"Matthew Keyser" (teisco15)
10/16/2014 at 10:37 • Filed to: None
1
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"Matthew Keyser" (teisco15)
10/16/2014 at 10:37 • Filed to: None | 1
| 27 |
Winter time is drawing near, and while I love my Merkur XR4Ti to death, a Northern Indiana winter with all the snow and salt would not do it any good. I have a place to store it and have begun my search for a cheap winter beater.
My only conditions are:
1. It must have heat
2. It must be cheap
3. Preferably AWD
4. I can't be embarrassed to drive the thing.
By embarrassed to drive it I mean i don't want a Geo Tracker.
Any suggestions on what I should look for?
Mattbob
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:40 |
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awd or 4wd? I'd look for an old jeep grand cherokee if you want all time, or maybe an old subaru.
merkyg
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:41 |
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Cheapest (decent) Forester you can find!
OPPOsaurus WRX
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:41 |
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I loved having a pickup/SUV. I had an Explorer and then a Sport Trac. Its a ton of fun to blast around in the snow in 2WD and if you get stuck with just the turn of a knob your into 4WD and out of the snow bank. I'd suggest an F-150 as they are probably everywhere and cheap. You could also go for an Explorer, Ranger or of course a WRX!!!!!! I'm gettin snow tires soon and an looking forward to blasting in it.
As Du Volant
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:42 |
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90's Subaru with the 2.2 or 1.8 engine. Can't be killed, drives through anything, easy to work on. And since you're in Indiana it'll still be legal to drive even if it has rust holes the size of your hand... because it will.
Just avoid the 2.5 like the plague and you're golden.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:43 |
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My default answer for this is almost always AW11. RWD, but the weight is over the drive wheels, so winter can be like a group B rally!
Bandit
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:43 |
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Get one of these. I have the 2wd version but should have gotten the awd version. Other than a bit slidy at times because of tires and 2wd it was a great winter car.
Chris Clarke
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:44 |
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You need an old Audi A4 wagon.
JEM
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:45 |
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The answer to this is always Jeep Cherokee.
thebigbossyboss
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:46 |
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If you're willing to sacrifice the awd get a j body with the 2.2L inline four. Even a decent condition one will only be about $3k maybe less. It will run until the apocalypse.
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thebigbossyboss
> thebigbossyboss
10/16/2014 at 10:47 |
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I should add if something does break spares plentiful, and cheap.
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Chris Clarke
10/16/2014 at 10:48 |
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...like he needs a bullet in his head? He said he wants heat, not for the computer to permanently lock the driver's door.
Rock Bottom
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:49 |
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Jeep XJ or GTFAC
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Matthew Keyser
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/16/2014 at 10:50 |
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I love this idea, not sure my mother would be on board with it though hahahaa
JBurd67
> JEM
10/16/2014 at 10:50 |
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Seriously, ALWAYS.
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> As Du Volant
10/16/2014 at 10:55 |
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The 2.5 can be made *not* to blow head gaskets, but it is deep sorcery. A friend of my dad's had a daughter who got a 2.5 in Ohio, so its rust holes made the fix when it popped gaskets not worth it at all.
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:56 |
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You might be able to get an AWD Astro or Aerostar. DO EET.
Milky
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:57 |
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Oddball answer but I had a ton of fun in my SC in the snow. Only spent $1500 on it too, should leave some money on the table to get a good set of rubber.
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> thebigbossyboss
10/16/2014 at 10:57 |
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Significantly less when talking about the Cimarron.
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 10:58 |
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Just tell her it's a Corolla. She'll be fine with it.
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thebigbossyboss
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/16/2014 at 11:00 |
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Oh get a final generation J (1995 +). They may not be the prettiest but they last the longest.
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> thebigbossyboss
10/16/2014 at 11:14 |
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Wow, I didn't realize that the last-gen cavaliers were j-bodies. If there's one thing that American manufacturers know how to do, it's squeeze every last bit of life out of a platform that they can.
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As Du Volant
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/16/2014 at 11:17 |
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The easiest way I know of to make a 2.5 not blow head gaskets is to swap it for a 2.2. You don't even need to replace the computer or any wiring.
Actually seriously considering doing this when I'm ready to buy a beater. A (mostly) rust free and good running Subaru will cost you $4-$5k here, but you can get a rust free Outback or Forester body with blown head gaskets for a grand.
Though I do find it amusing to see all the ads on Craigslist saying "heats up a bit when driving, not sure why, probably just needs a thermostat." You know god damn well why it's overheating, and it ain't a thermostat.
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> As Du Volant
10/16/2014 at 11:20 |
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You know god damn well why it's overheating
Actually made me crack up. As a note, I've contemplated going Scoob if my Benz develops any surprise issues before my Ranchero is ready for DD for that exact reason. Cheap, can actually be fixed by a motivated mechanic pretty easily in one or more ways.
Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> Matthew Keyser
10/16/2014 at 11:43 |
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Why don't you just get this thing? look at all those empeegeez.
in all honesty if these had 4 wheels rather than 3 I'd buy one.
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thebigbossyboss
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/16/2014 at 15:59 |
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That's not just an american thing actually. Think about the Nissan Tsuru or VW Kombi (microbus) The microbus T2 was produced from 1979 - 2002.
The Tsuru B13 has been produced since 1990.
Just two examples of many, but yes the final version Cavalier was dated on a really old platform. Consequently, the bugs have been worked out, and the 2.2L runs forever.
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> thebigbossyboss
10/16/2014 at 16:14 |
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Yeah, but the Kombi and B13 Sentra were primarily sold in regions with less active regulators. Hell, they still make the original Golf for South Africa. The J platform was primarily targeted at Americans.
Conan
> Matthew Keyser
10/17/2014 at 01:30 |
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One of my students just picked up a ridiculous purple Cherokee. It is glorious.