Anyone use a beater car as a daily? What is it...

Along those same lines, what about a scooter or even an e-bike? Cheap, efficient, dare I say, fun?

 

No reason needed. I already know.

 

Those are great choices too. I do own an ebike, just never thought about commuting on it due to crazy drivers where I have to ride.

 

The downside to two-wheels is cargo capacity and the elements. I commute less than 5 miles each way in Southern California, so neither are much of an issue for me. But that's what the Tacoma is for!

 

Got a late 2000s Sentra for a song after it was in a front end collision. I pulled out the core support, finessed the hood and fender a bit, and installed a junkyard headlight in it and have racked up some miles since. Worst tank was like 24 mpg but it averages around 29-30 pretty consistently. The car is bland as fuck but it seems unwilling to die, even with the dreaded CVT

 

Yep, I think OP said they are in CA as well. My commute is 11 miles in Colorado, so winter is not an option, but in the summer I take my e-bike a couple days a week and it only takes me 10 minutes longer to ride than to drive! And it sure is fun!

 

Yeah those are the best kind. Now you have confidence in the reliability which is priceless.

 

Bought this in January for less than I've spent on Tacoma mods...

 

My current fleet:

1996 Acura Integra GS-R. Collector car status lol. Has 65k miles. Driven about once a month or two.
2011 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road. Weekend hauler. Sometimes used for my daily commute.
1994 Acura Integra RS. Daily or weekend commuter. Great on gas.
2012 Acura TSX. Daily or weekend commuter. 4 cylinder + 18.5 gallon tank = 500+ mile range.

 

For the right price it could be yours


I figured it would shit the bed with a bunch of short trips and being thrown around like the trash it is but everything keeps goin

 

Love the Acuras, hopefully I can find something in my price range.

 

2007 Honda Accord with 160k miles. With the exception of the timing belt and water pump, it's incredibly easy to service. Oil, tranny fluid, power steering, brakes, suspension work, everything is just easy. It's been very reliable too, limited repairs needed. Still on original bearings, starter, alternator, PS pump, etc.

 

My sister and her hubs have a 2002 or 2003, I forget. They definitely have a love/hate relationship with it and are looking to sell it.

I bought a 1998 Acura Integra LS in July 2021 for $3k. I hydroplaned and totaled it 8 months and 8k miles later. Insurance payout was $5,862. I got lucky with my purchase. Tried to find another Integra but the ones in good shape were $7k and up. Ended up getting the TSX. I probably should've gotten another Integra instead of the TSX lol.

 

I drove an 89 Honda with almost 300,000 miles on it for quite a few years. Never drained the oil but did replace the filter every 6 months. It burned/leaked a quart every 2 weeks so I figure it was being changed once every other month anyway. It would have cost 2X what the car was worth to fix it. I paid $1000 for it, drove it 5 years and sold it for $700.

The Taco is now the beater that I drive to keep miles down on newer vehicles in the driveway.

 

Mk4 VWs. Between my girl and I, we drive two Jettas and a Beetle. Once you learn to speak their language, they're super easy to service. People know we own them, so I've been given a couple of unwanted cars over the years, and in the unlikely event I need a major component like a transmission, I just find a complete parts car for ~$300 and add it to the private junkyard. Golf, Jetta, and Beetle are all the same car underneath... my brother hit a deer in the wagon and I put a Golf nose on it for the princely sum of $0.00.

 

ummm, my beater is my 2020 Tacoma! lol

 

2000 4Runner SR5 4x4 w/ Sonoran Steel lift rolling on Method Race Wheels and 33" Toyo MT's...235000 miles and counting.

 

1991 FJ80

 

Been daily driving my '06 Taco for 12 years and it has 176k miles. Hardly done anything to it outside of PM, still original clutch, and only on it's second battery.

 

will say i use to own a 2009 honda fit sport. it's like 120hp but loves to rev, and small enough to park anywhere! it was awesome! like a go cart!