Beater / project car ideas

"AthomSfere" (AthomSfere)
05/26/2016 at 07:49 • Filed to: advice, car-buying, winter, beater, project

Oppo’s, I need a recommendation for a good winter car AND project car. It might sound a little backwards to some but:

Current DD is a FRS, it made it through the winter but with snow and hills it was rough. Next winter I want something to get around in easier that ISN’T a complete bore.

Requirements: AWD, 4x4, FWD or a RWD (least preferable) if the car is fun enough.

When there isn’t snow on the ground, I want something interesting enough to work on, fix up.

Price: Under $5k. The lower the better.

Cars that have crossed my radar so far: An old WRX, old pickups (65 Ford F100), AMC Eagle SX4 (If I could find one), Old Hondas (Civic, Integra)...

So Oppo, GO! Give me your best ideas

DISCUSSION (42)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 07:56

I’m desperate to see a fully winter-prepped AW11. Small lift, chunky snow tires, and an astounding amount of grip until there’s none and you’re backwards in a bush? Sign me up!

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 07:57

Why not get some cheap wheels and throw some snow tires on the FRS? It has an LSD and could be pretty great with the right tires.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 07:57

Get the Eagle. No personal experience, but they’re just damn cool cars. Could swap in a 4.0 from a Jeep as well for some added oomph.

AthomSfere > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
05/26/2016 at 07:59

LOL, if snap oversteer doesn’t scare you, try it in the snow!?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 07:59

I can’t wait. Sooon....

AthomSfere > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
05/26/2016 at 08:00

No arguments. Finding one when/ where you want one is HARD!

AkursedX > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:04

XJ Cherokee. Huge aftermarket support. Plenty available and it’ll be unstoppable for the winter.

adamftw > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:08

Land Rover Discovery. Reliable examples are out there for under $1500. You can get a modded, well-maintained example for under $5k. And it will have 150k miles or less. Try that with a Land Cruiser. Where are you?

Stapleface > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:09

How about a Subaru XT, if you can find one.

Kinja'd!!!

WRXasaurus > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:13

Suzuki SX4, a cheap awd fun machine.

Slant6 > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:14

Toyota pickup.

fourvalleys > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
05/26/2016 at 08:28

I was going to ask what tires were on the FR-S for the winter. My BRZ on good snow tires was one of my favorite cars in the winter.

Very predictable, and even though it was lowered I was able to get through a surprising amount of snow. It was a ton of fun.

Funktheduck > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:28

I have a 79 F150. 2wd with no weight on the back is awful in the snow. I live in the south where snow is rare so buying winter tires is unnecessary and keeping around ballast is unnecessary as well.

Drove in the snow several times and it is an experience.

So if it's not 4X4 then it won't be any better than your FRS and probably worse.

interstate366, now In The Industry > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:43

You can find 5th gen Preludes for around $3k. Just avoid automatics because the transmissions are made of glass.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:48

Can you believe that a G35x can be had within your budget? AWD, 280 HP VQ engine, good handling and the ability to completely disable traction systems in order to become a donut factory in your local parking lot come the first snowfall. If you're gonna consider it also maybe look at comparable quattros. But the Infiniti is probably more reliable.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 08:57

Older Forester, turbo if you can find it. Drop the suspension, upgrade some bits, and it’ll handle better than /similar to the WRX (in my opinion).

Or an XJ. Can never go wrong there (unless the tranny dies)

gawdzillla > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 09:11

cant go wrong with an old wrx
or an integra if you are not worry it’d get stolen lol

JKER > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 09:17

Get a 2.5 rs.

Will Race For Food > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 09:45

Get an E36 with the 2.8 liter engine (since an M3 is probably outside your budget, and the US M3 is more of a joke than a true M3) - the car is moderately reliable and can be great fun on all surfaces.

For wintertime, just get good winter tires and you’ll be set.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > adamftw
05/26/2016 at 10:32

Early 80 series Cruiser’s can be found in that budget, and it actually will be reliable.

