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

#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.
#339 of 345 mine's not all that pretty.... by ghulet Nov 24, 2009 (4:05 pm)
....I think before I bought it I posted pics but I can't find them...it has rust holes in the bottom of the front fenders, and the driver's seat is torn. The glovebox door was ripped off, but I fixed that (bought the door on eBay for $25, IIRC). Other than that, it's pretty good cosmetically (red leather otherwise fine w/normal patina, body has no dents, all glass good, a few scratches on original paint, dings here and there, but quite presentable for 22 years old). Also, pretty much everything (heat, a/c, seats, locks, sunroof, 3 windows, sometimes 4) work, and it has a decent Alpine CD stereo. I also like that I never see them any more, it's a tank, replacement tires are 14s, thus cheap, it gets decent mileage and isn't as slow as I thought it would be (though I have little to compare it to). So far, I feel like I did OK. Replies to this message: kyfdx (Nov 24, 2009 5:48 pm) ghulet (Nov 24, 2009 7:33 pm) qbrozen (Nov 25, 2009 4:14 am) and 1 more... qbrozen (Nov 24, 2009 6:52 pm)
#340 of 345 Re: mine's not all that pretty.... [ghulet] by kyfdx HOST Nov 24, 2009 (5:48 pm)
Replying to: ghulet (Nov 24, 2009 4:05 pm) Now, you'll have to look around for the upgraded model... '88 535i with a stick! Replies to this message: ghulet (Nov 24, 2009 7:33 pm) qbrozen (Nov 25, 2009 4:14 am) kyfdx (Nov 25, 2009 4:26 am)
#341 of 345 Re: mine's not all that pretty.... [ghulet] by qbrozen Nov 24, 2009 (6:52 pm)
Replying to: ghulet (Nov 24, 2009 4:05 pm) Now that you say all that, I think I do remember when you bought this. I thought it was a good deal then, too.
#342 of 345 Re: mine's not all that pretty.... [kyfdx] by ghulet Nov 24, 2009 (7:33 pm)
Replying to: kyfdx (Nov 24, 2009 5:48 pm) nah....I wasn't looking for a BMW when I bought this car, but it was there and under $1000 (this was my main criteria); I do this every couple years: have a beater, then it dies, then I do carless for a while (I live in the city, partner has a car, plenty of public trans), then I get another one. A little strange, I know. I saw this car and was more happy about the prospect of this than, say, a 92 Cavalier or a completely clapped out Camry or something. We'll see how it goes. Replies to this message: qbrozen (Nov 25, 2009 4:14 am) kyfdx (Nov 25, 2009 4:26 am)

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