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07-07-2008, 10:51 AM | #1 |
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Winter Beater Recs...
Hi everyone,
I'm putting this post in the "Maintenance" section since I'm absolutely convinced that our harsh New England Winters and even harsher pot-holed New England roads have taken the biggest mechanical tolls on my soon to be traded-in '01 330I. When looking to get a 135, I'm seriously wondering if I should buy a winter beater to keep the little coupe in tip-top shape. Any super cheap, reliable recs for the following? - 4 doors - Preferably wagon or small vanlet, something with utility - High quality, low repair costs - FWD manditory, AWD desirable but not essential. Should be good in snow with all seasons and certainly Winter tires... Something like a Suzuki SX4 would be perfect, but it's too new and expensive. A Suzuki Aerio Wagon would also do the trick (I'm thinking Suzuki due to poor depreciation and long warranties). Maybe an old AWD Mazda MPV? Other suggestions? |
07-07-2008, 11:07 AM | #2 |
Major General
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Unless you are getting a very good trade-in price for your 330i, have you considered keeping it as a second car? I've been lucky enough to have a '99 328i to use as a daily driver (winter tires mounted Dec. thru March) so my fun car (Z3, then Z4 now a 128i 'vert) stays in the garage in bad weather.
I would guess that the 330i would only bring $9~10k as a trade and on the principle of "better the devil I know", might work out better for you than spending $5k on a beater. Tom K. |
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07-07-2008, 11:11 AM | #3 | |
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Quote:
Keeping the 330I was my initial plan but the repair hits on the car have been too frequent of late (Q3mo) and too costly (multiple $K's) despite obsessive care. I have to go in a different direction for my wallet... |
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07-07-2008, 11:29 AM | #4 |
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http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9916
Try this car on for size. It has me considering a purchase. I have always been of the mind that it does not pay to: 1. Maintain two cars 2. pay insurance for two cars 3. pay registation for two cars 4. get two cars inspected 5. Why buy a great car and not drive it all the time? But, the Buick they discuss in the above post has me thinking twice. |
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07-07-2008, 12:25 PM | #5 |
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If you run actual numbers on the cost to keep 2 cars versus how much you'll save by not running up miles on your 1 series, what you find is you need to run the beater and sell the 1 series. (but wait.. damn)
Actually, I bought the cold weather package and I'm certainly going to get some use out of it. |
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07-07-2008, 01:06 PM | #7 |
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any old Subaru wagon would fit the bill perfectly. Any late 90s Impreza should sell for pretty cheap. If you want a newer model look at the 2005-06 Saab 9-2x. It is the same thing in a nicer package and cheaper price.
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07-07-2008, 03:27 PM | #8 | |
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Quote:
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07-07-2008, 04:49 PM | #9 |
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That's what I was thinking. As long as you don't go with a turbo'ed version, the little 4-cylinder engines should be quite reliable (I think).
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07-07-2008, 06:07 PM | #10 |
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1. Maintain two cars
-----Lower Usage = Lower Maitenance >>>> this maybe a wash. 2. pay insurance for two cars -----Vehicle not in use gets deactivated = low insurance >>>>> No deactivation in the USA 3. pay registation for two cars -----I think I can spare the extra $78 / yr >>>>> I'm glad you can pay the $78, I was just adding to the list. 4. get two cars inspected -----No inspections here >>>>> We have inspections here 5. Why buy a great car and not drive it all the time? -----Why buy a great car and drive it in snow that is deeper than the lip?? I'm keeping my jeep for the deep stuff, probably get winters on the 135i for more reasonable winter days... >>>>> I live near Philadelphia. Not more the a weeks worth of problem driving for the entire Winter season. If I;m spending $40K for a car why not drive it everyday. With the proper tires it will go through most Winter conditions. And if its too deep, nobody is on the road anyway. You make some valid points but most are country specific. |
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07-07-2008, 06:50 PM | #11 |
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Not that I would ever be allowed to own two cars :wink: but I would be asking about how many months you're going to have to use the Beater. If it's two or three months, and the beater is comfortable and safe enough, go for it, much longer then I would be missing my 1er too much.
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07-09-2008, 11:06 AM | #12 |
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I have some of the same questions about whether the beater is worth doing, with the added bonus of a lease excess mileage calculation. I'm allowed 12,000mi/yr, but I've only had the car for about 6 and a half weeks, with 2600mi on the odo already. (don't want to hear the lectures on buying vs. leasing - wasn't anticipating putting this many miles on the car, guess I'm just excited to drive).
Would getting the beater vs. just setting up the one for the winter (snow tires and set of winter rims) make sense. Another thing to throw into the mix - I might consider buying out my lease at the end of 3 yrs. Better to go ahead and put on the miles and save $$ on excess mileage and also buying the car out, but being at close to the warranty end, with the anticipated rise in maintainence costs, or to get the beater, and buy out a low mileage one with less mileage on a turbo? (BTW - the reliability issue for the turbos is the reason I leased in the 1st place) |
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07-09-2008, 11:30 AM | #13 |
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I made this decision 6 years ago when I took delivery of my new 325 coupe. I bought a set of Winter rims, tires, Winter mats and BMW wheel covers. Total cost was $1100 delivered. 6 years later and I could still get another Winter out of my snows on those rims and my car still looks great.
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07-09-2008, 12:15 PM | #14 |
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I bought a 1989 Full Size Bronco Eddie Bauer for $900 5 years ago, costs me 500/yr insurance, is GREAT for working on the house, and goes thru ANYTHING. I know its a gas sucker, but I never drive it only in bad weather and doing dirty jobs. No more than a couple of repairs not much to talk about and starts everytime I need her. Every year I say I'm getting a plow for her, but I never do, but could make $$ with it if I was more aggresive.
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