One girl two cars

[Wookie]

Terrifying thought!

But seriously, I mentioned this in the "Ask Me Anything I'm a Car Dealer Thread" but in a roundabout way.

The subject has reared it's ugly head once again!

My girlfriend (no, she's not the ugly head), wants a second car. She drives an 07 Nissan Versa, factory all season tires, and thinks it's terrible in the winter. I've suggested winter tires.

She wants to buy a second vehicle. A 2k - 3k priced SUV 95/96 Jimmy/Cherokee kind of vehicle to drive in the winter and park the 2007 Versa. Thinks the Versa can't get out of my street (it's a slight hill and she had trouble last winter) and is not safe.

I don't know, this screams terrible waste of money to me. The Versa is in great shape, still warrenty'd instead to buy something 13 years old with no known history to drive in the winter. It will be terrible on gas, I have an older SUV, I crashed it and my Airbags didn't deploy, I'm wondering if her car is more safe regardless if 4x4 or not.

But.. in her defense "I'm a dick, and always think I'm right, and won't consider anything I don't agree with"

So - I come here to open my mind.

And insurance would be "okay" as she's an under 25 year old female driver with a good driving record.

[Winsor_Pilates]

sell the versa and get 1 car that she can use all year. If you're gonna have 2 cars in Calgary, the second one should be something really fun that can only be used in the summer, not a Versa.

[arsenal]

you sir are not in an enviable position.
If you go along with her idea, and she realizes later that the 2-3k vehicle is terrible in the winter, she will feel as though she has wasted the money, and get mad at you for not talking her out of it.

Right now, you are

a dick, and always think I'm right, and won't consider anything I don't agree with

I guess go along with it. If it doesn't work out, you could always buy the 4x4 from her, and turn into a mudding truck. If it does, then I guess you have to deal with her being smug for 8 months. At least she will be happy, which means lots of sex for you.

Either way.. it's win win.

[WinColumn]

Your cheapest solution is to get her a set of GOOD winter tires. People will say that no on "needs" winter tires. Although this is probably true 98% of the time, there is no disputing that they are way better in snow and ice. The control and confidence it gives might be enough to convince your gf to forgo the SUV. It'll cost ~$1000-1500 for a good set, but it you'll save on the extra gas and insurance. I recommend Nokian. Kal-tire carries them.

[Bill Bumface]

I'm guessing she's never driven on winter tires and doesn't realize the difference a good set can make.

[BlackArcher101]

Makes no sense. If she thinks the Versa is so unsafe, why even drive it anymore?

Sell it, then get a vehicle that will actually be useful in both seasons. But frankly, any vehicle is useful in the winter if you have proper winter tires.

So your options are:
1. Put a set of wheels and winter tires for the Versa. This will allow it to be driven throughout the year and have two sets of tires. Would cost less than another vehicle (which probably would need tires anyways).
2. Sell the Versa taking the loss on depreciation and but a different vehicle that makes her feel "safe". Odds are it'll be a small suv, and in the end she'll realize it's not much better especially in the summer months. If winter driving is a concern, then maybe something with AWD would be for her (ie a Subaru).

Option 3:


Option 4 which is to do what she wants and get that second vehicle for winter doesn't make any sense here. The only time I would do that is if I want to park my other car to minimize rock damage and/or lessen the amount of km's I put on it. Otherwise, I would only do it if I had a nice sporty car which i put money into and don't want to ruin it in the winter. A Versa does not fit that bill.

[Wookie]

I've already suggested winter tires and will edit my original post to reflect this.

[TSXCman]

100% support the winter tires suggestions. They completely transform a vehicle for the season

[arsenal]

Go the winter tire route.
But make a compromise if she tries the winter tires and still isn't happy.

[BlackArcher101]

So what did she say when you suggested winter tires?

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

So what did she say when you suggested winter tires?

Doesn't know that winter tires can be that beneficial. Now I don't use winters. I have a great set of AS's and 4x4. Something I bought 9 years ago and will keep until it fails me or becomes uneconomical to drive. So working on her to get Winter tires may prove difficult. But that's the route I'll go.

She's already said winter tires cost 1/2 to 1/3rd what the old SUV will cost, but winter tires don't need servicing. A cheap 13 year old SUV will/does.

Now - for car experts - can one car be "better in the snow than another"?"

She really likes the new Altima's. Her friend drives one and says it's fine in the winter. Two cars, same manufacturer, 2 years difference, different frame/body.

Personally I think it's tires and skill. The wheelbase may have a slight difference as well as the weight. I think the Altima has a much heavier engine.

[BlackArcher101]

What exactly is it about the Versa that she doesn't like in the winter?
If it's solely based on the fact she can't get up a hill, then an Altima won't be much different. Tires make an ungodly huge difference in winter traction. I myself will be getting studded Nokian Hakka's this year and I should be able to drive just like I do in the summer damn near.

[KevanGuy]

Let her waste her money, who cares?

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Let her waste her money, who cares?

After a bit of debating, if it comes down to it, this will be my final decision.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Wookie

Doesn't know that winter tires can be that beneficial. Now I don't use winters. I have a great set of AS's and 4x4. Something I bought 9 years ago and will keep until it fails me or becomes uneconomical to drive.

Now - for car experts - can one car be "better in the snow than another"

She really likes the new Altima's. Her friend drives one and says it's fine in the winter. Two cars, same manufacturer, 2 years difference, different frame/body.

Personally I think it's tires and skill. The wheelbase may have a slight difference as well as the weight. I think the Altima has a much heavier engine.

well make her KNOW. proper winter tires make a world of difference, it doesn't matter if you have the greatest 4x4 SUV around if you have crap tires you won't be going anywhere

i drove a K-Car when i first moved to Calgary, yet i still passed SUV's stuck in the snowbank because i had good winter tires on it. if you want to make your life easier and save her a lot of money in the long run, spend it on a set of Blizzaks or Nokians

[stang]

I have a 94 mustang I have had since I wa 17 (10 years now) I used to have to drive that girl all year round.

A GOOD set of winter tires and there was NO stopping me. Seriously. Like if you have never used winter tires, you have no idea how much of a difference it makes. Night and Day.

Suggest to her to try some winter tires. If she still doesnt like it then tell her you will help her find a cheap vehicle. I bet the tires will do the trick.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Let her waste her money, who cares?

Sadly, it's not always "her" money that's used.

[Bownesian]

Originally Posted by Wookie

She's already said winter tires cost 1/2 to 1/3rd what the old SUV will cost, but winter tires don't need servicing.

It's false economy. Using winter tires will cause less wear in the summer tires, making them last longer. In the long run, it's nearly a wash if you get winter tires on steel rims .

My wife's Matrix came with brutal "all season" tires. Apparently Toyota thinks that all season means the road can be wet some times in addition to being dry. Anyway, she switched to winter tires a couple years ago and the difference is amazing - about a third the stopping distance and never any lateral skidding.

[MoneyGuy]

I can't believe everyone who doesn't have an SUV doesn't use winter tires. Huge difference. Absolutely huge.

[Sly]

Sell the Versa.