[maxg765]

Hello All,

FIrst off thanks to all for the suggestions. Here my position and some replies to suggestions.

I live in Montreal and thus snow tires as of this year is a law as of a certain date in what I think is Nov and up until what I think is March. An I am glad for that as I think it is stupid for people that live in this area not to have them. All season tires are really only good for the first year of use in our type of winters and barely so when the weather turns bad. Cars are deadly and if you can be responsible enough to drive one you should be responsible enough to make it road safe not just for yourselves but those in your car and around you on the outside.

That said....

I have a two and half old daughter and want/need something safe and reliable. I work and thus cannot afford to have a "very old" unreliable unsafe automobile. A $700 car just wont do unless it was a steel. The NY winters are much less harsh that ours and a weaker older car might handle them but not Montreal, not after what I saw and experienced this past year. My 2004 Honda Civic with new snows had trouble on some days.

Now thats said....

I have a collection of
1972 Triumph STAG V8 Convertible 36000 Original miles 3rd owner
1974 Mazda RX4 Coupe Rotary 34000 Original miles 2nd owner
1972 AMC Gremlin X Factory V8 49000 Original miles 2nd owner
1993 Mazda RX7 FD Twin Turbo 15100 Original miles 4th owner

I am using the 93 RX7 FD as my Daily Driver for now but its killing me as before this past week it had never seen rain.....

The Subaru was intended to be added to that list as garage queens however space at my place and my mother-in-laws is running short. Already the Gremi is now residing outside on occasion along with the 93 RX7.

My 2004 Civic was intended to be my Daily Driver and winter beater but as mentioned after 4 years of nothing but trouble and even an attempt at legal action I was happy to return the car after its lease end on Aug 16th.

As well, I am in the retail business (with three store) and after some 7 break-ins in the past 24 months (and yes I have monitered alarms, bars, etc...etc...) of which the last one this past July I no longer had insurance (canceled due to high risk) and am taking the hit personally (F*CK the crooks). So my plans for spending on another winter beater has been dented somewhat. Because of this recent loss I am somewhat uncomfortable at this time in dropping anther $5K to 10K plus on a winter car when I have this SVX that seems more than capable. I do not believe that a car less than 5K would be safe and reliable enough for my family, me and my work. Cars on Canada are not as cheap as in the USA and harsh winters demand something more new or at least older but like new.

Thats what brought me to my thread question. Maybe I will feel diff after I physically have the car here and driven it some over the next month or so. Maybe I can sell one of my other toys but my problem is that I get them telling myself that I will sell one to acquire the new one and that never happens since I get attached to them. Knowing that I will never find another in the same original and still pristine condition like what I have in my collection makes it harder to part with any of them....

So, back I am at this problem. I have no winter or Daily Driver at this time and finances have changed some while priorities have also changed some with my 2 1/2 year old (plus another in the oven). I have not made up my mind yet and have until I guess late October to make my move but am fishing now for a solution.

best regards

Max