All this talk about winter tires and rims has had me seriously thinking over the past few days. Even with the cheapest tires + rims for the group purchase, you are looking at 800 plus tax. Why not get a 800 or 1000 dollar winter beater car with half decent all season tires on it already and just beat the **** out of it. If you hit a snow bank, who cares, someone rear ends you, who cares.. you get the point. I am looking at a early 90's beretta or cavalier. They are plentiful, cheap and with only liability on your insurance, you can insure it for next to nothing. What do you guys think?

 

I think you're missing the point. You need a car to be the safest during the most severe weather. If you'd rather be killed driving a car with no ABS, airbags or the latest saftey technology just for $800 than that's your choice. I'd rather spend the cash and at least know I'm driving a reliable safer car than a shitbox. Besides, what good is insurance if you have to worry about smacking the car into someone or something during a bad snow storm. I'll stick to winter tires thanks...

 

i like the idea of a winter beater. the thought has crossed my mind a few times

 

Airbags, snow tires or not, ABS etc, when there is a few inches on the ground, no snow tire is going to help you if you have to come to a quick stop. been driving now for 14 years and I would much rather crash a piece of **** that cost me 1000 bucks compared to a cobaltss that cost me 30,000 By the way, all cavaliers and beretta's from 92' up came standard with ABS, my first car was a 92 Z24 brand new.. And I drove those fine through many winters without airbags, in fact, in 1999 I was in a serious car accident (brand new 1999 cavalier, grandfather was driving at the time, airbag deployed right into my right eye and I lost 50% of my vision because of it. Sometimes they do more damage then good...

Jason

 

Buddy, calm down mman. You asked for people's opinion and I offered mine. No need to tear my friggin' head off. To each their own bro...go ahead and buy a beater and be happy.

 

Dude, was not directed at you, sorry if you took it that way. I am looking at all options. I am just saying, makes sense to trash a beater rather then the car you care so much for...

peace

 

I also thought about this too. The main concern I have is for 600-800 bucks your not gettin a very good vehicle. How about reliability? I don't wanna be freezing my ass off, cause come cheapass car I bought broke down. I'm definitey gonna go the tire route. My buddy has an SRT-4 and put winter tires on it last year and it got through the snow just fine. And just cause I mentioned SRT-4 I dont want to hear any **** about it, or what car is faster. I was using it as an comparison of another powerful 4 bangger in thte winter. I'm gettin my tires and rims from tirerack.com.

 

I would rather by a beater. I bought my 85 honda civic wagon for $500 bucks 2 winters ago and she works just fine for me. But the tire idea is good too but thinks about all the salt and all the other crap on the road. Think also about when it's just parked in a parking lot, snow tires aren't gonna help when it's a 16 year old kid whippin donuts in the back of the parking lot where your Cobalt is!! Look into a car right now and you'll find a decent beater that will last for awhile. Also in Michigan we get a insurance break for multi car policy!!!

 

You both bring up good points, newer technology is always great to have, but ultimately (especially in Canada) when you have a serious snow storm, you're not going anywhere safely without a truck (AWD). Sometimes you're just better off staying at home in extreme conditions.

Last winter my 2002 z24 (ecotec) took quite the beating and i'm sure that those of you that have driven low, skirt packaged cars all year round can agree that your car will inevitably suffer over the span of a couple years.

Whether you get behind a salt truck (in traffic) or they don't plow your street after a big snowfall, you're screwed. Your skirt will definitely take a salt beating (those little bastards are huge!) you also run a risk of damaging/breaking your skirt if you're not ultra careful with large levels of snows or clumps of icey slush (many times unavoidable). Unfortunately, after 3 years, my skirt was split in two (without me even realizing it until it was too late and could hear it dragging on the ground).

Thankfully, I had leased it and was able to give it back without spending a dime (excluding the front skirt of course which had to be replaced). Although I still had to have a lengthly argument with GMAC regarding what they considered "excessive stone chipping".

