The Ultimate Beater Thread

What is your ultimate beater/gas saver, and why?

Criteria: Must be under $5000. Must be a CAR/TRUCK you can drive with a Class C license. No bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, etc.

Given the current gas prices in CA right now, and my 14mpg city, I was tossing around the idea of picking up a beater/gas saver to commute with and keep the Taco as a weekend warrior. I live in a house with 4 drivers, 5 cars, and 2 motorcycles...so it probably wont happen, but hey nothing wrong with dreaming right?

Started checking out craigslist. I want to stay within the imports, so of course Camry, Corolla, Tercel, Toyota PU, etc came to mind. Found this guy...looks promising and for that price, I'd pick it up in a heartbeat if it really gets 38mpg.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/3341109865.html

 

Looks pretty good! I didn't see mileage....

 

I'm guessing over 150k at that price. I'll have to call to ask.

Toyta PU aren't too bad either...been looking at those.

 

I got a prelude that gets pretty mileage for my commuter. Civics are nice too. Good luck on your search.

 

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/3278684044.html

id buy that

 

Well, mileage won't be applicable here, but here is my 78 Ford Bronco...




For a old 4x4, it is actually in amazing shape, the body has lots of scratches and a few dents, but no through the panel rust anywhere and the floorboards are really solid. On old fords, its common to have the sheet metal under the carpet rust out and there is a soft spot there, but not on this old girl. When I am home, I typically drive it to save miles on the Tacoma and to absorb any idiot drivers, I am not afraid to take a fender bender in this thing! Don't hope for it to happen cuz I would feel really bad for the other car.

 

Are you even saving any gas driving that thing? I wouldnt drive that for a DD beater

 

Haha im loving this thread, in high school i drove a 94 geo prism, which was essentially the same thing as a toyota coralla. I literally could not kill that thing, i beat the shit out of it and never did any maintenance to it. The thing just wouldnt quit, sometimes i wish i took better care of it and still had it. Lately i have been driving 100 miles a day round trip for work and it would be nice to get 25+ mpg. I would still rock that little maroon beater if i had it.

 

5k is alot for a beater. should be more like 500..

 

ultimate beater under 5K.... man, I'm gonna have to think on this one.

 

http://slo.craigslist.org/cto/3348958865.html

Don't know if it's the ultimate, but good deal for a running japanese car in good shape. They are hard to find with $5.00 gas around here. Everyone wants $5K for a POS.

 

that's badass

 

I used to DD it before the Tacoma for about 3 years, just have to manage expenses more to drive a gas guzzler, when the 32 gallon tank was full, I could get near the 400 mile mark before it needed gas again. We bought the rig for my Grandpa and he drove it up until he died and it was passed onto me, so I got it really reasonable needless to say, Only cost $750 and has never let me down, been really good to me for a really long time. Wont ever let it go either, 2nd generation Broncos are the rarest Bronco made and are highly sought after by 4x4 enthusiasts for their near indestructible chassis.

 

You can't even find an emtpy shell for $500 around here, let alone a running car.

 

I agree with you there. When my grandpa goes, I wouldnt ever let his vehicle go either. Good on you for keeping it man

 

I don't have this any more, but back in 2003, I bought this at the seized vehicle auction w90K on the clock for $1400 with a blown head gasket.

I got it running and never had more than 3K in it total and drove it until 2006 when I bought my 1st Tacoma.

If I would have been a little more internet savvy, I might have stumbled on to a portal like TW that discussed modding these trucks and I would probably still have it.



I removed the windows and paneled in the cap sides and used a roller to apply matching paint to the truck body.

 

My Daily Driver 1979 Toyota Corolla Tercel:

 

THAT is a fuckin beater...

 

That is sexy.

 

Here is my commuter car/ beater got it within that budget before taxes