Every year I see some guy driving a classic in the snow. Usually not a high end car, but still something that should be put away for the season. Todays sighting was a 70-72 flat black or charcoal Duster...on a night where I had sat in 2 traffic jams, one watching and ambulance trying to navigate through totally blocked traffic, on slush covered ice...then onward to a country road closure (3rd accident) where i had to take an old goat path home...1st snow and people drive like its June...
My ride isnt finished and I have a company vehicle, so I dont need a winter beater, but for those that do; What do you drive all winter long? A decent vehicle, or total cheap-heap?
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Tom Laughlin "Billy Jack" RIP - a true Hollywood hero
Got the good old reliable '94 Corolla, had it for 6 winters and it's ready for this one at only 134 k's, it's got a few more winters in it. If the body holds up, it's got the typical cancer, and I have no time or desire to repair it.
No winter beater now, drive the wifes minivan (2005 Chevy)...Some of my past winter beaters would be classics today
61 Comet..$100 64 Impala SS convertible..$250 68 Beaumont, 2 of them..$50 and traded for a stereo 66 Dodge Coronet 500 conv...$600 73 Challenger...$500
They rot out bad but a amc eagle cant be beat , good power not bad fuel economy an cheap to fix . My tow vehicle is an 01 grand cherokee ltd editon 60 th ann edition . its getting up there an starting to show it , loaded , pulls like a freight train . the winter beater I just got 98 crv 218 k,s 1800 on kijiji , have about 2400 into it now , way better mileage then the jeep , but cant pull as much ha ha Jeep handles better in the winter weather at 4,466 lbs , crv feels like half that weight and can be a bit skittish ..77.
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I,m as cool as Milner , but axeually a bit more like Beckwith
Just bought a 2007 Chev Impala LS. BORING but a solid car. Scrapped my 2003 Cadillac STS in favour of the 16,800km Impala. I wore the Caddy out. A sad day. What a great car.
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Member of Brantford Piston Pushers and a Disciple of Speed of the E.L.T.A.
my condolences chris you were always the cadillac guy to me. the jimmy i have replaced a 99 grand cherokee limited edition that my wife flipped into a ditch. i liked the cherokee better then the jimmy, only thing that surprised me was that the jeep was a unibody. at least i kept the good stuff off the jeep ie electric seat for the rat rod.
Just bought a 2007 Chev Impala LS. BORING but a solid car. Scrapped my 2003 Cadillac STS in favour of the 16,800km Impala. I wore the Caddy out. A sad day. What a great car.
Wow a 07 low miles Impala is a pretty sweet "winter beater"
Guy here in town drives his 64 Pontiac laurention all yr. more door sedan,283 P/G Socks the $hit out of it with oil & grease over the chrome!! heard it was his Dad's car & it's just a 'beater' or a car to him!!! I've seen it since 1972 when I moved here!!!!
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I can only please one person a day, Today is not your day!!Tomorrow doesn't look good either !!!!
I keep seeing a few guys driving around in their new v8 mustangs with mods. Apparentely they don't see the salt on the road and are to dumb/careless to know what it does to their car.
favorite winter beater. Could be in the Old Cop Car thread as well.
OK tell "me" all about it I gotta know.........
It's gone but not forgotten. '93 Caprice 9C1. Ex detectives car. It was never a marked cruiser but had the WigWag head and tail lights. Dark Cherry Metalic is the factory colour. Originally had a TBI350, but I swapped in an LT1 from a '94 Caprice. 700R4 trans, 3.42 G80 disk brake rear, '94 Impala SS grille, spoiler and 1/4 glass. Lowered suspension, 17" wheels for summers. Bought it with 140k on it, sold it 3 years ago now with 340k. There is/was actually quite a following of these cars. Had a few meets and met a bunch of enthusiasts over the time I had that car.
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There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.”
Likely can't afford another car after buying the mustang?? To some it's "Just a Car"
Thats a very good point. But probably "just a car" like you said. You should try and buy the pontiac or trade him another "car" for it lol.
I really don't NEED or Want another 64 Pontiac!! especially a base model 4 dr sedan & a "pukey beige" colour to boot, Just not a cool car, & no value either. Pete
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I can only please one person a day, Today is not your day!!Tomorrow doesn't look good either !!!!
favorite winter beater. Could be in the Old Cop Car thread as well.
OK tell "me" all about it I gotta know.........
