Ten Best Winter Beaters For Enthusiasts

"Margin Of Error" (marginoferror) 11/05/2015 at 11:45 • Filed to: LIST

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He we go again, winter is coming back for most people living in the northern hemisphere, and for people living in Canada, it is already started as most of country is already covered under a few feet of white and it will be that way until June 2016. Of course you don’t want to drive your nice car into that toxic cocktail of snow, road salt and frozen dirt, so you need what we commonly call a winter beater. Here’s ten of the best winter beater you can buy.

10 - Ford Bronco II

A mighty off-roader, yet nimble and fuel efficient. The perfect winter beater for the environmentally-conscious enthusiast.

9 - Subaru Impreza Outback Sport

AWD goodness and boxer engine for lower COG. The perfect winter beater for the rallye afficionado.

8 - Saab 9-5 Combi

Born from snow, moose-proofed. The perfect winter beater for the safety-minded enthusiast.

7 - Volvo V70 XC

An Impreza Outback Sport that you can sleep in if you’re stranded. The perfect winter beater for the far-sighted enthusiast.

6 - Audi 90

The beater that doesn’t look like a beater. The perfect beater for the more sophisticated enthusiast.

5 - Buick Roadmaster Wagon

Basically the same as the V70 XC, but that can shelter you, your significant other and the in-laws. The perfect winter beater for the welcoming enthusiast.

4 - Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor

RWD for more effective crash avoidance maneuvers, but even if you fail, not a single fender bender will stop you. The perfect winter beater for the busy enthusiast.

3 - Jeep Cherokee XJ

Real 4x4, generous ground clearance and a hook for a snow blower, the perfect winter beater for the multi-tasking enthusiast.

2 - Dodge Caravan

Minivans makes for great winter beater. The generous cargo space can hold all your winter gear such as shovels, traction aids, zip ties and duct tape. The sliding doors will come in handy if the car gets surrounded with snow or ice.The perfect winter beater for the well prepared enthusiast.

1 - Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (G-Body)

Anyone who ever experienced the goodness of the G-body heater will understand. Nothing gets warm and nice as quick as a G-body. You just start the car and turn on the heater and everything melts in a500ft. radius. Ther perfect winter beater for the warm-hearted enthusiast.

Jcarr > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 11:49

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Not enough Trooper

Future next gen S2000 owner > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 11:50

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Bronco II - fuel efficient. Lol.

Opposite Locksmith > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 11:54

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My WRX’s heater on full blast takes 3 seconds to feel like a hair dryer

LongbowMkII > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 11:55

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You’ve clearly never owned sliding doors in the cold.

davedave1111 > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 11:57

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You forgot one:

Berang > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 12:07

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Some of these cars won’t even start when it’s below 50 out.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 12:10

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Similar to this, you can get a Century. A bit smaller, FWD, and easier for the novice to handle in the snow. Available quite cheaply, and quite reliable.

vicali > Future next gen S2000 owner 11/05/2015 at 12:13

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barely uses any fuel when it’s sitting in the ditch..

vicali > LongbowMkII 11/05/2015 at 12:14

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Or a huge airspace that takes forever to warm up..

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 12:14

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and for people living in Canada, it is already started as most of country is already covered under a few feet of white and it will be that way until June 2016.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > LongbowMkII 11/05/2015 at 12:31

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AKA frozen shut doors.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 12:38

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I’d vote for any Honda Civic with snow tires only on the front, and a good functioning E-brake. Easily controllable e brake slides result in endless snowy fun. But it’s also safe, and super reliable. The heater isn’t going to be super great especially on older models, but it’s small so once the engine does finally heat up, it’ll warm up fast.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 12:42

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A winter beater P71 is one of my dreams.

Nobi > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 12:55

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The lack of Civic Wagon disturbs me.

General Mayhem > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 12:56

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Fuel efficient... Even the 2.3L Lima 4 cylinder struggled to get 18 mpg in one of these.

General Mayhem > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 12:57

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Low mileage supervisor’s car.

General Mayhem > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/05/2015 at 13:03

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I have one :), an ‘05.

JustAnotherG6 > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 13:13

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I couldn’t disagree more on #1. Having driven not one but two of these the heater is not all that. Though, driving in NE with MN plates as a 16 year old during the winter was fun. Especially when you see people freak when you let the tail out a bit.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 13:19

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I'll just take a 4wd Blazer, thanks.

Mike McChezz > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 13:20

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meh AWD prone to breaking

CaptDale - is secretly British > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 13:22

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I’ve tried, but they are too expensive!

RPM esq. > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 13:31

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Ahem.

Justin Hughes > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/05/2015 at 13:39

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I daily drove a P71 year round. It already had a posi, Switch to snow tires for winter, and it was one of the most fun winter cars I’ve ever had.

Except my RT4WD Civic wagon. (nods to Nobi)

Justin Hughes > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 13:49

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First gen Ford Focus.

Mine is rocking Saab wheels (someone always asks so I’ll just say it up front) with snow tires and basically nothing else. The rocker panels already rusted out and got replaced, ugly but effective, so I don’t much care if it gets another scratch or two. It gets very warm very fast, far faster than my BRZ. It has the crappiest engine that was available, but you don’t need much power when it’s slippery. The steering feels very good - probably something to do with not having electric power steering. Its transmission is autotragic, but that just leaves my left foot available to brake, rally style. And with a multilink rear suspension usually only found in much more expensive cars, it responds to left foot braking techniques more effectively than anything else I’ve driven. Best of all, I inherited it for free from my fiancee when she got her Flex. The perfect winter beater for the cheapass enthusiast.

Slant6 > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 14:23

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I have this car.

911e46z06 > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 14:52

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List invalid due to lack of Sierra/Silverado/Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban

Margin Of Error > Slant6 11/05/2015 at 14:56

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#blessed

Schaefft > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 16:13

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Too nice to be a winter beater. Being RWD probably doesn’t help either.

Schaefft > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 16:20

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You didn’t mentioned the best winter beater that is out there: The Audi D2 A8/S8.

Why the A8?

1.) Quattro - Impossible to get stuck anywhere

2.) Audi Space Frame - Can’t rust because Aluminium

3.) Powerful with the 4.2L V8 - Plenty of power to plow your own roads

4.) Well equipped - They come loaded with everything you could ask for, you won’t even notice you left your cozy home

5.) They are seriously cheap now - Why buy anything else then?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 16:21

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Just because it’s winter doesn't mean it can't be fun. Some are so cheap that the whole "gonna rust out" problem is not really an issue.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 11/05/2015 at 16:24

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http://www.miata.net/motm/2012/john…

Speed > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 16:35

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G-Body FTW! Marky Mark Approves.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Jcarr 11/05/2015 at 16:39

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I have a 1990 isuzu pick up. That thing will plow through some snow.

MM54 > Margin Of Error 11/05/2015 at 19:54

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I drive my p71 year-round, including plowing snow with the bumper when I lived in Erie - I fully support it as a winter car. A good set of snow tires and the LSD and you’re good to go.

DrScientist > Margin Of Error 11/11/2015 at 08:56

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RWD, v12, forward weight bias, <4 inches ground clearance,

and heated seats: perfect.

and in the dead of winter, youre much less likely to overheat!

Mark > Margin Of Error 01/05/2019 at 14:13

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There is a great mockumentary about the Winter Beater as an endangered species on YouTube from a few years back. It crazy how much things have changed even from then to now and the guys interviewed in it are hillarious (though I don’t think they were trying to be)! Anyways, check it out: