Winter beaters ...best of ?

[Screw]

Been browsing up to 3k , seen Golfs , Older Honda CRVs, older Subbies ...what's a decent mfgr or model and what to steer clear of ?

[baddbullitt]

Just get a KIA Rio!!! :D lol

[Uncle Buck]

I think at that price point it's the condition of the car more so than who made it. To keep repair cost down, I'd be inclined to stay domestic.

[5.4MarkVIII]

One of the cheapest beaters I ever had. Both to buy and maintain was the old crown Vic ex police car.

[Blackmare]

P71 Crown Vic was going to be my suggestion as well. I had one for about two years and was extremely cheap to maintain. Good winter tires are a must though imo.

[ZR]

+ decent on insurance compared to a small car.

[Laffs]

I bought a lifted Jimmy for 2500 once, had 31'' BFG's and remote start, best winter truck ever. Drove it for 2.5 years and ended up making it my DD until the trans completely failed, then sold it for 1500.

[Ponyryd]

My crown cop car was surprisingly good in the snow, we didn't have a lot of snow when I had it though. I was getting some rearend noise from mine at 160k. Got terrible mileage too, like 400 k/tank?
If it was me I'd be getting the crv, my wife is on here second, first was a 98, current is an 02, both have been terribly cheap to maintain, needing very little despite having high kms. Also amazing in the snow with the 4wd, great for 4 wheel drifts also.

[Harbinger]

Crown vic is good but its a v8 and a gas hog

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[RedSN]

I think at that price point it's the condition of the car more so than who made it.
Agreed. Winter beater is a throw away vehicle meant to get you thru a single season. Buy the best shape vehicle for the least amount of $$$


....should have bought my old truck. Still had lots left in it for $2000 ;)

[ZR]

Crown vic is good but its a v8 and a gas hog

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My Dad has an '04, when driven realistically, surprisingly good fuel mileage mileage from the 4.6 2v. Many of the V6 beaters peeps might consider are actually worse on fuel.

[Harbinger]

My Dad has an '04, when driven realistically, surprisingly good fuel mileage mileage from the 4.6 2v. Many of the V6 beaters peeps might consider are actually worse on fuel.
I doubt in my case since i get stuck in traffic alot

[baddbullitt]

7068

A few dollars more but they do come with a warranty, and like a Sentra it too sucks the fun out of driving..lol.. BUT, when you do get into your good car, it's like your first time all over again. It just last longer than 2 minutes! lmao! :p

[Screw]

^^daily not a beater

[Screw]

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/2010-ford-crown-victoria-police-interceptor-mint-condition/1211487396?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

More along these lines BB

[Blackmare]

FYI - Same car listed for $100 cheaper on auto trader.

http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Ford/Crown+Victoria/SCARBOROUGH/Ontario/19_9854269_/?showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=7_15_21

[Ponyryd]

I had an '11 I got for $1500, it was terrible on fuel, I sold it after maybe 3 months.

[Screw]

Ya I'm sure 16-18/l per

[Blackmare]

I didn't calculate the mileage on my crown vic, but in my grand marquis, so same engine, i'm getting 9.6L/100 highway and 11.6 city. Not sure how you guys drive, but 16-18 sounds way too high.

[Screw]

^thats like my Rav 4 lol ponyride must have a heavy hoof

[Blackmare]

That's why i was pretty impressed by the gas mileage.

[baddbullitt]

^^daily not a beater

You can beat on a daily.. (that didn't sound right) but you know what I meant..lol

[Harbinger]

Checked out a 94 camry v6 with 106 clicks mint mint. Need to see how much work it needs for safety and then im taking it if rick gives the green light

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[IanGTCS]

Best beater I had was a 98 Accord. It had issues, mostly due to what I think was a clogged EGR system, but it never failed to start, even the time I left a dome light on all night. The few parts I had to get were cheap. So many Civics, Accords, CR-Vs, Corollas and Camrys are out there that the parts prices really aren't hugely different from domestics in my experience. With any 2.5 litre subarus ask if the head gaskets were replaced. Common failure point on those engines, 04 and older tended to fail externally and leak, 05 and newer tend to fail internally. The 2011+ are a totally new engine design, but won't be near that price range.

Worst beater was my Buick Century from a standpoint of constantly having to fix stuff. Random stuff not working on an older car I can take, windows broken in the down position or shot wheel bearings or broken sway bars are another thing.

This year I got an Impreza, so I'll be having fun with AWD. I also care about this one, so won't be beating on it to the same extent as the other beaters I've owned. There is something liberating about just not caring about a car.

