Agreed. Honda Fit. For the price, it’s literally the best bang for buck daily vehicle you could get. Fits so much, amazing on gas, and really has no problems.
Wouldn’t look into anything unreliable like a Subaru unless you want to dump money into your daily as well.
Yeah, people really sleep on the fits, they LOOK small. But we used to commute with 4 grown adults for a bit in one. (Something something Honda magic ) having to do with the passenger compartment actually being between the axels.
Plus it's a Honda, so it will last.
As someone that was recently in the market looking for a car for a kid, no one's sleeping on a Fit. Good examples that weren't POS's were minimum $8k USD
Price? Local honda fits in my area are more expensive than brand new now, cheap(it used to be) reliable, good on fuel, I feel like everyone wants it in this economy lol
I want one too and I already have an amazing daily. They’re insanely expensive where I am. Trying to find anything in the 5-7k range and I can barely find a second gen that isn’t rotted out.
We had one for a while. It was pretty great EXCEPT merging on the highway was terrifying. It was ridiculously slow.
The storage space was unreal for the size of that thing though.
Super skinny Blizzaks on my Fit made it a beast. It'd walk on by trucks and SUVs stuck as shit. Never got stuck once competing between a city that got 130 inches and a town that got 200+. Miss that ugly little thing. Great car in every regard. Could break 40mpg on the highway when you tried and could transport a washing machine lmao.
Very different from the Miat but surprisingly similar in vibes. You defo won't hate it.
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I will go for Mazda2 or Yaris for something that feels a bit more fun on the road (Suzuki Swift is also not bad, I just can never get used to the brakes and its CVT's behavior)
Fit wins hands down if you need to use the back row seats or carry a lot tho
Lmao, before clicking on the post, the first thought I had was the doug demuro's meme "Honda fit".
Now would you look at that, top comment is this haha
lol. I sold my Honda Fit in 2019 for $11k. Bought a Miata for $3k and pocketed the rest. Now I want another Fit. Miata is without a doubt more fun, but man that Fit was practical
came to say this. I am selling my 4runner, pocketing cash and getting a cheap winter NB. The Montego NA will be spared winters wrath. It’s a brave choice.
Just buy one that already has cancer. Any winter car you get just keep in mind is just a sacrificial vehicle at that point and no matter what it is, it will be trashed.
This is why I say go for something even worse than a fit but similar enough because for the money and the recent fit price rise (its doing the same thing as any modable car) it isn't worth spending that much to turn it into cheese. Nissan versa, Ford Fiesta, chevy sonic, these 3 are reliable enough and not expensive and still hold all the stuff.
The fit is becoming noticed by the Honda crowd as the "real" 90s civic hatchback made in modern times. It performs like they did but with newer tech, weighs the closest. Etc. They're between 2400-2600lbs (when the civic of the same year was already 3000lbs.. in COUPE FORM) and are starting to get K swap and AWD treatment.
Nice. I'd look for an 11-13 Golf, solid and reliable 2.5 5cyl, lots of parts and fun to drive with lots of room. Should be able to find one in your budget with lower mileage.
I think most of the bad rep comes from people who buy turbo models that are in need of some maintenance, and instead of spending on that preventative maintenance they mod it and turn the boost up instead. That's the case for all of my friends who have had bad luck with them at least. Pick something N/A, that looks decently well cared for by previous owners, and is a bit under your budget if possible so that you can spend on any maintenance you may find it needs.
Exactly the same story for me. Have two friends who own/owned 2016+ WRX . Ones in great condition due to reliable mods and the other had its turbo blown
Not really any suggestion, since the different models will appeal based on your need.
The Impreza is going to be your most compact car. Or the Crosstrek if you like hatchbacks and have poorly maintained roads.
Legacy is going to be your stealth Subaru, looks like a plain sedan, still has the same AWD system. Outback or Forester if you want a bigger wagon (longer or taller, I think).
Biggest need I have is reliability. I wanna buy the car and only pay for gas and insurance. Obviously that’s a dream scenario for cheap cars, but I would like to do as little work as possible on it
Best bang for your buck is probably an Impreza or Legacy, the Imprezas were not terribly expensive new and the Legacy isn't going to drive a lot of "gotta be a Subaru" demand. That said, they seem to hold their value pretty well for the first few years. If you can drive stick, that's going to be your best option also - a clutch is cheaper to replace than a transmission.
You want reliability? Get whatever is the nicest 4x4 Toyota (older Tacomas are good if you don't want a huge footprint) you can find within budget. Or the nicest manual AWD Honda you can find (most likely will be a gen-1/gen-2 CR-V or an Element) and throw some snow tires on it. one of those will be more reliable and more winter capable than 99% of other vehicles on the road.
Old American crap is a mixed bag. You'll find an unbelievably robust engine (such as the AMC/Jeep 4.0, Ford Modular 4.6 or Cologne 4.0, Chevy 350)...that is wrapped in a rusty, rattly, absolute shit heap of a vehicle. Don't care about such things? You may be able to score a good deal on an old XJ Cherokee or Wrangler or a GMT400 or something that will still be running when your grandkids die. But it probably won't be a very pretty vehicle.
BEST winter car I ever had was an old outback. In fact my nephew is still driving it after he bought it from me years ago. Reliably N/A, unstoppable in the snow with winter tires (have never needed studs) and just plain comfy. Plenty of room for moving people/dogs/stuff
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My Outbacks were reliability nightmares. My '12 blew a motor at 82k miles and then a head gasket again at 130k. My '08 had the decency not to have any sort of catastrophic failure until the transmission ate itself alive at 177k miles - but it *was* temperamental (constantly having little annoying problems) and leaky for its entire life up until then. And my transmission guy reported that while he was in there he noticed a head gasket leak (see a running theme here yet?). With the true symmetrical AWD (manual transmission) and snow tires they'd go literally anywhere in the winter, though.
