Driving a beater car?

[kim929]

I have a 1992 Volvo turbo wagon. It has 130,000 miles on it so I can drive this car another 20 yrs. I don't mind driving an older car, but I like it to look good.

 

[Redwitch]

My 1999 Rav4 has a blue book value of a about $3250. It has relatively low mileage, a little over 150000. The problem is it will not pass inspection in April. I need new tires, a catalytic converter (whatever that is ) and the underside is rusted out and needs a total make over. I'm thinking it is time to bite the bullet and get a new car. I am going back and forth with new and used. I worry with all the recent flooding in this area, I might end up with someone's "boat" if I go used. I hate it, I haven't had a car payment in years and that will cut in to my Disney money.

 

[scbelleatheart]

Yes, I drive a beater mini-van. Sure, we could make a new car a priority, but that's not super high on our list. If I didn't have kids, maybe I'd buy a new"ish" car. But I have these wonderful little daughters and we're kind of nutty, so we'd rather spend $ on Disney, zoo membership, children's museums, ballet classes, swimming pool membership, camping, etc. We enjoy that stuff more than cars.

Nice!

 

[scbelleatheart]

I have a 1992 Volvo turbo wagon. It has 130,000 miles on it so I can drive this car another 20 yrs. I don't mind driving an older car, but I like it to look good.

That is my point. If it looks good, who cares how many miles it has on it? I like cars that I know I can trust to start and get me to where I need to be.
I should redifine beaters. Not a pile of junk but a car you know will always start, get you there and still look like it is a new. And know this car will last for 250,000 miles.
BTW, Volvo was on my list for a "new"car. Those things go forever.

 

[scbelleatheart]

We always drive our cars into the ground and buy on dependability. My last car purchase was new in 2007 and the only reason I bought new was because reliable new of the same Toyota was not much less and interest was 0 percent new so it just made sense. We put a big down payment and paid it off in 2 years and it is now on it's way to beaterville. My teen son is looking for his first car and likes a 96 Toyota with just over 100,000 miles that will dependable get him where he is going and keep him safe in case of an accident or damage.

Good choice for DS. We made our sons drive a 89 Buick and a 90 Caddy (grandma's old cars) a few years ago. Funny though there are 2 kids in town driving those same 2 cars now at age 16. So you are good Mom, he gets "96.

 

[chris31997]

Rarely have we ever owned a car "born" in the current decade


Terri

I found this comment extremely funny and very accurate for us We have not owned a car "born" in the curent decade either.

We drive beaters, 2 of them. We paid $4000 for both of them, but we figure we will be moving in a couple of years and will have to sell them. Thank you Uncle Sam and living overseas We are saving to buy DH a beater and me a more current "beater"

 

[scbelleatheart]

I think some of you guys have what I consider a prime purchase and you guys consider a beater.

A beater car is a rustbucket that runs. Something that has at least 150,000 miles (that is when the rust will start to begin around here.) A beater is something you can purchase from $1500 to $2000.

A Honda with 140,000 miles that looks good still and costs $4000 is not a beater. A 10 year old car is not a beater, though probably will be shortly.

I won't buy brand new again. Our Ford Escape is at 117,000 miles and I still owe 2 more payments (stupid 6 year loan.) I would buy something used the age my Ford is with around 70-80,000 miles. I would drive that to beaterhood. As it is now, the Ford is rusting prematurely and will prematurely become a beater far before it should. My 2003 Jetta is only at about 108,000 miles, purchased 7 years old with 70,000 miles on it. It will outlast the Ford both because of quality and because it was 7 years old with 30k miles less than the Ford is at 6 years old. Mechanically it is far stronger than the Ford.

I bought a brand new car in 1992 as I was talked into it as a young adult by my mother. Big mistake. Fast forward to 2007 and I've been stuck the last 15 years paying car payments on 5 year old used purchases and thought it might be wise to buy a new car again. Again, a big mistake. I could have had a comparable Toyota or Honda (really, the Ford can not be compared to either of them) and had twice the vehicle at half the cost by buying used.

