Originally Posted by NuGuy

Had a BMW when I moved to MSP in 98. Having lived in that part of the country before, I put it in the garage and relegated it to a "summer only" car (about 3 weeks a year). MN puts so much salt on the road in the winter it seems like other states could come to collect it off the roadsides like a salt flat.

I went to a Subaru place, and picked out the cheapest POS lease return on the lot with manual transmission and A/L brakes (still an option then). Turned out to be a little green 97 Impreza Outback Sport wagon with 20k miles on it.

Drove cheap, felt cheap, looked cheap....BUT, after 16 years that car never stranded me and held on to the road like it was on rails in practically any condition. Snow, slush, ice, whatever. When the snow plows would bury your car in the parking lot, that little car would just climb right over them.

When I finally moved that car sat in the parking lot in MSP for a year and a half before I had a chance to get it. Started on the first crank.

My only true complain about the Subaru is that factory parts are priced like they're made of gold, and if you live somewhere where they're not common, trying to get anyone to work on them is $$$$. Mine has has some occasional electrical gremlins and fried switches which required factory replacements.

But Rockauto is your friend along with a set of metric tools. The AC finally seized up and the local place wanted $1500. Had the local shop drain the freon and purge the lines, got a $250 compressor from Rockauto and some busted knuckles and $90 for a charge later, back in business and colder than ever.

Still have it. 100k miles on it, and it still cleans up. I use it for my "throw crap in the back" vehicle.

Nu