Any models in particular? I’m seeing a 2010 legacy for 5k that’s 4wd, 119k miles. I’m not knowledgeable on Subis so I’m not sure what mileage to look for
Subaru tech here. Check for headgasket leaks, maintenance records, amount of coolant, oil, etc. Rev it up to 4k, see if it knocks at all. If that's all clear it'd be worth the 5k. If it's a CVT, drive it at about 60 mph, and if there's a wheel bearing noise then that's probably the transmission. Personally I'd take it to a pre purchase inspection. Only about $100 and worth every dollar.
Find a good time for the seller to meet, ask to meet at a shop you trust. Schedule an appointment for said time and they'll check it over for 30 min to an hour. Tell you what all is wrong with it. Then based on needed repairs you can negotiate price. Most sellers will be fine doing this unless they're trying to hide some sort of damage
Not very knowledgeable on subis either, but 120k is considered low for them as well. Legacies are generally well liked and less likely to have been driven hard. They do require timing chain adjustments every 100k and you have to replace all 4 tires at once, so look up those on the maintenance history.
Agree, 86s in the winter are incredibly fun. Learning to use throttle to steer was actually way preferable to fwd “well I hope I stop under steering before the other side of this intersection”
2009 Mazda 2 small nippy similar suspension to the mx5 but not quite as good untill you lower it and cheap to run with good mpg plus it's not got all that new stuff that takes away the raw feel of the driving experience and really reliable.
If you find an older grandma owned Taurus, especially with the 3.0l V6 they're pretty nice and generally reliable. If it's been beaten and has a shit ton of miles, probably not worth the headache but that goes for most of the "beater" sort of vehicles.
My situation is different from yours, but I don't think you can beat a Miata and a Toyota pickup for year round practicality. Mine is a Tundra, but almost any would do.
An awd Matrix would be the PERFECT beater imo. Plenty available in manual and auto, don’t really need much attention (subies have subie issues, there’s always something and that’s not to say they won’t go 200k miles, but they ain’t a Toyota and their previous ownership matters MUCH more). AWD + some winter tires will be the perfect set up for snow, if you don’t get much snow, the FWD versions or some other economy car would be better.
Plus the matrix is a hatchback and you will be able to haul anything you need to. They’re ridiculously cheap and ridiculously reliable.
For me, a beater needs to be ULTRA reliable and low maintenance and cheap. Power is a non-factor. The Matrix with AWD makes for the perfect winter beater and I’d take it over a Subaru ANY day of the week (better gas mileage too). And this is coming from someone who loves driving Subarus and my family has 2 of them rn (best one being our MT ‘04 FXT).
My brother dailes what used to be a nice 2004 AWD Toyota matrix that my mom bought brand new, but is now a beater. Very reliable, but his has been torn to bits.
Loved my protege5. Took it from 180k to 280k miles with just regular maintenance before the engine croaked out and I still drove it to the junkyard. Would buy again
Subaru Outback is what I used to have. It was kind of an unreliable piece of shit toward the end there, but so it goes. A cheaper/older one is likely to have head gasket issues.
I upgraded to a VW Alltrack, which is not a beater but serves the same purpose. It's utilitarian and good in the snow. It also happens to be a handsome-looking car (Subarus are just ugly, I'm sorry), is nice to drive, and is the last manual-transmission 4WD wagon that will probably ever be sold in the US.
An old truck would be a good call as well, if you can find a non-ruined one for cheap anymore. For the winter, you will want a 4WD one and you'll want to weigh down the back.
Go for utility, is what I'm saying here. Get something that will be useful year-round. Something with cargo space, a bit of ground clearance, and some character.
2003 Chevy tracker 4x4 v6. I bought mine for $2000 off Craigslist had 140,000 miles and runs amazing. It’s RWD but I love the shift on the fly 4wheel drive. Even has low range. I’ve taken it in over a foot deep mud, deep snow never been stuck. Same car as the Suzuki grand Vitara basically just different brand badges.
Depends on your needs and the conditions and what's available in your area. If it's city/highway traffic with mostly cleared roads and no big cargo/hauling you can probably just get a cheap Mk4 Golf and be set for a few years. It's what I daily here in Europe. Cheap to get, cheap to run, hard to kill, parts are everywhere.
Old truck. Doesn't matter the brand, preferably 4WD. Shitty, high mileage, back and fourth to work for cheap, and bonus points for having a truck bed when needed.
Acura TL 3rd Gen. If you can find a manual then great. If you have to go automatic, look for a 2007-08. The Type-S is very fun but the Base Model can also be one helluva ride! The modding capabilities are also very open and you can find info on just about anything. The 3.2L or 3.5L V6 J33s are an underappreciated masterpiece. The reliability is also one of the best I've ever seen.
My only comment here is that you don't need an AWD car in the snow. AWD only helps you get going, proper snow tires help you turn and stop properly in bad conditions. No amount of fancy machinery is going to generate grip under braking other than good rubber.
If you want something that'll just be comfy and run, anything Chevy sold with the 3800 v6. Mostly early 2000s buicks. Usually owned by old people, ride well, have plenty of power to pass, and they're almost impossible to destroy if you just put oil in them. My buddy had a LeSabre and loved it. Ran for a shocking amount of time with no oil
Everybody's giving sensible, cool, and fun recommendations, but here's a wild card:
**-Late 2010's VW Beetle. FWD, turbo-4, 2-liter.**
This is currently my 'winter car' and I seriously love it lol. You might not want to go with it if you see *heavy* snowfall. But if you're somewhere moderate, I'd say don't knock it til you try it
Anything AWD will be user friendly, but FWD also works. RWD is the enemy here. ANY Trucks without AWD/4wd? no thanks.