Chasaboo > WRXasaurus
05/26/2016 at 10:33

The funniest looking thing ever, but severe want.

adamftw > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/26/2016 at 10:44

With 250k+ miles on them, sure. My Disco is my only vehicle and it has never let me down. Keep that nonsense going though, it will keep the market from ever approaching the insane level Toyotas are at.

Decay buys too many beaters > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 12:41

I’ve had quite a few cars that fall into this category, best are the following (in order)

2nd gen Eclipse GSX, like the EVO coupe Mitsubishi never gave us

Pre 1998 Turbo Saab, Embrace the torque steer!

E39, especially the V8, but any manual E39 will compliment the FR-S extremely well (I’m biased, my current garage is an FR-S and a manual 540i)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 13:09

As I used to own one, have you considered a NON-WRX/STi Subaru? I used to have an 2002 Impreza 2.5TS wagon with the stock 2.5L 170hp engine and it was plenty peppy enough! Plus, very practical! I could fit a lot of crap in the back...it happily carried me and all my stuff to university and back for 4 years, AND my brother, myself, my mom and all his stuff back and forth from university as well!

You can have a lot of good fun with them, the aftermarket for “project car-ness” is immense, and they are plenty reliable.

Plus, they look awesome when snowy. :P

Kinja'd!!!

AthomSfere > AkursedX
05/26/2016 at 13:38

Never been a fan. But it isn’t off the table...

AthomSfere > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
05/26/2016 at 13:40

It had crossed my mind..m but I know all I’d ever think about is a Rex conversion.

AthomSfere > Decay buys too many beaters
05/26/2016 at 13:42

The gsx was a thought!

The e39... hadn’t considered those... another light rwd car is always tempting!

AthomSfere > JKER
05/26/2016 at 13:44

Gotta say. Not sure what you are getting at...

AthomSfere > gawdzillla
05/26/2016 at 13:45

Crashing the frs is much more worrisome/ scary!

Decay buys too many beaters > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 13:46

Well, they’re not light by any means. But they handle well and are comfortable enough to make you wonder if the FR-S suspension is made of rocks. Also the V8 has enough grunt to scare any unmodified pre 2011 Mustang from a dig.

AthomSfere > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
05/26/2016 at 13:47

Someone else mentioned a forrester. It is tempting too! Although I’m more inclined to raise one...

AthomSfere > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
05/26/2016 at 13:53

Crap! I’m amazed. Good work.

AthomSfere > interstate366, now In The Industry
05/26/2016 at 13:54

Good call. Although a manual is a requirement for me.

AthomSfere > fourvalleys
05/26/2016 at 14:19

What were the hills like? The hills are where I had the real trouble.

JKER > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 14:20

Subaru?

AthomSfere > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
05/26/2016 at 14:21

That will probably be done in some way... but I want a car that I really just don’t have to worry about it.

I was on the primacy tires... terrible!

And honestly having a second car that I can pull the engine without losing my daily has appeal too if I can combine that with a winter beater even better.

JKER > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 14:21

http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/five-reasons-y…

Here you go.

AthomSfere > JKER
05/26/2016 at 14:22

Lol. I assumed as much but checking. I think everyone has an RS trim at least on something

fourvalleys > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 15:16

They weren’t too bad, but I put a lot of the credit for that on the snow tires I had. I never got stuck, in other words.

AthomSfere > fourvalleys
05/26/2016 at 17:21

We have pretty substantial hills here. And it’s scary as crap going up a hill when the rear goes right and forward and your front tries to go where the rear was...

Fun if there weren’t cars and property, but in traffic: no thanks!

interstate366, now In The Industry > AthomSfere
05/26/2016 at 17:22

One of these days I’m going to do a buyer’s guide write-up that starts off with a paraphrase of Fight Club. “The first rule of buying a 5th gen Prelude is you do not buy an automatic. The second rule of buying a 5th gen Prelude is YOU DO NOT BUY AN AUTOMATIC.”

AthomSfere > interstate366, now In The Industry
05/26/2016 at 17:25

Of course I believe that should be in every buyers guide:

“So you want to buy a new Windstar? The first rule of Windstarring (the act of shopping for a Windstar) is YOU DO NOT BUY AN AUTOMATIC!”