Best beater car for $3000 or under?

328i · 09-13-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilazn

I don't consider an e30 a beater lol.

I agree, the whole point of a beater is to have a car you can not give a shit about and will keep running without any hick ups with just regular maintenace. Would you do this with an e30?

ExpensiveTaste · 09-13-2011, 08:18 PM

Get a MK4 Jetta TDI...get between 45 and 60mpg and very very good reliability. Plus, they aren't too outdated.

tibra1 · 09-13-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpensiveTaste

Get a MK4 Jetta TDI...get between 45 and 60mpg and very very good reliability. Plus, they aren't too outdated.

Really?>>is it a hybrid..

328i · 09-13-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tibra1

Really?>>is it a hybrid..

Yes really, diesels can be very fuel efficient. Those TDI's have no problem doing 50 mpg on the highway.

illamint · 09-13-2011, 10:36 PM

Old Volvo. I had an '85 Volvo 740 GLE that got me through all of high school without a single mechanical or electrical problem. Sold it to a family friend, it's still going strong at nearly 300,000 miles. Man, I miss that car

DropTopKingM3 · 09-14-2011, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 328i

I agree, the whole point of a beater is to have a car you can not give a shit about and will keep running without any hick ups with just regular maintenace. Would you do this with an e30?

Dude youre starting to scare me

I have the exact same car in a beige color that I was just gonna write about.

Last year I picked up a 97 camry for my dad as a commuter car. I picked it up for $2,500 original owner. I got it as a bday present for him because he didnt wanna destroy his brand new truck driving back and forth. I got it with 128K on the clock with a fresh timing belt. As it stands it has between 151k-152k and it runs like a dream. It runs so well that I decided to do some preventive maintenance for him. I have a gut feeling this car will last another 100k so I got a tuneup, new stabilizer bars and bushings, shocks and struts all around, new battery, and front pads/rotors. I cant even begin to tell you how great this car feels now. These cars were built to tackle even the roughest daily driving commutes.

OP stay away from e30s, subis, hondas, etc. The mod bug will hit you and next thing you'll be putting as much money into your daily driver as you would your garage queen. Get something simple that you wont get tempted to mod.

madeinhongkong · 09-14-2011, 06:09 AM

^hmmm very true... so u think toyota camry? i won't mod if i get a honda, if i get a subie i prob will tho... lol

sA x sKy · 09-14-2011, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost2Perfection

^hmmm very true... so u think toyota camry? i won't mod if i get a honda, if i get a subie i prob will tho... lol

Sheldon, Honda VTec will overpower you

TommyLights · 09-14-2011, 09:47 AM

+1 on getting a Toyota or Honda.....hell I had a Mitsu Mirage that I bought with 90k, and put 22k on it with zero problems.....just changed the oil. The simpler the car (Tercel/Sentra/Civic/Mirage), the less problems you will encounter....

3002 tii · 09-14-2011, 10:20 AM

+1 on subie 2.5rs

madeinhongkong · 09-14-2011, 10:29 AM

Yea... after a lot of thinking prob gonna go with a Civic, with 120K... should i get manuel or auto??? i do want to learn how to drive stick.

spikeybabe22 · 09-14-2011, 11:08 AM

2004 hyundai 1800 cash if your interested lol

so?confused · 09-14-2011, 11:24 AM

im looking for a beater 2 but i want something awd

DropTopKingM3 · 09-14-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost2Perfection

^hmmm very true... so u think toyota camry? i won't mod if i get a honda, if i get a subie i prob will tho... lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost2Perfection

Yea... after a lot of thinking prob gonna go with a Civic, with 120K... should i get manuel or auto??? i do want to learn how to drive stick.

Id definitely recommend a camry. Just dont buy one from those middleman/curbstoners on craigslist. They pick up those cars from auctions and mark them up at least $1k-$2k without doing anything to the car. They'll drive those cars around with dealers plates for months on the same oil. A majority of those cars have very bad history.

You can also go for a civic. Theyre very reliable and the maintenance is very cheap. It would be the perfect car to learn stick on. Even if you fry up the clutch it'll be a very cheap fix.

kamek · 09-14-2011, 03:51 PM

I have a 2000 Toyota Corolla. Functions perfectly, gets me from point A to B, and I park it anywhere and everywhere without having to worry!

ExpensiveTaste · 09-14-2011, 05:11 PM

I use a 2007 335xi in the winter but I don't think you can find them for $2k

scott135i · 09-14-2011, 10:09 PM

Nissan 240SX or fail.

dicostal · 09-15-2011, 09:20 AM

I like the Jetta TDI and you can still MOD it for more power

(I've seen some owners get 50mpg out of them)
otherwise a GTI (turbo of course)

ExpensiveTaste · 09-15-2011, 11:18 AM

LM92 · 09-23-2011, 12:48 AM

i bought 99 maxima for 3g's, with 95K miles, pretty good condition, drives very good, and doesnt look bad at all, lol

got to look at craigslist alot, and dont hesitate on good deals, cause they go fast,

swaite · 09-23-2011, 01:01 AM

1988-1991 RT4WD Civic wagon. Great gas mileage, AWD, Honda reliability, great looks (IMO), in your price range, awesome factor. Seriously, who has a Civic wagon? And one with 4wd? C'mon...