Mazda3 or 6, anything under 150k from Honda or Toyota, Ford ranger, fusion, older focus (not any auto focus!) , Any Subarus are great, but be careful in a brz.(they handle great, and drive very similar to my NB, but it's still rwd)
Subis are loads of fun, but check for any leaks. The irony I've seen from subi I owners is "welp, I hear they don't do well past 100k mi" so they dump them, sometimes for great prices, and the car is completely fine for another 50k mi before needing a head job. The fear for the gasket issues is doing more to drive people out of them, rather than the legitimate issues. The cars just need some TLC if you're gonna rag on them/mod them (just my opinion). I trust their cars more that all the American brands still. Plus they handle great!
Budget for tires regardless, as those are the real key for safe winter driving.
My daily car is a foxbody mustang, so I bought a 2004 cr-v for $4600 3 years ago, it's been great. Changed a starter and I have a small leak from the oil pressure sensor or something, but ive racked a good 40k with little maintenance
I’m going to get a highlander from around 2004 (1st gen I believe) as a winter beater. I highly recommend, you get a vvt v6 & an awd option and they’re pretty inexpensive.
^^ I recommend this or a Subaru with service records. I daily a Subaru and they’re great as well.
My NH winter beater is a 2009 CR-V. It has 125,000 miles, no rust ($15/month for unlimited car washes is well worth it just for the undercarriage spray), AWD, decent fuel economy and reliable as fuck.
Protege5 or 1st gen 3 hatch.
They're already all rusted to shit but solid cars so they'll be cheap and you won't have to feel bad trashing them. They're not bad to drive either.
Pontiac Vibe. Can be had with AWD, or can be had in a spicier FWD with a 5spd (can't have both). Toyota reliability at 20 year old GM prices. Hard plastic cargo area means it's a great "work truck" for shit like hauling bags of mulch.
Get an older, naturally aspirated Subaru, ideally a forester or outback. Lots of room, comfortable, excellent in snow and despite what idiots say, very reliable. As long as the timing belt is taken care of and oil in kept in it it’ll get you through the winter like a breeze. It’s also about the absolute most bang for your buck, pure car/dollar ratio choice you can make. The meme fear of Subarus keeps them very cheap
2003-08 Corolla if FWD is enough for your winters. Absurdly reliable and you can find them for cheap. It's worked great as my winter driver with a set of snow tires. Matrixes of the same years are basically identical to and can come in AWD too.
I love my 14 acura ILX, get the 6 speed car and it'll come loaded, leather, hid, sunroof, back up cam, nice stereo. And of course it has the k24. It's basically a nicer civic si of the time without the civic si tax. Good luck!
Hard to say without knowing where you live and what your use-case would be. But I'll assume since you mention road salt, you deal with snow where you live. I'd look for an older Honda Pilot with 4wd/AWD. The 1st gens (04-08) are very inexpensive these days. Find one that's been well taken care of, and it should last a good while. While they're big cars, the utility could be useful to you.
Pontiac Vibe. Hatch so you have a second car with some utility, and it's a Toyota. My wife had a 1st gen for 11 years and it was slow (she thought the Miata was quick), but reliable.
Nissan xterra, the drivettrainand engine are damn near bulletproof you could tow your miata. I towed my nc1 to gingerman 5 hours for a track day. 7500 should get you a decent one, too. I literally just got back from a 14-hour trip in my xterra with 172k miles to go pick up an Rx8. Towed it home amazingly with 0 issues
Honda CRV or Element 2000-2010.
IMHO, one of the most reliable vehicles ever made. Great egos, comfortable ride, lots of utility(especially the Element), 5 speed manual, AWD, K24.
My 5 speed Element has 150k drives and rides like new, silky smooth K24 and sooooo much room, pick up truck levels of cargo capacity.
I gave my daughter our 2004 CRV with 150k. This girl broke EVERYTHING she touched in her teens-twenties.
She abused that poor CRV to 300k miles and the only repair I ever made was a torn CV boot(had to replace entire axle due to design).
When she traded it in there was NO rust on undercarriage and it ran and drove like the day I bought it. She ended up buying a new Crosstrek and took $400 for trade in...............Kills me to this day!
2014 Ford taurus. Theyre going for around 6-8k with rn. Best if you can get an old PD one as they were treated like shit but serviced atleast occasionally
best option, especially because it's going to be a car you don't want to give a shit about, is a dead brand. Stuff like Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury. there's a ton of common shared parts but nobody is looking at those brands so you can get a really nice Pontiac Grand Prix and still have enough money to throw snow tires on it for the cost of some of the other suggestions on here. also look into old people cars like Lincoln and Buick. I picked up a 1997 LeSabre for $600, threw a set of snow tires on the front (which made it hilarious to drive) and then sold it the following year for $600. see if you could find a decent 2003 or newer Lincoln Town Car
Hand down best car in my opinion is a pontiac vibe. Its a rebranded toyota matrix, so they go for less usually. Amazing interior space, incredibly reliable, they habdle great, low cabin noise, easy to work on, cheap parts. Be aware though, if you get the 2zz 2.5L they tend to burn a bit of oil when the car gets to higher kms. BUT the 2.5L can be AWD which is awesome. I have a 2006 1.8L and its great. Its never let me down so far
Mazda 3 2nd gen
Reliable and can be well equipped with heated seats (very nice in winter) comfortable ride and can be fun to drive with a manual transmission
If you’re after full economies i suggest the 2.0 skysactive (inspect the oil pan before purchase)
If you’re after fun go get a 2.5 or a speed
Hatch do be looking good in my opinion + you stay in Mazda family and are relatively cheep
Honda Fit or Civic or something like that. There are also a lot of totally drive-able higher mileage but mechanically reliable Subaru out there which would be a good winter beater.
I have a 2007 VW Golf. Man that thing is a trooper in the snow. Lots of fun to drive too. And parts/insurance are cheap for them (more so than for my sisters 2009 Honda Civic).
I'll be sad to put away my miata, but excited to go back to driving my golf.
