Wintershite?

[CreepingJesus]

Watching the cars (and everything else) tackle the slippery main road outside the house, I was struck by a question. What would the ultimate Autoshite get-you-thro'-a-nasty-winter motor be?

Given that we like to spend naff-all on wheels, would an aging supermini with 'skinny' section tyres, or a cheap small 4x4 (say a Suzuki SJ) be a better bet?

What do we think?

[Albert Ross]

This. >>>>>>>>

[wuvvum]

I reckon my Justy fulfills most of the criteria. It's 18 years old, rather battered and was obscenely cheap. It's also a supermini on skinny tyres, but with the added bonus of selectable 4wd. And it has a 9 valve engine - I've never had a 9 valve engine before.

[AlsoMike]

My choice would be a Fiat Panda, and non of this 4x4 stuff either.

 

This would do it:

 

[CreepingJesus]

^Oh yeah, the 3 valve 3 cylinder! Surely 9V would make an awesome bootlid badge - a real WTF moment.

To an extent, I agree about the Landy - it's usually my first thought when the crap weather rolls in. But the extent is the second thought; any Landy within my budget is likely to be a shed, and therefore far from cheap. I'll have one someday tho'!

Pandas are fun in any weather - you don't really have to brake for much...just sling it in.

[Richard]

Peugeot 305.

[meggersdog]

200TDi Discovery.They are fairly cheap and the heater usually works.The body rots quite bad near most structual points though.Also ,as I've just discovered on my latest purchase, if it's fitted with sunroofs the inside will be dryer if you leave the sunroof open.

[Barry Cade]

Trabant on Pneumant M+S's..

 

oh, and a hat.

[scooters]

I had a couple last year - both passed on to whitevanman's operation (The Scottish Borders Emporium of Shite Automotive Kit)

 

first was a Daihatsu Shitetrak - horrible normally but very hand in the snow - 1.6 - skinny tyres, light, agricultural drivetrain and manual hubs

 

the second was a Mk1 Shogun V6 - complete with Taliban rocket launcher moonroof - GR8 4 TOWING CHIP VANS as well - great old bus - mine was a LWB - could really use it today mind!

 

I paid £400 for the shitetrak and £600 for the truck

[scooters]

winter before I had a Daf 55 Marathon with rally spec gordini engine - variomatic great in snow with power behind it