Volvo 240s, too. Made to handle the snow and solid as a tank.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/cto/2609537995.html
http://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/2611809008.html

NYC_e92 · 09-23-2011, 05:20 AM

^ Civic wagon it's a "JDM Tofu Mobile"

09-13-2011, 08:18 PM	#46
ExpensiveTaste Poor Kid with Dreams 28 Rep 702 Posts Drives: BSM 07 E90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Danbury, CT iTrader: (4)	Get a MK4 Jetta TDI...get between 45 and 60mpg and very very good reliability. Plus, they aren't too outdated. __________________ '07 BSM 335xi JB4, DCI, CX Racing I/C, ER Chargepipe, Meth, KW V3 - Pending Sale '95 Mustang GTS 347ci Ported TFS TW Heads,Custom Cam,Victor 5.0 IM,Tubular Front Suspension,Full Exhaust,Big and Littles
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09-13-2011, 10:36 PM	#49
illamint Private 25 Rep 79 Posts Drives: '21 M5C Join Date: May 2011 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Old Volvo. I had an '85 Volvo 740 GLE that got me through all of high school without a single mechanical or electrical problem. Sold it to a family friend, it's still going strong at nearly 300,000 miles. Man, I miss that car
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09-14-2011, 06:09 AM	#51
madeinhongkong Brigadier General 301 Rep 4,126 Posts Drives: e90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (26)	^hmmm very true... so u think toyota camry? i won't mod if i get a honda, if i get a subie i prob will tho... lol
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09-14-2011, 09:47 AM	#53
TommyLights Colonel 213 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: Man Join Date: Jul 2010 iTrader: (12)	+1 on getting a Toyota or Honda.....hell I had a Mitsu Mirage that I bought with 90k, and put 22k on it with zero problems.....just changed the oil. The simpler the car (Tercel/Sentra/Civic/Mirage), the less problems you will encounter.... __________________ https://t.me/pump_upp
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09-14-2011, 10:20 AM	#54
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2304 Rep 12,570 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.26]	+1 on subie 2.5rs __________________ Follow for latest mods
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09-14-2011, 10:29 AM	#55
madeinhongkong Brigadier General 301 Rep 4,126 Posts Drives: e90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (26)	Yea... after a lot of thinking prob gonna go with a Civic, with 120K... should i get manuel or auto??? i do want to learn how to drive stick.
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09-14-2011, 11:08 AM	#56
spikeybabe22 Colonel 24 Rep 2,038 Posts Drives: 2009 328i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lindenhurst, NY iTrader: (0)	2004 hyundai 1800 cash if your interested lol
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09-14-2011, 11:24 AM	#57
so?confused jr 22 Rep 555 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: new rochelle iTrader: (2)	im looking for a beater 2 but i want something awd
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09-14-2011, 03:51 PM	#59
kamek Brigadier General 358 Rep 3,447 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 BMW 328xi [8.20]	I have a 2000 Toyota Corolla. Functions perfectly, gets me from point A to B, and I park it anywhere and everywhere without having to worry!
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09-14-2011, 05:11 PM	#60
ExpensiveTaste Poor Kid with Dreams 28 Rep 702 Posts Drives: BSM 07 E90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Danbury, CT iTrader: (4)	I use a 2007 335xi in the winter but I don't think you can find them for $2k __________________ '07 BSM 335xi JB4, DCI, CX Racing I/C, ER Chargepipe, Meth, KW V3 - Pending Sale '95 Mustang GTS 347ci Ported TFS TW Heads,Custom Cam,Victor 5.0 IM,Tubular Front Suspension,Full Exhaust,Big and Littles
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09-14-2011, 10:09 PM	#61
scott135i Colonel 358 Rep 2,080 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 M50i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC Metro iTrader: (12)	Nissan 240SX or fail.
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09-15-2011, 09:20 AM	#62
dicostal Lieutenant 55 Rep 495 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Italian in CT - USA iTrader: (0)	I like the Jetta TDI and you can still MOD it for more power (I've seen some owners get 50mpg out of them) otherwise a GTI (turbo of course)
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09-15-2011, 11:18 AM	#63
ExpensiveTaste Poor Kid with Dreams 28 Rep 702 Posts Drives: BSM 07 E90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Danbury, CT iTrader: (4)	__________________ '07 BSM 335xi JB4, DCI, CX Racing I/C, ER Chargepipe, Meth, KW V3 - Pending Sale '95 Mustang GTS 347ci Ported TFS TW Heads,Custom Cam,Victor 5.0 IM,Tubular Front Suspension,Full Exhaust,Big and Littles
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09-23-2011, 12:48 AM	#64
LM92 Private First Class 7 Rep 190 Posts Drives: 2007 bmw 335i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento CA iTrader: (4)	i bought 99 maxima for 3g's, with 95K miles, pretty good condition, drives very good, and doesnt look bad at all, lol got to look at craigslist alot, and dont hesitate on good deals, cause they go fast,
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09-23-2011, 01:01 AM	#65
swaite High School Dropout 13 Rep 323 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: PNW iTrader: (0)	1988-1991 RT4WD Civic wagon. Great gas mileage, AWD, Honda reliability, great looks (IMO), in your price range, awesome factor. Seriously, who has a Civic wagon? And one with 4wd? C'mon... Volvo 240s, too. Made to handle the snow and solid as a tank. http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/cto/2609537995.html http://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/2611809008.html __________________
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09-23-2011, 05:20 AM	#66
NYC_e92 Colonel 102 Rep 2,299 Posts Drives: e92 Space Gray 335i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NY iTrader: (37)	^ Civic wagon it's a "JDM Tofu Mobile" __________________
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