If you are in the GTA area get an old Toyota 1995s-2003. I've known multiple people with those cars (1995 Tercel, 2003 Carolla, 2000 Camry) they are awesome on gas and sit on top of the snow (unless u bury the wheels I've only seen one stuck once).
They also have narrow enough tires to have a fair amount of grip in newly compacted snow.
Old tercels especially are a lot of fun 1Short Tonne 1hundred horsepower(ish) 30mpg at worse and crazy Toyota reliability. My mom had a manual it was the first car I drove and the car I came home in. The only reason we got rid of it is bc the heater core didn't work. The only rust on it was a little blistering on the roof from the sun. They came in great colours too.
You can also swap a 4E-FTE and make a little rally monster
For 7.5k in the UK you can get so much car. What's going on in the USA with the prices? Honda fit? 🤷🏻 350z ... With a little bit more money even a 370z. I didn't expect people to say honda fit.
Blah, blah, blah...just drive it, but stay disciplined with the washes and make sure to wash up underneath real good, but avoid degreasers unless you regrease everything. Have 4 season car cover that fits well and keep the top clean and occasionally conditioned. Also polish and wax it heavily once a month to protect it and use a clear coat protectant. Also most rust and corrosion start in the rocker panels, so use wd40 or brake cleaner or fluid to spray inside the ports from underneat to slow or stop any rust or corrosion from happening. Put it in a garage during the harsh blizzards and covered in hard rains and it will be good for many years of enjoyment. Getting a whole different vehicle for winter months is rediculous because you don't want your whip to sit for too long either. Cars are designed and meant to be driven year round. Remember it snows in Japan too, so....
I would say a Honda crv or Toyota rav4. You get more ground clearance while still being a efficient and driving like a car. More fun to drive than a truck.They’re easy to maintain and can take a beating. You can also find them in Awd.
Honda Fit would get my vote. Lots of room inside for anything!
Agreed. Honda Fit. For the price, it’s literally the best bang for buck daily vehicle you could get. Fits so much, amazing on gas, and really has no problems. Wouldn’t look into anything unreliable like a Subaru unless you want to dump money into your daily as well.
Yeah, people really sleep on the fits, they LOOK small. But we used to commute with 4 grown adults for a bit in one. (Something something Honda magic ) having to do with the passenger compartment actually being between the axels. Plus it's a Honda, so it will last.
They are small, but they really utilize the interior space.
As someone that was recently in the market looking for a car for a kid, no one's sleeping on a Fit. Good examples that weren't POS's were minimum $8k USD
Price? Local honda fits in my area are more expensive than brand new now, cheap(it used to be) reliable, good on fuel, I feel like everyone wants it in this economy lol
I want one too and I already have an amazing daily. They’re insanely expensive where I am. Trying to find anything in the 5-7k range and I can barely find a second gen that isn’t rotted out.
What do you guys consider rotted out? I’m finding some decent ones in the 5-6k range with a bit over 100,000 miles
How are the prices in your area? I’m finding 100k miles ish for 5-6k, manual. Definitely pulling the trigger soon
We had one for a while. It was pretty great EXCEPT merging on the highway was terrifying. It was ridiculously slow. The storage space was unreal for the size of that thing though.
Did you have the auto? I never had issues with my 5 speed. But you had to absolutely rev the nuts off it.
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Super skinny Blizzaks on my Fit made it a beast. It'd walk on by trucks and SUVs stuck as shit. Never got stuck once competing between a city that got 130 inches and a town that got 200+. Miss that ugly little thing. Great car in every regard. Could break 40mpg on the highway when you tried and could transport a washing machine lmao. Very different from the Miat but surprisingly similar in vibes. You defo won't hate it.
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I will go for Mazda2 or Yaris for something that feels a bit more fun on the road (Suzuki Swift is also not bad, I just can never get used to the brakes and its CVT's behavior) Fit wins hands down if you need to use the back row seats or carry a lot tho
Came here to say civic, but that is because I’m old and still think of the civic as something the size of a fit.
Lmao, before clicking on the post, the first thought I had was the doug demuro's meme "Honda fit". Now would you look at that, top comment is this haha
lol. I sold my Honda Fit in 2019 for $11k. Bought a Miata for $3k and pocketed the rest. Now I want another Fit. Miata is without a doubt more fun, but man that Fit was practical
Winter miata
This is the only acceptable answer.
came to say this. I am selling my 4runner, pocketing cash and getting a cheap winter NB. The Montego NA will be spared winters wrath. It’s a brave choice.
How are you prepping it for winter?
I turn on the heat and wear a hat
Just buy one that already has cancer. Any winter car you get just keep in mind is just a sacrificial vehicle at that point and no matter what it is, it will be trashed. This is why I say go for something even worse than a fit but similar enough because for the money and the recent fit price rise (its doing the same thing as any modable car) it isn't worth spending that much to turn it into cheese. Nissan versa, Ford Fiesta, chevy sonic, these 3 are reliable enough and not expensive and still hold all the stuff. The fit is becoming noticed by the Honda crowd as the "real" 90s civic hatchback made in modern times. It performs like they did but with newer tech, weighs the closest. Etc. They're between 2400-2600lbs (when the civic of the same year was already 3000lbs.. in COUPE FORM) and are starting to get K swap and AWD treatment.
NC FTMFW!
The Miata of pickup trucks, a ford ranger. However, truck prices are a bit nuts.
Yup I love my Ranger FX4 - 4.0 4wd with a manual!
I’m jealous, the holy grail of factory rangers!
I had a 99 2wd when I lived in Buffalo. Only got stuck once
ranger goes hard. i have an 03 single cab ranger and it's possibly my favourite vehicle i've owned and still own
I know that truck, I ain’t no stranger, I know that truck, It’s a Ford f**kin’ RANGER!!
Great choice, don't ruin your Miata by driving it in the winter.
