help, about car and snow.

  • Thread starter ddldave
  • 58 comments
  • 2,340 views
ddldave
and what good beginner FR car do you think i should get?
i wanted either AE86, FC3S, or S14. these are the only FR car used ones that i know because i watch drifting on youtube. but they're soooo hard to find one here in minnesota, very hard to find even a used one. i don't think i should get s2000 anymore because i'm scared i might screw up so i might get a less costly car to try out first. so yeah man.
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First off: take a deep breath. I don't know how long until you get your license, but settle down a little. I was desperate too, but don't plan your life this far in advance.

Do NOT buy somehting trendy, old, overpriced, and Japanese for your first car. The first car you should get is something simple, cheap, and reliable. That means it will probably be front wheel drive. That's fine. You'll probably bend it anyway - almost everybody does. Again, get some basic experience driving before you obsess about the perfect car.
 
Definitely, you should start with an '85-'88 Chevrolet Nova, or a Corolla of the same vintage. Basically the FWD cousin of the AE86. You can get one cheap (Actually, we just sold one that would be pefect for you for less than $500.) can insure one cheap (95 dollars a month!!! With a wreck that was my fault!) Find one anywhere (I've seen them everywhere I've gone) and can afford to do everything short of total the thing. Get one with a stick, as the automatic only has three speeds and a very short, gas guzzling (For a 1.6) final drive. (Believe me when I say it decelerates down hills less than 3%) Oh, did I mention that the AW11 MR2 engine and transaxle are a direct fit?

Plenty of ground clearance in the snow, narrow tires are an added bonus.

I remember when I was a kid, I wanted a 1969 Dodge Charger. now I'm looking at just about never, but I'm fine with it.
 
ddlDave, Perfect Balance drives a Civic Hatch.
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You're not gonna be driving an S2K for your first car. It wont happen. You'll kill yourself.

Just get a normal car. You'll live longer and have cheaper insurance.

In the snow, just buy a set of decent snow tires. Alot of members here have RWD cars they drive all season, like M-Spec. He drives a Z4 M all year round pretty much. Don't worry about this just yet.
 
in most inclement weather, its the driver, not the car, that makes the difference.

and most importantly remember, all wheel drive gives you better traction, not better stopping.
 
Duke
First off: take a deep breath. I don't know how long until you get your license, but settle down a little. I was desperate too, but don't plan your life this far in advance.

Do NOT buy somehting trendy, old, overpriced, and Japanese for your first car. The first car you should get is something simple, cheap, and reliable. That means it will probably be front wheel drive. That's fine. You'll probably bend it anyway - almost everybody does. Again, get some basic experience driving before you obsess about the perfect car.
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lol man i already got my license, i had it since i was 16 and i'm 18 now.
 
if i get a old car too man, i'm going to try to fix it up man, and with old crappy car man, it's going to cost a lot of money and a lot of learning to fix it up, plus i don't even know how to do it and i don't have a lot of friends or connections on how to fix it up. if i get a ae86, i might even want to put 10k in atleast fixing it all up but then i don't even know how to, i mean i would have to take out the engine, and everything then refix the body a bit and then i gota redo the entire engine cleaning it out, then reputting in and stuff. it sounds like a lot of work and i don't even know how to do it. i've always wanted a rsx type-s though ever since i was 16, but just recently like 6 months ago or so i liked the s2k and since i will be able to pay it off with full time job after i graduate high school in a few months, but i don't think i'm going to kill myself with it because i won't be driving it too fast for awhile. but a used s2k costs almost the same price as a used rsx type-s.

and it's not as easy as you guys think, some of you guys may live in other states and find these cars really easily but here in minnesota it's pure hard to find a ae86, almost impossible. and for a s14, it's really hard but not as hard as a ae86. and yeah man i've been driving since i was 16, not with my car though but my parents car.
 
Duke
First off: take a deep breath. I don't know how long until you get your license, but settle down a little. I was desperate too, but don't plan your life this far in advance.

Do NOT buy somehting trendy, old, overpriced, and Japanese for your first car. The first car you should get is something simple, cheap, and reliable. That means it will probably be front wheel drive. That's fine. You'll probably bend it anyway - almost everybody does. Again, get some basic experience driving before you obsess about the perfect car.
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Pfft - as always, Duke is too cautious.

For your first car, buy something fast!

agz-850.jpg
 
ddldave
and it's not as easy as you guys think, some of you guys may live in other states and find these cars really easily but here in minnesota it's pure hard to find a ae86, almost impossible. and for a s14, it's really hard but not as hard as a ae86. and yeah man i've been driving since i was 16, not with my car though but my parents car.
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If you can't find the car, don't get it. Getting a more common car will mean you won't have to worry about something happening as much and when you get in a crash it will be much easier to get through. A lot of the cars that you listed are much better summer/track cars and not the best daily drivers, especially in winter.
 
ddldave
and it's not as easy as you guys think, some of you guys may live in other states and find these cars really easily but here in minnesota it's pure hard to find a ae86, almost impossible. and for a s14, it's really hard but not as hard as a ae86. and yeah man i've been driving since i was 16, not with my car though but my parents car.
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4WD S-10, they are cheap, they run forever, they are tough, they are cheap on insurance, and they have enough umph to get your through a MN winter.
 