Back to being a beater, I drive my cars until I get sick of doing body work every year for state inspection. That is usually around the 175-225,000 mile mark. Mechanically, my cars have always still been perfect at that age because I've only ever owned Japanese vehicles until I was stupid enough to buy a Ford.

I'm sorry. I just considered my car a beater because I paid $4500 for it with 130,000 miles on it. They put in toggle swich for heat and air because replacing the system was more than I paid for the car. I drove the heck out of it using it as an escort car for wide loads. The car paid for itself in 3 months. I hit 200,000 miles on it but I love the car but it was time to get a "new" beater. I'll have this one as a spare. Still runs great!
I have only had one brand new off the lot car and I wll never do that again. Pontiac Montana 2002. I buy Lexus, Jaguar, Honda, Mercedes....
Our company trucks are Ford diesil 450 & 550. Got rid of all the GMC crew cabs.
We drive the heck out of vehicles until the engine quits!

Yes you are right! Mine was a prime purchase. Hope this next one is!

 

[*Seanaci*]

My 98 Contour has 150k+ miles on it. We've had it for 12 years...my parents bought it used. It ran well up until a couple weeks ago. Just about overheated on me. A tow to the mechanic (neither my dad or husband has any car repair knowledge sadly) diagnostic test and $400 later, we found out the water pump belt was shredded (replaced and part of the aforementioned total), manifold gasket is cracked (500 to replace...we declined), rear suspension is in danger of going at any time, chewed wiring thanks to squirrels early last year, transmission needs flushed...and that's not even all of it. Basically it's not safe to drive unless I spend a chunk of money on it. It would only be worth it if the car would run another 12-18 months...but that's not guaranteed. So we'll be looking at getting a newer used car in the next 4-6 weeks. Which my husband will.drive back and forth to work (60 miles roundtrip 3 or 4 days a week). And I'll drive his 2003 Tribute to run errands and run my son back and forth to school. If hubs has it his way, he'll drive the Tribute into the ground. But we'll see. Lol

 

[megan_in_pink]

I had a 01 corolla (never had a problem with but it was far from being a car i liked) In april i got a 08 civic with 120 000 km on it....I love the car but it has been so unlucky. I plan to drive it till i can not get fix for cheep anymore.

 

[HeatherFeather]

We drive them until repairs needed are going to cost more than the car is worth. I drove my 1999 Jetta until 2010 and then got a new Honda Pilot. I plan to drive it until the wheels fall off. DH had a 2002 Mazda 626 but that one only survived until 2011 and he got a Nissan Rogue. Luckily the Pilot is paid for and the Rogue should be paid for by April 2013. I expect both these vehicles will be in the family well into their "beater" days.

 

[Gillennj]

I think some of you guys have what I consider a prime purchase and you guys consider a beater.

A beater car is a rustbucket that runs. Something that has at least 150,000 miles (that is when the rust will start to begin around here.) A beater is something you can purchase from $1500 to $2000.

This is exactly what I think when I think of a beater. We have historically always bought new cars, but I will not any more. For us, it's just stupid. We are going to drive our current vehicles into beater status and hopefully beyond.

 

[Callie]

I was driving a beater up until a few months ago!
It was a 2001 Buick Century. Only had 65,000 miles, but it was struggling.
Rusting all over the bottom, the AC just went out (I need AC, I get very hot easily, and sweat bullets, not fun to go into work soaking),I needed new tires, at times they said there was possibly oil in the coolant, and the biggie was the windshield wipers were psycho! I took it in twice to have them fixed, and they would just keep going off the side of the car and getting stuck. IT was very unsafe, had to keep pulling over to the side of the road and wait to be rescued!

 

[christineann]

I drive a 1998 Chevy Silverado, which I had purchased new. It now has over 207,000 miles, and the body is in excellent shape. I just had my first major repair - a new radiator for less than $400. I tell my kids that truck will be parked outside my nursing home someday