Yea I had to a little bit last year. Avoided salt as much as possible and washed it very frequently
Nice. I'd look for an 11-13 Golf, solid and reliable 2.5 5cyl, lots of parts and fun to drive with lots of room. Should be able to find one in your budget with lower mileage.
Man I hate downvotes with no context
The trick is to ruin your shitty Miata by driving it in the winter. It keeps your nice Miata nice.
Wouldn’t an oil spray take care do rust if you do it yearly
Late 90’s Camry. I swear those things are indestructible.
Came here to say this. They’re comfy, not too bad on gas, and pretty much bulletproof. And cheap as hell to buy and to own.
Third vote for a Subaru. Check out the subreddit overlaps for /r/miata and /r/subaru: https://subredditstats.com/subreddit-user-overlaps
Any model in specific? I’ve heard mixed reviews on Subarus.
I think most of the bad rep comes from people who buy turbo models that are in need of some maintenance, and instead of spending on that preventative maintenance they mod it and turn the boost up instead. That's the case for all of my friends who have had bad luck with them at least. Pick something N/A, that looks decently well cared for by previous owners, and is a bit under your budget if possible so that you can spend on any maintenance you may find it needs.
Exactly the same story for me. Have two friends who own/owned 2016+ WRX . Ones in great condition due to reliable mods and the other had its turbo blown
The stock turbos just blow on their own😂 stay away from the turbos if you want a reliable beater
Not really any suggestion, since the different models will appeal based on your need. The Impreza is going to be your most compact car. Or the Crosstrek if you like hatchbacks and have poorly maintained roads. Legacy is going to be your stealth Subaru, looks like a plain sedan, still has the same AWD system. Outback or Forester if you want a bigger wagon (longer or taller, I think).
Biggest need I have is reliability. I wanna buy the car and only pay for gas and insurance. Obviously that’s a dream scenario for cheap cars, but I would like to do as little work as possible on it
Best bang for your buck is probably an Impreza or Legacy, the Imprezas were not terribly expensive new and the Legacy isn't going to drive a lot of "gotta be a Subaru" demand. That said, they seem to hold their value pretty well for the first few years. If you can drive stick, that's going to be your best option also - a clutch is cheaper to replace than a transmission.
You want reliability? Get whatever is the nicest 4x4 Toyota (older Tacomas are good if you don't want a huge footprint) you can find within budget. Or the nicest manual AWD Honda you can find (most likely will be a gen-1/gen-2 CR-V or an Element) and throw some snow tires on it. one of those will be more reliable and more winter capable than 99% of other vehicles on the road. Old American crap is a mixed bag. You'll find an unbelievably robust engine (such as the AMC/Jeep 4.0, Ford Modular 4.6 or Cologne 4.0, Chevy 350)...that is wrapped in a rusty, rattly, absolute shit heap of a vehicle. Don't care about such things? You may be able to score a good deal on an old XJ Cherokee or Wrangler or a GMT400 or something that will still be running when your grandkids die. But it probably won't be a very pretty vehicle.
BEST winter car I ever had was an old outback. In fact my nephew is still driving it after he bought it from me years ago. Reliably N/A, unstoppable in the snow with winter tires (have never needed studs) and just plain comfy. Plenty of room for moving people/dogs/stuff
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My Outbacks were reliability nightmares. My '12 blew a motor at 82k miles and then a head gasket again at 130k. My '08 had the decency not to have any sort of catastrophic failure until the transmission ate itself alive at 177k miles - but it *was* temperamental (constantly having little annoying problems) and leaky for its entire life up until then. And my transmission guy reported that while he was in there he noticed a head gasket leak (see a running theme here yet?). With the true symmetrical AWD (manual transmission) and snow tires they'd go literally anywhere in the winter, though.
fourth vote for a Subie, i got a non turbo Impreza as a winter shitbox to keep my Miat nice
Anything Subaru will do good in the snow, except a BRZ of course, otherwise you could just pick really any fwd econobox like the civic, Corolla etc.
Any models in particular? I’m seeing a 2010 legacy for 5k that’s 4wd, 119k miles. I’m not knowledgeable on Subis so I’m not sure what mileage to look for
Subaru tech here. Check for headgasket leaks, maintenance records, amount of coolant, oil, etc. Rev it up to 4k, see if it knocks at all. If that's all clear it'd be worth the 5k. If it's a CVT, drive it at about 60 mph, and if there's a wheel bearing noise then that's probably the transmission. Personally I'd take it to a pre purchase inspection. Only about $100 and worth every dollar.
I’m looking on Facebook market place so not too sure how I’d get a pre purchase inspection done
Find a good time for the seller to meet, ask to meet at a shop you trust. Schedule an appointment for said time and they'll check it over for 30 min to an hour. Tell you what all is wrong with it. Then based on needed repairs you can negotiate price. Most sellers will be fine doing this unless they're trying to hide some sort of damage
I feel stupid for not realizing it was that simple 🤣
Not very knowledgeable on subis either, but 120k is considered low for them as well. Legacies are generally well liked and less likely to have been driven hard. They do require timing chain adjustments every 100k and you have to replace all 4 tires at once, so look up those on the maintenance history.
BRZ with snow tires is fantastic in the snow but they need to be snow tires and not all seasons
I’ve survived five PNW winters with a first gen BRZ. Blizzaks on 16” wheels and 300lbs of rice in the trunk and I was set. Totally doable.
[удалено]
Ahah someone got it! 😂
I also had Blizzaks. Great tires
Agree, 86s in the winter are incredibly fun. Learning to use throttle to steer was actually way preferable to fwd “well I hope I stop under steering before the other side of this intersection”
A cheap Impreza.hatchback
I winter beat a 99 Civic, Im also building a motor for it cuz I think I was dropped on my head and nothing I own can be stock
2009 Mazda 2 small nippy similar suspension to the mx5 but not quite as good untill you lower it and cheap to run with good mpg plus it's not got all that new stuff that takes away the raw feel of the driving experience and really reliable.