 

I'm parking my SS, winter beater all the way.

 

winter beater... ive done it before and it always works out best

 

I just kept my '95 cav instead of trading it in, it has ABS and airbags. Throw some honking $50 newfie speed and custom snow tires on it and away i go!.

 

Personally I didn't spend 30k to park my car for 4 months a year.
I bought fully knowing it was going to be driven in the winter. I bought it so that I can enjoy it all year round because it is a car you can enjoy in the winter with new tires.
I don't know if any of you have ever driven with winters but the difference between a really good all season and a performance winter is still night and day, you'd be amazed at the traction you'll get even in deep snow

 

I have never had true winter tires, so if they are as good as your saying in the snow, I guess it will be ok then.

 

yea same here i was thinking on getting a wnter beater as well but i paid 30 g's for my car and im leasing it then buying it out so for 4 months im going to be paying a lease for a car im not driving with good winter tires u dont got to worrie about anything, unless you doing stupid **** then tires arnt going to help you out...

as long as you have a decent set of tires and dirve normla in the winter everythign should be fine and the worst case avoid days when there alot of snow on the roads but i dont think we gogin to have a bad winter anymore like we use to having in toronto... so really everyhtign should be A-OK

 

Unfortunately traction is only one of the issues with winter driving (refer to my previous post in this thread). There is actually alot more that can damage your car.

Regardless, i've learned from experience and i'm very thankful my LS isn't very low & comes with decent 16 inch tires & rims (no extra cash needed) and includes traction control. I guess it's all relative to the reason why you bought your cobalt in the first place. Mine was to be a cheap daily driver - 365 days a year - snow or shine that looks pretty good in the process. If the lower portion of my car gets covered in salt chips & stone chips, oh well...the car was relatively cheap and when the 3 year lease is up, i've got the option to give it back.

 

well thats why I got my car winterized at Zeibart's, panels & underbody sprayed, and under coating as well. I was a believer after seeing a 30 year old Cady, with not a spot of rust on it. but if your leasing then you don't have to worry.

 

Yeah.. I am just going to throw on some good winter tires and that's it.. Some steeles and some good winter tires that all...

I am leasing my car as well.. I bought this car knowing I wanted it as a winter car as well.. I have a 1990 Beretta all done up with a bodykit and it's getting painted soon.. I needed a car that was realiable for me to drive and something so I can store my Beretta in the winter.. Sure it's only a 1990 car.. But it's got alot of money, time and work put into it..

I am leasing my car as well.. With the full intent of trading it in at the end of my lease.. I want to always own a new car with a new warrenty.. Sure I will never "own" the cars I am driving, so basically putting money into a car I will never own BUT.... What does it matter if you own it or not right.. I mean sure you are spending say $20,000 to basically "Rent" the car.. But then again you will always have a car with a warrenty.. And it's always gonna be new

 

Why not just dismount your tires from your stock wheels and get new studs to put on them and always have those as your winter tires, if you just but good enouh winter tires to put on ur stock wheels you save $ and hopefully your life, so far ive seen/heard of 6 cobalt wrecks, each one has lived and the car totalled, it may total the car but you'll keep your life, the cobalt seems to be a pretty safe car, even when its on fire!

 

I have a winter beater. 94 Cavailer Z24. It's purple. It has 180k miles on it, new rebuilt 3-speed tranny, new Good year Triple Tread tires, changed oil. It's semi rusty but any car will be after 11 years. I've owned this car three years now and it's perfect. has a new heater core so I will never freeze my ass off.

It got through snow most trucks even got stuck in. Considering its also low to the ground it makes an excellent snow pusher. I love it.... Can't go wrong with an old J-Body in the snow.

Hell even when the one winter we had in Michigan when we got like 2 feet of snow I owned a 1987 Chevy Cavailer RS brown with brown interior(ahh that was a good year sportin with the 2.0L 3-speed), with all seaon tires and it went through the snow flawless..

If your going beater, go J-body.