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Recommend me an old beater..

Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
DOMESTIC CARS ONLY

Any import car is out of my price range. Plain and simple.

Moving on, what do you guys reckon is a good sub $2000 CDN car? I'm looking at the obvious cheapos like Cavaliers, Tempos, Sunbirds...but that's about all I can think of. Which is the 'best' domestic econobox? 😛

Oh, and they have to be 1989 or newer as the whole reason why I need to buy a new car is because 15 years and older cars around here need safety inspections. Most <$2000 cars won't pass one.

Thanks
 
You're telling me a Honda CRX is out of your price range? Are you smoking crack?

Anyway, have fun with your domestic - I hope you like your local auto shop 😛
 
Originally posted by: rbloedow
You're telling me a Honda CRX is out of your price range? Are you smoking crack?

Anyway, have fun with your domestic - I hope you like your local auto shop 😛
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Yes they are. They start at $2500 locally.
 
I love my beater cadillac, it's a 1981 fleetwood. Over 4 years I've put $500 in it and it still works great. It's got plenty of quirks and drinks gas but it was free and requires no work to keep it going.
 
Go with a Mercury Sable, year '88 through '94, or whenever it was they started that ugly ass circle styling.

Not sure about th '88, but you don't want it TOO old.

I have a '91 Sable, and it is rock solid, great-looking (although the un-initiated would tend to disagree. I will leave them to their petty devices, for I am superior), decently fast ( I can be the fastest thing on the highway easily, although I generally try to avoid that . . . . ), OK acceleration (with a v-6, provided your fuel line is not partly blocked (mine was for a while, god, it had trouble until I got it fixed).

And best of all, my family has had the car since it was new, I have driven it for 2 years, and not one major problem has ever happened to it.

rock solid, usually hard to find in domestics.

Dunno about it being domestic to Canada, but it would basically be, cause you are just a drive north from here.
 
Money saved on an old domestic vs. import is going to be money lost in repairs. Try an older import so that it's still under $2k.

And anybody saying domestics are just as good - well these days they are getting better but there are reams of numbers proving that domestic econoboxes in his vintage are simply less reliable than imports. It's that simple. I wouldn't trust an old cavalier any further than I could throw it.
 
Because imports around here are crazy expensive...

I've looked at Taurus' and Sables but I've come to the conclusion that I don't care much for the styling. Not only that, they are kind of bigger then what I was looking for.

I have been looking at older Chryslers, like New Yorkers, they seem to be cheap. A little smaller then the Sables.

P.S. My family has had very good luck with domestics, so I'm going with domestics until they break enough convince me to switch. The price is icing on the cake.
 
Maybe an old Dodge Shadow or Plymouth Sundance? They're cheap...we've had a few and they won't die! Not the nicest things around, but what do you expect? Look for hot deals on certain cars, I got my 1994 Geo Prizm for $1850 w/ 105k mi. There are deals to be found, it may be worth it to save up and get a more solid car
 
Police Cruiser Auction?

You won't have to dick around with timing belt replacement or CV joint crap found on import or domestic FWD econoboxes. These cars are maintained to the hilt, and do have miles on them, but they're sturdy. Worth a look.
 
Imports aren't out of your price range, you can find old just about any car for 100 - 500$ if you look hard enough.


Your budget is 2000$ CDN? That's a hefty budget, you can EASILY find a nice reliable import for that.
 
Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
Go with a Mercury Sable, year '88 through '94, or whenever it was they started that ugly ass circle styling.

Not sure about th '88, but you don't want it TOO old.

I have a '91 Sable, and it is rock solid, great-looking (although the un-initiated would tend to disagree. I will leave them to their petty devices, for I am superior), decently fast ( I can be the fastest thing on the highway easily, although I generally try to avoid that . . . . ), OK acceleration (with a v-6, provided your fuel line is not partly blocked (mine was for a while, god, it had trouble until I got it fixed).

And best of all, my family has had the car since it was new, I have driven it for 2 years, and not one major problem has ever happened to it.

rock solid, usually hard to find in domestics.

Dunno about it being domestic to Canada, but it would basically be, cause you are just a drive north from here.
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That's funny.. my dad's '93 Taurus sucks.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
Police Cruiser Auction?

You won't have to dick around with timing belt replacement or CV joint crap found on import or domestic FWD econoboxes. These cars are maintained to the hilt, and do have miles on them, but they're sturdy. Worth a look.
Click to expand...
Also damn near impossible to find a car driven harder than a cop car unless you go to a drag strip!

 
Originally posted by: Joony
Chevy Cavalier
Click to expand...
You mean Chevy fixalier! My neighbor (in Canada no less) had a 95. He drove like such a panzy. Nontheless, with low miles, that thing was costing them a crazy old whack of cash. That's either because a) The thing was a POS or b) they took it to a crooked mechanic. In fact based on how smart my neighbor was I wouldn't put b) past him, so you can take this post for what it's worth (very little).

Oh but even when it was 4 years old it did have a nice patch of rust forming on the rear.

 
My Cavalier: $1250
Clutch replaced: ~$600
Engined swapped for junkyard junk: $800
Radiator: $80

Troubleshooting with Haines manual: Loved it.:frown:
 
Originally posted by: Pilsnerpete
My Cavalier: $1250
Clutch replaced: ~$600
Engined swapped for junkyard junk: $800
Radiator: $80

Troubleshooting with Haines manual: Loved it.:frown:
Click to expand...
Heh my friend I think paid $700 for repairs and what not when his radiator cracked. Plus his ABS went out and that needed work.
 
What about a Ford Escort 91-96, those last forever as long as you get the timing belt changed very 60K. About $150-200 for that service
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: Ornery
Police Cruiser Auction?

You won't have to dick around with timing belt replacement or CV joint crap found on import or domestic FWD econoboxes. These cars are maintained to the hilt, and do have miles on them, but they're sturdy. Worth a look.
Click to expand...
Also damn near impossible to find a car driven harder than a cop car unless you go to a drag strip!
Click to expand...
Yet, who buys used Police Cars? 70% Taxicabs and Livery service! This platform is up to the task. You could always spend a few more bucks and buy one from a little old lady instead. That ought to hold up a hell of a long time! Wouldn't really be a "beater" though, would it?
 
A friend of mine just sold her '89 Camry with no a/c, oil leak & 175,000 miles for $400 USD...it ran/drove fine, though.
 
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