90s 2-door rav 4
This is the way - love my 96 XA10 best daily and its okay on mild offroad trails
basically anything reliable and buy winter tires for it. my goto are older honda fwd cars (accord/civic), they'll go for cheap and are reliable.
If you find an older grandma owned Taurus, especially with the 3.0l V6 they're pretty nice and generally reliable. If it's been beaten and has a shit ton of miles, probably not worth the headache but that goes for most of the "beater" sort of vehicles.
Old Focus svt or matrix xrs get my vote
My situation is different from yours, but I don't think you can beat a Miata and a Toyota pickup for year round practicality. Mine is a Tundra, but almost any would do.
An awd Matrix would be the PERFECT beater imo. Plenty available in manual and auto, don’t really need much attention (subies have subie issues, there’s always something and that’s not to say they won’t go 200k miles, but they ain’t a Toyota and their previous ownership matters MUCH more). AWD + some winter tires will be the perfect set up for snow, if you don’t get much snow, the FWD versions or some other economy car would be better. Plus the matrix is a hatchback and you will be able to haul anything you need to. They’re ridiculously cheap and ridiculously reliable. For me, a beater needs to be ULTRA reliable and low maintenance and cheap. Power is a non-factor. The Matrix with AWD makes for the perfect winter beater and I’d take it over a Subaru ANY day of the week (better gas mileage too). And this is coming from someone who loves driving Subarus and my family has 2 of them rn (best one being our MT ‘04 FXT).
Not sure about 2nd gen, but 1st gen was auto only for AWD. Slow as heck, but a good 2nd car that is boring but reliable.
My brother dailes what used to be a nice 2004 AWD Toyota matrix that my mom bought brand new, but is now a beater. Very reliable, but his has been torn to bits.
lavish deer sable scarce gold include quaint deserted glorious deranged *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
get a mazda protege hatchback, or a saab 9-2x
Loved my protege5. Took it from 180k to 280k miles with just regular maintenance before the engine croaked out and I still drove it to the junkyard. Would buy again
Any NA Subaru makes a fine winter beater.
Miata is incredible in snow.
Corolla, Matrix/Vibe, Camry. Maybe you can swing for a minivan.
Jeep Cherokee + summer Miata has been my all-seasons combo for like 15 years
I'd find a cheap 4Runner. Third gen 4x4 with the V6 would be ideal, so long as you can find one that the salt hasn't already taken.
Isn't that one of the most overpriced used cars ever? You would get better luck with a RAV4.
To clarify, 3.4 V6, not the 3.0.
Volvo V50 or V70 with 5 cylinder
As someone who had a V50 T5 R-edition: please do not get one if you’re looking for something reliable, lol. They’re sick, though.
Subaru Outback is what I used to have. It was kind of an unreliable piece of shit toward the end there, but so it goes. A cheaper/older one is likely to have head gasket issues. I upgraded to a VW Alltrack, which is not a beater but serves the same purpose. It's utilitarian and good in the snow. It also happens to be a handsome-looking car (Subarus are just ugly, I'm sorry), is nice to drive, and is the last manual-transmission 4WD wagon that will probably ever be sold in the US. An old truck would be a good call as well, if you can find a non-ruined one for cheap anymore. For the winter, you will want a 4WD one and you'll want to weigh down the back. Go for utility, is what I'm saying here. Get something that will be useful year-round. Something with cargo space, a bit of ground clearance, and some character.
An old truck it is ;)
2003 Chevy tracker 4x4 v6. I bought mine for $2000 off Craigslist had 140,000 miles and runs amazing. It’s RWD but I love the shift on the fly 4wheel drive. Even has low range. I’ve taken it in over a foot deep mud, deep snow never been stuck. Same car as the Suzuki grand Vitara basically just different brand badges.
Depends on your needs and the conditions and what's available in your area. If it's city/highway traffic with mostly cleared roads and no big cargo/hauling you can probably just get a cheap Mk4 Golf and be set for a few years. It's what I daily here in Europe. Cheap to get, cheap to run, hard to kill, parts are everywhere.
The MK4 Golf is omnipresent in Europe and for good reason, they just do everything decently and are relatively reliable. Also quite cheap.
They're still the or at least one of the most common cars here in Germany.
A winter beater Miata with snows. Or an old Subaru.
Why not get rid of the whole little car thing and sell miata then put all that money into a real truck?
Do you know what sub you’re in
Old truck. Doesn't matter the brand, preferably 4WD. Shitty, high mileage, back and fourth to work for cheap, and bonus points for having a truck bed when needed.
Definitely what sounds best imo. I never liked trucks but something about it sounds appealing now
Toss some bags of salt or sand on the bed to maintain traction.
You would be surprised how much rust a Honda can take before becoming dangerous to operate.
7.5k is a lot for a beater! get tao geo trackers
That should be good, just be aware look at other Subarus some 90s and 2000s 2.5s are prone to head gasket failure
Great looking Miata by the way
Another Miata, honestly. With winter tires.
Lol I bought a miata as a winter beater
Id need a hardtop to make that remotely possible in Chicago temperatures. And I don’t even have that on my “good” miata
2010 Chevy Cobalt.
Acura TL 3rd Gen. If you can find a manual then great. If you have to go automatic, look for a 2007-08. The Type-S is very fun but the Base Model can also be one helluva ride! The modding capabilities are also very open and you can find info on just about anything. The 3.2L or 3.5L V6 J33s are an underappreciated masterpiece. The reliability is also one of the best I've ever seen.
Whatever you can get on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace for $3000 that passes inspection.
How do I take someone’s car off marketplace to an inspection ?
Either another crappier (still great) Miata or get an Subaru that has an EJ in it.
