Well put. In fact, I know people who have turned profits selling their winter car 6 months after purchase.

 

I would definately get the beater. The hardtop isn't going to help with not rusting the car out in the salt.

 

Beater.

 

Thanks for everyone's input. Looks like the beater wins hands down. I sure want to keep my S2k in pristine condition for a very long time and there are to many things that can screw that up in our Colorado winters; salts, gravel chips, other stupid drivers, my own stupid driving, plus putting on a lot of brutal miles that will not be the usual sunny, top down, fun kind of miles I get now. The peace of mind has to be worth a whole lot also.

 

Beater. Salt doesn't belong on S2K.

 

I would get the beater.

Just curious, how did you get around last winter?

 

Last winter I had a totally practical '99 Accord Coupe V6-EX which I traded in on the S2K and my wife drove our Montero Sport. We now share the S2K but in the winter are still thinking of me driving the Montero, 25 highway miles each way to work, with her driving the S2K, 5 miles with indoor parking. Keeps most of the salt and rock chips from the new car. Still like the concensus opinion of the beater. Decisions, decisions.....

 

HT, you have other cars to drive

 

 

There have been many posts about driving the car in the winter with snow tires. Ask Xviper. I picked up some Blizzaks for this winter and I am going to have a go at it. I'm not going to use winter as an excuse to not drive and enjoy my car. My Ford Escort will be my standby if I have any issues.