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

345 messages,  Last post on Nov 25, 2009 at 9:00 AM

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

#326 of 345 Re: good thread timing [stickguy] by thegraduate Sep 24, 2007 (11:16 am)
Replying to: stickguy (Sep 24, 2007 9:29 am) Actually, i saw a '92 5 series parked on a loawn yesterday, but wasn't able to stop. Not sure of the price, but it had "runs great" painted on the windows. Only thing I didn't like is it had heavy cheap tint on all the side windows.   I'd be VERY reluctant to buy a 8+ year old European car. IT will cost a fortune to replace the normal wear/tear stuff versus a domestic, or even Japanese or Korean car.   I started my driving life in 2002 with a 1996 Accord Automatic. Perfect car for a new kid behind the wheel, just make sure you find one with ABS (mine is an LX therefore it was a rarely-found option in 1996).   I've been driving this car since then, put about 55,000 miles on it (plus 25,000 on my new 2006 Accord during that same time- I drive them both because my 1996 is so bulletproof!) I currently have 175k miles on the '96; the A/C is still cold, the automatic shifts like it always has, and I've spent about $300 a year on wear and tear replacements (brake master cylinder, cracked radiator, that sort of thing).   Same transmission, same A/C, same alternator, starter, even original rear brakes and full suspension. Getting new shocks soon as the car is starting to have a little more "bounce" over big dips in the road.   Depending on your budget, you could get a car similar to mine for $3,500 or so. An EX 4-cylinder (which would have ABS) with a stickshift would be a VERY nice/fun car with decent but-not-overwhelming power, safe handling, and stellar reliability. You know this, you have an Accord!   Let us know how your search goes! Replies to this message: qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 11:39 am) thegraduate (Sep 24, 2007 12:16 pm) qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 12:35 pm) british_rover (Sep 24, 2007 12:53 pm)
#327 of 345 Re: good thread timing [thegraduate] by qbrozen Sep 24, 2007 (11:39 am)
Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 24, 2007 11:16 am) Personally, I don't see the added expense of parts on a euro car that people talk about. The brakes on our Honda cost just as much as my volvo. The tune-up on my mazda cost just as much as my bimmer. Etc. Etc.   well... ok, the bimmer was a tad more expensive, but that was due to 2 extra cylinders, so 2 more wires and 2 more plugs. But you get my meanings. When it comes to brake pads, wires, plugs, fuel filters, air filters, shocks, struts, rubber bushings, or what have you, I have not found the make of the car matters 95% of the time.   Now, the other 5% of the time can be a killer. $100 a pop for the shocks and struts on my Alfa is a bit out of line. But that applies to alot of parts on the Alfa. The Bimmer is downright cheap in comparison. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Sep 24, 2007 12:16 pm) qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 12:35 pm) british_rover (Sep 24, 2007 12:53 pm)
#328 of 345 Re: good thread timing [qbrozen] by thegraduate Sep 24, 2007 (12:16 pm)
Replying to: qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 11:39 am) The Audi dealership I used to frequent (my ex-girlfriend's father was GSM at Tom Williams Porsche/Audi in Birmingham) had MUCH higher prices than Honda did; that will vary dealer-by-dealer though. (And, Audi IS a VW = $$$ in repairs!!).   I'd steer clear of ANY VW at all costs! Replies to this message: qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 12:35 pm) british_rover (Sep 24, 2007 12:53 pm)
#329 of 345 Re: good thread timing [thegraduate] by qbrozen Sep 24, 2007 (12:35 pm)
Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 24, 2007 12:16 pm) oh well heck, of course dealership costs are higher. that ain't the car's fault, though. ;b   For me, the parts have similar costs and the jobs take me about the same amount of time, so I am assuming a good indy shop will charge you the same for both cars for similar repairs.
#330 of 345 Re: good thread timing [thegraduate] by british_rover Sep 24, 2007 (12:53 pm)
Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 24, 2007 12:16 pm) Oh you can't compare Audi parts prices to BMW or Merc prices. Audi doesn't support a car after they are more then about 5-7 years old so the part prices go up at a near exponential rate.   My wife had a Audi 100 years ago before we were married. The expansion tank tarted to leak where the return hose came in. The audi dealer wanted 800 something bucks plus tax for the tank. I couldn't find the part anywhere else so I repaired the tank using a bit of PVC pipe and the highest temp epoxy I could find.   I got some PVC pipe that was just a bit narrower then the entrance for the return tube in the tank and epoxied it in place. Worked like a charm and only cost about 15 bucks plus a couple of hours of labor.
#332 of 345 Re:Good thread Timing......... by 2doorpost Apr 10, 2008 (8:16 am)
My favorite beater cars- 2002-2008   5) 1978 Monte Carlo (traderonline) 135k miles Ran and drove Southern Car 700 bucks   4) 1974 Nova Coupe (Local Paper) 70k miles Ran and drove 500 bucks   3) 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix (traderonline) 101k miles Ran and drove 300 bucks   2) 1964 Impala 2 door (sitting down the street in yard) Ran and drove 800 bucks   1) 1974 Nova Hatchback (on line ad ) Runs and drives currently 300 bucks
#333 of 345 93 escort LX radiator swap by dudeman1 Dec 16, 2008 (1:03 pm)
Hope this is the right forum for this,   I recently hit a deer and it pretty much totalled the front of my car. I have bought replacement parts at the junkyard for $125 (hood, bumper, grill, condensor, headlite assy, turn signal assy, hood latch assy) and a new radiator ($150). I put the new radiator in and refilled the fluids with 1/2 water and 1/2 anti-freeze and started the car. Once running, I noticed a fountain of water coming from a little silver valve mounted on top of the manifold on the passenger side of the engine. It's right next to the fuel pressure line and i don't know why its spewing water. Any suggestions on what it could be? Replies to this message: dudeman1 (Dec 16, 2008 4:35 pm) kirstie_h (Dec 17, 2008 7:17 am) fezo (Dec 17, 2008 6:40 pm)
#334 of 345 Re: 93 escort LX radiator swap [dudeman1] by dudeman1 Dec 16, 2008 (4:35 pm)
Replying to: dudeman1 (Dec 16, 2008 1:03 pm) Cancel my previous posting, it seems the fountain is gas coming from the top of the fuel filter going towards the manifold. I turn the key and the gas starts flowing out the relief valve. Now I have to figure out how to stop the valve from leaking gas! Replies to this message: kirstie_h (Dec 17, 2008 7:17 am) fezo (Dec 17, 2008 6:40 pm)
#335 of 345 Re: 93 escort LX radiator swap [dudeman1] by kirstie_h HOST Dec 17, 2008 (7:17 am)
Replying to: dudeman1 (Dec 16, 2008 4:35 pm) Head over to our Maintenance & Repair board. Lots of knowledgeable members hang out there and might be able to help you. Replies to this message: fezo (Dec 17, 2008 6:40 pm)

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