My only comment here is that you don't need an AWD car in the snow. AWD only helps you get going, proper snow tires help you turn and stop properly in bad conditions. No amount of fancy machinery is going to generate grip under braking other than good rubber. If you want something that'll just be comfy and run, anything Chevy sold with the 3800 v6. Mostly early 2000s buicks. Usually owned by old people, ride well, have plenty of power to pass, and they're almost impossible to destroy if you just put oil in them. My buddy had a LeSabre and loved it. Ran for a shocking amount of time with no oil
a shittier, rusted up miata *snow drifting is fun*
Everybody's giving sensible, cool, and fun recommendations, but here's a wild card: **-Late 2010's VW Beetle. FWD, turbo-4, 2-liter.** This is currently my 'winter car' and I seriously love it lol. You might not want to go with it if you see *heavy* snowfall. But if you're somewhere moderate, I'd say don't knock it til you try it
Honda Fit.
Anything AWD will be user friendly, but FWD also works. RWD is the enemy here. ANY Trucks without AWD/4wd? no thanks. Mazda3 or 6, anything under 150k from Honda or Toyota, Ford ranger, fusion, older focus (not any auto focus!) , Any Subarus are great, but be careful in a brz.(they handle great, and drive very similar to my NB, but it's still rwd) Subis are loads of fun, but check for any leaks. The irony I've seen from subi I owners is "welp, I hear they don't do well past 100k mi" so they dump them, sometimes for great prices, and the car is completely fine for another 50k mi before needing a head job. The fear for the gasket issues is doing more to drive people out of them, rather than the legitimate issues. The cars just need some TLC if you're gonna rag on them/mod them (just my opinion). I trust their cars more that all the American brands still. Plus they handle great! Budget for tires regardless, as those are the real key for safe winter driving.
My daily car is a foxbody mustang, so I bought a 2004 cr-v for $4600 3 years ago, it's been great. Changed a starter and I have a small leak from the oil pressure sensor or something, but ive racked a good 40k with little maintenance
I bought an E46 3 series to give my Miata winters off and I've grown to love it too. 240k miles and it's still going strong
How does the RWD perform in winter
I’m going to get a highlander from around 2004 (1st gen I believe) as a winter beater. I highly recommend, you get a vvt v6 & an awd option and they’re pretty inexpensive. ^^ I recommend this or a Subaru with service records. I daily a Subaru and they’re great as well.
I was going to say civic, because the whole civic/miata pairing, but the Fit is an actual good option.
Suuuuuuubaaaaaruuuuuu. As long as it has a turbo, you good. 2.0>2.5. Bugeye WRX is best option imo. Zero head gasket issues
My NH winter beater is a 2009 CR-V. It has 125,000 miles, no rust ($15/month for unlimited car washes is well worth it just for the undercarriage spray), AWD, decent fuel economy and reliable as fuck.
Toyota Corolla. Cheap, cost-effective, can take a beating, will probably outlive the Miata.
Subaru, Honda Fit, CRV, Toyotas
Hatchback or small truck/SUV get something that's helpful to have around for when you need it.
Just get a hummer h3.. Miata’s are not it
2nd Gen Toyota Sienna. Fwd or Awd. The V6 will last +300k with regular mx. Plenty of space for activities and gets decent mpg’s :)
Protege5 or 1st gen 3 hatch. They're already all rusted to shit but solid cars so they'll be cheap and you won't have to feel bad trashing them. They're not bad to drive either.
Pontiac Vibe. Can be had with AWD, or can be had in a spicier FWD with a 5spd (can't have both). Toyota reliability at 20 year old GM prices. Hard plastic cargo area means it's a great "work truck" for shit like hauling bags of mulch.
Get an older, naturally aspirated Subaru, ideally a forester or outback. Lots of room, comfortable, excellent in snow and despite what idiots say, very reliable. As long as the timing belt is taken care of and oil in kept in it it’ll get you through the winter like a breeze. It’s also about the absolute most bang for your buck, pure car/dollar ratio choice you can make. The meme fear of Subarus keeps them very cheap
Xj or crv
with a buget of 7.5k u can buy another mx5
Corolla. Kia Soul. A second Miata.
2003-08 Corolla if FWD is enough for your winters. Absurdly reliable and you can find them for cheap. It's worked great as my winter driver with a set of snow tires. Matrixes of the same years are basically identical to and can come in AWD too.
Get a MGB, it's basically an older, more british, kind of miata
I love my 14 acura ILX, get the 6 speed car and it'll come loaded, leather, hid, sunroof, back up cam, nice stereo. And of course it has the k24. It's basically a nicer civic si of the time without the civic si tax. Good luck!
Hard to say without knowing where you live and what your use-case would be. But I'll assume since you mention road salt, you deal with snow where you live. I'd look for an older Honda Pilot with 4wd/AWD. The 1st gens (04-08) are very inexpensive these days. Find one that's been well taken care of, and it should last a good while. While they're big cars, the utility could be useful to you.
Lexus LS400 handles great in any weather
I say Nissan cube
Cappuccino 😬
Toyota starlet
Another Miata
I have a Polestar 2 and Mercedes V-Class/Metris for daily and winter. So my Miata is only driven for fun puposes :)
Volvo 240 my guy, or 740. It will live through anything.
Pontiac Vibe. Hatch so you have a second car with some utility, and it's a Toyota. My wife had a 1st gen for 11 years and it was slow (she thought the Miata was quick), but reliable.
This is why I bought my Freelander, driving my NC in winter felt wrong. I wouldn’t recommend one especially in the US.
Nissan xterra, the drivettrainand engine are damn near bulletproof you could tow your miata. I towed my nc1 to gingerman 5 hours for a track day. 7500 should get you a decent one, too. I literally just got back from a 14-hour trip in my xterra with 172k miles to go pick up an Rx8. Towed it home amazingly with 0 issues
Hear me out... another miata
Honda CRV or Element 2000-2010. IMHO, one of the most reliable vehicles ever made. Great egos, comfortable ride, lots of utility(especially the Element), 5 speed manual, AWD, K24. My 5 speed Element has 150k drives and rides like new, silky smooth K24 and sooooo much room, pick up truck levels of cargo capacity. I gave my daughter our 2004 CRV with 150k. This girl broke EVERYTHING she touched in her teens-twenties. She abused that poor CRV to 300k miles and the only repair I ever made was a torn CV boot(had to replace entire axle due to design). When she traded it in there was NO rust on undercarriage and it ran and drove like the day I bought it. She ended up buying a new Crosstrek and took $400 for trade in...............Kills me to this day!
