To Winterize or not to winterize....

[tiz22]

Need some help from more experienced owners...I bought my car in July and plan on keeping it for a long time as a weekend driver once it's paid and I can afford a second car. It's getting to be the time where I either winterize it, or store it.
I'm willing to pay the $$ to get all the protection possible during the winter (undercoating, snow tires, etc.) but I want to hear from some owner's who kept it through the winter...Any issues? What tires did you use? Those kinds of things.

I'm also considering a beater for the winter months but I'd be pissed if I was paying monthly for a car that's sitting in storage while paying repair bills on a sh*tty car.

I'm so undecided as I see pros and cons to both. Help!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT:
Post-winter Update
Figured I should resolve this thread with my experience...

WINTERIZE!

I'm really happy with the decision I made to keep it as my DD throughout the winter...I understand that some people won't want "their baby" to touch salt or snow - but I urge you to re-consider.

This car really thrives in the snow...You thought it was tail-happy in the rain? Try it with snow tires after a fresh powder drop and you won't be disappointed. I almost looked forward to a big dump of snow just so I could take it out for a guilt-free joyride (I say guilt free because far less wear on the tires when it's snowy) I honestly had troubles getting it to spin out with the traction control on, but with sport mode on it let me do my thing. Speaking off sport mode...

I never fully understood why there was a VSC/Traction Control but when you see it in action on some ice or snow...DAMN. I can whip the steering wheel around (which would result in a crash in my old Mazda3) but as soon as the tail gets loose, you hear the nannies kick in and it snaps you right back in line. Throw it the other way? Snaps you back. It was honestly an eye-opener for me as I've never seen these systems work so perfectly together.

In a 5+ month (still not over) winter here in Ontario, Canada - I got stuck once. So did the 4x4 pickup truck next door....If the snow is so deep I can't clear it with my hood...I'm expecting to get stuck. All other snow falls, I was powering through it. Passing F150s on the highway in a tiny RWD coupe is a pretty good feeling.

Yes my car did get absolutely raped with salt on certain weeks (my Raven could have passed for a Whiteout at times) but with weekly washes costing ~$5-6 it wasn't an issue. I neglected to get coated this year as I figured the factory rust proof should be good for at least 1 season. Will be getting it done next year though. Regardless, my car still looks mint when it's fully detailed so no harm done.

So like I said - no regrets here. Can't even imagine how unhappy I would have been buying a shitty beater (+ snow tires + repairs?) all while my new FRS sat in the garage and my bank account kept the monthly payments going. Paying for something I couldn't use just didn't sound right to me.

Hope this helps a few of you on the fence for next winter!
__________________

[TheseColorsDontRun]

Winter tires, assuming you live in a coldish area and you're good to go. Modern cars don't really need winterizing, as long as your fluids are healthy.

[CircuitJerk]

Maybe this will help give some perspective. Sorry, it's a little long winded.

I've been doing the "winter beater" for about 7 years and I just purchased my 2nd beater about a year ago for $1200.00 and I expect it to last at least three years, maybe more. I do expect to replace the AC compressor, and redo the valve cover gaskets, but I can do those myself, with a little help from friends.
They basically turned into my daily driver as I only have a 15 mile drive each way to work. This in turn, has fed my OCD about keeping my car clean and out of the elements as much as possible.
I think my age is trumping that this time around, as I'm now on my 4th new vehicle (FR-S) since this all began; while it's probably my favorite, I'm finding I just don't give a shit as much. The honeymoon is basically over after a year with this car. But, I still can't live without it being in the garage when there's crappy weather if I can avoid it.
I got to drive the FR-S all winter last year, at least once a week or so. That is, when all the snow melted, no salt puddles or salt dust were present. I think the longest it sat was about 10 days.

The first one was a 95 Corolla which I got rid of after 6 years (paid 1700). Picked it up with 80,000 miles and All I had to do was some exhaust work, brakes all around over a few years and a new set of tires. Not bad. It actually got rear ended and I got a check for $2600.00, kept the car, paid 400 to a body shop to pull the trunk out and mount the bumper again. Good as new! LOL. I sold it last year for $800.00
My latest, a 2002 Sonata V6 GLS, had 180,000 on the odo, but the entire front subframe and supporting suspension was just replaced under a recall right before I got it from a coworker for 1200. Almost drives like new, runs great, looks respectable.
That said, depending on your situation, if you want to go that route, it's not horrible if you know how to choose a car. Certainly there can be some surprises, and you'll have to plate and insure a 2nd car, but it's really all relative.
I like my toys clean and free of corrosion, and if I decide to keep it, all the better.
Some might consider that a little OCD. I used to lose sleep if I knew my toy was out in the elements...LOL I think I still might. My garage is being gutted and redone from some storm damage so my car will be outside for a week :/

