I need a beater. (lol innuendo) [Car Thread]

nonplussed

My car's essentially going to cost me more than it's worth to fix and so I beseech H/A for advice. There was a thread a while ago talking about good beater cars that I can't seem to find, so sorry if I'm just no good at searching for it, but I could really use suggestions on these to last me my last year of college until I get a real job. I'm thinking in the 500-1000 dollar range. Thanks in advance.

zhen_rogue

I'd vote for a honda civic or accord.
I've also had several friends with 4th-gen toyota celicas that have run forever (and are still on the road).

I'd suggest staying away from 6cyl and 8cyl cars, which will keep the cost down.

JebusUD

most depressing thread title ever.

Ask friends and family if they know anyone selling a cheap car. If they do you can usually get a deal.

mastman

For real. I was almost in tears

nonplussed

Heh, sorry about the thread title but when I woke up this morning and got the news I gave the deepest sigh ever and shed a solitary tear.

I remember someone saying something in the previous beater car thread about Toyota's that go the distance with extremely minimal maintenance. Thoughts?

VThornheart

Aye... when I saw car thread, I my thought immediately jumped to a tragic car accident. I'm very glad to hear that such wasn't the case, but you had me alarmed there!

I used to have a Nissan Sentra. That thing took a licking for... well, I'm not sure exactly how long. I got it from someone else, who I know had it since at least the early 90's. I had it for years, never had to take it in for maintenance. In the end, I gave it to my little brother, who still uses it today. I think he had to put in a couple hundred for some new brakes and tires eventually, and I think at some point the A/C system broke and had to be repaired, but other than that the thing's sustained almost two decades of punishment and it's still going. If you can find one, I assume they'd be pretty cheap... and they get you where you need to go, for sure.

nonplussed

Alright, alright I'm confusing and worrying too many people with the thread title.

Donovan Puppyfucker

You want a simple Japanese car like an early 90's Camry with a good service history. Somebody's grandparents car. Corollas are hard to beat.

fuelish

VThornheart said Nissan Sentra. I agree. The first gen cars are super tough, easy to fix, and get great gas mileage.

The only downside to any car in the "cheap solid beater" category is that they are now going up in value because they offer great mileage.

blanknogo

Get as new of a Corolla as you can afford. Those things are solid.

And, um, what was the original thread title?

VThornheart

It was something along the lines of "I lost my child of six years [car related]" or something to that extent. I don't remember the exact original name.

RUNN1NGMAN

Mazda 323.

TexiKen

Mazda Protege

Toyota Tercel

Geo prizm (toyota engine)

If you'd be willing to spend at least $1500 it will help you not be stuck with something that will give out any minute and cost just as much as it cost to fix it.

b0bd0d

Crown vic. Mine was running fine at 220K miles when I sold it. Still wound up to a 100 mph easy. 1.5 years later, that guy still hasn't changed the oil. Everybody in my family has driven one when they first learned to drive. They're f'ing tanks. Off road, hitting shit, getting rear ended, breaking suspension parts, 100+ mph speeding, burn outs, etc. I had a four-banger ranger with a five speed that ran like it didn't care about life. Everyone I've seen in the junkyard had at least 200K miles on it. I've never owned a import so can't tell you bout them. Every car in my family has been domestic and has over 150K miles. Hard, tire chewing miles.

nonplussed

Original name was "My baby of six years has died. (Car Thread)" Thanks for the choices, I'm thinking Toyota's seem to be the way to go, with a close second nomination on the Sentra's.

GiantRobo

Toyota, all you gotta do is put gas and oil in them and they will run forever.

I also agree with the celica's.

Just don't get one after '95.

King Kong

Just curious, what exactly is wrong with your current car?

Akilae729

TexiKen wrote: »

Mazda Protege

Toyota Tercel

Geo prizm (toyota engine)

If you'd be willing to spend at least $1500 it will help you not be stuck with something that will give out any minute and cost just as much as it cost to fix it.

I second the Geo Prizim. My coworker has one that is around 250k and it is still going strong.

You also get a deal because it is an american nameplate (but is actually a toyota)

nonplussed

My car needs the radiator replaced and water has entered the ports/cylinder and either needs to be replaced or cleaned. It'd cost 1200 for labor and parts. This information was relayed to me by my dad from his friend who sold me the car. My dad got a second opinion and the other guy said that he'd replace the radiator since the car starts still and would only cost 200, but that sounds rather iffy.

The car's a '90 Integra.

variant

Try to get it fixed for a reasonable price but keep in mind it's like 18 years old now.

Wifflebat

Get another integra if you can find one, the B-Series motor is way solid. Otherwise, follow the above advice and think Corolla, Civic, or Sentra.

For off the wall ideas, you could look for a fox body Mustang with the 302 or a 3rd generation Camaro. Both have incredibly stout motors and Chevy's of that era tend to run poorly longer than most cars run at all.

PirateJon

Beater advice - at that price make/model means nothing you just want something that's mechanically sound. Look hard and you can usually find somehting with interior damage or cosmetic problems that don't effect the drivabliity.


Also - If it had water in the cylinders it would have destroyed the engine. Cleaning won't do jack for a bent rod so mechanic 1 sounds like a scammer. Have the oil changed and look for water/coolant. None = good. Some = bad. could be blown gaskets to faulty water pump to a cracked block.

nonplussed

I'm not too keen on the fox body Mustang, perhaps because it has a distinct 80's quality to it that I generally don't like about cars from that era. Too boxy, maybe.

And I've entertained the idea of the third gen Camaro's but I imagine that the insurance would be considerably higher and I'm not too sure what the sort of legacy it has when it comes to gas mileage. Everything else that's been suggested so far has been famous for it's endurance and mileage.

So far, I'm definitely intrigued by the Prizm and it's undercover Toyota status. Anyone else have anything to say about them?

OremLK

All the advice to buy Toyotas and Hondas is good and fine but I seriously doubt he will find a working one for less than $1k (except perhaps from a kind family member).

Personally I wouldn't buy any car at that price range unless I absolutely had to. I'd find an alternate means of transportation until I could afford at least $2,000 and get a car like the ones people are suggesting in this thread.

nonplussed

Yeah, seems more and more likely that the more desirable cars are in the 1500-2500 range.

GiantRobo

I don't mean to steal the thread, but I wondering what your guys' input on this '99 sentra is.

TexiKen

Giant Robo:

They're asking at least $1 grand more than would be acceptable

The mileage seems fairly low for the year. That means it wasn't run much and may lead to some problems. I had a '99 Maxima at the beginning of the year that had 102 k on it. Also, just for reference, that old Maxima with 102k miles, in very good condition was worth about $5k.

And maybe its just me, but the suspension looks off in the back, sort of like an aftermarket add on.