[NA] Looking for a winter beater - Opinions on these? [Archive] (2024)

add_lightness

27th November 2012, 00:08

Hey guys, I'm looking for a beater miata to be my winter car, since my smurf is my only ride at the moment and I'd like to keep it out of the salt. As far as miatas go, I'm looking to stay under around 1k, so hopefully I can get most of my money back in the spring (will be at college next winter, won't need two miatas, etc...). I'm not afraid to do work myself, and I'm almost getting excited at buying one that needs paint and doing it myself (pending disaster? most likely).

Here are two cheap NAs I found on CL today:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/3436430297.html
Low miles for an attractive price, but an auto tranny with issues makes me shudder, even for 900 bucks...

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3436629455.html
Not much info, but needs paint, moderate mileage. Would have to check for SNC failure. Doesn't look too awfully rough, and sounds like he'll take under a grand.

Would you guys say these are the kind of cars I should consider for winter for under $1k? Can I get a reliable car for that price? Can better be had, easily? What would you say is the most important stuff to look for in a beater?

Thanks for reading guys :) Tips?

just me

27th November 2012, 03:15

RubyDoo

27th November 2012, 08:56

add_lightness

27th November 2012, 23:49

You guys have some good points, although I'm still young and crazy, and want to have some fun :D. I won't be doing that much real snow driving (a dusting closes school and most everything else around here), mostly just salt and slush to deal with. It's unlikely I'll have a dire need to get somewhere through deep snow, and I can always take one of the parents' fwd boxes if I do.

RubyDoo, I'm not a truck person at all, but good ideas. Snow tires would be a definite investment for whatever I might get.

Seth1065

28th November 2012, 00:28

Seth1065

28th November 2012, 00:34

Injured Again

28th November 2012, 03:45

I would also not buy a really inexpensive Miata for a winter driver. I did purchase my 95 Miata as a winter driver, but paid $4500 for it and it had a hardtop. I was told that for less than that, I'd be dealing with leaks and all sorts of other problems all winter long, and would be miserable.

My nephew purchased a Subaru Loyale station wagon for a winter car. AWD and enough room to take it out off-road or up to the ski areas. And cheap too.

RubyDoo

28th November 2012, 08:47

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/3436110582.html
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/3420664418.html
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/3418196089.html

etc etc etc ... I'm sure you could get the same list for Philly

but you might be a truck person and not know it yet
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ctd/3434645137.html
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ctd/3427470582.html
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ctd/3391084416.html
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ctd/3370615045.html

Cheaper trucks are out there, I didn't want to spend too much time. I bet Philly would have more ... seems like a truckier town than Baltimore/DC. :)

In your area, you can drive the Miata you have plenty during the winter when roads are clean and temps are moderate. Two tiny cars makes no sense at all. At least with the wagons (better with the trucks) you can haul stuff. Extended/Club cabs make a world of difference for daily driveability.

Though you are only 17, try to mix your play with some sense. The truck will be a great addition to your family fleet. Imagine lending a vehicle to the folks instead of borrowing one! And you will be THE MAN among your friends when it's time to haul stuff to college or whatever. Get a light aluminum topper for it. You can often find them cheap at dealerships, they came off trades and add nothing to resale so they sell them separate. You get good deals if they are not pristine.

by the way, you don't know winter hooning until you've taken an empty 2wd truck out in the snow

RubyDoo

28th November 2012, 09:21

Two more thoughts ...

Remember that at this price point, you are playing repair roulette in the car casino. A $1000 car may hit you for $2000 repairs while a $2000 car may go years without a hitch ... and vice versa. So maximize your chances by looking at stellar reliability reputations (above) and trying for maintenance histories.

Have you ever driven a small truck?

ScreaminE

28th November 2012, 09:33

UTMorpheus

28th November 2012, 09:49

RubyDoo

28th November 2012, 17:11

All of those truck ads are scams. No way those trucks are that cheap. Tacos sell for insane amounts of money.
Yeah you must be right. My bad, I scurried through a search. Not a Craigslist guy usually, as it is just now catching on in the boondocks. Let me try again.

What about F150s?
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3407284125.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3366956414.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3352512308.html 4wd??
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3359501584.html 4wd and $800obo!! Exhaust work is easy DIY.
Or Rangers would be cheaper.

You like Mazda? Some are essentially Rangers.
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3401943209.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3372138286.html
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3365210192.html
http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/3403281320.html
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3353491230.html
http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/3385889462.html
http://reading.craigslist.org/cto/3388852209.html

Anyway, point made. They are out there. Don't dismiss the truck idea with a quick "I'm not a truck guy" reflex. Sounds like your second vehicle makes it at least a four vehicle household. What makes best sense?

add_lightness

28th November 2012, 17:51

Anyway, point made. They are out there. Don't dismiss the truck idea with a quick "I'm not a truck guy" reflex. Sounds like your second vehicle makes it at least a four vehicle household. What makes best sense?

Thanks for the effort, RubyDoo. Honestly, I really dislike trucks (even though all the wannabe redneck kids here love them, ha), however I can't say I've ever driven one of the mini trucks, and I do think they're kind of cool, especially with a manual. My dad had an 85 S10 until I was about 10 years old, and I loved that thing back then.

However, I doubt my dad will let me buy a small, old, rwd pickup for winter. We have an 02 F150 rwd that really is useless in the snow, and that has really cemented his perception that driving rwd in the snow is about the stupidest thing one can do. I had a hard enough time convincing him that the miata's perfect balance and 50/50 weight would be adequate in the snow, and he's still skeptical. So I don't think he'd buy into a little rwd pickup with no weight in the back and loading it up with sandbags or whatever.

Also, a second car for me would be our fifth, and like I said we have a truck, so its not like we could use one. There's also an elantra and a minivan. So, realistically, a car would be most logical for me/us. I'd like to stick to rear and maybe all wheel drive, for the fun factor, and I'll broaden my search some, but I still like entertaining the idea of another miata.

Also, this isn't a must for me, I can keep driving my miata if I want, but the more I read m.net, the more paranoid i get that all I'll have left in the spring is a pile of rust :cry:

Thanks for the help though!

RubyDoo

29th November 2012, 02:18

MX5MKE

1st December 2012, 14:50

When you say "Winter Beater", one word IMMEDIATELY comes to mind:

H U M M E R

Rest assured, it'll handle a "dusting" of snow.