Help me pick out a winter beater

z335is · 11-14-2017, 11:31 AM

Hey everyone - so I'm in the process of looking for a new winter beater and have mainly been focusing on 5dr hatchbacks as to have some degree of utility for the fam (while not breaking the bank either).

So far, I've kind of narrowed my choices down to either a 2016 Ford Fiesta hatch (~40k miles), 2016 Chevy Sonic hatch (~40k miles), or a 2008 VW GTI (~70k miles). All of the cars seem to be in very nice physical and mechanical shape, so no worries there. My heart tells me to go with the GTI (plaid seats!), but my head keeps going back to the good old VW reliability.

Any thoughts on which I should choose?

Thanks

kprocivic · 11-14-2017, 11:45 AM

Is the fiesta a manual?

z335is · 11-14-2017, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kprocivic

Is the fiesta a manual?

All of the above are automatics (DSG on the VW). My M3 is a MT, so I don't mind a change of pace here

aerostar · 11-14-2017, 03:57 PM

You and I have a very different view of beaters.

I was looking at cars that cost $2,000.

Lol

Red Bread · 11-14-2017, 04:10 PM

Previous generation Fit would be ideal if you'd consider a manual. Fun little cars, cheap as hell to run and reasonably efficient. But just comically bad with the CVT.

kprocivic · 11-14-2017, 04:17 PM

Beaters don't need fixin. With that said I would stay away from a 10 year old German car. I'm partial to the fiesta, never drove the base one, only the st. The only people I see driving a sonic are well I'd rather not say. With that said you're the one footing the bill good luck.

z335is · 11-14-2017, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerostar

You and I have a very different view of beaters.

I was looking at cars that cost $2,000.

Lol

LOL, believe me I've been down that road, and those cars always end up burning me. I figured this time, I would spend a little extra cash and get something that will last a few years. Still only looking in the 7-8k range.

Hawkeye · 11-14-2017, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerostar

You and I have a very different view of beaters.

I was looking at cars that cost $2,000.

Lol

My winter beater costs more than my BMW

Also... I think you have already made up your mind... "My heart tells me to go with the GTI (plaid seats!), but my head keeps going back to the good old VW reliability."

HawkeyeGeoff · 11-14-2017, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z335is

LOL, believe me I've been down that road, and those cars always end up burning me. I figured this time, I would spend a little extra cash and get something that will last a few years. Still only looking in the 7-8k range.

Jump down the ol' Honda Rabbit Hole and find something.

z335is · 11-15-2017, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff

Jump down the ol' Honda Rabbit Hole and find something.

Yeah that would be ideal, but it is tough (impossible?) to find a Fit that hasn't been abused for a semi-decent price.

1MOREMOD · 11-15-2017, 12:19 AM

Prius prius Prius

HawkeyeGeoff · 11-15-2017, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z335is

Yeah that would be ideal, but it is tough (impossible?) to find a Fit that hasn't been abused for a semi-decent price.

Doesn't have to be a fit. Honestly any Civic/Accord will do with a 4cyl. Not too much to break and VERY easy (and cheap) to work on. I could probably do a whole "tune up" including all fluids, belts, pulleys, sparks, etc in under 4 hours. Just ready to rock and roll all winter.

I'd recommend an Accord w/ 4 doors just for ease of everything. If you need it smaller, Civic.

1MOREMOD · 11-15-2017, 10:49 AM

Try mazda 3 also

Josh (PA) · 11-15-2017, 10:58 AM

if its a winter beater, do you not want AWD? If so the answer seems Subie Imprezza. If you want something a bit nicer, find an AWD E90 wagon.

This one fits the bill:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?t=1145673

Alfisti · 11-15-2017, 11:09 AM

AWD is one of the all time great myths. Just throw a set of Michelin X-Ice at anything and it will eat any AWD vehicle for lunch.

Josh (PA) · 11-15-2017, 11:49 AM

I too am a Snow Tire fanboi. I have Nokians on my winter beater, an e46 xiT. IMHO:
Snows + AWD > Snows + RWD+LSD >Snows + FWD> All Seasons on Anything

Alfisti · 11-15-2017, 11:58 AM

Right so unless you live in a REALLY snowy area and/or around very steep hills, the snowies will do the job.

MightyMouseTech · 11-15-2017, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfisti

AWD is one of the all time great myths. Just throw a set of Michelin X-Ice at anything and it will eat any AWD vehicle for lunch.

Or get a set of winter tires that don't suck.

Alfisti · 11-15-2017, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Or get a set of winter tires that don't suck.

What's wrong with X-Ice?

MightyMouseTech · 11-15-2017, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Or get a set of winter tires that don't suck.