The con here is an expenditure, and as you mentioned, you'll likely have some repair bills in that price range. But I guess, like I said, it's all relative.
What's more important to you is what you have to ask yourself. And, are you willing to shell out anywhere from 2500-5000 initially with insurance, plating, and routine maintenance to follow. Including the feared 'unknown' repairs.
You could spend that money on more mods for the toy and do the things you mention like undercoating, rust prevention, snow tires, etc.

The pros are that the car is going to stay cleaner longer and less exposure to road salt which means working on the car will mostly remain a pleasure for you, and your mechanic as long as you own it.

[ZionsWrath]

A lot of people will tell you this is a cheap sports car, etc and they DD it in any conditions.

But step back and look at it for yourself. Is this your dream car? Will you enjoy it more not having driven it through shit winter roads? For a lot of people their car involves their emotions. If that is the case for you I think it would make more sense to store and drive something you don't care about.

For me I borrow another car if is actually snowing or there is ice on the roads, not because I'm attached to my car but because it doesn't have snow tires and the other car does. The rest of the time I drive it daily. If I couldn't borrow a car I'd have bought snow tires.

[ZionsWrath]

Originally Posted by CircuitJerk

Maybe this will help give some perspective. Sorry, it's a little long winded.

I've been doing the "winter beater" for about 7 years and I just purchased my 2nd beater about a year ago for $1200.00 and I expect it to last at least three years, maybe more. I do expect to replace the AC compressor, and redo the valve cover gaskets, but I can do those myself, with a little help from friends.
They basically turned into my daily driver as I only have a 15 mile drive each way to work. This in turn, has fed my OCD about keeping my car clean and out of the elements as much as possible.
I think my age is trumping that this time around, as I'm now on my 4th new vehicle (FR-S) since this all began; while it's probably my favorite, I'm finding I just don't give a shit as much. The honeymoon is basically over after a year with this car. But, I still can't live without it being in the garage when there's crappy weather if I can avoid it.
I got to drive the FR-S all winter last year, at least once a week or so. That is, when all the snow melted, no salt puddles or salt dust were present. I think the longest it sat was about 10 days.

The first one was a 95 Corolla which I got rid of after 6 years (paid 1700). Picked it up with 80,000 miles and All I had to do was some exhaust work, brakes all around over a few years and a new set of tires. Not bad. It actually got rear ended and I got a check for $2600.00, kept the car, paid 400 to a body shop to pull the trunk out and mount the bumper again. Good as new! LOL. I sold it last year for $800.00
My latest, a 2002 Sonata V6 GLS, had 180,000 on the odo, but the entire front subframe and supporting suspension was just replaced under a recall right before I got it from a coworker for 1200. Almost drives like new, runs great, looks respectable.
That said, depending on your situation, if you want to go that route, it's not horrible if you know how to choose a car. Certainly there can be some surprises, and you'll have to plate and insure a 2nd car, but it's really all relative.
I like my toys clean and free of corrosion, and if I decide to keep it, all the better.
Some might consider that a little OCD. I used to lose sleep if I knew my toy was out in the elements...LOL I think I still might. My garage is being gutted and redone from some storm damage so my car will be outside for a week :/

The con here is an expenditure, and as you mentioned, you'll likely have some repair bills in that price range. But I guess, like I said, it's all relative.
What's more important to you is what you have to ask yourself. And, are you willing to shell out anywhere from 2500-5000 initially with insurance, plating, and routine maintenance to follow. Including the feared 'unknown' repairs.
You could spend that money on more mods for the toy and do the things you mention like undercoating, rust prevention, snow tires, etc.

The pros are that the car is going to stay cleaner longer and less exposure to road salt which means working on the car will mostly remain a pleasure for you, and your mechanic as long as you own it.

I think a bigger factor isn't the purchase price but insuring and maintaining 2 cars.

[Ultra marine]

I am in the same boat. New England winters can suck. I was going to get a very cheap old SUV for the snow months. Buy a nice all weather cover for the frs and make sure to mice proof it. I will take the SUV off the road for the remaining 5-6 months to save some money.

[CircuitJerk]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

I think a bigger factor isn't the purchase price but insuring and maintaining 2 cars.

