So, we're starting to approach the winter months, and this will be my first with the S2K. I've heard that it's not a great winter car, and I'm trying to decide which way to go when things cool off. Perhaps some of you can offer suggestions based on experience.

First a little background: Though my past few cars were FWD, I have owned RWD as well, including a 79 trans am with posi. I drove that in the winter, but it wasn't exacly easy. Next, my daily commute is about 50 miles round trip. My car is an '02 with only 8K miles on it, and I'd like to keep it low, but I don't have the funds to buy a (real) winter car. I'm located in teh west suburbs oc chicago.

My first option would be good snow tires. This would likely be the most cost effective option up-front, but would certainly add wear-and-tear to the car, not to mention miles.

My second option is to find an old jeep cherokee or something good in the snow, but that will be more money. I can only swing a few K$, so it wouldn't be anything very new. I could always sell it in the spring and get back a large portion of my money, but I'd be pretty strapped in the meantime.

Anyway, that's my current thinking. Any advice you can share would be helopful.

Thanks

 

Get yourself a $2k civic. Cheap as anything to insure, indestructible, foolproof winter handling, unlikely to devalue much, and plentiful.

A good source for such cars: http://chicago.craigslist.org

only 8kmi, eh? Sheesh, I've got 5k on my 04, and I picked it up in June...

 

Snow tires - 'cause nothin' beats donuts in the morning...

Seriously, with a set of Blizzaks or other good winter tires, the S2000 handles very well in the winter as long as the snow is below the front lip. I've only been "nearly stuck" once, and that was trying to go through some of the snow plow droppings. I was still able to free the car myself by just being patient.

You do get salt on the car, so that may be a consideration (I wash regularly in the winter using a manual car wash place). But you also get a lot more use of the car - which is what this is all about, right?

BTW, good winter tires aren't cheap and you may want another set of wheels so you can swap without remounting. So you must weigh that against the winter car costs.

Tony

 

I hear that in Minnesota winter begins in August so Tony has to have snow tires to get any use out of his car

You could go my route and get an '04 Ranger (2WD) with good clearance and some sand.

Personally, I would go with a beater if you can find one that is reliable enough. FWD handles nice in snow.

 

Beat her ....oops sorry wrong thread

 

Get a beater.

I have driven my S2k thru the last two winters on snow tires and I do not recommend it. Good winter tires will cost you around $700-$800 + the cost of change-over or extra set of wheels. Any beater for slightly more $ will be much better. Putting miles on the S in snow/sleet is also not worth it. The problem with the S is that it's too light a car for snow. Even with extra weight in the trunk, I got stuck in snow twice and had to call AAA. It was stop and go traffic (on a highway) and once the road got a bit steep my car just would not move forward. It was the worst experience of my life and quite scary. I was in the fast lane and all my car wanted to do was fishtail. Cars behind me were honking like mad and there was no shoulder to move to. Finally the trafic cleared but I still could not move and cars were flying by me doing 80mph... Do you know how bad the S shakes when bigger cars go flying past it? Trust me, you don't wanna know.

On the other hand, an empty snow covered parking lot is just too much fun to pass...

 

You've heard WRONG!
However, whether or not you want to drive the S2000 in winter depends on your own preference, desire and driving skill. Winter tires are a MUST!
Many of us drive this car in winter and have done so for many seasons. Myself, for 4 winters now, 5th one coming up. I have only gotten stuck once and that was my own stupidity - driving into something I knew I shouldn't have done but I felt cocky.
I won't bore you with more of my stories of why an S2000 is such a great winter car as most people here have heard it all before. If you want to hear it, feel free to PM me. What do you think this whole nation did before the advent of FWD and the popularity of AWD? Do you think taxicab companies and police forces shut down just because winter comes? They drive predominantly RWD cars.

 

thats why i have my battlelax mobile... 83 volvo 240 gl... ive driven my s2 for 2 winter season and it really not worth it to me, so i opt for a beater..

 

to a point. I think that Tom Jr would like to keep his car in pristine shape and driving around Chicagoland in the winter isn't conducive to that. I didn't get my first FWD car until I was 23 years old. You are right: RWD cars can be driven safely in the snow and ice (I think that they are more predictable in their handling in those conditions myself). Most drivers, however, are more comfortable and confident in a FWD/AWD vehicle.

 

I was only addressing the comment at face value and not responding with relevence to "aesthetics". From an operational point of view, the desire to keep a car pristine has little to do with whether or not a vehicle would make a "good" or "bad" winter mode of transportation.