[Ponyryd]

^thats like my Rav 4 lol ponyride must have a heavy hoof

I do have a heavy foot, but I bought it in Toronto and clocked what it got on the trip home to Windsor. That's where it got the best mileage as it was all highway, it was around 420km on that tank doing 120 the whole way home. The other tanks were under 400 but I do have a heavy foot, so take away what you will from that but IMO they are pigs. It was running at 2300rpm I believe at 120k.
Also my cop car had no options, not even remote entry, had power windows and locks but am/fm radio and nothing else. It did have a red dome light option which was kinda cool.

[hsousa88]

+1 on the crv.. wicked in the snow


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[Harbinger]

I do have a heavy foot, but I bought it in Toronto and clocked what it got on the trip home to Windsor. That's where it got the best mileage as it was all highway, it was around 420km on that tank doing 120 the whole way home. The other tanks were under 400 but I do have a heavy foot, so take away what you will from that but IMO they are pigs. It was running at 2300rpm I believe at 120k.
Also my cop car had no options, not even remote entry, had power windows and locks but am/fm radio and nothing else. It did have a red dome light option which was kinda cool.
For a 72 liter gas tank that is poor mileage. I get 400 to 450 highway on my 32 valve mach 1 automatic and the gas tank is 59 liters

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[Ponyryd]

^Yup, got better mileage in my stock 01 Bullitt, actually, I think I got better mileage in my supercharged '01 Bullitt, lol. I knew the Crown Vic's days were numbered after the drive home, lol.

[Darkhorse]

If you can find a clean well cared for Mazda, they will give service like a Civic without the same cost.

[Harbinger]

If you can find a clean well cared for Mazda, they will give service like a Civic without the same cost.
Chances are the fenders and rear wheel wells are rusted to shit lol. And for some reason the used value is so over priced.

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[94stang87]

Going to be putting my 2003 Honda Civic four door up for sale on here tomorrow 800 bucks , needs a windshield, prefect winter beater,

[Harbinger]

Going to be putting my 2003 Honda Civic four door up for sale on here tomorrow 800 bucks , needs a windshield, prefect winter beater,
Manual or automatic?

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[94stang87]

Auto

[Harbinger]

Auto
Might be interested if all it needs a windshield for safety. Just brought a piece of junk into ricks garage that needed 2k worth of fixing to pass safety. Told the owner goodluck with the sale

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[94stang87]

Pm me your number or email and I can sent you some pics , new tires , rad , and front brakes last year , ac still works great, has been off the road since march, was plannnig on driving it this winter but wife's mom gave us her car, has 300km, rear brakes sound like crap from sitting,
Has a few dents a dings , rear driver side wheel well has a bit of rust,

[Harbinger]

Pm me your number or email and I can sent you some pics , new tires , rad , and front brakes last year , ac still works great, has been off the road since march, was plannnig on driving it this winter but wife's mom gave us her car, has 300km, rear brakes sound like crap from sitting,
Has a few dents a dings , rear driver side wheel well has a bit of rust,
Pmed

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[joe dick]

I am thinking about buying a cheap 4x4 for winter beater but am a little concerned about the new stricter standards for certifying a car. Since most cheap cars are sold uncertified, it could get expensive real quick if it needs work to pass safety to get it on the road.

[Harbinger]

I am thinking about buying a cheap 4x4 for winter beater but am a little concerned about the new stricter standards for certifying a car. Since most cheap cars are sold uncertified, it could get expensive real quick if it needs work to pass safety to get it on the road.
Yup which happened in my case. Almost 2k worth of repairs needed to pass safety for an otherwise clean camry

[ZR]

Steve just posted a good car / priced right.

[True Blue]

^^^ Yup owned the same model and year Corolla for 10yrs. Absolutely bulletproof! All I did was basic maintenance, never an issue!

[Armen]

A fun little winter beater is a Suzuki Sidekick/Chevy Tracker, if you can find one still around. I had a two door Sidekick with a manual and oversized Cooper M&S tires. It was awesome.

[Harbinger]

Just spotted a 2000 corolla certified e tested for 2500. 156k km gonna have a look

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[Quicksilver]

I had a 99 dodge Neon, bought from a member of GTAMC. Cost me $1500 certified. Drove it two years (it was a daily for my wife while our finances weren't so great) and spent maybe $500. Sold it as is in 1 day for $800. So it cost me $1200 for 2 years and 39000 km.
In between business, my brother leant me a 97 Chevy blazer(small one) with 206k on it. In 2 years I drove 110,000 K. It took $400 in tranny repairs, a set of brakes and some tires. By then I was back on my feet and got my '12 Mustang. He then sold the Blazer (needed tires, a mirror and various stuff) for $1000
Currently my winter beater is an 03 Explorer, purchased for $1000 in November '14 with 220000 km. $1500 in certification and repairs later we've done around 40,000 km, and I'm planning on using it this winter as well. This was a nice car when new. Sunroof, leather, all power including seat. Lousy fuel economy, though

