I have been dreading the thought of having to run my 84 in the snow and salt this winter, since I will not be living at home and able to use one of the parents' cars, so after months and months of searching I have finally bought a daily driver to keep the 7 out of the cold. I am now the owner of a 1974 BMW 2002. Sure, it will not go in the snow as well as a front drive escort or a 4x4 truck or something, but those cars are really not as interesting. The car runs and drives and only needs minor repairs (and snow tires soon), and for just north of 700 dollars I couldn't pass it up. Thought I would share what I think is good news to you guys, the 2 litre slant four is not nearly as cool as a rotor motor, but it will have to do. Pictures of both my cars soon to come. I am so relieved to know the 7 can stay rust free this winter.

 

get a subaru, 80-85 came with 1.8l ea81 engines with 4wd. they are cheap to buy, and nothing goes better in the snow.

isaac

(i have 6 :P)

 

A 2002 is a great find for that price if the body/frame aren't rusting. Lots of folks grab them up for racers. Get some snow tires on there and you'll be all set. Throw a couple bags of kitty litter in the trunk for added traction.

 

check the rear strut towers and around there for rust...that back end can rust to nothing

 

So, to keep a classic from rusting, you're going to rust out another classic?

I'm not a BMW fan, but I do find that funny.

 

those '02s have a big following and are pretty neat little cars...but if this one is just a $700 beater, I bet it would take waaaayyy too much money to be worth it for someone to rebuild - just a parts car. My friend treid to pick one up like that and drive it/fix it up...but then the parts cost just reached a point where it wasnt worth it, so he's parting and scraping...

 

VW baja is great.

 

No, the rust on the car is really pretty mild, and the rear shock towers are actually solid as are the wheel wells and where the spare sits has only mild surface rust. I plan to wash the undercarriage regularly and do whatever I can to keep the car in decent shape. The car is driveable, the motor and tranny seem great and the body is decent, but someone painted the car very cheaply and in terribly lazy fashion. Things like the antenna have overspray and the paint is not smooth in the least, which is mostly why the car was cheap. Also, the guy I bought it from kind of bought it from his friend probably on a whim and lost interest in it. Luckily for me, most of the car has been undercoated. Today I fixed the rear brakes which were grabbing and staying on, tomorrow I have to hang the exhaust. Otherwise, the car is pretty much ready to go other than tires. Hopefully it should be a fun ride to school and work. Flight of Pain you have 6 subarus? What do you do with them all?

 

I bought a civic lol see in my sig behind the 7.