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Good, Cheap Beater Cars & Inexpensive Commuter Cars - how to find one?

356 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2010 at 10:25 AM

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What is this discussion about? Acura Integra, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Mazda Protege, Buying Insurance

Messages Page 32 of 36

#307 of 356 1981 Mazda 626...Work of ART!!!! by joyrider147

Sep 08, 2007 (3:26 pm)

My dad bought a '81 Mazda 626 with 125,000 miles for $50.00. It has a 2.0 4 cylinder and 5 speed manual. Just dump a quart of oil a month, brakes once every so often, 4 tires 50,000 miles later, and a yearly inspection.
 
When we were driving it in 1998, WE WERE BLOWING THE DOORS OFF OF BRAND NEW CARS AT 75 MPH!!!!
 
Highly reliable, highly dependable, rarely broke down and when it did, it was for small stuff. We put 16,000 miles a year on that car and junked it at 250,000 when the rear shaft broke. On Youtube.com, I saw someone having a car like that and was smashing it into a Subaru station wagon at the beach.
 
Built in 1981, and here it is 25 YEARS LATER.... THE DAMN CAR IS STILL ON THE ROAD DRIVING????? You know how people say Ford= Found on Road Dead or Fix or Repair Daily? I say: Mazda= "Don't Need to Fix or Repair" or "Still on Road Driving!"
 
Why did Ford buy Mazda from the Japanese just so that in the later models they can destroy its quality?

#308 of 356 1987 BMW 528e...Good find! by joyrider147

Sep 08, 2007 (3:35 pm)

I found a 1987 BMW 528e in very good condition for $950.00. Just add a new windshield, 2 tires, an instrument panel, and a driver's seat for a total of $300 extra. The car is practically brand new. Even all the accessories, the interior, and paint job was pristine. Little to no rust at all! Performs as good at was made 20 years ago! Even while driving on the highway, the tires anchors themselves the road from the stiff suspension.

#309 of 356 '87 Ford Escort EXP... to buy or not to buy? by joyrider147

Sep 08, 2007 (3:43 pm)

I found a "brand new" 1987 Ford Escort EXP with a stick shift, 87,500 miles, and I think its had only 1 owner for $900.00.
 
I heard about several people having problems with Escorts, but would these problems still be there even if the original owner maintained the car extremely well, including all wiring and wiring harness?
 
But I heard the Escort engine itself is powerful, dependable, and reliable. And I've been seeing a lot of Escorts being sold cheaply for low miles. But, is it to make a quick sale for 16 to 20 year old Fords that were forgotten about or are they cars that you dump money in?
  
To buy or not to buy?

#310 of 356 Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson by joyrider147

Sep 08, 2007 (3:55 pm)

Here's a tale to beat all! Top Gear is a British car enthusiast show and they gave Jeremy Clarkson and his 2 co-presenters, James "Captain Slow" and Richard "Hamster" Hammond 100 British Pounds ($160 American Dollars) and were told to find a cheap car and they tested them to see if they could handle usual daily commutes. Jeremy bought a Volvo 760GLE fully loaded for $1.60 American dollars!!!
 
If you don't believe me, check youtube.com for "Top Gear cheap cars" and watch more funny and exciting Top Gear episodes!

#311 of 356 Re: 1987 BMW 528e...Good find! [joyrider147] by im_brentwood

Sep 08, 2007 (11:33 pm)

Replying to: joyrider147 (Sep 08, 2007 3:35 pm)
VERY good buy! I am big into E28s (I have an 88 M5, 86 535i and an 88 528e) and they are absolutely fantastic cars.
 
A 528e will last.. oh.. the engine should make it to 400k at least, automatic might hit 200-250k, diff at least as long as the engine.
 
They are indestructible and easy to work on. Buy the Bentley Manual on eBay.
 
Check out www.mye28.com
 
Change the timing belt!!! Unless you have PROOF that it's been done, do it and do the water pump too. It's easy DIY and there's lots of guides online to show you how to do it. The process is the same for any gasoline-engined 6-cyl BMW that uses a belt.
 
If you need any info on the car, let me know.. I've grown up around them and know them in and out. If it's clean it's a $2k car, you did very well. Oh, it only needs regular and if you use the cruise it gets 30 on the highway. Make sure you use 20W50 oil tho! 10W40 is winter oil for those, 10W30 for Alaskan winters.

#312 of 356 Beat-up beater... by oldfarmer50

Sep 10, 2007 (8:05 am)

My son may have come up with the best beater car I've seen. He rescued a 1988 Plymouth Reliant from a trip to the junk yard and it runs just fine. It looks like hell but for $350 you can't go wrong. Took less than $150 worth of repairs to pass inspection.
 
Sometimes you can get decent transportation cheap if you don't care about looks. I second that recommendation about Craigslist. Even though my son didn't go that route I've seen some pretty cheap cars on there. Sometimes the seller will tell you the whole life story of the car too.
 
I have a soft spot for beater cars. On the one hand if it blows up next week what have you really lost? If it runs for a couple of years you feel like a car buying genius.

#313 of 356 Re: Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson [joyrider147] by kirstie_h HOST

Sep 10, 2007 (8:26 am)

Replying to: joyrider147 (Sep 08, 2007 3:55 pm)
Hey, where are you finding all of these deals? Do you just shop local ads, or do you have other resources?

#314 of 356 Got ya all beat by im_brentwood

Sep 10, 2007 (11:45 pm)

1990 BMW 735i. Runs and drives great, 225k miles, ice cold AC, nice paint and interior, no major problems.
 
$800 cash off of craigslist.
 
I used it as a loaner until some nitwit rear-ended it. Oh yes.. the guy's insurance co gave me a check for $4500.

#315 of 356 Re: Got ya all beat [im_brentwood] by qbrozen

Sep 11, 2007 (6:50 am)

Replying to: im_brentwood (Sep 10, 2007 11:45 pm)
~640% return. Nice!

#316 of 356 Re: Got ya all beat [im_brentwood] by british_rover

Sep 11, 2007 (6:56 am)

Replying to: im_brentwood (Sep 10, 2007 11:45 pm)
Yikes does that count as capital gains???

Messages Page 32 of 36

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