[Harbinger]

Its quite easy for me to find any beater but I'm looking for soemthing that sips gas not guzzles it. Just took a look at a 00 corolla with 156k on the odometer...strut towers were painted black and the underside of the car was painted black...under the trunk it was also painted black. alarm bells rang out like a fire drill. i walked. so tired of these assholes selling junk for so much...dude wanted 2500

[IanGTCS]

I am thinking about buying a cheap 4x4 for winter beater but am a little concerned about the new stricter standards for certifying a car. Since most cheap cars are sold uncertified, it could get expensive real quick if it needs work to pass safety to get it on the road.

There are still guys around who will give it a pass, just have to know them or have a friend that does.

[Harbinger]

There are still guys around who will give it a pass, just have to know them or have a friend that does.
Lol and if you dont know them or have a friend that does know them? Then youre pretty much screwed having to get it serviced to certification standards beyond what you payed for it.

Sellers should have taken care of their vehicles safety wise and not throw their problems onto someone else

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[Laffs]

Lol and if you dont know them or have a friend that does know them? Then youre pretty much screwed having to get it serviced to certification standards beyond what you payed for it.

Sellers should have taken care of their vehicles safety wise and not throw their problems onto someone else

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9/10 the reason someone sells a vehicle is because something has broken or repeatedly broken, is tired of fixing and wants to pass the problems on to someone else. Used cars are the ultimate caveat emptor.

If this is truely going to be a "beater" go on kijiji under autos, set your price points, kms under 150k and search with the keyword safetied and buy something from there. I did that here and found this http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/windsor-area-on/gas-saver/1209259192?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[Laffs]

Also for the record, I recommend Jbodies as beaters

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/kitchener-waterloo/2001-pontiac-sunfire-sedan-low-km-excellent-condition/1201954416?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

They don't do any one thing great, but they're solid easy to maintain and repair cars that parts are cheaper and running costs low.

[Harbinger]

^^ Thanks ! Im checking out a few this week. Im hopeful repairs will be low enough to justify getting a beater instead of driving the mach 1. Im also trying to make the right choice and not rush into a piece of junk

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[Uncle Buck]

Maybe consider a new puddle jumper. Finance deals are plenty. New car with 5 years of warranty can be had for $200 a month these days. Keeps miles off the Mach in the summer for the daily grind too if you want.

[Harbinger]

Maybe consider a new puddle jumper. Finance deals are plenty. New car with 5 years of warranty can be had for $200 a month these days. Keeps miles off the Mach in the summer for the daily grind too if you want.
Im looking for financing options but im waiting till my 3 month probation ends which sadly is the end of november...after that i get a pay raise and my options increase

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[Ponyryd]

^My area doesn't see snow until Christmas.

[Armen]

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/oshawa-durham-region/2003-chevrolet-monte-carlo-ss-power-glass-sunroof-collector/1212691761?siteLocale=en_CA

[ZR]

One of the lowest maint / repair buggy's on the road today.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/2010-hyundai-accent-gl-5-speed-manual/1212516604?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[Harbinger]

2004 camry with 186k on the odometer. 1 owner virtually rust free well maintained. Dealership wanted 5888 plus tax and i was able to negotiate to 4500 plus tax certified e tested and new tires


Thoughts?
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[Old Fart]

Seems to be the average retail for a 2004. What model is it...se, le, xle? 4 cyl or 6?

[Harbinger]

Seems to be the average retail for a 2004. What model is it...se, le, xle? 4 cyl or 6?
Le v6

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[Old Fart]

Black book says average retail is $4300.

[Harbinger]

Black book says average retail is $4300.
Still too much for an old car.
Either way I just got a steal of a deal. Just bought this for $2k a 1998 camry v6 with 173000 km. Only needs front sway bar bushings and rear swaybar bushings to pass safety.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161109/c7e858d30080642638101436e2cbc702.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161109/3a55da1769884cf796b2ece9ed14d5d4.jpg

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[Screw]

Congrats looks pretty good & you spare the Stang

[Harbinger]

Congrats looks pretty good & you spare the Stang
Thank you. Now i can focus on saving up for that eaton swap and front bumper change :D

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[Screw]

Yes guy ;)

[IanGTCS]

Nice choice. Anything that ends up going wrong is probably pretty cheap and easy too.

[Harbinger]

Nice choice. Anything that ends up going wrong is probably pretty cheap and easy too.
Yup. So far changed the rear swaybar bushings. Next is front sway bar bushings and end links. Only thing left to pass safety

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