Joey D
4WD S-10, they are cheap, they run forever, they are tough, they are cheap on insurance, and they have enough umph to get your through a MN winter.
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haha thanks man but i'm not really into trucks, i'm more into small import cars preferably japanese.
 
ddldave
lol man i already got my license, i had it since i was 16 and i'm 18 now.
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LOL WUT!?!?

I think he commented on your getting your license because you honestly post like you've never driven and your grammar and style is similar of many 13 year olds.

Stop saying "man," start using capital letters, stop double posting, and so on.

Get an EG6, great cars. Do not bother making it all least JDM spec, or put a B16 in it, or any crap like that.
 
Azuremen
LOL WUT!?!?

I think he commented on your getting your license because you honestly post like you've never driven and your grammar and style is similar of many 13 year olds.

Stop saying "man," start using capital letters, stop double posting, and so on.
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Just pretend you are writing something that will be turned in to a teacher.

Get an EG6, great cars. Do not bother making it all least JDM spec, or put a B16 in it, or any crap like that.
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There is a reason there are still a ton of them on the roads. Just please don't torture it by ricing it out. Here are some examples of what NOT to to.

EDIT:
Stig22121
What about a Subaru?
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I whole-heartedly recommend an Outback. The head gasket goes out at like 120,000 miles but if you can fix it yourself, it's $500 for the part, or you are looking at about $2,000 for the repair to be done by someone else. It is a great car, pretty bulletproof and very capable in the dirt. I would trust my friend's '96 off road before I would some of the newer SUVs out there.
 
No. Videogames, rarely, if ever, should ever work as a substitute for a learning tool when it comes to regular driving on regular roads. There is absolutely nothing in common there...

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Quick note on the driveway thing: Try reversing up the driveway if its steep. Puts more weight on the front wheels, in theory, making it easier to gain traction up the driveway. But that being said, no snow tires is going to make it hard no matter what.

...Odd really, now that I think about it. I'm in Michigan, most folks have snow tires. On average, I believe you get more snow in most of Minnesota. Take the hint from the Michigan folks; Get some snow tires...

---

Driving in snow?

Like Azure said, you're going to need a lot of practice, and an S2000 isn't a good car to do it in. A cheap, older Mazda Miata is a much better idea both for your sake and everyone elses. If you were to wreck your brand-new S2000, it only makes our insurance rates go up not just in general, but on the car itself.

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Never, ever, ever get a brand-new car for your first. I went to High School (and now College) with far too many privileged children who get them, wreck them, get another one, and wreck that one too. It just isn't worth it.

You need a new car to learn with first, and then go from there...
 
Yeah but it ain't me though, i'm not one of those kids who drive crazy because they think they're cool. I'm not like my sister man. and i driven before and i don't go fast and stuff, plus i ain't one of those kids that say they won't do it but do it because when i say i won't do it i won't do it.

Plus i'll probably get a used s2k anyways 'cuz it costs like 20k for a used one with low mileage.

But i don't know, what do y'all think about the rsx type-s though? You said get a FF first right?

my friend's first car was a 350z and he got it when he was 18, he was driving his parents lancer for awhile, and llike me driving my parent's camry.
 
A friend of mine had one of those "special edition" RSX Type-S cars from a few years back (you remember, with the body kits, only came in black) and he totaled it. Twice.

Personally speaking, of that generation, I much prefer the Civic Si hatch of the time (odd, I may even consider that for myself after seeing one on the highway today...), but even then, they'd both be a bit on the expensive side if you're looking for something reasonable to run.

Mid-'90s, Japanese or European would be fine. I'd personally suggest a late-model MKIII Jetta GLX VR6, but thats just me. Yes, I'm crazy...
 
I wouldn't recommend any fast FFs. Wheelspin is present in the dry, a pain in the wet and I would imagine a downright problem in the snow. I managed to keep it under control in my 10 minute drive in the snow. I didn't get over 15 miles an hour.

YSSMAN
Mid-'90s, Japanese or European would be fine. I'd personally suggest a late-model MKIII Jetta GLX VR6, but thats just me. Yes, I'm crazy...
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Volkswagens?:dopey: I'd recommend the above car or a MKIV Golf. I'm sure you could even manage a GTI from that generation.
 
