Show Us Your Winter Beater.

"Andrew T. Maness" (theroadlessdriven) 01/07/2016 at 12:10 • Filed to: Show Us, Oppo, Winter, Andrew Maness, The Road Less Driven, Subaru

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The concept of a winter beater was a foreign to me for a long time, because when I lived in places with harsh winter weather I already drove pretty crappy used cars. Then, before a particularly good winter in Vermont, I got a new Toyota Tacoma, and someone had the audacity to ask me if I was going to daily drive it through the winter.

Of course I was going to drive it all the damn time, a brand new truck, in the snow, what more could a you want?

Well, this person defended their question by laying out all the nasty effects the winter months can have on a vehicle, effects that I’d long been aware of, but never really given a second thought. The idea of a winter beater was planted, and ever since then I’ve enjoyed fantasizing about building the ultimate foul weather vehicle.

As I have lived in Southern California for the last 8 years, and will be here for the foreseeable future, I don’t have the need for a winter beater, although the pull for a second vehicle in very, very strong. When the time comes, I’ll likely make a triumphant return to the Subaru family with an H6 3.0 swapped into a bug eye Impreza wagon. 6 speed manual swap from an STi, Forester suspension for a slight lift, and BAM, winter BEATER.

Do you already have an awesome winter beater in your driveway? Share it, or if you dream of one like I do, feel free to share that too. I have to imagine at least one of you crazy bastards wants to do a lifted Miata.

Ash78, voting early and often > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:16

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In Alabama, we’d be more likely to have a Summer Beater.

I mean, cars do fine when it’s 50 degrees and sunny outside, maybe some rain.

But summer? The endless demands on your A/C and the reduced power that comes with it, the spring pollen and sap damage, not to mention the acidic bug splatter all over your paint and the UV damage to both interior and exterior.

What self-respecting enthusiast would subject his car to this?

/trying to start a thing here

jariten1781 > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:17

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MonkeePuzzle > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:18

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I’ve had a few, I’d love another 1st gen Impreza

Takuro Spirit > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:18

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My daily is my beater. Has been since 2005, the last time I owned a new car and a beater at the same time.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:21

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Same as my summer beater. Not a beater.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5btbq…

MarquetteLa > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:21

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Instead of trying to drive my 2002 Mazda Miata in the Colorado snow, I picked up a 1988 Mazda 323 GTX. Group A rally homologation car. 1.6L engine that was later used in the early Miatas...but turbocharged (which is why the Miata engines take boost so well). Full-time AWD with lockable center diff. The GTX has taken everything I’ve thrown at it with ease. I love this little car.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Andrew T. Maness > jariten1781 01/07/2016 at 12:27

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vicali > MonkeePuzzle 01/07/2016 at 12:27

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This was my rally beater - it was great in the winter too.

Andrew T. Maness > MarquetteLa 01/07/2016 at 12:28

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You lucky bastard! I’ve always wanted a GTX, nearly had one as my first car. Where in CO are you?

Andrew T. Maness > Ash78, voting early and often 01/07/2016 at 12:28

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I support you in this endeavor.

Andrew T. Maness > MonkeePuzzle 01/07/2016 at 12:30

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Coupe or sedan? I have a 2.5RS alert set for all the major car sale sites.

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:30

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Actual car pictured is mine. The ice really brings out the flavour of the red.

Ash78, voting early and often > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:33

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But my honest answer is probably still okay — all year round, I DD a 2001 VW Passat GLX Wagon 4 motion. Audi-based car, proper Torsen AWD, not worth much (maybe $3k) old enough to not mind dents and dings, gets washed about once every 6 months, and the heat just barely works thanks to a poorly designed heater core that gets clogged throughout the year and has to be reverse flushed because replacing the damn thing requires full removal of the dash.

But it’s got leather and wood interior, super comfortable, lots of cargo room, and rides almost as well as a Mercedes (thanks to 10,000 lbs of sound deadening, because how else could you explain how slow and thirsty it is?).

MarquetteLa > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:33

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I’m in Denver, but that photo was taken in Fairplay. I just put a 2.5” turbo-back exhaust on it. Video to come soon. :)

Nobi > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:35

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For the last 4 years, this guy.

Justin Hughes > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:38

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I’m supposed to be driving my recently acquired Jeep Comanche as a winter beater.

Unfortunately both lifters for the #2 cylinder have failed, so until I I get that fixed I’m driving my other winter beater.

Which isn’t a winter beater at all, but it’s what I have left. At least it has snow tires.

MonkeePuzzle > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:38

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sedans, as they were sold to the wife as being needed for safer transport of kids

wiffleballtony > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:41

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Technically this is the same as my summer beater, because we don’t do winter here.

MarquetteLa > Nobi 01/07/2016 at 12:42

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Is that the RT4WD? A buddy of mine rallycrosses his in New England.

Wacko > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:45

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hey at least it wasn’t a pic of his hand.

smobgirl > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:47

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I’d love an actual winter beater, but she’ll do for now.

Cherry_man1 > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 12:49

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What’s a winter beater? Mine is a DD

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > wiffleballtony 01/07/2016 at 12:51

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Looks like you don’t do grass either.

BobintheMtns > MarquetteLa 01/07/2016 at 13:21

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That’s a rad mazda... nice one.

MarquetteLa > BobintheMtns 01/07/2016 at 13:28

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Thanks very much! I don’t see many other 323s around Denver, much less GTX models. Very fun car with a tad bit of oversteer in the handling.

legacyGT08 > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 13:58

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With a ton of usual old Subaru body rust. However, with only 115,000 miles and a new set of head gaskets Val should be getting me through winters for years to come!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 14:07

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Winter beater, daily, same thing right?

Though I do technically have access to something to use as a winter beater, but then I have to drive a ‘94 GMC Safari that can barely hold 60 up a hill at full throttle.

Nobi > MarquetteLa 01/07/2016 at 14:08

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It is, 6-speed and all. I bought it rusted and fixed mechanical bits it needed to be reliable. I can’t weld, so as it gets weathered, I just replace the duct tape.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 14:38

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don’t have one as winter not a problem here.

:)

DanZman > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 14:44

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But I’m a cheater because I live in Phoenix. The truck is my daily.

mazda616 > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 14:51

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I have this to drive in the snow, but I think El Niño has pretty much guaranteed no snow for us this winter.

That's gonna leave a mark! > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 15:00

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My winter beater was a 06 Pacifica. Sold it when I moved south. Looking at all these pictures reminds me of why I moved.

911e46z06 > Andrew T. Maness 01/07/2016 at 17:27

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I had to drive through a puddle yesterday. My wheels got dirty. Yay San Diego.