Curious...Who here has a winter beater to drive?

[SuperAvant]

Just wondering who has a winter beater so the salt/sand doesnt beat on the front of your S4?

I just bought a 97 2 door cherokee. However it will serve another purpose as I lift it for a trail rig. It feels great to hear salt and sand pelt my jeep and know that my audi's paint job is still staying purrty. I still take the beast out on the weekends though...

[...Mark...]

When i lived in NY i always had a beater as a commuter ride (did about 100 miles daily) and also because i always pulled my cars off the road for the winter months. Back then I had a Saturn that ran like a champ. Since i have moved to Atlanta i had gone through a couple of Dakotas as a DD's to keep miles off of my vette. After having a kid i realized that having a sportscar that i was making payments on that i could never drive was foolish so i went back down to one car. Sold the Z06 and the Dakota and paid cash for my A-spec TL which i had for less than a year (wasn't cutting it), and then i picked up my S4.

[sakimano]

these aren't ferraris...so I just drive it year round (in Toronto no less)

[...Mark...]

these aren't ferraris...so I just drive it year round (in Toronto no less)

I hear you but at the same time it depends upon the extent of your mods. Back when i was up north i had a modded exlipse gsx that was lowered (didn't have coilovers to raise and lower the car), had a front mount intercooler, etc.. Driving it in the snow w/ all the road sand and salt could really fuck up the intercooler not to mention the clearance issues i had in the snow. Even w/ the AWD it was a PITA to get in and out of parking lots w/ snow built up etc. Keep in mind that that car proably cost a 3rd of an S4 but i pulled it off the road during the winter anyway..

Its all relative.

[charliemike]

I'm looking to get one. I have two dogs and they are going to destroy my car if I don't get a beater to haul them around in ... Something really cheap ... Like $2500 cheap :)

Plus I drive a lot and I'm putting WAY too many miles on my car.

Thinking of an older Subaru Outback.

[SuperAvant]

Yeah its great. I picked my Jeep up for 1700 bucks. I know how to fix them too so that saves me a bunch on repairs. Hell I could completely rip apart that jeep and replace everything down to the motor for less than $1K.

I know my S4 may not be something exotic but its my pride and joy. The less paint chips and miles I can stop racking up sitting in dead stop traffic, the better. The less potholes I hit with it the better too :-) I would rather use it for what its made for, spirited driving through the twisties.

[serumk]

I bought the S4 for its performance all-weather ability, and having a winter beater would deprive me of the joy I take from winter driving. = )

Winter tires, and plenty of car washes!

My $0.02.

[Bpitz15]

Just picked up a 2001 Dakota 4x4 around the new year and it will be my work truck/ shitty weather commuter/ around the yard truck... while the s4 stays cozy in the garage waiting for me to rip it around in FRESH SNOW. Not that sloppy slushy brown shit..no way

[SebringSilver]

It's not so much that it's the 'beater', but the S4 is pretty amazing in winter driving conditions. When there's snow on the ground, Quattro rocks.

[ItzDarrellS4]

yea cherokee! great choice. they're tanks. I have a 99 that I use as a daily. ya the S4 should be driven in the snow, but the winters up here have destroyed my last two audis. (frost heaves, rock chips, broken windshields, hit by other cars) so when I bought the S4, I bought the jeep.
plus, we've had a few storms up here the past few years in the mountains that no way in hell my audi would have made it through snow that deep. happy i have a "beater."

[Justincredible]

You got to have a winter or just plain beater. I like to put the S4 up for the winter. Also for me when I know I'm going to mod a car I like the idea of having the beater just in case I don't get the job finished.

I did take the S4 out today tho and WOW what a great Idea there was black ice all over the road. I was 1/2 way threw a bend in the express way and the car started to come around. I slowly turned into the slide that was getting worse by the sec. Then next thing I know the ESP came on and saved the day. All this just in time to see the mini van behind me go threw the same thing and smash into the wall.

Thanks Audi

[serumk]

All this just in time to see the mini van behind me go threw the same thing and smash into the wall.

Thanks Audi

Exactly why I don't have a winter beater.

[Jdubya]

The S4 is my beater. :)

[D.K]

<-- '97 Saturn. Not to say that I won't drive the S4 over the winter, but I like the option of not having to.

[manhattanprjkt8]

dude is the s4 really your beater wow...

i am looking to get one asap, i am an avid mountain biker and ride about 4 days a week I need a truck but dont like the gas...probably going to end up with an old mk2 jetta just because i like them.

[40valve]

I don't see the point of having another car/wheels for the winter.
That's like putting plastic cover on your couch so it doesn't wear out ...

[SuperAvant]

I don't see the point of having another car/wheels for the winter.
That's like putting plastic cover on your couch so it doesn't wear out ...

If you lived in New England, you would understand.

[VVG]

Well, it's not exactly a "beater", but it does get more winter duty than my RS4. i still drive the RS4 in winter, but mainly for fun after a fresh snow fall or when the roads are dry. When it's really mucky, she sits warm and cozy in the garage

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/show...8&ppuser=26437

[serumk]

I don't see the point of having another car/wheels for the winter.
That's like putting plastic cover on your couch so it doesn't wear out ...

x2 -- I lived in Michigan for the first 21 years of my life, and as long as you keep it clean, it lasts just as long, and you don't have to pay for depreciation, maintenance, fuel, insurance, registration/taxes, etc, on a second vehicle.

[ItzDarrellS4]

If you lived in New England, you would understand.

X2. salt destroys the cars finish. along with rocks that get sifted out with the sand. add in terrible drivers in the snow that seem to enjoy driving recklassly.

and you need separate set of wheels. my summer wheels would be junk after a winter. not to mention the crazy ice build up you get on the drum of most wheels.

