Ok some math about a beater.

$400 snow tires

decent beater $1500.00-2000.00

Difference $1100-1600

Increased depreciation/wear on car per year (est) $250-500

In two years including increased depreciation the gap gets even smaller. A beater could cost from $100-1100 depending on the amount you spend on the beater and increased depreciation due to the wear casued by winter (factored over 2 years).

Piece of mind not driving the S in snow=priceless

Insurance shouldn't be impacted too much, take the S off the road and just get liability on the beater.....in fact you may save some money here too.

 

very good point there! that's how I roll

 

Dont get me wrong I would love to buy a 1500-2000 dollar beater car but...I don't have 1500 dollars layin around...I do have 400 though....Im really bad about savin money so I don't think I can ever save enough for another car...n I think..."think" that b/c Im still payin off the car that I have to keep full coverage til It's paid off...but I could be wrong

 

By taking it off the road, you also loose the ability to take it out on the nice mild days that pop up from time to time. I had the top down at least once each month during the winter.

Insurance on your beater, if you're in Mass. and have a spotless record will be at least $600 (based on when I had a tempoary car 14 years ago that I had paid cash for.)

You'll also have to either store or get rid of the beater for the rest of the year.

 

If you live only 1.5 miles from work, then any solution should get you there. If there's any snow or ice on the ground, the stock tires won't work well at all and I'd adivce not to drive. I have driven on S02's for two winters without incident, but there were a few occasions that I didn't even attempt to drive. If you go the sport tire in the winter route, just take the "sports" out of "sports car" and use much caution.

Obviously, the least expensive solution is snow tires for your stock wheels. Most big name manufacturers have competent snow tires. If you're short on money, I would just use the stock wheels as is, and walk to work on the days the car is unsafe to drive.

 

sorry Moses but I and 99% of the people on this board will disagree with you

the stock tires SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN in temps under 45 degress - SO2s = SUMMER ONLY tires

i can stick a sharp knife in my ear - doesn't mean it's a good idea

 

Ya, I know that they shouldn't be driven under 45 degrees, but I have driven them like that for almost 1000 miles without incident. There have been several times where I couldn't drive at all and wish I had snow tires. One has to be prudent in judgement though.

Obviously, snow tires are the way to go, I think some overstate the issue. I just want to illustrate that it is possible to drive the car in colder weather, just not in a sporting manner. He only lives 1.5 miles from work.

 

No winters for my S! Thats probably part of the reason everyone asks if my S is "new".Winter will put a damper on a cars condition. You outta see my Sentra daily-driver winter beater! (as long as its got heat and runs good) Plus it saves racking up miles on her. No way in how will i ever drive another rear-wheel drive car again in the winter. Too scary! and it seems our winters are getting worse by the year!

The way i see it, if you have the $$$ to buy and maintain a S, you should have enough for a cheap winter-beater!

 

Ours sleeps in the garage for the snowy months but ...I cant Imagine stock tires in the winter, even for a mile and a half .. Heck for $500 you can get a decent winter beater, and preserve your S !!!

 

but he will be looking at another $1000.00 for insurance for a beater..

Vic - you've seen my car - tell me it didn't look "new" i dove mine year round - put some good wax on it and keep it clean

two schools of thought - don't drive it and drive it BUT with some good snow tires - at the end of the day (dare i say it) the S is just a car..