Indeed. But it doesn't cost much to insure the beater for liability only and there's a small discount for each additional car insured. If that's any consolation...LOL

EDIT: Plus, if you do store it, Insurance on the FR-S goes down to less than $12.00 a month.

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

I think a bigger factor isn't the purchase price but insuring and maintaining 2 cars.

I did the beater car thing for years.. I always had a nice car I kept pristine and a beater car
for those trips uptown, Walmart and those bad weather days..
What a pain in the ass.. I always had one car that needed gas or an oil change, registration, inspection.. SOMETHING !!
I created garage queens.. usually ended up driving the beater most of the time.. and leaving the clean fun car home..
My previous car was an 08 vette.. I sold the beater car and just drove the vette all the time..
rain or shine, walmart... whatever.. I finally realized its just a car made to be driven..
Why drive some POS .. so I can save the fun one for someone else? Suddenly made sense to me and I enjoyed that vette like most vette owners don't do !
Life is too short to drive a POS.. The money you save will more than pay for some car washes and wax.. The low cost of the FRS makes it easier to drive daily..

[CircuitJerk]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

I did the beater car thing for years.. I always had a nice car I kept pristine and a beater car
for those trips uptown, Walmart and those bad weather days..
What a pain in the ass.. I always had one car that needed gas or an oil change, registration, inspection.. SOMETHING !!
I created garage queens.. usually ended up driving the beater most of the time.. and leaving the clean fun car home..
My previous car was an 08 vette.. I sold the beater car and just drove the vette all the time..
rain or shine, walmart... whatever.. I finally realized its just a car made to be driven..
Why drive some POS .. so I can save the fun one for someone else? Suddenly made sense to me and I enjoyed that vette like most vette owners don't do !
Life is too short to drive a POS.. The money you save will more than pay for some car washes and wax.. The low cost of the FRS makes it easier to drive daily..

Almost there; it can be a pain in the ass.

[FRS86edition#3]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

I did the beater car thing for years.. I always had a nice car I kept pristine and a beater car
for those trips uptown, Walmart and those bad weather days..
What a pain in the ass.. I always had one car that needed gas or an oil change, registration, inspection.. SOMETHING !!
I created garage queens.. usually ended up driving the beater most of the time.. and leaving the clean fun car home..
My previous car was an 08 vette.. I sold the beater car and just drove the vette all the time..
rain or shine, walmart... whatever.. I finally realized its just a car made to be driven..
Why drive some POS .. so I can save the fun one for someone else? Suddenly made sense to me and I enjoyed that vette like most vette owners don't do !
Life is too short to drive a POS.. The money you save will more than pay for some car washes and wax.. The low cost of the FRS makes it easier to drive daily..

Just plan brilliance. Sounds like the words of a wise man.

[FRS86edition#3]

To me its more of a safety thing, my second car is a 2006 Cobolt LS with high mileage. It is constantly in need of some attention, but its paid off. I am not really worried about snow or salt getting on my FR-S, but I am more worried about driving a rear wheel drive, lightweight, manual car in 2 feet of snow, which can regularly happen during the winter months. Plus my FR-S is lowered 1". I am fairly certain the FR-S would not bode too well in more than 6 inches of snow. I have had my FR-S for a month, and we are heading into the fall here in Indiana. I am thinking of picking up some winter tires on craigslist.com and doing some snow driving with the FR-S as a "just to see" measure. From my research, it seems Bridgestone and Dunlop make good winter tires.

[ZionsWrath]

What is your profession if you have to drive in 2 feet of snow?

My job they can place weather mandates so technically I would have to, but realistically if that happens I leave early before there is significant accumulation.

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by FRS86edition#3

Just plan brilliance. Sounds like the words of a wise man.

Wise from doing it wrong for so many years !! better late than never..

[FRS86edition#3]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

What is your profession if you have to drive in 2 feet of snow?

My job they can place weather mandates so technically I would have to, but realistically if that happens I leave early before there is significant accumulation.

I am sure NY gets slammed with snow worse than we do in the IN, but I live out in the country about 30 miles from the city where I work. I actually work as an industrial sales rep for wire and cable products. We supply products globally. Snow emergencies work on levels in Indiana. Level 1 is the lowest level while level 3 being the highest. Level 3 means only emergency personal can be on the roads and if you are caught on the roads you can be fined/ticketed. So, work for me is only cancelled if there is a Level 3. The state road crews do an okay job at keeping the city streets pretty clean, but the country roads definitely seem to get "less love" when it comes to plowing.