YSSMAN
Mid-'90s, Japanese or European would be fine. I'd personally suggest a late-model MKIII Jetta GLX VR6, but thats just me. Yes, I'm crazy...
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Thats the ideal car if he never wants to get any experience driving and plenty of experience paying out the arse for repairs. Hoo boy gotta love that double timing chain and realy cramped engine bay and wonky electrics. Also screw MKIV golfs for simmilar reasons LOL WE CANT EVEN MAKE A WINDOW REGULATOR OR A FLIPPIN COILPACK ALSO LETS HAVE STUFF LIKE TPS AND CRANK POSITION SENSORS CRAP THE BED AT 40K miles. Or are Mexican/Brazilian vw's better than the european built ones (answer no)

My advice, buy a camry drive the camry learn how to do some maintenance on it. That will get you to appreciate that you need to look after your car and not just drive like an explative deleted. Don't even think about an s2000 or anything sporty or new, you will have some sort of accident in your first car.

Oh I don't care go ahead just buy an S2000 and wrap it around light fixture so I can have a laugh. I doubt it will make the S2000 that much more expensive to insure than it is now.
 
I spend very little time on actual ice. But on snow my Camry will go just about anywhere provided I pay attention to the ice spots, drive in the "ruts" that have been left by others before me, and not trying to rally my way thru the city.

If it's truly bad, I break out my 4WD, and drive like my gas and brake pedals are fresh eggs, and I'm doing my utmost not to break them.

For MN, if you buy an S2K, it would be wise to also buy a "winter rat" that is 4WD/AWD and equipped with winter tires. All seasons work fine for Kansas where we don't get all that much snow or ice. In MN, go for the true Winter tires. And if they are on your "winter rat", you don't even have to do the tire change-over when the weather turns to crap. You do have to store another car though...

An S2K would be a singularly poor choice to drive in any place that has "true" winters with lots of snow. Nothing like a RWD car with little weight, and that requires high revs to kill you in a heartbeat in the snow.
 
Gil
Nothing like a RWD car with little weight, and that requires high revs to kill you in a heartbeat in the snow.
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Uh...if it affected anything at all, the S2000's lack of low-end torque would only make it less likely to spin the wheels.

Nothing like a RWD car with even less weight than an S2000, an open differential, and all-season tires to get me everywhere I need to go without fail whenever it snows. Seriously, I've never had to abandon my car, and I don't even pack extra weight into the trunk (unless you count one plastic snow shovel as extra weight).

The only way an S2000 would be worthless is if ddldave lived in the boondocks. If so, he'd be dumb for getting anything short of a tall AWD/4WD with plenty of ground clearance and snow tires, anyway.

(the following was taken from the GT-R thread)...
Azuremen
*insert rant about epic nubs with no winter driving experience here
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This is currently the 6th winter I've been driving in, and I have winter experience with a light RWD, mid-weight FWD, 4WD SUV (most of the time in RWD), and mid-weight AWD. I have to say I agree with Onikaze -- I personally consider FWD to be the worst choice.

The weight over the front wheels is a theoretical plus, but in the real world I've never seen it help a FWD car where a RWD car failed. Even the ability to turn the drive wheels doesn't seem to help when you've been plowed into a curbside parking spot (I've had to push enough FWD cars to know this).

With that in mind, it all comes back to the classic understeer/oversteer debate. :) Although understeer is probably better for the average joe, some of us prefer the added flexibility and control that oversteer provides.
 
My friend has a 2WD Chevrolet C/K Work Truck, with little treadless donuts for tires and a Vortec 5700 (identical to this one, but blue and a Chevy). And he has only gotten it stuck once in the snow, and that was soon after he switched to driving that from his Celica (which, before anyone says anything, he also rarely got stuck).
The moral? Learn to drive properly for the weather conditions and it will help you more than any drivetrain configuration ever will.
Granted, I drive an S10 Blazer with big mud-swampers on it, and I've only gotten stuck when I was asking for it, so what have you.
 
I've been in a situation where only a FWD or AWD vehicle could have gotten itself unstuck. The right rear corner of my Del Sol was stuck in a snow bank at the edge of a road on a hill, and I couldn't go forward or backward. So instead, I turned the wheel all the way to the right, gunned it, and spun around to face down the hill, and then drove off like nothing every happened. Mind you, I wanted up that darn hill so I went for it again and did fine the second time.

But that sort of situation doesn't happen very often.
 
Wolfe
This is currently the 6th winter I've been driving in, and I have winter experience with a light RWD, mid-weight FWD, 4WD SUV (most of the time in RWD), and mid-weight AWD. I have to say I agree with Onikaze -- I personally consider FWD to be the worst choice.

The weight over the front wheels is a theoretical plus, but in the real world I've never seen it help a FWD car where a RWD car failed. Even the ability to turn the drive wheels doesn't seem to help when you've been plowed into a curbside parking spot (I've had to push enough FWD cars to know this).
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My friends Miata drives fine in the snow until it gets over 4 inches, then it almost literally goes from fine to a crawl. If the car doesn't have momentum, it won't move. Once it stops moving on a slight incline, I would have to get out of the car and push it every few feet.

My car did fine in 5 inches of snow. I've never been stuck, and I've never not been able to get up a hill.
 

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