Should I get a winter beater?

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:59 am

Winters get pretty nasty out here in Michigan. Last year I got stuck in the snow so many times

and ended up cracking my bumper in my 97 Cirrus. This will be my first winter with this Neon and I'm worried about how it will handle and about my body kit. I have to paralell park at home everyday and the snow plows can't get to my spot. Problem is, I will have to keep full coverage insurance on it, pay for storage and buy the winter beater and insure that as well by January. I will only keep it stored during the harshest winter months, Jan-Mar. Should I get a beater (preferably an SUV type) or should I just get some new tires and tough it out and get stuck in the snow and maybe have to replace my front bumper after all is said and done?

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:01 am

You DO have a urathran bumper, which can take alot more damage, but I'd still suggest getting a beater car. I know michigan can get.

When you throw your neon into storage, talk to your insurance company and see if they offer "storage" insurance. I did it last year with my SXT. Cost me $86 every 6 months and coverege left, damage, ect. while it was stored away in a barn.

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:04 am

I asked my insurance agent but he says that they can't offer any type of storage insurance that will satisfy the banks demand for full coverage.

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:06 am

Then get a different insurance company. I owe 4k over bluebook and BOTH of my insurance companies set up my plan that way... back when my car was kitted and what-not.

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:12 am

Don't those storage places offer insurance?

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:17 am

but then you're still paying out the ass for full coverage

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:22 am

Yea, tell me about it. But they offer the cheapest insurance. They save me over $50/mo.

01WhiteNe0n · Post by **01WhiteNe0n** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:05 pm

Rough it out with the neon

If You dmg your front bumper it wont cost anywhere near to fix as to the price of another car.

But if you have extra money then beater cars are always fun to have.

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:07 pm

Ha, fixing that type of bumper, plus getting it re-painted... it might just be cheaper to buy a junker car for around a thousand to last you a few months

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:08 pm

My winter "beater" will be a bus pass.

The service is actually quite good in these parts. The only part I dislike about the bus in the winter is freezing my rear off while waiting for it to show up. The bus drivers don't seem to care much about that... of course not, they are inside and warm.

But, that doesn't mean the car will be in storage or never used. I'll likely end up leaving it sit on the worst days and using it when conditions are reasonable.

I drove for years in the winter with a Toyota Tercel equipped with all-season tires during the very worst conditions of a northern Canadian winter... never had problems or accidents. I suspect the Neon with winter tires can handle it about the same.

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:27 pm

Having a beater would be very convenient, especially if it is an SUV. The city bus out here doesn't come way out to my job and probably wouldn't get me to school on time from there anyways.

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:42 pm

Wow those projectors are awesome. Yeah, my neon is going to brave the winter. Damn lake effect snow :-p. I'm over in Jenison right now. Weather is getting crappier by the day.

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:45 pm

Thanx

Omg ur very close to me. Yea this weather sucks ass, I need to move to warmer climates!
So what's a reasonable price I should expect to pay for storage anyways?

bigbird · Post by **bigbird** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:56 pm

here's an idea: buy a crappy used bumper and put your nice one away for the winter! Then get some studded tires on steelies and run it!

01WhiteNe0n · Post by **01WhiteNe0n** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:58 pm

^^ basicly what I was gonna do.. Take off the lip kit and throw my old bumpers on but Im gonna be brave and only go steelies..

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:03 pm

How much do those bad boys run for?

jckevns · Post by **jckevns** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:07 pm

last winter i left the Neon sitting in my driveway and just didn't drive it. the winter before i got stuck in my driveway atleast 3 times with my neon, that will be the last time I drive the neon in the snow.
if you have funds available buy a junker and don't drive your neon or like suggested above go with steelies and old bumpers

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:08 pm

winter beaters are overrated.

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:13 pm

I have no place to keep my Neon except out in the street. That doesn't appeal to me....
I don't think beaters are overrated one bit, I would love to drive confidently in a old rusty ass Blazer than to drive worried that my Neon will get stuck! And if someone hits the beater, I wouldn't care less where if someone hits the Neon, I gotta report it and pay the deductible and take a hit on my insurance payments.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:19 pm

from what i have heard, a decent set of snow tires will get you most places you need to be.

i drove in a good bit of snow a couple years ago on just all seasons. didn't get stuck, and that included going up a hill.

if someone hits you, your rates shouldn't go up. i just had a $3000 claim on my insurance because of a hit and run back in feb. my insurance didn't go up.

TO DO
-Get a set of steelies and winter tires (i've heard great things about blizzaks)
-drive with some sense

do this and there wont be problems. my parents lived in NY their entire life up until 98, never had winter beaters or snow tires. we also lived at the top of a hill. a lot can be said about driving smart.

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:23 pm

I just made a claim on my window damage couple months ago and quotes went up everydamnwhere I checked.
May look into those blizzaks tho.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:24 pm

was it a hit and run situation?

there should be an uninsured motorist clause that covers that kind of stuff.

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:31 pm

It was a theft attempt.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:32 pm

thats BS if it affected your insurance rates.

Sexy02sxt · Post by **Sexy02sxt** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:40 pm

Yea, well my current provider didn't raise their prices thank goodness.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:49 pm

A solid set of tires and you won't have any problems getting anywhere in the winter if you know how to drive. I've had both my old escort (lower than the neon) and the neon scraping the floor boards in snow with no problem.

Kits are horrible in the winter and will break.

01WhiteNe0n · Post by **01WhiteNe0n** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:51 pm

Sexy02sxt wrote: How much do those bad boys run for?

I can Sell you 01 front and back if you;d like for the winter

Probly 100 + ship.

rOniN · Post by **rOniN** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:52 pm

I was just checking autotrader and they have a white neon on there for like 700-900 bucks. It runs and looks quite well. It's roughly around Chicago. If I didn't already have my winter car (the r/t) I would have looked into it alittle more. That is about the same as a set of winter tires and rims...well a little more but you do get a whole car that you can part out on 1gn.org or sell the car outright.

I am paying insurance for both of my cars all year around and it's actually cheaper for me to have two cars insurance wise. The SRT is always under full coverage since it is out in the barn but I bet you could get your insurance company to put your car on storage coverage and not tell your bank.

blk94z28 · Post by **blk94z28** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:47 pm

I have a 3 month lay off period for insurance on my camaro which it is still covered if anything happens to it. I have erie insurance. So far they are the cheapest for us.

As for the neon, they are great in the snow with snow tires on. I drove through a good 8-10in of snow and never got stuck with it yet. Where I live they usually do not plow the roads untill after I leave for work. And sometimes they wont plow untill it stops snowing.

deep1ca · Post by **deep1ca** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:56 pm

take the body kit off for the winteR?

Thats what i'll be doing.... a pain.. yes... but what can do u. I cant afford another car.