[SuperAvant]

x2 -- I lived in Michigan for the first 21 years of my life, and as long as you keep it clean, it lasts just as long, and you don't have to pay for depreciation, maintenance, fuel, insurance, registration/taxes, etc, on a second vehicle.

There is no way you can keep a car just as nice that is driven all year round as one that is driven just in the summer with the salty roads in the Northern US. This is why people love to purchase California cars. They never rust! Even with all the washing, you will still get salt deposits in places you cant spray off.

The point of a beater is minimal expenses.

I bought my Jeep for 1700 bucks... its probably not going to depreciate much more and the fact that I have sold almost every Jeep I have owned for more than I bought it is enticing to me. Insurance is minimal - no collision etc. Taxes are about $50/year. So for relatively little money, I can keep my S4's paint fresh and prevent a good deal of rust that is sure to eventually show up. I guess it makes sense considering I want to keep my S for a while.

[JMG]

It's 73 degrees today. So... no.

[Bpitz15]

There is no way you can keep a car just as nice that is driven all year round as one that is driven just in the summer with the salty roads in the Northern US. This is why people love to purchase California cars. They never rust! Even with all the washing, you will still get salt deposits in places you cant spray off.

The point of a beater is minimal expenses.

I bought my Jeep for 1700 bucks... its probably not going to depreciate much more and the fact that I have sold almost every Jeep I have owned for more than I bought it is enticing to me. Insurance is minimal - no collision etc. Taxes are about $50/year. So for relatively little money, I can keep my S4's paint fresh and prevent a good deal of rust that is sure to eventually show up. I guess it makes sense considering I want to keep my S for a while.

dont forget resale if you ever plan on selling the Audi... to the potential buyer having a winter beater is a major selling point (at least to me). While the Beater is taking all of the abuse the audi gets to enjoy the nice days, and that is good peace of mind.

Also the fact that they are called "winter beaters" means they take a lot of abuse through the winter months. Who would want to abuse their pride and joy??

[SuperAvant]

It's 73 degrees today. So... no.

I only take my car out in 75+ degree weather... SHAME ON YOU

[joeycuccaro]

92 civic ex 5 speed - so much fun

[ItzDarrellS4]

It's 73 degrees today. So... no.

only a 67 degree difference to here

[serumk]

I hope you'll be able to forgive me for subjecting my S4 to the elements during the harsh winter months. I bought it to drive it, and that's what I'll do. I have no problem with people who have second cars for the winter -- I had one at one time -- but it wasn't a net savings for me, so I abandoned the plan.

To each his/her own, and I plan to drive my S4 all winter. I have no problem repairing and maintaining it as a consequence of driving it in the winter.

[VVG]

these aren't ferraris...so I just drive it year round (in Toronto no less)

Maybe not, but they are not just run of the mill joe-six-pack commuter-mobiles either. I will probably never own a Ferrari, but RS4's(and S4's) are special enough in the grand scheme of things that some may want to garage them for the winter. I do drive my RS4 in the winter, just not when it is super-mucky out like about 3 days after a major snow storm when all that will happen is that my front end will get pelted with salt and grime.

[Maverick]

i drove to Wachusetts mountains last weekend for snowboarding. before I went the car was clean, after I came back and the car is almost white. ughhhh.

I just put on shitty parts, such as a not so great front bumper and stock headlights.
I wash/spray it as much as I can.

[SoCalS4Avant]

I wouldn't call mine a beater - but it's got a bunch more clearance, and it'll get loads more people and/or stuff if I need it. I still use the Avant to get me up the mountains...it's a toss up. As it is, they don't use salt in California anymore. They do use a bunch of rocks - crushed up cinders. Yay! That's never fun for anyone's car.

Here's my "beater."

[covertS4driver]

I have a 1994 Audi 90 CS Quattro, but I don't drive it all the time....

With the rear dif lock, it is incredible in the snow though!

[AudiOso]

This is my winter "beater."

[EYE4SPEED]

If you need a beater, you should probably get a 4x4. I personally drive a Honda with snow tires. Okay in light snow, but need the clearance of an suv around here sometimes.

We are currently looking for a four door, 4x4 truck. Dodge Dakota seems to be the cheapest.

[Bpitz15]

If you need a beater, you should probably get a 4x4. I personally drive a Honda with snow tires. Okay in light snow, but need the clearance of an suv around here sometimes.

We are currently looking for a four door, 4x4 truck. Dodge Dakota seems to be the cheapest.

I'm on my fourth Dakota.. love them!

make sure you get a 5spd for more reliability. the 3.9 v6 gets about the same as any v8 they offer so if you need the v8 power dont hesitate.

[EYE4SPEED]

I'm on my fourth Dakota.. love them!

make sure you get a 5spd for more reliability. the 3.9 v6 gets about the same as any v8 they offer so if you need the v8 power dont hesitate.

Good to know... we occasionally tow some toys around, so thinking the V8 would be more reliable.

Now to find that nice blue metallic color...

[eurosmurf]

98 Dodge Intrepid.. 55000 miles Mint and Fully Loaded !

[Mr. Corey]

I just got my S4 this past fall. As much as I wanted to continue driving it, winter causes too much damage. So I kept my Jeep for a winter vehicle, and put the Audi in storage.

[matm3]

year round! otherwise I would have kept the m3

[ant7701]

lol....I bought the S4 so I DON'T have to buy a winter beater

[trexturk]

I got an 05 Focus. I use it to go to work. I also use it when i go to the city. I dont like parking my car on the streets in the city.
So i take the focus and don't really care if i get a small scratch on the bumper. The whole front end is f*cked up anyways with rock/salt chips