It's gone but not forgotten. '93 Caprice 9C1. Ex detectives car. It was never a marked cruiser but had the WigWag head and tail lights. Dark Cherry Metalic is the factory colour. Originally had a TBI350, but I swapped in an LT1 from a '94 Caprice. 700R4 trans, 3.42 G80 disk brake rear, '94 Impala SS grille, spoiler and 1/4 glass. Lowered suspension, 17" wheels for summers. Bought it with 140k on it, sold it 3 years ago now with 340k. There is/was actually quite a following of these cars. Had a few meets and met a bunch of enthusiasts over the time I had that car.
What do you call your truck ? A winter, spring, summer, fall beater ???
Just bought a 2007 Chev Impala LS. BORING but a solid car. Scrapped my 2003 Cadillac STS in favour of the 16,800km Impala. I wore the Caddy out. A sad day. What a great car.
Wow a 07 low miles Impala is a pretty sweet "winter beater"
I literally wear my daily drivers out. Its a shame to own a nice car but starting out with something like this will get me 3 or 4 years without braking the bank. My Caddy was an $84,000.00 car when new. I paid $17,000 for it in '07 with 90,000 km on it. It was only worth 500 bucks by the time I was done with it. At least I'm not into this Impala for a ton of dough so it shouldn't hurt as much when I'm through with it.
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Member of Brantford Piston Pushers and a Disciple of Speed of the E.L.T.A.
"Just a car"?! Is this phrase allowed on a car enthusiast site? I feel faint............
I have to admit, I am guilty of the "just a car" frame of mind ...
I've had the "nice paint and polished engine" deal before and I can honestly say I am getting a lot more enjoyment out of my present car that has dull paint, the entire engine painted/no chrome or polished aluminum, late thirties coupe than I did with the "nice" car. My attitude now is basically this ... "it really is just a car" and that allows me to drive it anywhere I want regardless of the weather conditions (I do drive it in the winter when the roads are dry but I must admit I won't drive it when the roads are sloppy). Dirt/gravel roads? No problem, I have four fenders and REALLY cheap paint (so chips/dings are not an issue). Cold out? I have a heater. Piss pouring rain? I've got fenders, a roof and wipers (vacuum wipers still too). Need to haul something to the dump? I have a trailer hitch. I don't really feel I am abusing the car ... just using the hell out of it .
I'm ok with never winning a trophy and I'm ok with people thinking I'm an idiot for using it like I do (or getting to know me and KNOWING I'm an idiot ) .... 'cause after all ... (to me at least) it really IS "just a car".
It's ok, I'll show myself out (making sure the door hits me in the a$$ )
-- Edited by Pint and a Pound on Thursday 6th of December 2012 01:14:15 AM
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If at first you don't succeed you do have options ... lower your standards or just plain quit are the two I usually choose from :)
Here's my winter beater, 96 Marquis, rear cat delete, h-pipe, single chamber flowmasters with turndowns that keep getting me pulled over lol, stupid dark tint, lowered 2" all around, and a hypertech programmer....car was 500.00, lowering was via cut off wheel, exhaust was paid for by selling the rear cats, tint done by a buddy, programmer was 50$ off kijiji, needed an intake when i bought it, so maybe 1000.00 in it, AC blows cold, its runs excellent, and doesn't seem to require oil changes as its been 30k since the last one....I love beaters...
I really don't NEED or Want another 64 Pontiac!! especially a base model 4 dr sedan & a "pukey beige" colour to boot, Just not a cool car, & no value either. Pete
I'd take it if the guy ever decides to sell it. Would make a neat little sleeper with the right amount of work. Could be fun.
Nope, not broken....and why? Cause I drive it year round, and I like low? In the winter I run a 225/70/15 snow tire so its sits up a bit higher then that..... its a beater that I didn't think would live long, but I have put 30+ k on it and had zero issues. With the sticky summer tires it actually turns corners pretty good....no idea why I do the dumb things I do....mostly out of boredom.....
"Just a car"?! Is this phrase allowed on a car enthusiast site? I feel faint............
I have to admit, I am guilty of the "just a car" frame of mind ...
I've had the "nice paint and polished engine" deal before and I can honestly say I am getting a lot more enjoyment out of my present car that has dull paint, the entire engine painted/no chrome or polished aluminum, late thirties coupe than I did with the "nice" car. My attitude now is basically this ... "it really is just a car" and that allows me to drive it anywhere I want regardless of the weather conditions (I do drive it in the winter when the roads are dry but I must admit I won't drive it when the roads are sloppy). Dirt/gravel roads? No problem, I have four fenders and REALLY cheap paint (so chips/dings are not an issue). Cold out? I have a heater. Piss pouring rain? I've got fenders, a roof and wipers (vacuum wipers still too). Need to haul something to the dump? I have a trailer hitch. I don't really feel I am abusing the car ... just using the hell out of it .
