You are here: Forums Smart Shopper Good, Cheap Beater Cars & Inexpensive Commuter Cars - how to find one?

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

#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)
#336 of 345 Re: 93 escort LX radiator swap [kirstie_h] by fezo Dec 17, 2008 (6:40 pm)
Replying to: kirstie_h (Dec 17, 2008 7:17 am) Nothing simple like just a cracked fuel filter, huh? Deer hits can be nasty.
#337 of 345 good beater so far by ghulet Nov 24, 2009 (3:38 pm)
I just had a little scare with my 'newest' beater (1988 BMW 528e automatic, 150k miles, bought ~3 months ago for $800): transmission was slipping badly (not when I bought it, but after about a month). Checked fluid, it was full but looked nasty (thin/brown); clearly, if it needed a new trans, it was going away. Had the fluid, filter and gasket changed instead ($120) and not it's fine. Snoopy dance. Replies to this message: qbrozen (Nov 24, 2009 3:42 pm)
#338 of 345 Re: good beater so far [ghulet] by qbrozen Nov 24, 2009 (3:42 pm)
Replying to: ghulet (Nov 24, 2009 3:38 pm) 1988 BMW 528e automatic, 150k miles, bought ~3 months ago for $800   Good buy!   My '91 190E 2.6 with 158k cost me $1500 about 2 months ago. And I thought that was a pretty good deal.... till now.

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