I apologize for this not being 3rd gen related, but i'd rather ask you guys than my friends who "think" they know everything. Anyways.... as there is no way I am going to drive my bird in the winter, i need to start thinking of purchasing a winter beater to drive. May be a little early, but I don't want to be stuck w/o a car, and there are lots of cars on the market now.

Anyways, I was thinking of perhaps going for a jeep wrangler as i think they would be good in the snow.... short stance, tall clearance, most on the market are manuals, 4x4, etc. Now my friends all claim that these are horrendous for roll-overs...what is everyone's take on this claim?

Anybody have any other recommendations for a winter beater? I need something good in the snow, but nothing too expensive as I will have to pay for it all myself more than likely...unless i can get a few $$$ from the parents.
Thanks

 

i use a chevy s-10 tahoe for my beater and yes, just about any suv will be prone to roll-over. Ive bicycled mine on occasion going around a turn to fast.

 

yeah i figured there is always the risk of rollover....just as long as you drive it sensibly i figured there wouldnt be a problem. So what does everyone think of a wrangler for a winter vehicle?? Theres quite a few around here that im gonna call and get prices for.

 

Jeep Wranglers are NOT as good as you think in the snow. Even with 4x4, they still slip around. A guy I knew had one, that was stick, and a 4x4, and would be all over the place in bad weather, believe it or not. They're actually much more of a ''nice weather car'' then a bad weather one.

It just depends on whether you'll be traveling a lot. If you're gonna be traveling a lot, I say get an auto. But if you really like stick shift, then get it, just don't hold your self to it. I would say a normal front wheel drive car would be good. Like a Cavalier, Sunfire, Civic, Grand Am, cars like that.

 

thanks, i'll have to keep that in mind.

And i won't be doing a lot of travelling in the winter...mainly just back and forth to school, and around town. One reason i would kind of like to get a truck/jeep/suv is that i'd also like to have something to go off-roading w/ come summer.
Anyways, i'll keep on the look-out, and thanks again for the info

 

friend has a late 80s jeep cherrokee that he paid about $1K for. thing does need alittle TLC but it runs great.
think about that.....
biker
or go for a cheepo fwd car if all you are doing is going to and from school

 

short wheelbase...they love to spin around and around.....ALOT

 

I used to have a 85 4 door cherokee 4x4 with a 4 popper and automatic trans. It didn't have enough power to spin a tire even on snow and ice and it was great to haul parts in. I'd personally go with that or maybe a small 2 or 4wd pickup.

 

believe it or not i have a 1991 buick century (3.3Lv6 auto) as my winter everyday driver and that car kicks *** in the snow....put a good set of tires on it and just cruise......and not to mention buick comfort.....gotta love it

 

Jeeps hold their retail value too well for me to consider them a "beater." Anything front wheel drive should do well for winter driving. Finding an old front wheel driver for a couple hundred bucks shouldn't be too hard to do.
Rob

 

79'-85' FWD Olds Toronado
79'-85' FWD Buick Riviera

the cars handle great in the snow (cast iron v8 with 4 barrel carb over the drive wheels), insurance is cheap, and they are comfortable to take on long trips.