I'm ok with never winning a trophy and I'm ok with people thinking I'm an idiot for using it like I do (or getting to know me and KNOWING I'm an idiot ) .... 'cause after all ... (to me at least) it really IS "just a car".
It's ok, I'll show myself out (making sure the door hits me in the a$$ )
-- Edited by Pint and a Pound on Thursday 6th of December 2012 01:14:15 AM
I'm really starting to identify with this sentement. I have no use for the likes of the "million dollar garage" concept. Sure, these cars are great looking but far too valuable to use. Likewise, the show quality hot rods & street rods etc. beautiful cars, love to see them but don't want to own one. Don't want the washing, waxing & polishing or fears of scratches, stone chips, dirt roads, pot holes etc.
these days, I'm starting to like the patina cars and drivers. The rat craze of being the most radical and ugly drives me nuts, but somewhere in between is catching my eye.
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Tom Laughlin "Billy Jack" RIP - a true Hollywood hero
nope, not much avail fir the panther platform, thats slightly exagerated in the pic, i did a home made shift kit the week after that pic was taken, and while it was in the air loosened off the upper ball joints and gave
it a tug until it was maxed out, so it took a bit of the negative camber out, eyeballed i straight and tightened everything back up. that was about 20k ago and when i took the tires off for winternthey are evenly worn
and look good lol....more bull**** luck then anything....
always....lol. i went camping this summer, and it was loaded to the teeth, they were doingnroadwork and laying gravel, i dragged for about 20k, as far as i was concernered lanark county owes me money for road leveling. yah, any major dips etc, it does a nice gentle "woompf".....im used to it.....and it really freaks out passengers.
"Just a car"?! Is this phrase allowed on a car enthusiast site? I feel faint............
I have to admit, I am guilty of the "just a car" frame of mind ...
I've had the "nice paint and polished engine" deal before and I can honestly say I am getting a lot more enjoyment out of my present car that has dull paint, the entire engine painted/no chrome or polished aluminum, late thirties coupe than I did with the "nice" car. My attitude now is basically this ... "it really is just a car" and that allows me to drive it anywhere I want regardless of the weather conditions (I do drive it in the winter when the roads are dry but I must admit I won't drive it when the roads are sloppy). Dirt/gravel roads? No problem, I have four fenders and REALLY cheap paint (so chips/dings are not an issue). Cold out? I have a heater. Piss pouring rain? I've got fenders, a roof and wipers (vacuum wipers still too). Need to haul something to the dump? I have a trailer hitch. I don't really feel I am abusing the car ... just using the hell out of it .
I'm ok with never winning a trophy and I'm ok with people thinking I'm an idiot for using it like I do (or getting to know me and KNOWING I'm an idiot ) .... 'cause after all ... (to me at least) it really IS "just a car".
It's ok, I'll show myself out (making sure the door hits me in the a$$ )
Okay so I was being a little too dramatic. I just figured most of us have an affection for our automobiles above and beyond the "normal" people. I wish I could treat even my daily driver as "just a car" but I can't. I won't even leave my lawn tractor in the rain!
But there really are folks out there that couldn't tell you what make, model and year of car they drive. The guy that works for me is one of them. Blows my mind.
As for the old cars...I drive mine...a lot...heading to the East Coast for the Atlantic Nationals is no short drive and you sure can't bank on the weather or traffic.
I can't say that phrase works for me. Sorry.
Chris
-- Edited by Pint and a Pound on Thursday 6th of December 2012 01:14:15 AM
I'm really starting to identify with this sentement. I have no use for the likes of the "million dollar garage" concept. Sure, these cars are great looking but far too valuable to use. Likewise, the show quality hot rods & street rods etc. beautiful cars, love to see them but don't want to own one. Don't want the washing, waxing & polishing or fears of scratches, stone chips, dirt roads, pot holes etc. these days, I'm starting to like the patina cars and drivers. The rat craze of being the most radical and ugly drives me nuts, but somewhere in between is catching my eye.
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Member of Brantford Piston Pushers and a Disciple of Speed of the E.L.T.A.
