who changes winter/summer

[MX-5]

Grouch,
Yours is the perfect example for getting a beater.

The salt tears up your PT.
I don't want my one-year-only 02 Dream Cruiser getting ruined by road salt.

The insurance is high.
I'm sure the insurance on an '85 Ranger is still MUCH less than an '02 PT Cruiser.

I'm driving a '96 Explorer this winter. It would have no trouble passing any state inspections. I paid a little more for it, but I can sell it for what I paid for it in the spring.
No money lost on the beater, and a few hundred saved on insurance, and my Dreamer is clean and warm in the garage.

[Grouch]

Doesn't work in N J My wife's 98 Sebring cost more to insure(liability ) than the PT.

Unless you have a clear title the bank makes you keep full coverage on your car. That would be $ 650 for 6 months and another $650 for the beater.

It may work where you live but just isn't worth the cost here.

You also have a big advantage over the average guy because you have a shop and tools to keep a beater running

[MX-5]

Indiana is the same for full coverage insurance. If you have financed the car, you must keep it fully covered.
Even though I bought the '02 Dreamer with cash and owe nothing on it, I keep full coverage insurance.
A $2500 beater isn't worth full coverage, and at that price it wouldn't be financed.

If I bought a 98 Sebring today, it would be for cash.
If you bought it new, and got stuck with 5 or 6 years of payments, then full coverage on a 7 year old car would really suck!

[jlsl1081]

No choice here. Can't afford beater car or spare set of wheels/tires. I run my Dream Cruiser chrome wheels through everything - snow, ice, salt in PA. My PT is an ungaraged, daiily driver. I just try to make sure I wipe the chrome rims off & wipe on some "Never-Dull" every couple of weeks when I get a weather break. Been through 2 winters and the wheels still look like new.