What's wrong with X-Ice?

Honestly, they are terrible for real winter conditions. Our dealership refuses to sell them, and we are a Michelin dealer.

Uber Commuter · 11-15-2017, 01:09 PM

GTI!!!

100% All The Way

shiv.nandak · 11-15-2017, 01:18 PM

I drove the M4 through an entire winter including a few weeks of Canadian snow storms on Conti DWS 06 (all season) tires. No issues except getting stuck in a parking spot in 1 foot of snow. No regrets at all - i will do it again to enjoy the car all year. The car is well balanced, i enjoyed alot on empty roads

As a bonus, when trading in its worth the same as a summer only driven car

11-14-2017, 11:31 AM	#1
z335is Lieutenant 370 Rep 504 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Newark iTrader: (0)	Help me pick out a winter beater Hey everyone - so I'm in the process of looking for a new winter beater and have mainly been focusing on 5dr hatchbacks as to have some degree of utility for the fam (while not breaking the bank either). So far, I've kind of narrowed my choices down to either a 2016 Ford Fiesta hatch (~40k miles), 2016 Chevy Sonic hatch (~40k miles), or a 2008 VW GTI (~70k miles). All of the cars seem to be in very nice physical and mechanical shape, so no worries there. My heart tells me to go with the GTI (plaid seats!), but my head keeps going back to the good old VW reliability. Any thoughts on which I should choose? Thanks
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11-14-2017, 11:45 AM	#2
kprocivic Lieutenant Colonel 822 Rep 1,575 Posts Drives: ecoboost s to the t Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: 92346 iTrader: (7)	Is the fiesta a manual?
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11-14-2017, 03:57 PM	#4
aerostar Major 760 Rep 1,247 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	You and I have a very different view of beaters. I was looking at cars that cost $2,000. Lol
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11-14-2017, 04:10 PM	#5
Red Bread Major General 4459 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Previous generation Fit would be ideal if you'd consider a manual. Fun little cars, cheap as hell to run and reasonably efficient. But just comically bad with the CVT.
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11-14-2017, 04:17 PM	#6
kprocivic Lieutenant Colonel 822 Rep 1,575 Posts Drives: ecoboost s to the t Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: 92346 iTrader: (7)	Beaters don't need fixin. With that said I would stay away from a 10 year old German car. I'm partial to the fiesta, never drove the base one, only the st. The only people I see driving a sonic are well I'd rather not say. With that said you're the one footing the bill good luck.
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11-15-2017, 12:19 AM	#11
1MOREMOD - 11824 Rep 23,186 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	Prius prius Prius
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11-15-2017, 10:49 AM	#13
1MOREMOD - 11824 Rep 23,186 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	Try mazda 3 also
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11-15-2017, 10:58 AM	#14
Josh (PA) Banned 230 Rep 265 Posts Drives: '11 135 vert, '13 x5, '03 e46 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Downingtown, PA iTrader: (0)	if its a winter beater, do you not want AWD? If so the answer seems Subie Imprezza. If you want something a bit nicer, find an AWD E90 wagon. This one fits the bill: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?t=1145673
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-15-2017, 11:09 AM	#15
Alfisti Brigadier General 7076 Rep 3,330 Posts Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Combi Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	AWD is one of the all time great myths. Just throw a set of Michelin X-Ice at anything and it will eat any AWD vehicle for lunch.
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11-15-2017, 11:49 AM	#16
Josh (PA) Banned 230 Rep 265 Posts Drives: '11 135 vert, '13 x5, '03 e46 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Downingtown, PA iTrader: (0)	I too am a Snow Tire fanboi. I have Nokians on my winter beater, an e46 xiT. IMHO: Snows + AWD > Snows + RWD+LSD >Snows + FWD> All Seasons on Anything
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11-15-2017, 11:58 AM	#17
Alfisti Brigadier General 7076 Rep 3,330 Posts Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Combi Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Right so unless you live in a REALLY snowy area and/or around very steep hills, the snowies will do the job.
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11-15-2017, 01:09 PM	#21
Uber Commuter Lieutenant 717 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 2014 328D xDrive Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 328d xDrive [0.00]	GTI!!! 100% All The Way
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11-15-2017, 01:18 PM	#22
shiv.nandak Lieutenant 271 Rep 476 Posts Drives: C7 Z06, 16' M4 6MT SO Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0)	I drove the M4 through an entire winter including a few weeks of Canadian snow storms on Conti DWS 06 (all season) tires. No issues except getting stuck in a parking spot in 1 foot of snow. No regrets at all - i will do it again to enjoy the car all year. The car is well balanced, i enjoyed alot on empty roads As a bonus, when trading in its worth the same as a summer only driven car
	Appreciate 0 Quote