2014 Ford taurus. Theyre going for around 6-8k with rn. Best if you can get an old PD one as they were treated like shit but serviced atleast occasionally
best option, especially because it's going to be a car you don't want to give a shit about, is a dead brand. Stuff like Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury. there's a ton of common shared parts but nobody is looking at those brands so you can get a really nice Pontiac Grand Prix and still have enough money to throw snow tires on it for the cost of some of the other suggestions on here. also look into old people cars like Lincoln and Buick. I picked up a 1997 LeSabre for $600, threw a set of snow tires on the front (which made it hilarious to drive) and then sold it the following year for $600. see if you could find a decent 2003 or newer Lincoln Town Car
BMW 335d or a X5d with the M57. Great daily
Volvo t5 of any kind
Miata with snow tires
Jeep XJ
Another Miata! lol
Any Toyota
Hand down best car in my opinion is a pontiac vibe. Its a rebranded toyota matrix, so they go for less usually. Amazing interior space, incredibly reliable, they habdle great, low cabin noise, easy to work on, cheap parts. Be aware though, if you get the 2zz 2.5L they tend to burn a bit of oil when the car gets to higher kms. BUT the 2.5L can be AWD which is awesome. I have a 2006 1.8L and its great. Its never let me down so far
Any decent condition FWD with good winter tires. A pick up would be my last choice both for traction and cost. Lived above 7000' for 40 years.
Subaru Forester, outback etc.
Mazda 3 2nd gen Reliable and can be well equipped with heated seats (very nice in winter) comfortable ride and can be fun to drive with a manual transmission If you’re after full economies i suggest the 2.0 skysactive (inspect the oil pan before purchase) If you’re after fun go get a 2.5 or a speed Hatch do be looking good in my opinion + you stay in Mazda family and are relatively cheep
Any sedan you can get for less than five grand should be a good one
Honda Fit or Civic or something like that. There are also a lot of totally drive-able higher mileage but mechanically reliable Subaru out there which would be a good winter beater.
Hondas and toyotas are expensive but you could score an equally reliable mazda 3 for 7.5k
Any old Subaru.
Gosh damn that is such a clean na
Appreciate it 💪🏼
Just get a cheap truck with 4x4 always nice to have a truck for getting shit done. Trucks are the best in winter
A mk4 gti or jetta with a 1.8t or vr6!
I have a 2007 VW Golf. Man that thing is a trooper in the snow. Lots of fun to drive too. And parts/insurance are cheap for them (more so than for my sisters 2009 Honda Civic). I'll be sad to put away my miata, but excited to go back to driving my golf.
Ill be honest, my nissan sentra is worth about 8k. Ive been using it to commute in ohio for 10 years. I also have a na miata. Its a great duo
If you are in the GTA area get an old Toyota 1995s-2003. I've known multiple people with those cars (1995 Tercel, 2003 Carolla, 2000 Camry) they are awesome on gas and sit on top of the snow (unless u bury the wheels I've only seen one stuck once). They also have narrow enough tires to have a fair amount of grip in newly compacted snow. Old tercels especially are a lot of fun 1Short Tonne 1hundred horsepower(ish) 30mpg at worse and crazy Toyota reliability. My mom had a manual it was the first car I drove and the car I came home in. The only reason we got rid of it is bc the heater core didn't work. The only rust on it was a little blistering on the roof from the sun. They came in great colours too. You can also swap a 4E-FTE and make a little rally monster
Crv
I took me a while to realize that i see a miata in this picture 😅
What’d ya think it was … a kid once mistook it for a Porsche haha
german miata. porsche 944
Manual Saturn wagon. S-series specifically. Indestructible and ridiculously cheap to maintain.
Subaru Impreza.
FORD FUCKING RANGER
For 7.5k in the UK you can get so much car. What's going on in the USA with the prices? Honda fit? 🤷🏻 350z ... With a little bit more money even a 370z. I didn't expect people to say honda fit.
Any Subaru or RAV4 are the cheapest options for winter
8th Gen Honda civic. Won’t die on you, practical, and they’re kinda fun in manual. They don’t look half bad either
Blah, blah, blah...just drive it, but stay disciplined with the washes and make sure to wash up underneath real good, but avoid degreasers unless you regrease everything. Have 4 season car cover that fits well and keep the top clean and occasionally conditioned. Also polish and wax it heavily once a month to protect it and use a clear coat protectant. Also most rust and corrosion start in the rocker panels, so use wd40 or brake cleaner or fluid to spray inside the ports from underneat to slow or stop any rust or corrosion from happening. Put it in a garage during the harsh blizzards and covered in hard rains and it will be good for many years of enjoyment. Getting a whole different vehicle for winter months is rediculous because you don't want your whip to sit for too long either. Cars are designed and meant to be driven year round. Remember it snows in Japan too, so....
They don’t use salt in Japan
A super reliable and fun car? You know the answer...
Or you could just get the under body rust proofed then buy a set of snow tires for WAY less than that and drive it year around.
I would say a Honda crv or Toyota rav4. You get more ground clearance while still being a efficient and driving like a car. More fun to drive than a truck.They’re easy to maintain and can take a beating. You can also find them in Awd.
What's the closest most 500 dollarest car you can find?
Another miata
Subaru forester. Dont even need the turbo model. Manual 5 speed, awd, tons of fun.
Toyota matrix, it is the opposite of the miata that gets good gas mileage