka]

For a winter car definitely get something AWD. A Legacy or non-turbo Impreza of some sort would probably be a pretty decent choice. I say drive your Evo though! I drove my DSM lowered 3" through Duluth snow and had zero problem with my Evo IX lowered 2". Just get some snow tires and you'll be set.

[mlomker]

Just get some snow tires and you'll be set.

I may just do that--just thinking through my options. The X is the most expensive car that I've ever owned so I have some reservations about even driving it in the winter. My last car was a BMW but I had bought it used.

[scheides]

Dude, snow tires on a lowered evo is more than adequate. Getting a second car for winter is just silly. Get some nice tires and rock it year-round.

I pretty much would not shut up about the set of General's I got last year:

http://mitsustyle.com/forums/showpost.php?p=269078&postcount=42
http://mitsustyle.com/forums/showpost.php?p=269702&postcount=69
http://mitsustyle.com/forums/showpost.php?p=267680&postcount=35

I intend to keep blabbing about them and driving on them this year :)

[mlomker]

I pretty much would not shut up about the set of General's I got last year

Where'd you buy them and get them installed?

I've thought about having snow tires put on the stock rims and then getting new rims in the Spring for more aggressive tires.

My quandry is that I can lease a parking spot in my building for $80/mo but I can't store a spare set of tires anywhere (it's against association rules to just stack up a set of tires in a parking spot!). lol. I'll have to start looking around for mini storage here downtown, or something.

[Kracka]

You could always rent a tiny storage locker from Public Storage or any other storage facility for spare wheels/tires and other misc. car parts :D

[blageo23]

There's an idea and I was thinking about that. I had a 96 Impreza...was a 2.2 motor. Not a bad car at all but the valves went out at 130k miles. I keep hearing about people getting 200k out of their Subarus but it didn't work for me. Bluebook was $1500 at the time so I basically gave it to the dealer as a trade in.

Here's one (http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=29622416&listingRecNum=40&criteria=sf1Dir%3DASC%26alMdId%3D21295%26mkId%3D20 041%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21295%26rd%3D50%26crSrtF lds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId%26zc%3D55101%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DDESC%26sf1Nm%3Dmil es%26sf2Nm%3Dprice%26alMkId%3D20041%26rpp%3D50%26f eedSegId%3D28705&aff=national) with tolerable mileage.

My subaru has 278000 miles on it and runs like a champ!
I have a 97 Jimmy if you want to buy it :)