Convince me to keep it. Or convince me to sell it.

[jnb0111]

Well, I'm fairly new to this forum, but i've had a fly buzzing in my ear, so I figured i'd ask what you guys all think.
I've got an 03 sport with now 158k miles. 2 wheel drive. salvage title. I bought it in NC, and have recently moved back to northern Ohio. Home of LOTS of snow in the winter. Also, rust.
The buzzing in my ear I've been hearing is that I might as well plan to just park my fully capable looking SUV during the winter months, because it will just plain not move in the winter. I have about a 60 mile round trip commute daily, and it's on some pretty far out back roads, so if I ended up in a ditch, it could quite literally be a while before I got out. not that I think it'll happen, but it's a possibility. NC has no snow to worry about often.
I've put an ad up to see what kind of responses i'd get to trade for something different, and have had several responses...
Would I be better off trading this for one of the following?:

2005 Dodge Neon SXT. Yeah, it's a neon. Crap. I know, but FWD, and clear title.
2000 Volvo S70 GLT. Expensive to repair, but well kept, and lower miles. Clear title.
1997 Chrysler Sebring convertible plyus $1000. 80k miles. I know nothing about these, but a convertible might be fun. Maybe.
1998 lincoln Town car. 106k. One owner. oil changed every 2800-3000 miles. Every record for every thing down to light bulbs changed. Grandpa car, grandpa died, grandkid inherited, and he wants an suv.
And the grand prize, lol. 1-1994 Nissan 300zx TT with missing engine and tranny, 1-1994 wrecked 300zx TT with good engine and tranny and better interior, and a 1999 Volvo v70 awd wagon as the daily driver. Daily driver, and a project for this winter.

any of these seem like something I should consider, or am I worrying too much about the capabilities of the 2wd Explorer?

 

[Varsity]

I don't think I could/should convince you to keep something that you really don't want to keep and I'm not too sure I get what you're asking. Worried about having a 2WD SUV?

All I can say is that Explorers are pretty sweet trucks and will outlast just about anything on the road it seems if they've been even slightly taken care of. Like you said, a Volvo will get really expensive REALLY quick but are darn good cars. A Town Car? Sounds pretty immaculate and are great cars but I personally wouldn't want to drive one around a lot. A convertible does sound like fun, but from what you described, sounds kinda impractical and have heard mixed things about those Chryslers. The Neon sounds like the only decent one on the list, but like you said, it's a Neon. Good for what it's meant to do, but meh.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Explorer. The salvage title part kinda sucks, but if it's not that bad, I say keep it. Of course, I don't know your lifestyle, if one of those other cars are more practical, go with what works and what you can afford. Just my two cents on the subject.

 

[jnb0111]

I don't think I could/should convince you to keep something that you really don't want to keep and I'm not too sure I get what you're asking. Worried about having a 2WD SUV?

All I can say is that Explorers are pretty sweet trucks and will outlast just about anything on the road it seems if they've been even slightly taken care of. Like you said, a Volvo will get really expensive REALLY quick but are darn good cars. A Town Car? Sounds pretty immaculate and are great cars but I personally wouldn't want to drive one around a lot. A convertible does sound like fun, but from what you described, sounds kinda impractical and have heard mixed things about those Chryslers. The Neon sounds like the only decent one on the list, but like you said, it's a Neon. Good for what it's meant to do, but meh.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Explorer. The salvage title part kinda sucks, but if it's not that bad, I say keep it. Of course, I don't know your lifestyle, if one of those other cars are more practical, go with what works and what you can afford. Just my two cents on the subject.

Affordability isn't an issue, as the X is paid for, and these would all be even trades. Like you, I've heard mixed things about Chryslers. My dad bought a '94 Dodge Shadow as a work car right when the Neons came out in '95. Got it for next to nothing, and no joke, did the first oil change at 100k. Finally traded it in 2006 on a new pontiac G6, and with 212k. Was still running, but reverse only worked sometimes. I think he is definitely the exception, but that's still Chrysler... He's maintaining the G6 considerably better, with annual oil changes.

The Town car, yes, not my cup of tea, but I work at a Lincoln dealer, and I kid you not. This thing could be parked on the showroom floor, and sold to someone who knows nothing about cars as being brand new. I've seen the car myself. But there again, it's also rwd. Wouldn't that give me the same issue as the Explorer?

bottom line, yeah, 2wd in the snow belt is my concern. This will be my first winter with lots of snow, so I just basically don't know what to expect. I love the explorer otherwise, even with the salvage title. I bought it as a second car/toy, but have since sold my 98 Accord that I had with nearly 340k on it, so it's my only car now. Aside from minor problems here and there, and a tapping sound from the engine that I assume is just a lifter, it's good.

 

[Varsity]

Mmm, hard to tell. I really don't think 2WD would be much of a problem, but then again, I have no idea what your route is like. I've taken my 2WD Sport through the miserable winter we had in Chicago last year and didn't have any problems. Sure, people always think suburbs are always up-to-the-hour with plowing and stuff, but sadly it's not always as good as people think. But yes my town is waaay different from where you described. You have it much worse it sounds like.

I can't really say much but I guess stay with what works. I doubt you would be gaining much in the means of traction with the Town Car besides just a car in killer condition. FWD is better than RWD is snow due to the extra engine weight, but if you're gonna get stuck, you're gonna get stuck regardless of drivetrain. I've seen a 4WD get stuck in spots where 2WD did fine. The Neon still sounds like the only decent option, but not sure if the little gain is worth swapping cars and the legal stuff. Maybe someone with more 2wd experience will chime in.

 

[SoNic67]

Bigger tires and bigger clearance to the snow for me are more important in your condition than FWD versus RWD issues. And dedicated winter tires, not "all season" or even the "M/S" ones.
And no, a 4x4 in snow will not help that much because of non-locking differential and missing central differential (transfer case is not a diff).
A full time AWD system is what you need in snow.

 

[yavapaires]

No one can tell you what is best. You know your own limitations. I have driven two wheel drive trucks in snow for years. I have driven 4x4 trucks in snow also. I do personally favor rear wheel drive overfront wheel drive. I do however have a 4x4 Ex now, just because I'm too damn old to shovel snow if I don't have to.

 

[Lube]

People have been commuting in the snow belt for decades driving whatever they had at the moment.

 

[98 5oh XLT]

Loki had her front driveline out last winter when we iced over, and i mean everything iced over. I had NO issue getting around in just RWD on M/S rate tires. You know your own limitations but I wouldnt worry, just get a decent set of tires and throw some weight in the bed and drive gentle