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

You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester

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

#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)
#343 of 345 Re: mine's not all that pretty.... [ghulet] by qbrozen Nov 25, 2009 (4:14 am)
Replying to: ghulet (Nov 24, 2009 7:33 pm) I'm trying that method myself at the moment ... although I don't live in the city. I drive about 18k/year. Replies to this message: kyfdx (Nov 25, 2009 4:26 am)
#344 of 345 Re: mine's not all that pretty.... [qbrozen] by kyfdx HOST Nov 25, 2009 (4:26 am)
Replying to: qbrozen (Nov 25, 2009 4:14 am) 15K/yr, here...   I've thought about it.. chicken...
#345 of 345 I gotta think about this.... by ghulet Nov 25, 2009 (9:00 am)
....but I'm pretty sure there's no way I'll put more than about 6k/year on this thing, and that's stretching it (I think I've put on about 2000 since the end of July when it was purchased). I may occasionally drive down to mom's (~200 miles), but that's about as far as I'd be comfortable travelling in a 20+ year-old car. Basically, it's just an errand-mobile, and gets me to my bartending gig (4 miles away, two nights a week).

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